Four Young Officers in Lorient
Four young officers in Lorient: one lieutenant and three acting sub-lieutenants. Yoram, Alex, Ivan and Aka.
From the album of Rear Admiral (Ret.) Avraham (Ivan) Dror.
Colourised using Gemini AI.
From the album of
Rear Admiral (Ret.) Avraham (Ivan) Dror
Submariner No. 8
Photographs and documents courtesy of Rear Admiral (Ret.) Avraham (Ivan) Dror
The French Period
Entry Permit — Lorient, 1958
Translation of the Entry Permit
French Navy — Lorient Maritime District
Second Submarine Flotilla — Submarine Base
Lorient, 18 August 1958
Permit
Avraham Dror, a sub-lieutenant in the Israeli Navy undergoing training at the submarine base in Lorient, is authorised to enter the naval arsenal at Lorient. He is also permitted to wear civilian clothes.
Passport No. 5699.
Signed: Arnaud, Lieutenant Commander (capitaine de corvette), Deputy Commander.
Aka and Ivan in Bizerte, Tunisia
Aka and Ivan in Bizerte, Tunisia — the two Israeli officers sightseeing with two French officers during a visit aboard the French submarine La Créole.
The Bow of La Créole
The bow of the submarine La Créole.
At the Submarine Base in Lorient
At the submarine base in Lorient, beside the French Navy’s Traction Avant.
From the album of Rear Admiral (Ret.) Avraham (Ivan) Dror.
The First Period in England
Three Young Officers and Three Young Women
Three young officers and three young women. Ivan, Aka and Hansi. Standing is Bella Inbar, secretary of the Israeli delegation in Portsmouth.
From the album of Rear Admiral (Ret.) Avraham (Ivan) Dror.
Colourised using Gemini AI.
Four Young Officers
Four young officers, still in England.
From the album of Rear Admiral (Ret.) Avraham (Ivan) Dror.
Submariners in England
Submariners in England.
From the album of Rear Admiral (Ret.) Avraham (Ivan) Dror.
Submariners on Parade in England
Submariners on parade in England.
From the album of Rear Admiral (Ret.) Avraham (Ivan) Dror.
A Trip to the Isle of Wight
A trip to the Isle of Wight — the first period in England.
From the album of Rear Admiral (Ret.) Avraham (Ivan) Dror.
A Trip to the Isle of Wight
A trip to the Isle of Wight — the first period in England.
From the album of Rear Admiral (Ret.) Avraham (Ivan) Dror.
Ivan and Tamar — The Liverpool Wedding, 1960
Greetings from Yosale Dror
A personal handwritten greeting alongside a photograph of INS Tanin and verses from the Book of Isaiah.
The original document is presented as received, without attempting to supply words that are unclear in the handwriting.
The Wedding Ceremony
Ivan and Tamar at their wedding ceremony in Liverpool, 1960.
The best men: Hadar Kimhi and Yoram Bar-Yam.
The groom and his best men were members of Rahav’s crew. The submarine was not due to sail for Israel until June 1960. Hadar was her commanding officer, Yoram her chief engineer, and Ivan her navigation officer.
The Wedding in the British Press
Sailor Weds Sabra — 8 January 1960
“Sailor Weds Sabra”
Sub-Lieutenant Avraham Dror, a Romanian-born Israeli naval officer, and Miss Tamar Ofir, a native of Petah Tikva, leave Childwall Synagogue in Liverpool following their wedding on Sunday.
The groom is a crew member of an Israeli submarine undergoing refit on Merseyside, and the bride works at the Israeli Embassy in Paris.
After the ceremony, the Central Zionist Council held a reception for the couple. Many of Sub-Lieutenant Dror’s shipmates attended.
English rendering of the accompanying newspaper extract, based on the album’s Hebrew transcription. The newspaper’s name is not visible in the clipping.
Navigation, Gunnery and Communications Officer, INS Rahav — 1959–1962
Young Ivan Without a Beard
A rare photograph of young Ivan without his beard, which he shaves off each summer.
From the album of Rear Admiral (Ret.) Avraham (Ivan) Dror.
Young Ivan Without a Beard
A rare photograph of young Ivan without his beard, which he shaves off each summer.
