What's Hot in Submarine Insignia News
June 29, 2001
I have not done an insignia news update in a while so I thought I would catch you all up with what is going on that I have heard of and/or been involved with.
Bolivia
I had heard that when Bolivian Navy folks rode on other South American subs that they got qualified and wore a Bolivian sub badge. Apparently that is true. I got a picture of their sub and diver badges.
Poland
Rumor has had it for several months that a new style of Polish sub badges had been issued. I was recently offered a set and purchased them. They are enroute. Here is what they look like. Note that they retained the three styles as before.
Nigeria
Bill Crosby and an associate got hold of some Nigerian badges. Nigeria ordered sub badges from a supplier and a few extras were delivered outside of the order from Nigeria. No news of a submarine program there yet but they do have a badge. Modelled and built on the US Medical Officer dolphins, a Nigerian Navy crest is affixed on the smoothed area between the dolphins.
Italy
A nice Italian WWI submarine medal was on ebay and Bill Crosby won the auction. Here's a front and back view.
Saudi Arabia
Mess dress Saudi badges were also made and issued. No full sized submarines are yet in their Navy. We have trained Saudi's at our international diesel submarine school for over 10 years now and they now have a mess dress sized badge to go with the striking full sized badge.
Sweden
A remade old-style WWII era Swedish badge was redone for some veterans. Others gravitated out. They are beauties. My scan does not do it justice.
Mitch Mitchell sent me photos of a real Swedish old style he got. Regret the Word format on this but it is nice...
Real 1956 Swedish badge
I saw this one on ebay and forget where it came from. It is a pin for people who donated money to the U Boat effort in Sweden during WWII.
New Swedish CO and Quad Club badges.
Bulgaria
Another ebay auction. Lee Lacey won this one. A very nice WWII Bulgarian sub badge. The other item is a Bulgarian WWII submarine pocket watch from another ebay auction.
France
The WWII French cloth badges were redone recently. Here is a shot of them.
Romania
Two recent news items. One was an ebay auction for some sort of Romanian sub badge with a 55 on it. Not sure what it signifies. I didn't win- it went for far more that what I thought was reasonable.
The second is the WWII era Romanian that was reproduced. It is a nice remake.
Austria-Hungary
Here is a beauty that I saw on the internet. A very nice A-H U-boat badge with markings shown.
Croatia
Croats have the old Yugoslavian subs. Here is an arm patch from their subs.
Israel
Israel senior badge with a solid anchor. Note the older style screw back.
Russia/Soviet Union
Mitch Mitchell sent me this nice 1950's vintage Soviet badge. It is in a Word format so beware...
1950's Era Soviet Badge
United States
This one isn't a pin. It is the officially sanctioned commissioning painting of USS Tennessee (SSBN 734). It was done in 1988 by Steven Kurth. I had to crop it a bit to get it on my scanner. I was the Gold crew XO on her and have always loved this painting. It looks better live but the jpg gives you a clue as to how nice it is.
