Royal Navy Submarine Service
| Royal Navy Submarine Service | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1901 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Allegiance | Queen Elizabeth II |
| Branch | Royal Navy |
| Motto(s) | "We Come Unseen" |
| Equipment | 7 SSNs & 4 SSBNs |
| Website | www |
| Commanders | |
| Commodore-in-Chief | HRH The Duke of Cambridge |
| Insignia | |
|
White Ensign (1801 – present) |
 |
| Naval Jack |
 |
| Dolphin Badge |
 |
The Royal Navy Submarine Service is the submarine element of the Royal Navy. It is sometimes known as the Silent Service, as the submarines are generally required to operate undetected.
The service operates seven fleet submarines (SSNs), of the Trafalgar and Astute classes (with four currently planned or under construction), and four ballistic missile submarines (SSBN), of the Vanguard class. All of these submarines are nuclear powered.
Since 1993 the post of Flag Officer Submarines has been dual-hatted with the post of Commander Operations.
The service was for many years located at HMS Dolphin in Hampshire. It moved from Dolphin to the Northwood Headquarters in 1978. The Submarine School is now at HMS Raleigh at Torpoint in Cornwall.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the idea of submarine warfare was considered by senior personnel in the Admiralty to be "Underhand, unfair and damned un-English" (Admiral Sir Arthur Wilson VC, 1901). But since other navies were developing submarines, the Royal Navy had no choice but to do the same, launching its first design, Holland 1, in 1901.
The Submarine Service proved its worth in World War I, where it was awarded five of the Royal Navy's 14 Victoria Crosses of the war, the first to Lieutenant Norman Holbrook, Commanding Officer of B11.
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Wikipedia