Gal classDeutsch
A gallery display of Gal-class submarine photographs in frames of different sizes
1975—2002

Gal-lery — Gal-class submarines

Gal, Tanin and Rahav — from construction and work-up trials, through active service and life aboard, to retirement.

Construction, work-up trials and the voyage home

15 items · documents and photographs

Barrow shipyard in Britain, launching ceremonies, work-up trials and the voyage to Israel.

Vickers Shipyard · Barrow-in-Furness · England

The launch of INS Gal — 2 December 1975

From the invitation and celebratory meal, through the launch by Tamar Dror, to the first moments in the water.

Photographs and documents courtesy of Commodore (Ret.) Ivan Dror.

Documents from the ceremony

Invitation to the launch of INS Gal at the Vickers shipyard, Barrow-in-Furness — 2 December 1975.
Invitation to the launch of INS Gal at the Vickers shipyard, Barrow-in-Furness — 2 December 1975.Courtesy of Commodore (Ret.) Ivan Dror.
The menu for the celebratory meal marking the launch of INS Gal.
The menu for the celebratory meal marking the launch of INS Gal.Courtesy of Commodore (Ret.) Ivan Dror.
The toast list for the launch of INS Gal.
The toast list for the launch of INS Gal.Courtesy of Commodore (Ret.) Ivan Dror.

The launch, moment by moment

Tamar and Ivan Dror with Sir Leonard Redshaw, Chairman of the Barrow shipyard, and his wife.
Tamar and Ivan Dror with Sir Leonard Redshaw, Chairman of the Barrow shipyard, and his wife.Courtesy of Commodore (Ret.) Ivan Dror.
Mrs Tamar Dror launches INS Gal — 2 December 1975.
Mrs Tamar Dror launches INS Gal — 2 December 1975.Courtesy of Commodore (Ret.) Ivan Dror.
INS Gal begins to slide down the slipway towards the water.
INS Gal begins to slide down the slipway towards the water.Courtesy of Commodore (Ret.) Ivan Dror.
INS Gal meets the water for the first time.
INS Gal meets the water for the first time.Courtesy of Commodore (Ret.) Ivan Dror.
And… oops. INS Gal lists heavily to starboard after launching.
And… oops. INS Gal lists heavily to starboard after launching.Courtesy of Commodore (Ret.) Ivan Dror.After entering the water, INS Gal listed heavily to starboard in front of the launch guests. According to the book published by Vickers, the official explanation was incorrect ballasting. The book also records a claim by some onlookers that the retaining studs on the bow cradle had sheared during launching, causing excessive movement.Photograph: Ken Royall. Source: a Vickers publication, p. 106.View the original book caption

More launching ceremonies, work-up trials and the voyage home

Officers arrive at the launching ceremony of INS Rahav, England, 1976.
Officers arrive at the launching ceremony of INS Rahav, England, 1976.
Gal-class crews at the launching ceremony of INS Rahav.
Gal-class crews at the launching ceremony of INS Rahav.
The launch of INS Rahav at Barrow.
The launch of INS Rahav at Barrow.Courtesy of Mordechai Even-Chen.
Work-up training near the Isle of Man.
Work-up training near the Isle of Man.
Work-up training in the Irish Sea.
Work-up training in the Irish Sea.
INS Rahav moored in Lisbon on her voyage to Israel.
INS Rahav moored in Lisbon on her voyage to Israel.Courtesy of Mordechai Even-Chen.
On Rahav’s bridge: commander Amiram Einat, the late Amnon Gonen, David Rotenberg and Yaacov Raziel “Mujick”.
On Rahav’s bridge: commander Amiram Einat, the late Amnon Gonen, David Rotenberg and Yaacov Raziel “Mujick”.

Operational service and life aboard — 1976–2002

30 photographs · click to enlarge

Voyages and dives, operational patrols, life aboard, the submarine pier and refits.

