U-10, a type-205-class boat After the foundation of the Federal Republic of Germany, the western part of Germany was integrated as the 15th member of NATO. The newly-founded Bundesmarine (Federal Navy) had the task of contributing to the defense efforts of the Western world, mainly by providing reinforcements to the Allied forces. Besides fast patrol boats, mine warfare and escort forces the Bundesmarine focused on coastal submarines operating in the shallow waters of the Baltic, with the main task of attacking Warsaw Pact amphibious forces in case of war. The first submarines put into service were two raised and repaired WW II Type XXIII and one raised and rebuilt Type XXI. Type 240 The lengthened former Type XXIII boats Hai (ex-U 2365 ) and Hecht (ex-U 2367) were the first submarines of the Bundesmarine. Hai served from 1957 until it sank in 1966 (only one survivor) and Hecht served from 1957 until struck in 1968. Their main task was training crews for the coming new subs and evaluating new tactics suitable for the Baltic. Although rebuilt largely along the plans of Type XXIII there were some differences. The diving depth was recalculated and reduced from standard/operational/maximum depth of 100m/150m/250m to 65m/100m/160m. Also, the original sonar equipment was replaced by a BG (48 elements) passive sonar and a M1 medium range active attack sonar. The submarine crews regarded this active sonar as inefficient. Type 241 This is the only Type XXI boat (ex U-2540) which served the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. Raised in June 1957, it was rebuilt to be used as research, testing and training vessel. First named Wal (whale) due to its size, it was later christened Wilhelm Bauer after a German submarine pioneer. During its service from 1 September 1960 until 18 November 1980 NATO partners often used it as a target for ASW exercises because its handling and acoustic signatures were similar to some Soviet submarines. Today it can be visited in the ship museum of Bremerhaven. Of course Wilhelm Bauer was not simply rebuilt as Type XXI boat, there were major differences in layout and technique. The diesel engines were the same ones used later in the Type 201, so that recharging of the battery took longer than in the original design and the surface speed was less. On the other hand, new generation batteries and a streamlined fin resulted in better submerged handling characteristics and longer diving times. The torpedo tubes were reduced to four. Two of them were standard WW II vintage (533mm) and the two others were a new swim-out type of larger diameter (660mm). The advantages of the swim-out tubes were less weight and space and the possibility to use them as lock for divers. However, no mines could be laid using these tubes. The torpedo storage and reload chambers of the Type XXI were replaced by provisions for ample research and testing equipment as well as additional crew compartments. There was a large sonar suite. First, there was a passive BG (48 elements) based on WW II technology, and a passive GHG array of 162 elements on each flank. Second, there were a couple of active sonars - the WSU (AN 410) long range search and attack sonar, the M1H (AN 407) medium range attack sonar and the KUBA panoramic survey sonar. Later, a DUUX2A passive ranging sonar, a TAG N passive torpedo warning sonar and an EDO 900 active mine searching sonar were added. In twenty years of service, nearly all new technologies developed in Germany (and sometimes elsewhere) for submarines were tested by this boat. Nevertheless, it never was regarded as a warship, but as an auxiliary, as can be seen by its pennant number, Y 880 and by its crew, which in most cases was a mixture of military and civilian personnel. Type 201 Designed according to the formula “small, steadfast, high underwater maneuverability and heavy armament,” these boats were tailor-made for the demands of the German Navy. Two parallel rudders in front of the propeller reduced the noise if the submarine was dived, but let to abysmal surface handling characteristics. For example, in harbors, often a tug had to assist them. The armament was eight front-loaded, swim-out type torpedo tubes of 660mm diameter, of course without reloads. For a 395/430-ton submarine this was a rather heavy armament. The only active sonar was the M1H (AN 407) medium range attack sonar, whereas the main search device was an AN 526 passive sonar. It consisted of 288 elements on a horseshoe base (bow) and 19 elements directed aft. Only three boats of this type were built, U1, U2 and U3. In 1960, even before U1 was launched, the German Navy decided to replace the M1H sonar by a WSU (AN 410) sonar and to strengthen the pressure hull. The redesign lead to the Type 205. Shortly after completion of U1 in 1962, corrosion attacked the new-technology amagnetic steel hulls. The Germans overreacted in limiting the diving depth of U1 and U2 to 40m. At this time U3 was