diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9450126..25a6653 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -704,5 +704,106 @@ Default value: none.
 
 Without an optional `path` parameter, all files and subdirectories of the current working directory are included in the archive. If one or more paths are specified, only these are included.
 
+
+
+## The "gitsubmoduleupdate" task
+
+Updates submodules in the repository (via git submodule update).
+
+### Overview
+In your project's Gruntfile, add a section named `gitsubmoduleupdate` to the data object passed into `grunt.initConfig()`.
+
+```js
+grunt.initConfig({
+  gitsubmoduleupdate: {
+    your_target: {
+      options: {
+        // Target-specific options go here.
+      }
+    }
+  }
+})
+```
+
+### Options
+
+More detailed descriptions of these options are available at http://git-scm.com/docs/git-submodule.
+
+#### options.init
+Type: `boolean`
+Default value: `false`
+
+Initialize all submodules for which "git submodule init" has not been called so far before updating.
+
+#### options.remote
+Type: `Boolean`
+Default value: `false`
+
+Instead of using the superproject's recorded SHA-1 to update the submodule, use the status of the submodule's remote-tracking branch.
+
+#### options.force
+Type: `Boolean`
+Default value: `false`
+
+Throw away local changes in submodules when switching to a different commit.
+
+#### options.rebase
+Type: `Boolean`
+Default value: `false`
+
+Rebase the current branch onto the commit recorded in the superproject.
+
+#### options.merge
+Type: `Boolean`
+Default value: `false`
+
+Merge the commit recorded in the superproject into the current branch of the submodule.
+
+#### options.reference
+Type: `String`
+Default value: `null`
+
+This option will be passed to the ``git-clone()`` command used during an *update --init*
+
+#### options.recursive
+Type: `Boolean`
+Default value: `false`
+
+Traverse submodules recursively.
+
+#### options.depth
+Type: `Integer`
+Default value: `null`
+
+Create a 'shallow' clone with a history truncated to the specified number of revisions.
+
+#### options.path
+Type: `String`
+Default value: `null`
+
+path to the submodule to be updated. All submodules will be updated if path is not specified.
+
+#### options.noFetch
+Type: `Boolean`
+Default value: `false`
+
+Don't fetch new objects from the remote site.
+
+### Usage Examples
+
+```js
+grunt.initConfig({
+    gitsubmoduleupdate: {
+        task: {
+            options: {
+                init: true,
+                recursive: true
+            }
+        }
+    }
+});
+```
+
+
 ## Contributing
 In lieu of a formal styleguide, take care to maintain the existing coding style. Add unit tests for any new or changed functionality. Lint and test your code using [Grunt](http://gruntjs.com/).
diff --git a/lib/command_submodule_update.js b/lib/command_submodule_update.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3a6685c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/command_submodule_update.js
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+'use strict';
+
+var async = require('grunt').util.async;
+var grunt = require('grunt');
+var stringUtil = require('underscore.string');
+
+module.exports = function (task, exec, done) {
+    var optionKey;
+    var allowedOptions = {
+        init: false,
+        remote: false,
+        force: false,
+        rebase: false,
+        merge: false,
+        reference: null,
+        depth: null,
+        recursive: false,
+        noFetch: false
+    };
+
+    var options = task.options(allowedOptions);
+
+    var args = ['submodule', 'update'];
+
+
+    // Loop through allowable cli flags in options and add to args
+    for (optionKey in allowedOptions) {
+        if (options[optionKey] !== undefined && options[optionKey] !== null && options[optionKey] !== false) {
+            // Add flag
+            args.push('--' + stringUtil.dasherize(optionKey));
+            // If not a boolean, add the value after the flag
+            if (typeof options[optionKey] !== 'boolean') {
+                args.push(options[optionKey]);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    // If a path was specified, add it now:
+    if (options.path) {
+        args.push(options.path);
+    }
+
+    // Add callback
+    args.push(done);
+
+    exec.apply(this, args);
+};
+
+module.exports.description = 'Update git submodules.';
diff --git a/lib/commands.js b/lib/commands.js
index b45cf29..5e5b3c8 100644
--- a/lib/commands.js
+++ b/lib/commands.js
@@ -10,5 +10,6 @@ module.exports = {
     rebase: require('./command_rebase'),
     reset: require('./command_reset'),
     stash: require('./command_stash'),
-    tag: require('./command_tag')
+    tag: require('./command_tag'),
+    submoduleupdate: require('./command_submodule_update')
 };
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 406f28c..d7b3c5c 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -42,5 +42,8 @@
   },
   "keywords": [
     "gruntplugin"
-  ]
+  ],
+  "dependencies": {
+    "underscore.string": "~2.3.3"
+  }
 }
diff --git a/test/submodule_update_test.js b/test/submodule_update_test.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a5fc91d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/submodule_update_test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,115 @@
+'use strict';
+
+var command = require('../lib/commands').submoduleupdate;
+var Test = require('./_common');
+
+describe('submodule update', function () {
+    it('should update submodules', function (done) {
+        var options = {
+        };
+
+        new Test(command, options)
+            .expect(['submodule', 'update'])
+            .run(done);
+    });
+
+    it('should accept init option', function (done) {
+        var options = {
+            init: true
+        };
+
+        new Test(command, options)
+            .expect(['submodule', 'update', '--init'])
+            .run(done);
+    });
+
+    it('should accept remote option', function (done) {
+        var options = {
+            remote: true
+        };
+
+        new Test(command, options)
+            .expect(['submodule', 'update', '--remote'])
+            .run(done);
+    });
+
+    it('should accept no-fetch option', function (done) {
+        var options = {
+            noFetch: true
+        };
+
+        new Test(command, options)
+            .expect(['submodule', 'update', '--no-fetch'])
+            .run(done);
+    });
+
+    it('should accept force option', function (done) {
+        var options = {
+            force: true
+        };
+
+        new Test(command, options)
+            .expect(['submodule', 'update', '--force'])
+            .run(done);
+    });
+
+    it('should accept rebase option', function (done) {
+        var options = {
+            rebase: true
+        };
+
+        new Test(command, options)
+            .expect(['submodule', 'update', '--rebase'])
+            .run(done);
+    });
+
+    it('should accept merge option', function (done) {
+        var options = {
+            merge: true
+        };
+
+        new Test(command, options)
+            .expect(['submodule', 'update', '--merge'])
+            .run(done);
+    });
+
+    it('should accept reference option', function (done) {
+        var options = {
+            reference: 'https://myrepo.com/repo.git'
+        };
+
+        new Test(command, options)
+            .expect(['submodule', 'update', '--reference', 'https://myrepo.com/repo.git'])
+            .run(done);
+    });
+
+    it('should accept depth option', function (done) {
+        var options = {
+            depth: 0
+        };
+
+        new Test(command, options)
+            .expect(['submodule', 'update', '--depth', '0'])
+            .run(done);
+    });
+
+    it('should accept recursive option', function (done) {
+        var options = {
+            recursive: true
+        };
+
+        new Test(command, options)
+            .expect(['submodule', 'update', '--recursive'])
+            .run(done);
+    });
+
+    it('should accept path option', function (done) {
+        var options = {
+            path: '/test/path'
+        };
+
+        new Test(command, options)
+            .expect(['submodule', 'update', '/test/path'])
+            .run(done);
+    });
+});