HUNDREDS of hero submariners have been awarded a medal in secret to recognise covert missions such as sneaking into enemy ports and delivering SBS frogmen on raids.
The crews of hunter killer subs – whose work is classified Top Secret – were invited to apply for a General Service Medal with a clasp that discreetly states “Global Operations”.
UK MOD Crown copyrightThe Navy said their role is to pave the way for a ‘larger more lethal follow-on force’[/caption]
UK MoD Crown CopyrightThe 2008 General Service Medal with a new ‘Global Operations’ clasp[/caption]
It is the first time the Silent Service have been given a gong to honour their work outside major wars.
The nuclear powered attack fleet routinely stalk Russian submarines lurking near UK waters.
And an £1.4bn Astute-class submarine escorted the Navy’s carrier strike group on its first operational voyage the contested South China Sea.
The long-awaited submarine medal puts their perilous missions on par with deadly conflicts like Malaya, Suez and Northern Ireland whose participants also earnt GSMs.
The medal announcement was classified but hundreds of proud submariners are expected to wear them in public next month at Remembrance Day parades.
The Navy confirmed the award but refused to be drawn on the type of missions sailors take part in to qualify.
Submarine missions are classified Top SecretUK MOD Crown copyright
A Royal Navy spokesperson told The Sun: “We are pleased to confirm that the General Service Medal has been awarded to eligible submarine personnel in recognition of their service.
“We cannot comment further on the criteria for the medal or specific submarine operations.”
The Admiralty has a long standing rule of never confirming its submarine ops.
But dramatic pictures released last year showed commandos launching a raid from an attack sub in the arctic.
UK MOD Crown copyrightThe elite Surveillance Reconnaissance Squadron said they can reach ‘any coastline in the world’ by submarine[/caption]
The raiders were drawn from the Royal Marines’ elite Surveillance Reconnaissance Squadron.
Their commander said at the time: “Being able to move sub-surface gives us a discreet means of moving our specialist teams to any coastline in the world.”
The first Naval General Service Medal was issued in 1915 to sailors who served in the Persian Gulf against smugglers, slavers and gun-runners.
Current and retired submariners can apply for the new Global Operations medal if they served on “specific missions” on attack submarines from 2008.
The attack fleet includes Astute and Trafalgar class subs.
Both are are armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles and decked out with spy kit that makes them “mobile GCHQ listening posts”.
Ex-sub Commander Ryan Ramsay, who received the Global Ops medal for his time as captain of HMS Turbulent, said: “This medal recognises the risk and rigour that the submarine force face on a day to day basis while undertaking operations.”
Cdr Ramsay led HMS Turbulent on a gruelling 268-day voyage in 2011 when it launched Tomahawk cruise missiles at Libya and suffered a life-threatening air conditioning failure that saw temperatures soar to 60 degrees Celsius on board.
He added: “Taking something more complex than a spacecraft into an environment less explored than space is significant.
“Add the operational element and that increases both risk and the rigour required to succeed.”
The award follows warnings from Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin that Russian submarine activity is at its highest level sicnce the end of the Cold War.
He warned of “a phenomenal increase in Russian submarine and underwater activity over the last 20 years,” amid growing fears that Vladimir Putin could threaten vital undersea pipelines and cables.
Submariners also earn the right to wear dolphins on their uniforms.
And the crew of the nuclear deterrent submarines wear pewter, silver and gold pins to indicate the number of patrols that they have completed.
Last month a Vanguard-class submarine armed with Trident doomsday missiles completed the longest ever deterrent patrol, with over six months spent at sea.
A source said a separate medal was under discussion to honour their work in maintaining the UK’s continuous at sea nuclear deterrent.
At least one Royal Navy nuclear armed submarine has been at sea since 1969 to strike back in the event of a doomsday attack.
The government said: “Their purpose is to preserve peace, prevent coercion, and deter aggression.”
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