leased to the Norwegian Navy (as Kobben). They used U3 from 1962 to 1964 without restrictions, diving as deep as 114m without negative results (the planned diving depth was 100 m with a security margin of 2.5 = collapsible depth 250 m). U1 was commissioned 21 March 1962 and decommissioned 22 June 1963; then once more commissioned 3 April 1965 as a test bed for two aft-mounted swim-out type torpedo tubes, and finally decommissioned 15 March 1966. U2 was commissioned 3 May 1962 and decommissioned 15 August 1963. U3 was commissioned for the German Navy 20 June 1964 and struck 15 September 1967. After decommissioning U1 and U2, most parts of them were used in 1966/1967 to rebuild them as Type 205 mod, although with magnetic steel hulls, but with the designation U1 and U2 - so no budget was needed for new submarines, as this was ‘sold’ as a complete overhaul. The steel crisis of the Type 201 resulted in a political turmoil and used up most of the budgets for submarine development, so some interesting development programs fell victim to cost-cutters and political decision makers. Type 202 This was another costly failure of submarine development. These very small (100ts/137ts) submarines were intended to be used as mobile active sonar surveillance platforms in the Baltic. Calculations showed that some 40 boats of this type would be sufficient to track shipping in the eastern part of the Baltic. Among some submarine crews the concept of active sonar survey was not very popular and the armament of only two torpedo tubes was regarded as insufficient, as was the diving depth of only 60 m. Furthermore, the boats were not very seaworthy. Even snorkeling was difficult because their small size made it difficult to remain at snorkeling depth in bad weather. The sonar equipment was abundant: an active KUBA panoramic survey sonar, an active M1 medium range attack sonar, a passive BG with 144 elements, a passive GHG with 24 elements on each side and a passive GHG with 12 elements aft. Although the KUBA sonar never was installed, the other devices devoured power in an unforeseen rate. Also, the air reserves of the boats were too low. Because of their many flaws only two of this class were built, Hans Techel (commissioned 14 October 1965, struck 15 December 1966) and Friedrich Schürer (commissioned 6 April 1966, struck 15 December 1966). Type 204 This was a small-size Walter-Turbine boat design, based on the Type 202. In fact, this was only the smallest of three proposed Walter boats intended to cover all aspects of coastal protection against amphibious assaults. The first type was a very small submarine of some 150ts, 20 days endurance (2000 nm range) and 2-3 torpedoes (Type 204). The second type of 350ts had 30 days endurance (3200 nm range) with 6 torpedoes, and the third of 1140ts had 50 days endurance (5000 nm range), 6 torpedo tubes and 12 torpedoes. All of them were designed for speeds up to 30 kts. The change to Walter boats would have resulted in a change of tactics, too. The Walter boats were designed as a kind of submarine express-boat, optimized for group attacks. These were not stealthy, lone, silent hunters, but they were intended to use their stealth capabilities to reach the area of operation unnoticed, identify a target and make a “wolfpack” attack, relying on speed, tactical surprise and numerical superiority. After one attack, the group would have to head home to refuel and reload. The rationale behind this concept was that these boats could be easily mass-produced, and that this tactic could be performed by crews with a lower training standard than required by the stealthy, lone, silent hunters. Since the German Ministry of Defense was interested only in meeting NATO demands for a minimum of 18 German submarines, the plans for Walter boats were dropped. It was regarded as politically unwise, regarding domestic policy of the 1960s and 1970s, to build more submarines than the minimum required. Type 205 This type was in fact a redesign of the Type 201, with a new active sonar, the WSU (AN 410), instead of the M1H sonar. Five boats (455ts submerged) were built, but due to supply shortages only U8 got the new active sonar. The other boats had to use the M1H sonar. Also, the hull was strengthened, so that the planned diving depth of 100 m (with a security margin of 2.5 = collapsible depth 250 m) could easily be reached. At least once a year each boat had to reach 150 m diving depth. The first torpedo tested for these boats was the American Mk37. Due to its limited shallow-water capabilities, it was not regarded as sufficient. The German variant of the Mk37 was the DM1, which was regarded as insufficient, too. Also, these two types were antisubmarine weapons with limited value against surface targets. Since the main task of German submarines was to attack amphibious assault groups, these torpedoes did not fit the main U-10, a Type 205-class boat Bundesmarine mission profile and were therefore