Posted on 09/30/2009 12:31:14 PM PDT by NativeNewYorker
TEL AVIV, Israel, Sept. 30 (UPI) -- Israel has taken delivery of two German-made submarines capable of launching missiles with nuclear warheads.
"We have received two Dolphin-class submarines built from Germany," Israel and Arab media reported quoting an anonymous Israeli military spokesman.
Called U212s, the submarines were upgraded in Germany by Israeli technicians and engineers in order to enable them to carry nuclear warheads.
Initially in 2006, when the sale was confirmed, the German government said the two vessels were not equipped to carry nuclear weapons.
The submarines were ordered in 2005, and delivery was originally scheduled for 2010.
With the latest delivery, Israel now holds five state-of- the-art U212s, designed for a crew of 35 and capable of launching cruise missiles that carry nuclear warheads to a distance of 2,810 miles. The submarines are the most expensive weapon platforms in Israel's arsenal.
Since the end of the Second World War and the mass murder of Jews under the Nazi regime, Germany has made it its historic obligation to help Israel.
The first two U212s were donated by Berlin to the government of Israel after the 1991 Gulf War.
It split the cost of the third with the Jewish state, offering it at an almost symbolic price, local media reported. "The German government decided to deliver Israel … the five vessels and allow its experts to manipulate them in order to provide Tel Aviv with hardware needed to evacuate its entire nuclear weaponry arsenal on an appropriate fleet, while allowing it to be employed in warfare," the Arab monitor reported.
It said the delivery was in violation of German law forbidding the export of military equipment or weapons of non- NATO countries engaged in warfare.
One of the subs delivered by the German government is permanently stationed in the Gulf, and Israeli media have said that the fleet of five vessels could be key in any decision by Israel to launch an attack on Iranian targets from the sea.
An Israeli submarine recently used the Suez Canal for the first time, anchoring in the Red Sea in a journey that would have normally required the Israeli vessel to travel around the coast of Africa. Escorted in June by Egyptian navy vessels, the move was intended to send a message to Iran. The delivery of the submarines follows Tehran's missile tests earlier this week.
Israel suspects Iran of trying to develop atomic weapons under the pretext of its civilian nuclear program. Tehran has repeatedly denied the charges, saying it is acting well within its rights.
The Israelis used surplus German BF-109’s during their War for Independence.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 1640 surfaced 1,720-1900 [est] submerged |
| Propulsion | Diesel-electric 3 diesels, 1 shaft, 4,243 shp |
| Length | 57.3 m (188ft) |
| Beam | 6.8 m (22.6ft) |
| Draft | 6.2 m (20.5ft) |
| Height | 12.7 m |
| Speed | 20 knots submerged 11 knots snorkeling |
| Sonar | PRS-3 passive ranging sonar |
| Operating Depth | Deeper than 200m (600 feet) |
| Armament |
|
| Crew | 35 |
| Range | 4500 miles at 8 knots |
| Provision | More than one month |
In addition, it is generally understood, based on tests the Israelis performed in 2000 in the Indian Ocean, that these subs also a new Israeli carry cruise missiles capable of carrying nuclear warhead. Ranges estimated between 1500 and 2000 km.
The reported range of 1,500 km for the SLCM tested in May 2000 is several times greater than the previously reported range for the Popeye Turbo. However, the Popeye Turbo is a poorly attested missile, and the open literature provides little information on this system. Indeed, because of the small size of the vehicle and the limited testing program to date, it is entirely possible that even the US intelligence community has only limited insight into the capabilities of this system. There is no particular reason to doubt that Israel could develop a variant of the Popeye Turbo with a range of 1,500 km, simply by lengthening the fuel tank associated with a 300-350 km variant reported by US intelligence. At present it is not possible to determine whether the US intelligence has under-estimated the range of this missile, or whether news reports have over-estimated the missile's range. The longer range reported in June 2000 is certainly consistent with Israeli targeting requirements.
These are the “old” Dolphin class submarines, the new ones with the (Siemens?) AIP should have vastly improved operational capabilities. Germany’s own type 212A submarines (using a different hull, but similar engines) have a range of 8,000 miles and an endurance of 12 weeks (3 without snorkeling).
The +10 typically refers to special ops personnel. Most Type-209/212/214 class boats have a complement of about 25-35 crew.
Israel Cannot Survive the 'Two State Solution'
This proposal is a massive fraud. Obama wants to wipe out Israel just like Ahmadinejad. Why -- Oh why did Jewish voters support Obama in the last election ____________ ? Totally insane foreign and domestic policies and pure out-of-control Nazi-like goose stepping prevails in DC.
No, it’s Sayaret Matkal commandos.
Transport commandos aboard subs. Nothing new about that.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.