A special 'silent service' military watch
For anyone intestered in #militarywatches
Back in 2014 I was serving in one of the UK's submarines. After executing a series of operations, an embarked person (who had been onboard for the operations) arranged for the officers and crew to have watches made to mark the significance of our achievements.
He had a contact that supplied his unit with Traser watches. We requested some personalisation and this is the product...
This is the Traser P6600 Type 6 MIL G. It's 45mm diameter, tritium lume (mine is red, but we were all given the choice) and 200m water resistance (luckily this never had to be tested on the submarine 😄... we all stayed quite dry!)
This comes with sapphire crystal as standard now but at the time it didn't, and I have a few scratches (memories) to show for it.
Since 2015 when I received my Traser, it has seen well in excess of 500 days of time dived on UK submarines. Considered a true beater in the cramped confines of the big black steel tube of war!
I have swapped out the stock strap for an Alpine silicone one (to match our dark blue uniforms).
It has served me well as I continue to serve my King.
I was never lucky enough to be issued a CWC, but at least i have this.
After 24 years of service in the Royal Navy all my time at sea is now done... instead of driving submarines I now drive a desk, but this true military watch still gets worn regularly 🫡
Not all military watches have to be for soldiers in the field, divers or pilots... 😉
Ps) the top photo is one that I took of my last submarine during a port visit (somewhere very cold!) to replenish food.
UK 🇬🇧. Royal Navy Submariner. Things I like: Single Malt Whisky, Books, Coffee, Cribbage, Photography, oh... and Watches.
Great to have such memories associated with a watch. Thanks for sharing.
Is it just me, or do the hands lined up at 08:10 not look a bit like the shape of a submarine, or maybe a frigate? The bits cut out at the base of the hands makes the centre look like a bridge to me.
Love reading the stories behind the watches. Thanks for sharing!
Really cool watch, good sir! The 12 hour bezel is particularly helpful. Congrats on your achievements.
In a similar vain, and definitely not as significant in terms of national security or achievements, our high school class wanted to commemorate our 30th year anniversary of our graduation. So, we modded a Seiko 5 Sports SRPB93 with our class emblem and moniker.
Really cool watch, good sir! The 12 hour bezel is particularly helpful. Congrats on your achievements.
In a similar vain, and definitely not as significant in terms of national security or achievements, our high school class wanted to commemorate our 30th year anniversary of our graduation. So, we modded a Seiko 5 Sports SRPB93 with our class emblem and moniker.
Very cool!
Great to have such memories associated with a watch. Thanks for sharing.
Is it just me, or do the hands lined up at 08:10 not look a bit like the shape of a submarine, or maybe a frigate? The bits cut out at the base of the hands makes the centre look like a bridge to me.
Now you've said that I've decided that was the design intent and shall be added to my story 😊
Love reading the stories behind the watches. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for reading 😊
Great to have such memories associated with a watch. Thanks for sharing.
Is it just me, or do the hands lined up at 08:10 not look a bit like the shape of a submarine, or maybe a frigate? The bits cut out at the base of the hands makes the centre look like a bridge to me.
Indeed it does, plan view. Just like the Cartier Tank!
That's a cool as it gets!!
Thank you for your service,& thank you for sharing your story 💪🏼👊🏼
That’s probably the best watch story I’ve heard, and a very cool watch.
That’s probably the best watch story I’ve heard, and a very cool watch.
@thekris I can see you are in MD... I have a job in MD in Aug 2025 at Pax River. So I am moving over with the family for 3 years.
Very cool watch with a cool story, Seiko did a special version of their 'Gen 2' RAF watch which was supplied exclusively to crews of Trident subs in the 90's, they removed the lume as they were worried that the radioactive promethium lume would interfere with the instruments.
This one's for sale online, 1 of only 2,400 ever made, but for £1,595 it's an eye watering amount for a smal, simple watch.
Traser P6600 looks like a tank of a watch. Very cool story Dan!
Cool!
Big respect for your work as a submariner, I really don't know how you guys/girls cope with that kind of life. I think it would drive me insane. If I'm told I can't do something, my brain thinks of nothing other than doing it. I'm not particularly an outdoors sort of guy but the thought of not being able to do so would make me a very unpopular colleague. I'd drive everyone nuts!
Now you've said that I've decided that was the design intent and shall be added to my story 😊
If this looks like a bear (Oris), then those hands definitely look like a submarine or a frigate!:
I wish the American military issued cool ass watches…got to do some bilateral training with some Royal Marines out in Korea.. those fucks could drink and fight all right. Cheers 🍻
If you think "bootnecks" can drink, you've clearly never been out drinking with a submariner... 🤪
Awesome watch and thank you for your service.
