The Silent Service Trivia Quiz

Answer: Dolphins

The term 'dolphins' is used to describe the badge given to qualified submariners in the Royal Navy. The badge is gold in colour and depicts two dolphins either side of a crown and anchor. Qualified submariners are allowed to continue to wear their dolphins even if they move to a different section of the Royal Navy.

In 2020 a black coloured version of the badge was introduced to be worn by trainee submariners.

Answer: We come unseen

'We come unseen' is the motto of the Royal Navy Submarine Service and reflects the fact that remaining undetected is a key part of most submarine operations. The nickname of the service, 'The Silent Service' also reflects the need for submarines to avoid detection.

In order to remain undetected Royal Navy submarines are built to make as little noise as possible when underwater and contain lots of technology in terms of sonar, navigation and communications which helps them to know what is going on around them without being detected by others.

Answer: Perisher

The Submarine Command Course or "perisher" is a multi-stage course with a mixture of learning in simulators and at sea. The final stage of the course is an assessment which features simulated war-like conditions during which those on the course must prove they can command a submarine in these conditions. Each "perisher" course has a maximum of six participants of which only four are likely to pass.

A candidate can be failed at any time on the course at which point they leave the course and are no longer eligible to serve in the Submarine Service and must transfer to another element of the Royal Navy.

Answer: Jolly Roger

The Jolly Roger was first flown by Lieutenant Commander Max Horton commander of HMS E9 during World War I. Legend has it that this was in response to comments made by Admiral Sir Arthur Wilson that submarines were "underhand, unfair, and damned un-English" and that submariners should be treated "as pirates in warfare" and if captured should be hanged. Flying the Jolly Roger from returning submarines became more established during World War II and symbols were sewn onto the flags to signify events that the submarine had been involved with, for example a red bar meant the submarine had sunk an enemy warship.

The tradition of flying the Jolly Roger continues within the Royal Navy with new symbols added to reflect modern operations such as a tomahawk axe symbol meaning a submarine fired its Tomahawk cruise missiles.

Answer: HMS Dreadnought

The name HMS Dreadnought has been given to eight Royal Navy vessels, up to and including the Royal Navy's first nuclear powered submarine. The first HMS Dreadnought was launched in 1654 although there were two earlier Dreadnoughts but these were not prefixed with HMS as this was not used at that time. One of the most famous HMS Dreadnoughts was the large battleship launched in 1906, this ship was revolutionary for its time and gave its name not only to a class of ships in the Royal Navy but to a type of ship used by navies all around the world.

The nuclear powered submarine HMS Dreadnought was launched in 1960 before being commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1963. The submarine was powered using the US S5W reactor and was the only Royal Navy submarine to use this reactor as during the construction of Dreadnought the company Rolls-Royce working with the UK Atomic Energy Authority developed a suitable reactor, versions of which were used in future Royal Navy submarines.

Answer: 1994

The Royal Navy stopped using diesel powered submarines in 1994, favouring the advantages of an all nuclear powered fleet. While nuclear powered submarines are more expensive to build than diesel powered ones they have the significant advantage of not needing to surface regularly to run noisy diesel engines to charge the batteries which power the submarine when submerged.

Not having to run noisy engines or surface regularly helps the submarine remain undetected. The final class of Royal Navy diesel powered submarines were the Upholder class which were relatively new when they were decommissioned and were sold to the Royal Canadian Navy where they were known as the Victoria class.

Answer: Trident

The Submarine Service has been responsible for the UK's strategic nuclear deterrent since 1968 when the Resolution class started carrying the US made Polaris missile system. An updated missile system, the Trident system, was introduced in the Royal Navy in 1994 along with the new Vanguard class submarines to carry it.

Answer: Falklands War

The Falklands war was a war between the UK and Argentina that took place in 1982 after Argentinian troops invaded the Falkland Islands, a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic ocean. There were three Royal Navy submarines operating in the South Atlantic during the Falklands War: HMS Splendid, HMS Spartan and HMS Conqueror. HMS Splendid and HMS Spartan were tasked with hunting the Argentinian aircraft carrier but were not called on to engage. HMS Conqueror was patrolling in a different area and was ordered to engage the Argentinian ship General Belgrano as it was feared this ship was manoeuvring to trap the British fleet in a pincer movement. Conqueror fired three torpedoes at the General Belgrano, of which two struck the ship and sank it.

The sinking of the General Belgrano marked the first time a nuclear powered submarine had fired torpedoes at an enemy.

Answer: True

Women in the Royal Navy have been allowed to serve at sea since 1990 but this did not extend to the Submarine Service where women were still not allowed to serve. The ban was due to concerns that the higher levels of carbon dioxide that could build in a submarine were more harmful to women.

However, a study found this was not the case, leading to the Navy changing its policy and allowing women to serve on submarines in 2011. Due to the length of time needed for training the first women to serve on board a Royal Navy submarine as qualified submariners took up their posts in 2014.

Answer: Flag Officer Submarines

The title of Flag Officer Submarines was first introduced in 1944 for the commander of the Royal Navy Submarine Service. Earlier titles for the post included Chief of the Submarine Service and Inspecting Captain of Submarines. In 2015 the post became known as Rear-Admiral Submarines reflecting the rank of the officer holding the post.

In 2020 the Royal Navy restructured the Submarine Service and the senior post is now called Commodore Submarine Service as this post is now held by an officer of the rank of Commodore rather than a Rear-Admiral.