From the album of Rear Admiral (Ret.) Avraham (Ivan) Dror.
Navigation, Gunnery and Communications Officer, INS Rahav
Ivan during his service as Navigation, Gunnery and Communications Officer aboard INS Rahav, 1959–1962.
From the album of Rear Admiral (Ret.) Avraham (Ivan) Dror.
Awarding Submariner Badges
Ivan awards submariner badges on INS Rahav’s bridge upon her arrival in Israel.
From the album of Rear Admiral (Ret.) Avraham (Ivan) Dror.
With Rahav’s Commanding Officer, Hadar Kimhi
Ivan with INS Rahav’s commanding officer, Hadar Kimhi, and her first officer, Zeev Almog, upon Rahav’s arrival in Israel.
From the album of Rear Admiral (Ret.) Avraham (Ivan) Dror.
Rahav Goes to Sea
Rahav goes to sea. Ivan during his service as Navigation, Gunnery and Communications Officer aboard INS Rahav, 1959–1962.
From the album of Rear Admiral (Ret.) Avraham (Ivan) Dror.
Submarine Course A — The Coastal March
Ivan, commander of Submarine Course A, on the march from Rosh HaNikra to Ashkelon.
A Briefing During the March
Ivan, commander of Submarine Course A, on the coastal march from Rosh HaNikra to Ashkelon.
From the album of Rear Admiral (Ret.) Avraham (Ivan) Dror.
A Rest Along the Way
Ivan, commander of Submarine Course A, on the coastal march from Rosh HaNikra to Ashkelon.
From the album of Rear Admiral (Ret.) Avraham (Ivan) Dror.
Marching Along the Coast
Ivan, commander of Submarine Course A, on the coastal march from Rosh HaNikra to Ashkelon.
From the album of Rear Admiral (Ret.) Avraham (Ivan) Dror.
The End of the March — A Swim in the Sea
Ivan, commander of Submarine Course A, on the coastal march from Rosh HaNikra to Ashkelon.
From the album of Rear Admiral (Ret.) Avraham (Ivan) Dror.
Ivan Commands INS Tanin — 1965–1968
Handover of Command of INS Tanin
The handover of command of INS Tanin from Zeev Almog to Avraham (Ivan) Dror.
Handover of Command of INS Tanin
The handover of command of INS Tanin from Zeev Almog to Avraham (Ivan) Dror.
On Tanin’s Bridge
Avraham (Ivan) Dror, commanding officer of INS Tanin, 1965–1968.
From the album of Rear Admiral (Ret.) Avraham (Ivan) Dror.
Inside the Submarine
Avraham (Ivan) Dror, commanding officer of INS Tanin, 1965–1968.
From the album of Rear Admiral (Ret.) Avraham (Ivan) Dror.
A Meal Aboard the Submarine
Avraham (Ivan) Dror, commanding officer of INS Tanin, 1965–1968.
From the album of Rear Admiral (Ret.) Avraham (Ivan) Dror.
Ivan on the Bridge
Avraham (Ivan) Dror, commanding officer of INS Tanin, 1965–1968.
From the album of Rear Admiral (Ret.) Avraham (Ivan) Dror.
Ivan Hosts the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee Aboard Tanin
Ivan hosts the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee aboard Tanin.
From the album of Rear Admiral (Ret.) Avraham (Ivan) Dror.
Tanin’s Commanding Officer on a Winter’s Day
Tanin’s commanding officer boards the submarine on a winter’s day.
From the album of Rear Admiral (Ret.) Avraham (Ivan) Dror.
Between Tanin’s Compartments
Moving between compartments in civilian clothes.
From the album of Rear Admiral (Ret.) Avraham (Ivan) Dror.
Medal of Courage
On 6 June 1967, while commanding an Israeli Navy submarine on a mission near an enemy port, his submarine came under depth-charge attack. Although the submarine was damaged, he returned with her on 7 June 1967 and penetrated beyond the enemy’s defensive line.
For this act, he was awarded the Medal of Courage (Itur HaOz).
Nisan 5733 — April 1973
Lieutenant General David Elazar, Chief of the General Staff
Medal of Courage
On 6 June 1967, while commanding an Israeli Navy submarine on a mission near an enemy port, his submarine came under depth-charge attack. Although the submarine was damaged, he returned with her on 7 June 1967 and penetrated beyond the enemy’s defensive line.