not very often used. Finally, the DM2A1 Seeaal torpedo armed the German submarines. As no mines could be laid using swim-out type torpedo tubes, the Type 205 was the first type which could carry external containers for 24 mines. U4 was commissioned 19 November 1962 and struck 1 August 1974. U5 was commissioned 4 July 1963 and struck 17 May 1974. U6 was commissioned 4 July 1963 and struck 22 August 1974. U7 was commissioned 16 March 1964, decommissioned 30 September 1965 due to a hydrogen explosion (batteries), commissioned again 22 May 1968 and struck 12 July 1974. U8 was commissioned 22 July 1964, decommissioned 9 October 1974, used as trial vessel by ‘Erprobungsstelle 71’ (Testing Facility 71) until struck on 9 October 1975. Type 205 mod The six boats of the Type 205 mod also did not get the WSU (AN 410) sonar and had to use the elderly M1H instead, but a DUUX2 A passive ranging sonar was added. There were three slightly different batches of this class. First, U1 and U2 were rebuilt from Type 201, although using ‘magnetic’ steel. Then there were U9 and U10, built as planned, and finally U11 and U12, which got the rudder layout of the later Type 206 to improve maneuverability. Furthermore, the Danish Narhvalen class was of this type too. U1 was commissioned 6 June 1967. From 1987 to July 1989 it was used as trial vessel for fuel cells and from 1991 until struck in October 1993 it tested a CCD (Closed Cycle Diesel) air-independent propulsion system. From 1991 until 1993 the name was changed to Ex-U1 because civilian crews operated the boat during this time. U2 was commissioned 11 October 1966 and struck 19 March 1992. U9 was commissioned 11 April 1967, decommissioned 3 June 1993 and can now be visited in the Technical Museum in Speyer. U10 was commissioned 28 November 1967 and struck 4 March 1993. U11 was commissioned 21 June 1968. It got a double hull in 1988 to act as target for ASW training. The space between the hulls is filled with a hard kind of foam rubber to protect the boat against accidental direct hits. It is still in service and as it is the only submarine-target-vessel in NATO. It is very often lent to Germany’s NATO partners. Despite all rumors, U11 retained its full armament. U12 was commissioned 14 January 1969. In 1988 it was converted as a trial vessel for the Sonar-90 suite (CSU, FAS and TAS). Besides getting all sorts of sonar, including flank- and towed-arrays, the new fin-mounted diving planes for Type 212 were added. U12 is still in service. Type 206 This was a further improvement of the Type 201 concept. The main changes to the Type 205 mod were a new sonar, a stronger hull for a diving depth of 150 m, a submerged tonnage of 500ts and the same rudder arrangement as used by U11 and U12. New batteries reduced recharging time com-pared to the Type 205. The main sonar was the passive AN 5039 (circular base). The secondary sonar was, finally, the active WSU (AN 410) device, although it was rarely used. This combination is sometimes referred to as CSU 3-4, as the passive device was also used to receive the echoes from the active one. A DUUX2C passive ranging sonar was fitted. Eighteen units were built for the German Navy (U13-U30) and 3 units (Type 540) for the Israeli Navy in England. The German boats at first used DM1 Seeschlange and DM2A1 Seeaal torpedoes, which were later replaced by SUT torpedoes. The Israeli boats, built by Vickers, used the American NT-37E torpedo and the Sub-Harpoon missile. The German boats were commissioned from 1973 to 1975. U13, U14, U19, U20, U21 were to be sold to Indonesia 1997, but the sale was canceled in 1999 because of their worsening economy. U27 was struck in 1996. The rest were modernized to Type 206A. Type 206A Twelve boats received updated sonar in 1987-1992: U15, U16, U17, U18, U22, U23, U24, U25, U26, U28, U29 and U30. A CSU-83, a FAS 3-1 and a PRS 3-15 (based on the DUUX5) formed the new sonar suite, sometimes referred to as DBQS-21 D. The combination of this integrated sonar system with the new DM2A3 Seehecht torpedo gave these aging boats a life extension. Due to the slow introduction of the Type 212, justified by budgetary reasons, the Type 206A will be used far into the 21 st century, although these boats are now older than the crews driving them. Type 208 The planning phase for these six submarine hunters of some 1000ts for the North Sea started as early as 1960. Candidates for an AIP (air independent propulsion) were a closed cycle diesel, the Walter-turbine and the fuel cell. Tactical demands asked for high speeds, up to 30 kts for a limited time, to catch up with nuclear submarines. In the 1970s only the Walter-turbine fulfilled these specifications. A test plant was built and can now be visited at the ship museum of Bremerhaven. This design fell victim to a change in government policy in 1976. Type 210 This was a joint project with Norway to build a diesel-electric submarine hunter of some 1000ts. The idea was