German submarine sets world record for conventional dive

Deutsche Presse-Agentur ^ | Apr 26, 2006 | GMT

[george76]

One of Germany's crack new fuel-cell-powered submarines has set a world record with a two-week-long dive, the German Navy said Wednesday.

The trip by the U212A-class sub with a crew of 27 from Eckernfoerde in Germany to Rota in Spain involved the longest period that any non-nuclear vessel had ever spent under water.

The navy did not say what the previous record had been.

US and Russian nuclear submarines can stay under water for longer.

Germany, which has no nuclear weapons and no nuclear-powered ships, developed the high-tech hybrid-powered submarines to replace diesel-electric vessels that need to surface more often to obtain air for the engines.

The U212A vessels have a hybrid propulsion system made up of an electric motor which is fed power from fuel cells that burn hydrogen. They must also keep air in their tanks, but need less than diesels do.

The vessel, the U 32, made the trip April 11-25 and had proved the capability of the propulsion system, a naval spokesman said in Gluecksburg, northern Germany.

The U 32 is to protect the Straits of Gibraltar and Mediterranean as part of the war against terrorism.

The stealthy hybrid-powered vessels are almost noiseless and do not release any exhaust gases when under water.

[TADSLOS]

[EagleUSA]

Better send a message to the liberty ships, and their destroyer escourts, to be on the lookout ... :-)

[Cannoneer No. 4]

These could be very dangerous in the hands of a hostile navy. Our ASW capabilities are not what they once were, and when they were pretty good they were finding noisy Soviet nukes, not these.

[bmwcyle]

That is the dive record that made the news. A Russian Kilo beat that in the 1980's. It was never made public. I don't know if we ever figured out how they did it but they made 24 days.

[Drango]

The French submarine surrendered in 2 hours.

[george76]

a two-week-long dive

[Cannoneer No. 4]

The U212-class submarines have been designed to be powered by hydrogen fuel cells instead of traditional atmosphere-dependent propulsion systems. The new submarines will be quietest than previous German models and will be able to stay submerged for longer periods of time. The fuel cells will provide to conventional submarines some features only available for nuclear-powered vessels.

The fuel cell propulsion system based on hydrogen allows the boat to cruise submerged for weeks, typically a diesel-powered submarine can remain submerged for only two days. Fuel Cells generates no noise and no exhaust heat. The Portuguese and Greek Navies have ordered the German hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system for three of their U209-class submarines on order or already in service.

The U212-class is an evolution of proven U209 submarines. The new submarine will be armed with the DM2A4 torpedo and will perform shallow water and open sea missions. It will feature six 533mm torpedo tubes and 12 torpedoes or 24 mines.

The 4 U212 submarines ordered by the German Navy are being built by the ARGE 212 consortium. The Italian Navy has also ordered 2 U212 submarines being built at Fincantieri shipyard. The first U212 submarine achieved operational capability and was commissioned in the German Navy by 2003.

[george76]

Maybe they sat on the bottom and did not move.

[RightWhale]

Our ASW capabilities are not what they once were

That's right. Now nothing bigger than a rowboat and less than two miles deep can escape detection, and if it comes to it, destruction within thirty minutes anywhere on earth.

[bmwcyle]

I don't know but they did do it. I learn this in my Submarine Sonar class while in the Navy.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

U212 / U214 ATTACK SUBMARINES, GERMANY

[Cannoneer No. 4]

[george76]

"nothing bigger than a rowboat and less than two miles deep can escape detection..."

That should do it.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Why is the U.S. Navy Leasing a Swedish Submarine?

[SmithL]

Steely-eyed Killers of the Deep Active Ping

---

These boats, and newer Diesel Boats, are great for coastal defense and patrolling smaller seas, but if you're going to prowl the planet, you need a reactor.

[1rudeboy]

Damn Germans and their submarines.

[Doohickey]

I've more time that that in my rack at test depth...

[Doohickey]

Neat. Now let's see them spend two weeks deeep in littoral waters without getting a fix.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

[1rudeboy]

bttt

[1rudeboy]

Cool door. Doesn't look like the screen door on the Italian models.