Submarine School boats surround the submarine.
Submarine School boats surround the submarine.
Training with Submarine School trainees.
Training with Submarine School trainees.
Returning from an operational patrol. Approaching the submarine pier.
Returning from an operational patrol. Approaching the submarine pier.
INS Tanin commander Erez Avner stands on the sail; below him is deputy commander Michael Azriel, while approaching the submarine pier.
INS Tanin commander Erez Avner stands on the sail; below him is deputy commander Michael Azriel, while approaching the submarine pier.
Approaching the submarine pier.
Approaching the submarine pier.
A naval Dolphin helicopter hovers over a Gal-class submarine.
A naval Dolphin helicopter hovers over a Gal-class submarine.
The three Gal-class submarines.
The three Gal-class submarines.
INS Gal’s bell.
INS Gal’s bell.Courtesy of Michael Azriel.
Diving now!
Diving now!
An aerial view.
An aerial view.
Gal-class submarines in the last light of day.
Gal-class submarines in the last light of day.
The bow leaps out of the depths.
The bow leaps out of the depths.
INS Tanin leaves for a patrol. The commander comes aboard.
INS Tanin leaves for a patrol. The commander comes aboard.Photo: Barkai Wolfsohn.
Inside INS Tanin’s control room in summer 1999, towards the end of the Gal-class era. Photo: Barkai Wolfsohn.
Inside INS Tanin’s control room in summer 1999, towards the end of the Gal-class era. Photo: Barkai Wolfsohn.
All three Gal-class submarines at the submarine pier in Haifa port.
All three Gal-class submarines at the submarine pier in Haifa port.
Flotilla command change ceremony. (The original black-and-white photograph was colourised by Gemini.)
Flotilla command change ceremony. (The original black-and-white photograph was colourised by Gemini.)
A cheerful group during an operational mission in enemy waters.
A cheerful group during an operational mission in enemy waters.
The cook prepares Shabbat challah beside the torpedo tubes.
The cook prepares Shabbat challah beside the torpedo tubes.
The boat’s bulletin, written on a special garbage bag, July 1983.
The boat’s bulletin, written on a special garbage bag, July 1983.
First dive alongside the pier after the refit.
First dive alongside the pier after the refit.
One of them will become commander of Submarine Flotilla 7.
One of them will become commander of Submarine Flotilla 7.
Pizza at sea.
Pizza at sea.
A Gal-class submarine underway, viewed from the air.
A Gal-class submarine underway, viewed from the air.
The veteran INS Tanin nearing the end of her service and the end of the millennium.
The veteran INS Tanin nearing the end of her service and the end of the millennium.
INS Gal’s crew, July 1990. Courtesy of Ido Rozman.
INS Gal’s crew, July 1990. Courtesy of Ido Rozman.
Submariner trainees during sea drills. Courtesy of Ido Rozman.
Submariner trainees during sea drills. Courtesy of Ido Rozman.
Submariner trainees during sea drills. Courtesy of Ido Rozman.
Submariner trainees during sea drills. Courtesy of Ido Rozman.
The submarine pier in Haifa port. Courtesy of Ido Rozman.
The submarine pier in Haifa port. Courtesy of Ido Rozman.
INS Tanin under the command of Yigal Golan. Courtesy of Nir Maor.
INS Tanin under the command of Yigal Golan. Courtesy of Nir Maor.
INS Tanin. Courtesy of Nir Maor.
INS Tanin. Courtesy of Nir Maor.

A sad ending

5 photographs · click to enlarge

Transporting Gal and Tanin to Germany aboard a Danish ship.
Transporting Gal and Tanin to Germany aboard a Danish ship.
Transporting Gal and Tanin to Germany aboard a Danish ship.
Transporting Gal and Tanin to Germany aboard a Danish ship.
Tanin awaits scrapping at the Frederikshavn shipyards, Denmark.
Tanin awaits scrapping at the Frederikshavn shipyards, Denmark.
Scrapping Tanin’s sail in Denmark.
Scrapping Tanin’s sail in Denmark.Courtesy of Michael Azriel.
Scrapping Rahav in Haifa, 1997.
Scrapping Rahav in Haifa, 1997.Courtesy of the late Hezi Keshet.

A happy ending

5 photographs · click to enlarge

After attempts to sell the submarines were unsuccessful, the Germans decided to refurbish INS Gal and prepare her for museum display. The refurbishment and transport to Israel were donated by the German government. Following an expensive and complex operation, INS Gal was placed at the Naval Museum in Haifa.

INS Gal, returned from Germany, being transported on trucks to the Naval Museum.
INS Gal, returned from Germany, being transported on trucks to the Naval Museum.
INS Gal returns from Germany and is moved to the Naval Museum in a complex operation.
INS Gal returns from Germany and is moved to the Naval Museum in a complex operation.
INS Gal at the Naval Museum.
INS Gal at the Naval Museum.
Entrance to the submarine from the stern.
Entrance to the submarine from the stern.
INS Gal at the Naval Museum — view from the stern.
INS Gal at the Naval Museum — view from the stern.
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