silent service

Noun

silent service (usually uncountable, plural silent services)

1. (capitalized, informal, sometimes, usually) The submarine service.
   • Germany has four times as many subs as when the war started. . . . The number of highly trained men in Berlin's silent service is limited.1943 January 7, “News Behind the News”, in Modesto Bee, US, page 16
   • As befits advocates of the “Silent Service,” the Naval Submarine League keeps a low profile.1986 August 4, Richard Halloran, “Washington Talk: Speaking Out for the Silent Service”, in New York Times, retrieved 06 Aug 2012
2. (capitalized, dated, informal, possibly, sometimes, usually) The navy.
   • In true "silent service" tradition, the Royal Canadian Navy says little about itself.1940 May 17, “Royal Canadian Navy Growing In Strength”, in Ottawa Citizen, Canada, retrieved 07 Aug 2012, page 9
   • The Navy has long been known as the "silent service," and perhaps none of our naval leaders is as well known to the American public as any one of a number of generals.1945 June 3, “Pacific Seadogs”, in New York Times, USA, page SM6