Father and Son Submariners Bridge Generations in the Israeli Navy
Staff Sergeant E. sailed the new INS Drakon submarine to Israel, echoing a historic voyage made by his father three decades earlier with the INS Leviathan.
The Israeli Navy recently celebrated the arrival of its sixth submarine, the INS Drakon. Among the crew members who brought the submarine to Israel was Staff Sergeant E., whose father, retired Lieutenant Colonel Y., participated in a nearly identical mission nearly 30 years ago when he helped sail the INS Leviathan from a German shipyard.
Staff Sergeant E. represents the second generation of submariners in his family to complete the complex voyage from Germany to Israel. Three decades earlier, his father was part of the crew that brought the Dolphin-class INS Leviathan to the Israeli Navy. Reflecting on his own service, the father noted that he began his career aboard the INS Gal, a vessel now preserved as a museum exhibit at the entrance to Haifa.
A Legacy of Submarine Service
Lieutenant Colonel (Res.) Y. served in various key roles within the submarine fleet, eventually participating in the construction and establishment of the new submarine base in Haifa. He emphasized that the technological leap between the older Dolphin-class vessels and the newly arrived INS Drakon is immense, offering vastly superior operational capabilities and advanced systems.
"The people and the submariners are the most important element in a submarine," the father said, highlighting the core ethos of the submarine fleet. "Our motto is that the human factor decides. No matter how advanced the technology becomes, decisions are what change the outcome. Size is not merely about providing more space for the crew, but about enabling greater operational capacity and advanced capabilities."
Service in the Shadow of War
Staff Sergeant E. was drafted in September 2023, just weeks before the outbreak of the war on October 7. His training period was marked by the security challenges facing the country, including rocket threats that required relocating his training base. Despite the rigorous demands and strict communication limits, he successfully completed the demanding submarine course and was assigned to the INS Dolphin before joining the maiden crew of the INS Drakon.
"My father brought the Leviathan, and I served on the Dolphin," Staff Sergeant E. remarked, highlighting the unique bond and shared professional language he shares with his father. Both describe the multi-week voyage from Germany as a mesmerizing yet challenging journey marked by total disconnection from the outside world.
A Historic Milestone for the Navy
The arrival of the INS Drakon marks a significant strategic milestone for the Israeli Navy. Described by the German shipyard management as one of the most sophisticated naval combat systems ever constructed, the submarine significantly enhances the nation's strategic depth and operational reach.
For the father and son, the shared experience bridges generations of naval service. "You can take a man out of the submarine, but you can never take the submarine out of the man," the retired officer concluded with pride.
