The CNC Black Bay 54 and Heritage Commando Strap

A Watch & Strap Commemorating The 100th Training Class For France’s Elite Maritime SpecOps Unit.

The world of military watches is enriched by stories of watches that need to have durability, precision and often distinctive design elements. Whether at the direction of the specific defence department or the requirements of the personnel using them, these watches often have unique or distinct attributes that set them apart from civilian examples. And it’s this aspect that drives collectors to acquire such timepieces and chase examples that have been developed and used by the military.

Tudor has a track record of working very closely with military forces around the world and no other example is more widely recognised than its partnership with the French national navy, the Marine Nationale, or MN as it is known. The genesis of the Pelagos FXD lies within this partnership and it is a relationship that dates back to the 1950s. Aside from the publicly available Pelagos FXD and FXD GMT MN Editions, there has recently been a special watch commissioned by Commando Hubert to commemorate the 100^th Combat Swimmer Course that concluded this summer.

The watch is a custom Black Bay 54 with “200m” text on the dial and it marks another significant chapter in this storied history. This special edition watch honours the significant milestone of the 100th Combat Swimmer Course hosted and led by the French diving school, the course is a prerequisite for an operator to be assigned to Commando Hubert. This watch also gave birth to a unique accessory; a unique version of the W.O.E.-ZA Commando Strap crafted from vintage parachute material.

100 CNCs

The Combat Swimmer Course (CNC) is a rigorous 27-week training regimen that prepares France’s elite naval commandos for complex operations across various environments. Conducted under the supervision of a lieutenant and ten petty officer instructors, the CNC encompasses three intensive phases, focusing on oxygen diving, preparation for NC attacks, and specialised combat swimmer skills. The program challenges candidates with deep-sea navigation, underwater demolition, and high-risk parachuting, concluding with a demanding set of exams to test their mastery of these complex disciplines.

The badge awarded to CNC Graduates

Divers on the CNC course

Only five to ten percent of those who start the CNC earn the combat swimmer certificate, a testament to the course’s difficulty and the high standards expected of participants. This badge of honour signifies more than just successful completion; it denotes a profound journey of personal and professional growth, marking its bearers as exceptional warriors capable of adapting to and controlling aquatic, terrestrial, and aerial environments. This elite training ensures that graduates are not only skilled in advanced military techniques but also equipped to lead and excel in high-stakes missions worldwide.

The Black Bay 54

Tudor revisited its origins with the Black Bay 54, a homage to the brand’s first Submariner from 1954. The watch features a historically accurate bezel insert and a tweak to the hands, presenting a watch that’s true to its dive watch heritage. With a number of striking similarities to the Submariner reference 7922 with a 37mm no-crown-guard case and water resistance up to 100 meters, the Black Bay 54 maintains these classic proportions while incorporating the modern Tudor manufacture movement, calibre MT5400, and enhancing water resistance to 200 meters.

Unlike the standard Tudor models available through official retailers, the Black Bay 54 designed for Commando Hubert includes unique elements that I can share here exclusively.

The watch dial, uncluttered by the usual depth ratings and certifications, features a streamlined aesthetic with just a bold red “200m” marking, omitting the typical chronometer certification texts for a no-nonsense military vibe. Furthermore, the dial is marked with “CNC xxx-100” at the bottom, signifying “Cours des Nageurs de Combat” and linking each watch to one of the 100 combat divers’ courses, creating a direct line to the historical courses taught by Commando Hubert.

The Heritage Edition Commando Strap

To accompany the special edition Black Bay 54, Commando Hubert wanted a special strap, which led to the collaboration with my friends at Watches of Espionage and Zulu Alpha Straps. As I’ve written about before, the straps that were delivered to accompany the commemorative Black Bay 54 were made from a new-old-stock roll of original parachute webbing. This strap not only provides a robust and practical fit for diving and military operations but also carries the essence of history in its fibres.

To complete the set, each watch and strap came in a miniature FROGS (Full Range Oxygen Gas System) as a watch box.

The collaboration began when Commando Hubert divers expressed the need for a durable strap that resonated with the heritage of Marine Nationale divers. These elite divers historically crafted makeshift straps from parachute webbing for their Tudor MilSubs. The result of extensive prototyping and feedback from the divers led to the creation of two versions of the Commando Strap: a regular production version made from bespoke elastic webbing and the Heritage edition made from vintage material.

Each strap is fitted with a metal buckle system that has been in use by the Marine Nationale since the 1950s. Used for a number of applications, it was used by Commando Hubert for diving weight belts. The tension makes it very hard to release the system by mistake, but if one decides to ditch some weight in order to surface back up, it can be done one-handed in a “finger snap”.

A Tribute to the Legacy

The completion of the 100th Combat Swimmer Course (CNC) by Commando Hubert is not only a milestone for the French Navy but also a celebration of endurance, skill, and the spirit of the elite naval commandos. To commemorate this landmark, we have the special Black Bay 54 that was presented on Heritage Commando Strap, made from vintage parachute webbing. For lovers of military watches and specifically Tudor examples, this is pretty special!

It’s unclear whether the French operators will utilise the special edition Black Bay 54 operationally or view them as commemorative timepieces honouring the unit’s history, but we do know the Commando Hubert wear and use their special two-line FXD models in diving contexts, even forgoing the use of a diving computer in many combat swimming scenarios.

In any case, the addition of the 100th CNC Black Bay 54 into the annals of Tudor’s already extensive history with maritime special operations is further evidence of the strong link between timepieces and special operations.