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First fuel cell German-made submarine for Greece launched
fuelcelltoday.com ^ | 22 April 2004 | Xinhua via COMTEX

Posted on 04/22/2004 11:19:21 PM PDT by Destro

First fuel cell German-made submarine for Greece launched

22 April 2004

Provider: Xinhua News Agency

BERLIN, Apr 22, 2004 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- The first German fuel cell submarine to be exported to Greece was launched in Kiel Thursday, the manufacturer HDW said.

The submarine is one of the four that the Kiel-based HDW has been building for Greece. The other three will be constructed at the HDW subsidiary Hellenic Shipyards in Greece.

The vessel, estimated to cost 250 million euros (295 million US dollars), is 65 meter long with a displacement of 1,700 tones. Equipped with an air-independent fuel cell propulsion system, it is considered one of the quietest types of submarines in the world.

Meanwhile, the German Submarine Consortium GSC, of which the HDW is a member, signed a contract Wednesday in Lisbon to provide two fuel cell submarines for the Portuguese navy with an option for a third vessel.

"In obtaining this contract, the German shipbuilding industry is once again demonstrating its position as market leader in non- nuclear submarine construction," a HDW statement said.

Copyright 2004 XINHUA NEWS AGENCY.


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: armsbuildup; energy; fuelcell; greece; miltech; submarine
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1 posted on 04/22/2004 11:19:22 PM PDT by Destro
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To: Destro
I wonder how quiet they are?
2 posted on 04/22/2004 11:23:55 PM PDT by clee1 (Islam is a deadly plague; liberalism is the AIDS virus that prevents us from defending ourselves.)
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To: clee1

putt putt
burble burble
blub blub
Boat dead ahead Mr. Barker
boat dead ahead
We all live in a yellow
yellow submarine
yellow submarine
yellow submarine
We all live

3 posted on 04/23/2004 12:08:39 AM PDT by chickens (Just trying to promote the diffusion of knowledge and understanding.)
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To: Destro
This is a U214, probably the most advanced conventional sub in the world.
Only the Swedish Gotland, the Franco-Spanish Scorpene, and perhaps the British/Canadian upholder/Victoria.
4 posted on 04/23/2004 1:26:08 AM PDT by rmlew (Peaceniks and isolationists are objectively pro-Terrorist)
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To: rmlew
For more information on the Glavkos class.
5 posted on 04/23/2004 1:28:39 AM PDT by rmlew (Peaceniks and isolationists are objectively pro-Terrorist)
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To: chickens
"We all live in a yellow submarine..."

Uh, wouldn't a French submarine be yellow?

6 posted on 04/23/2004 1:48:47 AM PDT by rmh47 (Go Kats! - Got Seven?)
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To: clee1; rmlew
I wonder how quiet they are?

The new D-E subs (especially the ones with AIP systems) are basically mines in the sea .....super-quiet and potentially lethal (especially if they lay low in littoral waters and wait for targets). They are actually quieter than nuclear subs (because a nuke sub needs to cool its reactor, hence it has a certain level of ambient noise).

In adequately trained hands, and within a certain envelop (eg within littoral waters), a modern D-E sub with AIP is an extremely viable threat for any submarine.

7 posted on 04/23/2004 1:57:02 AM PDT by spetznaz (Nuclear missiles: The ultimate Phallic symbol.)
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To: rmlew
"We build them good in Germany, Ja Heinie!" - Curt Jurgens
8 posted on 04/23/2004 2:57:26 AM PDT by Jimmy Valentine (DemocRATS - when they speak, they lie; when they are silent, they are stealing the American Dream)
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To: spetznaz
Damn! That is just what I was afraid of.

OK France... When Germany comes calling (again), DON'T bother asking the USA for help.

9 posted on 04/23/2004 3:40:50 AM PDT by clee1 (Islam is a deadly plague; liberalism is the AIDS virus that prevents us from defending ourselves.)
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To: clee1
Here is some irony: HDW is actually owned by a consortium of banks led by Ohio based Bank One!

