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.

[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