Posted on 03/31/2013 10:01:26 PM PDT by cunning_fish
In World War I they created a disaster in World War II, they had the highest number of casualties, they now teach U.S. carrier to fear: German U-boats are ambivalent weapons
The message from Rostock bursting with understatement: With have a dive trip of 18 days U32 conducted the "longest and most submerged transit of a submarine of the German Navy," reports the Navy Command of the Armed Forces. In times when the nuclear-powered submarines of the United States or the Soviet Union easily displace up to 15,000 tons or more and can stay underwater for months, that sounds like a ridiculous footnote a spectator. In fact, hidden behind the 8519 km-long dive trip from U32 several records.
Since 2005 does U32 and U31 his sister boat service in the German Navy. Both belong to the class of 212 A, which was developed in the 1990s by the German shipyard HDW-and Nordseewerke. It is conventionally operated hunting submarines with 1830 tonnes displacement (submerged), 27 crew members and six torpedo tubes. Meantime, the German Navy for four boats of this type, the purchase of two more are planned. Cost: about 400 million euros per piece.
Back in 2006, U32 placed on the drive from Eckernförde by Spain on a diving world record for non-nuclear-powered submarines, which has now surpassed again. In addition, the boats of the 212 A-class are considered to be the quietest in the world. And that, though they still have to meet a key criterion of the German U-boat construction: dipped to get through the Kadetrinne in the Mecklenburg Bay, so at 17 meters water depth.
(Excerpt) Read more at welt.de ...
U.S. Admiral was furious
Several years ago broke through U24, a German U-boat - now obsolete - type 206 A, during an exercise in the Caribbean, the defense of the U.S. carrier "Enterprise" and the simulated firing of a torpedo fan. U.S. Admiral said to have been furious when he was shown the photos by the German periscope.
One other submarine of the same type should have circled a U.S. hunter-killer of the "Los Angeles" class in a short distance several times, without the Americans discovered it. Witnesses reported that the U.S. officers who were on board the German boat, were "beads of sweat on his forehead."
The core of the current German submarine technology is a fuel cell system that can, regardless of the outdoor air supply power. Surfaced drives a diesel generator on the boat. The results were surprising. Underwater reach the boat speeds up to 20 knots, over water, however, only twelve.
With such technical excellence writes itself into the U32 with highlights not truly poor history of German U-boat construction. However, the best known of these points were true disasters.
It was followed by the declaration of war by the United States
The biggest was undoubtedly the unrestricted U-boat war, the German Empire was opened in the First World War in the Atlantic. After its leaders had realized too late that submarines could significantly more effective than the expensive battle fleet against the British naval supremacy are used, everything was sunk, which was the German captains before the torpedo tubes or guns. After the sinking of the "Laconia" in February 1917, when even American citizens were killed, the U.S. declared war on the Central Powers. Against their potential the Empire had no chance.
Not for nothing Treaty of Versailles banned the German Reich the construction of submarines. In return, the Nazi regime favored in its rearmament the construction of a giant submarine fleet in 1941 in the Battle of the Atlantic moved. At that time, submarines usually fought over water and were immersed slow and highly vulnerable. After the Allies the German radio code had been cracked, her radar powerful enough and long-range bombers with powerful spotlights at night and dominated the lake, the losses increased in 1943 in such heights that the attacks on the convoys had to be discontinued.
Once again, the German U-boat builders were not. They combined the best diesel-electric drive with a snorkel. In Types XXI end of the war was thus a weapon available against which there was hardly a defense of their time. However, the boats were no longer used, and instead went into the possession of the victors. Of 40,000 U-boat drivers were 30,000 killed, no other type of weapon had such loss.
There is no shortage of potential buyers
Nevertheless proved to the German strategy, not submarines use to fight against enemy warships, but against the Merchant Marine, as an example. Soon came the U.S. Navy in the Pacific War it to attack the Japanese supply routes with submarines.
Conversely, the submarines of the Imperial Japanese fleet were indeed as perhaps the most innovative in the world, but they were installed incorrectly. Japan built mini-submarines and huge underwater aircraft carrier that could travel once around the equator, and the U.S. Coast or the Panama Canal to attack. The fight against unarmed merchant ships saw the imperial naval warfare doctrine does not say what led to immense losses and poor results.
The restriction to non-nuclear drive and the experience of World War II promoted by the establishment of the Federal Navy developing smaller, faster and quieter submarines. Since then, international purchase interests in this country have repeatedly triggered internal debates. The latest success stories of U 32 is probably arouse desires again after the export versions, the German shipyards still in the program.
Bookmark for after the FR Sea Power brain trust goes over this.
-”Beerfest”
It is what it is.
No FReeper will spill the beans
I’ve heard about these boats for some time. We might aughtta buy a few.
I’ve heard about these boats for some time. We might aughtta buy a few.
Why does Germany need U-Boats? Why build them at all? Who are they going to fight? In a war with Russia it will not be U-Boats they need, They could not use them far away—like the Indian Ocean or South Pacific—they do not have the support ships? Besides, there will never be another Naval War in the age of rockets, drones, and Atomic Weapons.
Sighted Sup, sank same...
Is datta U-boat?
Datsa notta my boat datsa U-boat.
Datsa what I say, datsa U - boat.
Datsa notta my boat.
I know dattsa notta my boat. Datsa U boat.
Funny you mention that. We are actually in the process of buying two of these German subs,,,,, for the moslem brotherhood in Egypt.
IMO...Totally amateur at that...they can make them quiet as they want...but them boats HAVE to emit a big ole magnetic field signature...and salt water is an excellent conductor.
Dey sprecken der Englisch mit puttin der cart before der horse all der while somedimes yet.
Anybody out there notice that our Kenyan POTUS is basically RIDDING OUR NAVY of anti-submarine capability?
I don't think they want another go with the Russians.
The major, major question for weltpolitik and for all you Stratego players is, how cozy are they going to get with the Russians?
No they don't. Hull is austenitic steel, with very little magnetic signature.
And under the best of circumstances MAD is a very, very short range sensor.
Non-nuclear submarines don't make much sense for the US because we forward-deploy over long distances.
Not sure what specific steps you're referring to but the process for every one of them was likely started in the Bush administration.
A lot of added ASW capabilities recently....you don't hear about.
Please note that a submerged conventional sub running on batteries is WAY more quiet that a nuke boat. A nuke boat is rube goldbergian contraption with pumps and loud steam turbine powered MP plant. A sub running on batteries is super stealth.
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