(A184) SHIPS / PROFICIENCY BADGE - SA Navy - Submarines

Bi-metal, 2 piece badge - gilded and chromed metal - 2-pin backed measuring 59 mm l-r

"The SA Navy introduced metal badges which depict the type of vessel on which the recipient served.  Such badges require that the wearer pass the relevant examinations, pass the required seagoing fitness tests and have served aboard such a vessel for a period of time.  The time period vaied from 45 days aboard a submarine to four months for all other vessels.  These criteria have been changes slightly over the years and now the wearer must have served for a longer period.  Once a Marine leaves his unit and returns to other duties he is allowed to continue wearing the Marine badge if he has served for a period of at least three years as a marine.  Also included in this section are the Watchkeepers badges.  These are a fairly new addition to the badges issued by the navy and denote the watch keeping qualification of the wearer.  A commander of a ship wears a gold colour badge whereas all other personnel qualified wear the chromed version.  A cloth version in blue embroidered thread on white is worn on the work dress." ... "Starting Out Collecting" South African Militaria 2nd Edition by Dudley Wall

EXCEPT FOR THE SUBMARINERS, WATCHKEEPERS AND THE MARINES BADGES, MOST OF THESE SHIPS BADGES WERE PRODUCED IN 2-PIECE BADGES, WHICH BECAME TOO EXPENSIVE.  MOST OF THESE BADGES ARE NOW MANUFACTURED AS 1-PIECE BADGES EXCEPT FOR THE SUBMARINES BADGE, WHICH IS STILL A 2-PIECE BADGE, THE REASON BEING BECAUSE ON SOME OF THESE, THE SUBMARINE NEEDS TO BE SEPERATED AND NUMBERED ON THE BACK.  THE SUBMARINERS BADGE, IS THE GILDED SUBMARINE ON ITS OWN, WHICH IS NUMBERED AT THE BACK.  SOME UNNUMBERED SUBMARINERS BADGES DO SURFACE FROM TIME TO TIME.  COLLECTORS WILL NOTICE THAT ON THE EARLY SHIPS BADGES, THE LAUREL WREATH USED TO BE ANTIQUE METAL - THESE DAYS THEY ARE CHROMED.  ANOTHER VARIETY OF THE MARINES BADGE DOES ALSO EXIST WHERE THE GLOBE IS GILDED.  THE VERY EARLY BADGES IN THE MINE COUNTER MEASURES AND THE MARINES WERE SLIGHTLY SMALLER THAN THE CURRENT BADGES.