Military sells subs to Poland

NETTAVISEN ^ | 03.11.04 | Carin Pettersson

[lizol]

GIFTS FROM NORWAY: Military sells subs to Poland Carin Pettersson 03.11.04 12:47

While Norwegians love to import cheap, Polish labor, the military sells Norwegian submarines for a symbolic amount to the Polish military.

The Polish Navy has purchased five submarines of the type Kobber for a symbolic amount, reported the Norwegian paper Stavanger Aftenblad’s web edition.

The investment does not put a large strain on the Polish defense budget because Norway is selling the five submarines for NOK 5 (USD 0.78). The value of the submarines from the 1960 is estimated to NOK 1.2 billion (USD 186.6 million).

The submarines will soon leave the Norwegian Royal Navy’s main base Haakonsvern outside Bergen.

The submarines have been modernized and upgraded with new technology before they were given to the new NATO navy in Poland. The submarines are a gift from the Norwegian government to the Polish, reported the paper.

[kendu]

these the ones with screen doors?

[rahbert]

Hopefully the Poles will have better luck than the Canadians had with their second hand Brit subs...

[uglybiker]

Now if we'd just sell a few to Taiwan....

[68skylark]

This is good news -- I think Norway has been a real solid citizen within NATO.

The future seems bright for Poland, after all their misfortune in the 20th century they seem smart enough to like their future fate to the U.S. and NATO. One day soon they'll be able to pay market prices for their military hardware, and help the next generation of countries to build out of poverty and tyranny.

[JPE]

I hope the Poles get a better warranty than the British gave Canada for a used sub.

[68skylark]

Well the British Navy seemed to operate those subs without that same problems. So maybe the trouble lies elsewhere -- maybe with a Canadian government that skimps on proper training & upkeep. A navy doesn't work if it's a hand-to-mouth operation.

[archy]

5 Kroner for a used sub? Heck, even if they have to cannibalize a couple for parts to keep the others going, that's a deal.

[hchutch]

For later reference ping...

[archy]

these the ones with screen doors?

They sure look to be in a lot better shape than the old Russian boats being peddled off.

[Grzegorz 246]

Actualy 4 of them are already in Poland. These subs are old, but they were deeply modernized in late 90's, so they are much better than 2 younger Soviet built Foxtrot class subs, which was replaced by these Kobbens. These ships are very small, designed for conditions of Baltic and North Sea area.

[sukhoi-30mki]

No European sub building nation will sell any military system or technology to Taiwan & the US doesn't design D/E subs-so they would have to rely on the Europeans(Germans/French/Swedes/Dutch) to give them a design to build upon.In short,Taiwan may never get the subs it wants.

[sukhoi-30mki]

These subs are German built Type-206s,which have had none of the problems the much newer Upholders had ,even in Royal Navy service.

[Meldrim]

It sounds as though it is time for the Taiwanese to partner with the Israeli's...again.

[sukhoi-30mki]

Makes sense,though it is unlikely as Israel does not design or build subs(though it makes ESM systems,decoys & cruise missiles).They would need some sort of permission from the Germans,which is unlikely esp with Israel looking to buy more subs(probably the new Tpye-214s).