Saves the deck apes from having to go 'up and over' the OOD's noggin to get from fore to aft. I note there's no way 'around' that sail! 
Posted on 05/02/2006 6:21:54 PM PDT by 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.
the export versions don't have amagnetic steal hulls - so they are detectable.
ummm isn't that a bit to optimistic ?
It's been a few years since Germany had any plans concerning the planet.
Saw this on the Discovery channel last week. Just hope none end up in the wrong hands, because I bet they are a devil to detect.
Don't know what they did inside.
Oh yeah??? Well, I've passed more lighthouses, sitting on the john, whilst backing down submerged ... than the telephone poles you've passed on the highway during all the driving you've ever done!
So there!
Saves the deck apes from having to go 'up and over' the OOD's noggin to get from fore to aft. I note there's no way 'around' that sail!
and now we are forced back out there because our biggest allie is moaning that he cannot bear all the burdens of beeing a super power anymore...
well we are glad to help.
have a look at these videos of U31 and U32:
http://www.marine.de/02DB070000000001/vwASX/6CXNN9304INFODE.asx
http://www.marine.de/02DB070000000001/vwASX/6LFA3X263INFODE.asx
Better send a message to the liberty ships, and their destroyer escourts, to be on the lookout ... :-)
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