COMMODORE SUBMARINE SERVICE

COMMODORE JIM PERKS CBE RN COMMODORE SUBMARINE SERVICE

Today is a source of immense pride for me and the entire Submarine Family. Pride, which is universally shared by all submariners and their loved ones as we stand together to witness the dedication of The Submariner Memorial.

A spiritually enriched focal point for acts of commemoration and reflection to those who have died during their Submarine Service, whilst honouring the sacrifice made by those left to mourn. One of the hardest jobs within the Submarine Service is borne by the submariner’s kith and kin and I am privileged to be here amongst so many members of the Submarine Family to share in this historic event and key milestone.

HISTORY OF THE SUBMARINE SERVICE

The following brief history of the Submarine Service has been specially compiled for Submariner Memorial by leading naval historian and author Iain Ballantyne. He traces the development of the submarine from the 15th Century ruminations of Leonardo da Vinci and the often lethal ‘diving’ and ‘plunging’ machines of the 18th and 19th centuries to the ever more sophisticated submarines – colloquially ‘boats’ – which played such formidable roles in two world wars. Subsequently, amidst many other peace-time tasks, the Submarine Service took charge of the United Kingdom’s ‘Continuous At Sea Deterrent’. Through all these remarkable developments, he maintains, however, that the ‘human element’ remained key and “a willingness to be stealthy, deep-running guardians still resides within the men and women of the Submarine Service, for all the hazards their life under the sea poses”.

And amidst his account of submariners’ bravery, courage and sacrifice he echoes Winston Churchill’s timeless words:

“Of all the branches of men in the forces there is none which shows more devotion and faces grimmer perils than the submariner”

Winston Churchill