The INS Dakar Memorial commemorates the 69 members of the Israeli Navy who were lost when the submarine INS Dakar disappeared in the Mediterranean in January 1968; the wreck was located in 1999. The memorial stands within the Garden of the Missing Soldiers in the National Military and Police Cemetery on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem. Its site and approximate coordinates are marked as 31°46′34.50″N 35°10′47.26″E.

Overview

The monument is dedicated specifically to the crew of INS Dakar and functions both as a remembrance for the families and as a public symbol of national loss. It is part of the broader set of commemorative sites and monuments on Mount Herzl that honor Israel's fallen and missing servicemembers. A detailed memorial page and visitor information are available through official memorial resources here.

Design and features

Conceived by architect David Anatol Brotzkos and completed in 1970, the memorial uses exposed concrete shaped to evoke a submarine hull. The lower portion appears submerged into the ground, giving the impression of a vessel half below the surface. On the front face is inscribed a line from the Bible, Psalm 77:19: "Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though Your footprints were not seen." Inside the structure a single room displays the roll of all 69 names of the lost sailors.

Location and context

The site is located in the Garden of the Missing Soldiers at Mount Herzl and stands adjacent to the wall that lists Israel's missing soldiers and sailors. Visitors approach the memorial from the cemetery grounds of Mount Herzl on the slopes overlooking Jerusalem. The memorial is intentionally placed near other national memorials, reinforcing the collective remembrance of service and sacrifice.

Historical background and significance

INS Dakar sailed from the United Kingdom to Israel in 1968 but disappeared en route and was lost with all hands in the Mediterranean Sea. For decades the fate of the submarine and its crew was a source of national sorrow and speculation until the wreck was positively identified in 1999. The memorial, erected shortly after the loss, became an official locus for mourning and commemoration and a place where annual ceremonies and private visits by families and navy delegations are held.

Visiting and notable facts

  • The memorial was constructed in 1970 and is made from reinforced concrete, its half‑submerged form intended as a visual metaphor.
  • The biblical inscription inside frames the loss in spiritual language and is often cited in commemorative speeches.
  • The interior contains the names of all 69 crew members and offers a quiet space for reflection.
  • The memorial is sited near the wall of the names of the missing soldiers and is part of the cemetery’s formal layout.

Researchers, visitors and those paying respects may consult memorial authorities and resources for visiting hours and ceremonies; official information and further context can be found through cemetery and naval heritage pages about the submarine and the national memorial listings maintained by the cemetery. The INS Dakar Memorial remains a focal point for collective memory, honoring the lives lost at sea and preserving their names within the nation's official commemorative landscape.