[Doohickey]

It can also dispense the world's largest Pez. But don't tell anybody.

[1rudeboy]

I'm still trying to figure out why the door is facing forward. So it can sink faster?
I'm sure they had a good reason. They're German.

[Doohickey]

We submariners like to have more than one exit. I'm sure there's another on the aft deck somewhere.

That forward hatch is no doubt like that so that the boat can load weapons. They are loaded at an angle down into the torpedo room. Our nuke boats are large enough to have a weapons shipping hatch separate from escape hatches.

[2111USMC]

I get claustrophobic just looking at it.

[aliquando]

Sounds impressive, but they probably get 8 weeks of paid vacation a year. We could take them out then.

[aliquando]

Sounds impressive, but they probably get 8 weeks of paid vacation a year. We could take them out then.

[brothers4thID]

She (he? can't recall how the Germans address their boats)looks small. What's the displacement?

[BIGLOOK]

Do you Bubbleheads consider the North Sea blue water?

But in the spirit of the moment, Congratulations to the German Navy for remaining submerged for two weeks. (And BZ to the SSN tailing them.)

[BykrBayb]

ROFL - Smart aleck!

[Doohickey]

I've done ops there. I don't know what the official position is, but mine is "no". I have stories of attempted surface transits across the North Sea that involve 30 degree rolls and puke bags tied to the conn railing.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

1800 tons

[PogySailor]

Two weeks? Just getting settled in to the watch rotation.

Cribbage tournaments on the ustafish lasted longer.

All kidding aside, these AIP boats are going to be a problem for somebody.

[Husker24]

That almost looks like a midget sub.

[Jambe]

The U 32 is to protect the Straits of Gibraltar and Mediterranean as part of the war against terrorism.

So what do they expect someone to do, STEAL Gibraltar?

[AnalogReigns]

The Portuguese and Greek Navies have ordered the German hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system ...

Ahh yes, we can really have confidence the Portuguese and the Greeks won't let these ships fall into the hands of terrorists...

[sukhoi-30mki]

That probably explains why US & British subs & surface forces have had rather unpleasant experiences with Australian & Nordic D/E subs in joint-exercises.

[sukhoi-30mki]

http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/type_212/specs.html

[sukhoi-30mki]

While it's pretty cramped by Nuke boat standards,it's far more comfortable than traditional SSKs with a crew of just 27 men.

[sukhoi-30mki]

You sure it was 24 days by a Kilo???Modern Kilos can't do anything more than 2 days at most.

Unless we are talking about snorkeling.

[sukhoi-30mki]

South Korea,Italy & Israel are all due to recieve the same system either in brand new subs (U-212/214) or adaptations of the older Type-209 class.Other HDW users like India have been offered the fuel cell system for mid-life upgrades to their boats.

[GSlob]

Wouldn't a hydrogen-powered boat be essentially tethered to the [few] shore refueling facilities? Are there any hydrogen-carrying tankers to refuel at sea?

[wolf78]

"These boats, and newer Diesel Boats, are great for coastal defense and patrolling smaller seas, but if you're going to prowl the planet, you need a reactor."

Yeah, but they're ideal for, say, the mediterranean, and that's also the reason why Israel is going to get at least another two of those boats. They have no use for big nuclear powered subs, but two weeks submerged is plenty of time to enhance Israels second-strike-capacity and to make to make Iran think twice about pissing off the Israelis.

The first three for the Israeli navy were conventional diesel-powered subs, the new ones already have the fuel cell AIP-enhancements. For more information, also see:

http://www.dolphin.org.il/

[Old Sarge]

Das Boot?

[bmwcyle]

I am sure. They did it.

[FreedomPoster]

Naval tech ping.

[sukhoi-30mki]

Any idea what the propulsion source was???I ask because the AIP system that Russia offers for Kilo upgrades & it's new Amur class subs,the 'Krystal-E'(??) is considered inferior to the Siemens system.

[lizol]