Worldwide Submarine Insignia

Logo of the Finnish Submarine Veteran's Association.

Information from Pete Pritchard's book

Though Finland did not have submarines during WWI, she designed a class'of boats based on the Imperial German Navy's VB-III Class of 1918. Ironically, the Finnish Class was used as the basis for two WWII Kriegsmarine U-Boats, the Type II coastal and the Type VII medium. Named the Festinate (a mythological Finnish evil water spirit) Class. Three of this class, Vetehinen, Vesihiisi and Tku-Turso plus two smaller types Vesikko (Mink) and Saukko (Otter) made up the WWII Finnish Submarine Flotilla (Sukellusvenelaivue). Used against the Soviet Union in the Gulf of Finland, these boats did a yeoman's job. During the Winter War of 1939-40, submarine operations were limited due to the heavy ice, but mines were laid close to the Soviet occupied Estonian coast. Though a 400 ton merchant ship was sunk in July of 1941 by Vesikko, bad torpedoes from Italy limited the luck of the other boats. The boats were moved to the Aland area in 1942 on anti-submarine patrol to secure the sea lanes to Sweden. At least three Soviet submarines were sunk, one by the current head of the Submarine's Veteran Society, Erik Helenius, boat, Tku Turso. In 1944 the eastern portion of the Gulf of Finland was the patrol center, but only mining operations were done. The 1947 Treaty of Paris banned Finland's use of submarines, so all were scrapped except the Vesikko, which the Submarine Veterans use as a museum.

Though the Finns had no submariner's distinctive for wear on their uniforms during WWII, they did wear the badge below in mufti. The badge (FIN-I) is currently worn by members of the Finnish Submarine Veterans Association. SuvLv is an abbreviation of Sukellusvenelaivue, or Submarine Flotilla. It is in goldish copper, circled, the port side of a submarine on three sets of waves. It is small, only .60" in diameter.

FIN-1

Newer Information

I received a report in 2004 that this was the Finland Submarine Badge from the WWII era. Conversations since indicate there was no "officialy sanctioned uniform badge," but, as we know, sailors and military members in general like distinctive insignia to differentiate them from the rest of the service.  It appears this badge was unofficially adopted by Finnish Submarines some time in the 1930's and was used until the end of the Second World War. The photo of Vessiko's crew below shows a small badge on several uniforms. It may also be this one.

FIN-2

Other reports of submarine school medallions also were reported. 

FIN-3 v.1

FIN-3 v.2

These appear to be a"Submarine Boat School" medallion. "Suk" appears to be a shortening of the Finnish word for submarine "sukellusvene." "Vene Koul" translates to "Boat School." Again, these medalions were never officially issued but were used by the submarine sailors to indicate they were either in the school or completed the school

The school apparently opened in 1929 to support the training of Finnish submariners preparing for the construction and completion of their submarines. The first small submarine Saukko was launched and later put in service in 1930.  Although intended for service in lakes (per treaty), it did see service in the Baltic. The larger submarines came a bit later; you can read about them in the link on the upper left.

The museum ship Vessiko also sells profile pins of various finishes and such, not pictured because they are souvenirs. As indicated elsewhere, these are not submarine insignia, just pins anyone in the public may buy.  Gold, silver and copper versions of the Wessiko pin have been sold at the museum where Vessiko is on display.