Yosale(Dror
means Freedom in Hebrew) was born in Mexico City in 1924. In 1930, when
he was 6 years old, his mother decided that the family should immigrate
to Israel (Palestine at that time). During the struggle for Independence
Dror was an underground commando fighter and diver who helped to sink
several British ships,
one of which was the British transport "Ocean Vigour", used for the transfer of illegal Jewish immigrants from Palestine to the British deportation camps in Cyprus. During the War of Independence Dror commanded the unit charged with the sinking of the Italian ship "Lino" in the port of Bari, which was loaded with weapons and ammunition for Syria.
one of which was the British transport "Ocean Vigour", used for the transfer of illegal Jewish immigrants from Palestine to the British deportation camps in Cyprus. During the War of Independence Dror commanded the unit charged with the sinking of the Italian ship "Lino" in the port of Bari, which was loaded with weapons and ammunition for Syria.
French
Submarines at Toulon
Old
French carrier Bearn, used a submarine base
A
few years later he was invited to return to the young Israeli navy.
In the early 1950s he became interested in submarines, while visiting
France in order to study antisubmarine warfare. While he was learning
how to fight submarines he came to the conclusion that instead of fighting
them he should join them. He decided that the submarine was the warship
of the future. It was not easy to convince the commanders of the young
and poorly funded navy that submarines were essential for the future
of the Israeli Navy and that submarines were the best weapon for Israeli
*DAVID* (small and poor) against the *GOLIATH*, the Arab navies. At
the time the commander of the navy said that the acquisition of submarines
for the Israeli Navy was a hopeless fantasy.
Submarine
studies in French
Fun
time under a French submarine
Nevertheless
Yosale, who was stubborn and determined, did not give up. Early in 1957
a small group 28 Israeli navy men volunteered to be the first Israeli
submariners. Some French books about submarines were translated and
that was the start. After 10 months they were ready for the next stage
and were sent to the French Naval base of Toulon. It was in Toulon that
they had the opportunity to get some practical experience on board French
submarines. At the same time Yosale started looking practically anywhere
for submarines for the Israeli Navy. Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Holland
and even Germany were searched as possible sources for submarines. Dror
finally agreed that as a start British "S" Class submarines
would be suitable. Shimon Peres, later Israel's Prime Minister was at
that time the Director General of the Defense Office. Getting Yosale
to agree he then recommended the purchase to the Israeli Government
.
A
Dream Came True!
CIC of the Navy, Admiral Samuel Tankos, bestows Yosale the Israeli submariner qualification pin, serial number 001. Tanin just arrived from Portsmouth and the ceremony was held in Haifa harbor on 16th December 1959.
CIC of the Navy, Admiral Samuel Tankos, bestows Yosale the Israeli submariner qualification pin, serial number 001. Tanin just arrived from Portsmouth and the ceremony was held in Haifa harbor on 16th December 1959.
For more pictures and information of the era we recommend the following sites:
Sponsored by :
Zahal, IDF, Israel military store
Copyright © 2000 - All Rights Reserved
Design and Creation by Uri Dotan - Bochner
