What are Traditional submarine tattoo?

Answer 1

I spent 5 years in the navy - 1983 - 1988 and was assigned to two submarines. First, was the USS James Madison (SSBN 627) Blue Crew, and the USS Grayling (SSN 646).

I don't believe there are "traditional submarine" type tattoos per say... BUT perhaps more correctly, submariners share a very unique and very proud symbol that announces to all their rare membership to the exclusive elite of the Navy's Silent Service... and that cherished symbol is called the Dolphin pin. This pin is only awarded to those sailors who dedicted many, many months (as many as 12 - 18 months) of learning, studying, memorizing all of their ship's systems, i.e., trim, drain, hydraulics, radio, sonar, propulsion, weapons, etc. just to name a few!

While I sat for my qualifying board, I was duly grilled by the Assistant Weapons officer, one of the hardest working First Class Machinist's Mate from the Auxilary Division (who asked me to draw... from memory... the Main/Lead/Vital hydralic system of the ship and to include and list every valve), and various other leading petty officers from different department. Then, after about 2 1/2 hours of questioning and having to look up 1 or 2 missed items, my results were given to the Captain who then later presented and pinned my dolphins to my chest in a brief cerimony in front of the crew.

So - the traditinal submarine tattoo you are inquiring about may possibly be simply the submarine's symbol.... their "Dolphins"

I was a DBF and SSN sailor. By far the tattoo I saw the most on any Submariner was his fish "Dolphins - SS". That day is when you became a Submariner gaining the respect of the crew. The crew is those men from the first sub and every man that has ever earned his fish.

I have my fish on me as well.

Thanks Krazewop.