The Submariner

Only a submariner realizes to what great extent an entire ship depends on him as an individual. To a landman this is not understandable, and sometimes it is even difficult for us to comprehend, but it is so!

A submarine at sea is a different world in herself, and in consideration of the protracted and distant operations of submarines, the Navy must place responsibility and trust in the hands of those who take such trips to sea.

In each submarine there are men who, in the hour of emergency or peril at sea, can turn to each other. The men are ultimately responsible to themselves and each other for all aspects of operation of their submarine. They are the crew. They are the ship.

This is perhaps the most difficult and demanding assignment in the Navy. There is not an instant during his tour as a submariner that he can escape the grasp of responsibility. His privileges in view of his obligations are almost ludicrously small, nevertheless, it is the spur which has given the Navy its greatest mariners - the men of the Submarine Service.

It is a duty which most richly deserves the proud and time-honored title of.... Submariner.

Reprinted from the Submarine Squadron Four Decommissioning booklet.