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WHY SUBMARINE IS CALLED A Submariner and serves as a means to forge a
BOAT? common sense of identity for the newly
qualified Submariner.
All navies refer to their vessels as ships.
However, submarines are referred to as
“boats” largely for historical reasons.
“Boats”, in naval terminology, are vessels that
require a surface vessel’s assistance in their
launching and maintenance.

As the earliest submarines required the
support from submarine tenders on the
surface, it became common to refer them as
“boats”.

The term “U-Boat” then came along as an
Anglicised version of the German word “U-
Boat” which is itself an abbreviation of
“Uterseeboot” (Undersea Boat). Jumping from the bow mainly is for the new

Submariner to understand and feel that
working on the submarine deck faces the real
possibility of dropping overboard, and hence
PPE like lifejacket is essential.

Following the jump, the newly qualified
submariners must share and finish a jug of
submariner's drink before they are presented
with their submarine insignia by their
respective Commanding Officers.

Our RSN submarine alongside its pier.
SUBMARINER’S DRINK
Even though submarine technology has come
a very long way since World War II, with
nuclear powered ones being able to operate The ingredients of the drink give an overall
alone for months on end, submarines to this taste of sweet and sour with a tinge of
day are still affectionately called “boats”. bitterness and spiciness.

The four tastes of the drink are symbolic of
DOLPHIN JUMP (SUBMARINER) the making of a full-fledged Submariner

(Chinese saying). At the initial stages of
During the training in Sweden, the endurance training, the trainee’s life will be one filled
of the crew was pushed to the limit with
many long sailings under stressful conditions with difficulty (bitter).
and bare minimum of amenities (sour).
The Dolphin Jump Ceremony remains a
significant rite-of passage in the life of any