For this act, he was awarded the Medal of Courage (Itur HaOz).
Nisan 5733 — April 1973
Lieutenant General David Elazar, Chief of the General Staff
Commander, Submarine Flotilla 7 — 1968–1972
Taking command of Submarine Flotilla 7.
Taking command of Submarine Flotilla 7.
Bringing a Torah Scroll Aboard the Submarine
Bringing a Torah Scroll Aboard the Submarine
Submarine Course Graduation Ceremony
Ivan addresses a Submarine Course graduation ceremony. Beside him are Navy Commander Avraham Botzer and Haifa Naval Base Commander Zvi Tirosh.
Taking Command of Submarine Flotilla 7
The handover of command of Submarine Flotilla 7 from Hadar Kimhi to Ivan. “Turbo” is in the background.
With Hadar and Yomi
With Hadar and Yomi on the day Ivan took command.
Commander, Submarine Flotilla 7
Commander, Submarine Flotilla 7
Handing Over Command to Gideon Raz
Handing over command of the flotilla to Gideon Raz. Also pictured are Eli Bar’am and Navy Commander Avraham Botzer.
The Outgoing and Incoming Commanders
The outgoing and incoming flotilla commanders: Ivan with Gideon Raz.
The Second Period in England — 1972–1976
Ivan Dror — Head of the Gal Submarine Project.
Promotion to Captain
Before leaving for England: receiving the rank of Captain (aluf-mishne) from Chief of the General Staff David “Dado” Elazar.
Receiving his new rank from Chief of the General Staff “Dado” and Navy Commander Avraham Botzer.
Before leaving for England: receiving the rank of Captain (aluf-mishne) from Chief of the General Staff David “Dado” Elazar.
The Launch of INS Gal
Tamar and Ivan with the Shipyard Chairman
Tamar and Ivan Dror with Sir Leonard Redshaw, chairman of the Barrow shipyard, and his wife.
Tamar Launches INS Gal
Tamar launches INS Gal.
INS Gal Begins to Slide Towards the Water
INS Gal begins to slide towards the water.
Invitation to the Launch Ceremony
Invitation to the launch of INS Gal — 2 December 1975.
Commander of Haifa Naval Base and the Northern Naval Arena — 1976–1979
The Handover of Command of Haifa Naval Base
The handover of command of Haifa Naval Base from Zeev Almog to Ivan. Navy Commander Michael “Yomi” Barkai stands between them.
From the album of Rear Admiral (Ret.) Avraham (Ivan) Dror.
Promotion to Rear Admiral
Receiving the rank of Rear Admiral from Chief of the General Staff Mordechai “Motta” Gur and Navy Commander Michael “Yumi” Barkai.
From the album of Rear Admiral (Ret.) Avraham (Ivan) Dror.
Promotion to Rear Admiral
Receiving the rank of Rear Admiral from Chief of the General Staff Mordechai “Motta” Gur and Navy Commander Michael “Yumi” Barkai.
From the album of Rear Admiral (Ret.) Avraham (Ivan) Dror.
The Commander of Haifa Naval Base in His Office
The commander of Haifa Naval Base in his office.
From the album of Rear Admiral (Ret.) Avraham (Ivan) Dror.
Hosting the Minister of Defence
Hosting Minister of Defence Ezer Weizman.
From the album of Rear Admiral (Ret.) Avraham (Ivan) Dror.
With the Navy Commander and the Minister of Defence
With the Navy Commander and the Minister of Defence.
From the album of Rear Admiral (Ret.) Avraham (Ivan) Dror.
The Chief of the General Staff Visits a Submarine
Chief of the General Staff Mordechai “Motta” Gur visits a submarine.
From the album of Rear Admiral (Ret.) Avraham (Ivan) Dror.
With Chief of the General Staff Rafael Eitan
With Chief of the General Staff Rafael “Raful” Eitan.
From the album of Rear Admiral (Ret.) Avraham (Ivan) Dror.
A Visit by a Foreign Navy Commander
A foreign navy commander visits Haifa Naval Base.
From the album of Rear Admiral (Ret.) Avraham (Ivan) Dror.