It's not for everyone, but that is recognised so those that volunteer and find its just not for them do get further options to remain in the Royal Navy and do something different. Unfortunately you never really know until you get to sea on a submarine, even more so when you experience your first dive. I had a big smile on my face for my first dive, but I have seen many less happy facial expressions in my time...
The closest I have come to working on a submarine was during my time on the tv production of the series "Vigil" 😀 I don't know if you've seen it but it was based on a murder of a submariner on a nuclear sub?
The construction crew built a nuclear sub out of wood at the BBC studios in Dumbarton near Glasgow. I visited the set & what they built was incredible. It was fully kitted out as to what we'd imagine a nuclear sub would be like on the interior. If you did happen to see any of the series I'd love to hear your thoughts on the set?
Nice! And in my ignorance, I only thought CWC was the brand issued. Got to love a watch with some history.
The closest I have come to working on a submarine was during my time on the tv production of the series "Vigil" 😀 I don't know if you've seen it but it was based on a murder of a submariner on a nuclear sub?
The construction crew built a nuclear sub out of wood at the BBC studios in Dumbarton near Glasgow. I visited the set & what they built was incredible. It was fully kitted out as to what we'd imagine a nuclear sub would be like on the interior. If you did happen to see any of the series I'd love to hear your thoughts on the set?
Yes, I did watch it - clearly some artistic licence was used - but it made for good TV and actually helped with submarine service recruitment believe it or not; obviously not because of the murder though! haha. When I was based up there, I lived just down the road from Dumbarton in Helensburgh. The one thing I would say about how the TV show tried to represent submarines... we do not have rooms (we call them compartments) anywhere near the size depicted. Even on our newest submarines, space is a rare commodity. Good TV show overall though 👍
What a terrific story, love it and the watch. Respect for your service to the Crown. Thank you for sharing!
Nice! And in my ignorance, I only thought CWC was the brand issued. Got to love a watch with some history.
This watch was not issued, it was purely provided to the crew of a certain submarine after a specific operation. CWC were issued (and still are to a certain extent, but probably best considered as 'loaned'). I believe Seiko/Pulsar were issued, along with Citizen, to divers at various points in the past. My father-in-law, who is a Navy diver and is still serving, was at some point in the 1990s issued an Omega Seamaster... but returned it when he left that assignment. As a diver surely it would be easy to "lose it" on a dive... but he is a very honest chap! 😀
Yes, I did watch it - clearly some artistic licence was used - but it made for good TV and actually helped with submarine service recruitment believe it or not; obviously not because of the murder though! haha. When I was based up there, I lived just down the road from Dumbarton in Helensburgh. The one thing I would say about how the TV show tried to represent submarines... we do not have rooms (we call them compartments) anywhere near the size depicted. Even on our newest submarines, space is a rare commodity. Good TV show overall though 👍
Great to hear you enjoyed it, I never watched it tbh 😀
Obviously we weren't allowed to see inside the nuclear sub, so all we could go on are what pics there are out there already. A lot of creative licence is granted in these situations. The size of the "compartments" being way out doesn't surprise me. If you guys had to live in your compartments with film lighting & cameras, I'm sure they'd be a lot bigger :)
Helensburgh is a nice part of the world. Unfortunately the town is experiencing a decline ever since the Yanks pulled out of Coulport/Faslane. It's got some incredible houses there though & there's not many places more scenic in the summer.
Great story and a terrific watch. Im sure the crown thanks you for your service.. And from the other side of the pond I thank you for your service also..
@thekris I can see you are in MD... I have a job in MD in Aug 2025 at Pax River. So I am moving over with the family for 3 years.
Interesting. Let me know when you’re here, maybe we can get together and talk watches.
Thanks for sharing. I think that’s one reason I enjoy the watch community is that there are great stories like yours behind them.
Submarines once,...
holy crap I didn't expect to see another submariner here. I've retired from this profession around 2014. We got those dirty DE boats from you guys so a mechanical watch is a no-go. This G-shock took some beating and more. Cheers mate!
Submarines once,...
holy crap I didn't expect to see another submariner here. I've retired from this profession around 2014. We got those dirty DE boats from you guys so a mechanical watch is a no-go. This G-shock took some beating and more. Cheers mate!
Ah yes our old Upholder (Victoria) Class. I was in Vancouver Island on holiday in July and had a look over to the dockyard there from Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse. Glad to see another brother of the deep here 🏴☠️
Submarines once,...
holy crap I didn't expect to see another submariner here. I've retired from this profession around 2014. We got those dirty DE boats from you guys so a mechanical watch is a no-go. This G-shock took some beating and more. Cheers mate!
Already got the coronation medal... so jealous!
But maybe the main question would be: Iraq medal as a submariner? I didn't know it was possible, and I thought Royal Navy was always short-changed when operational medals get dished out.
(And an annoying thing with non-symmetrical ribbons: isn't the ribbon the other way round, with the black strip closer to the centre?)
And thank you for your service!