Norwegian submarine crew strips down to trunks and bikinis


The crew of KNM Uthaug stripped off into bikinis and trunks. Photo: Norwegian Ministry of Defence

It was an unusual sight: on a hot sunny day this weekend, it wasn’t a Norwegian navy submarine seen plunging into the North Sea, but rather its swimsuit-clad crew who were observed diving in off the hull for a refreshing dip.

With the men in trunks and the women in bikinis, a couple of dozen sailors were photographed diving off the hull of their submarine, the KNM Uthaug, in a fjord in Norway’s southwest.
“Our soldiers also need to cool off in the summer heat,” the Norwegian defence ministry said, posting the photo to its Facebook page.
“These guys spend a large part of their lives underwater. This weekend, they took a dive for a well-deserved break, some fresh air, and a cool dip,” it added.
With a fleet of six submarines, Norway is tasked with defending NATO’s northern flank, opposite Russia’s mighty Northern Fleet.