They took over the company after it defaulted on its loans.

So . . . it is an American built submarine!!!
10 posted on 04/23/2004 4:24:25 AM PDT by Jonathan
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To: Jonathan
Just....damn!
11 posted on 04/23/2004 4:55:09 AM PDT by clee1 (Islam is a deadly plague; liberalism is the AIDS virus that prevents us from defending ourselves.)
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To: spetznaz
They also have limited blue water reach. We need to get on top of this technology too but the nuke mafia in the Sub force has always obstructed any attempt to build this smaller class of subs. One day one of them will sink a carrier. We can barely track them now, wait a few years.
12 posted on 04/23/2004 5:51:26 AM PDT by CasearianDaoist
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To: Jonathan
I thought that was a while ago and they have since resold that company.
13 posted on 04/23/2004 5:52:18 AM PDT by CasearianDaoist
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To: CasearianDaoist
I think it´s in German hands again, too. However, German subs will not sink a US carrier! ... at least not yet. :-)

Btw, wasn´t this also the sub-class which was sold to Israel for a lower price (and they´ve put their nukes on them)??
14 posted on 04/23/2004 7:09:04 AM PDT by Michael81Dus
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To: clee1
Very quiet!
15 posted on 04/23/2004 7:15:22 AM PDT by bmwcyle (<a href="http://www.johnkerry.com/" target="_blank">miserable failure)
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To: Destro
I wonder if all the anit-hydrogen/anti-fuel cell FReepers are going to show up telling us that this is only theoretical lab stuff and is an impossible lunacy for practical use?
16 posted on 04/23/2004 7:28:21 AM PDT by templar
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To: Jonathan
So . . . it is an American built submarine!!!

What American facility with what American workers produced it? That would be American built. I don't see anything in the article indicating it was built here. What I see is "The submarine is one of the four that the Kiel-based HDW has been building for Greece. The other three will be constructed at the HDW subsidiary Hellenic Shipyards in Greece." Nothing even indicates that any of the technology or design originated in the US.

17 posted on 04/23/2004 7:32:22 AM PDT by templar
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To: templar
I wonder if all the anit-hydrogen/anti-fuel cell FReepers are going to show up telling us that this is only theoretical lab stuff and is an impossible lunacy for practical use?

Liquid Hydrogen/Oxygen fuel cells are old technology -- for example, that's what the Shuttle uses for its power source.

The folks you're talking about are discussing automotive fuel cells, which aren't terribly amenable to cryogenic fuel cells....

18 posted on 04/23/2004 7:36:38 AM PDT by r9etb
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To: r9etb
The folks you're talking about are discussing automotive fuel cells, which aren't terribly amenable to cryogenic fuel cells....

What does the sub run on? And automotive fuel cells can run quite well on gasoline, alcohol, other hydrocarbon fuels and atmospheric oxygen. The sub fuel cells could probably run on the same if it didn't need to run under water, and may not need cryogenic fuels, just something with available hydrogen and oxygen. Liquefied hydrogen and oxygen aren't needed, and may not be what is being used here.

19 posted on 04/23/2004 7:45:49 AM PDT by templar
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To: CasearianDaoist
They also have limited blue water reach. We need to get on top of this technology too but the nuke mafia in the Sub force has always obstructed any attempt to build this smaller class of subs.
The US is a blue-water navy. We need subs to project power, not act as a intelligent minefield.

One day one of them will sink a carrier.
Possible. Subs have sunk fleet carriers before (the HMS Ark Royal, the IJN Taiho, the IJN Shokaku, the USS Wasp...) However, Having our own SKK's with AIP technology will not help until they have longer range and are faster. Until then, nuclear subs will have a clear advantage, especially for the US navy.
Our new Virginia class SSN's were designed with littoral combat in mind.
The Littoral Combat Ship will have a few modules, including one for anti-sub warfare.
I don't see one of the new subs catching a carrier group off guard soon.

20 posted on 04/23/2004 11:54:32 AM PDT by rmlew (Peaceniks and isolationists are objectively pro-Terrorist)
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