to have one type for both German needs in the Baltic and the North Sea and or Norwegian needs in the North Atlantic. In the definition phase it was found out that the technical and tactical requirements of both navies did not match. Therefore, both governments scrapped the joint project. The Norwegians used the design to develop the general-purpose Ula-class. Type 211 After the Type 208 was abandoned, there was still a need for submarine hunters of this size for use in the North Sea and the Atlantic. In 1982 a development program for this diesel-electric submarine started, based on Type 210. It was planned to build six of these Type 211 submarines - in addition to the replacement of Type 206A which was the Type 212. In 1987 the government decided not to order the Type 211 due to financial shortfalls and the higher priorities of Frigate class 122 and Type 212 submarines. Nevertheless, the Type 211 was the ancestor of Israel’s Dolphin class. Type 212 class HDW Type 212 Planned as a replacement for the Type 206A submarines, these 1450ts (submerged) submarines will use fuel cells as additional power source. Using this hybrid drive will reduce the danger of being detected, because some 50% of the mission time no snorkel will be needed, since the batteries can be charged by the fuel cells. Furthermore, the integration of sensor and weapon control reduces reaction time for the DM2A4 heavy multipurpose torpedo, and the new low frequency sonar will give an advantage in detection range over most possible adversaries. There is even more living space for the crew than in previous designs. That reduces stress, therefore raising efficiency, and gives more air for enhanced diving time. First designed to be used in the Baltic, it will now be the only new boat design for the next couple of years and will therefore be used as well in the North Sea and the Atlantic. Italy ordered submarines of this type, too. Export Boats Far more boats than were built for the German Navy have been exported. Based on the Type 201 design, cost efficiency, easy handling qualities, the ability to integrate different weapon and sensor systems and the offer to build these boats at the dockyards of the customers (technology transfer) if he wanted so, resulted in a boom for German submarine export. The most successful export design is the Type 209. Type 207 Fifteen of these 460ts (submerged) boats were build for the Norwegian Navy as the Kobben-class (commissioned 1964-1967), based on its experiences with U3 in the 1960s. Initially fitted with a sonar suite similar to the Type 205, it was later modernized to CSU-83 standards. Torpedoes used were the Swedish FFV Type 61 (and successors) as well as the Honeywell NT-37C. A couple of these submarines were sold to the Danish Navy when the Norwegian Navy got new submarines of the Ula-class. Cutaway of Type 209 class HDW Type 209 Without doubt, this is the most successful German submarine design. The first one entered service in the Argentine Navy in 1972 and the type, although vastly modernized, is still sold today. Designed from the beginning to be able to use all types of sensors and weapons available on the market, it has even different hull sizes. A few features were common to all variants of this type: 8 torpedo tubes, a diving depth of some 250 m, 50 days’ endurance, single hull design with re-tractable diving planes, and a single propeller. Most of them use a CSU 3 sonar, including a passive ranging array, and due to its design, it can be modernized to the latest type. Provisions for flank-and towed arrays, if not yet installed, give these boats potential for life extensions. Usually the Type 209 was offered with German SUT and American NT-37E torpedoes. Some customers preferred Italian Whitehead A-184 or British Mk24 Mod 1 Tigerfish torpedoes. Even Sub-Harpoon or Exocet missiles were no problem, provided that an adequate fire control system was in-stalled. It also required modifications to the torpedo tubes, since they normally are fitted with swim-out variants. There are many variants, and the number behind the slash is the approximate surfaced tonnage. 209/1000 used by Peru 209/1100 used by Greece (first boats to have Sub-Harpoon and PSU 83-90 Kanaris combat system) 209/1200 used by Argentina, Columbia, Greece, South Korea (have ISUS-83 system - integrated submarine combat system), Turkey, Peru and Venezuela (first boats to have the CSU 3-2 sonar) 209/1300 used by Chile (first boats to have the CSU 3-4 sonar), Ecuador and Indonesia 209/1400 used by Brazil (first boats to have the CSU 83 sonar with flank-, towed array and passive ranging array) and Turkey (have ISUS-83 system - integrated submarine combat system) 209/1500 used by India as the Shishumar class. An interesting feature of this class is a rescue sphere. TR 1700 Ordered by Argentina and the first one completed in 1984. It is debatable whether this class still belongs to the Type 209 or if it is a class of its own. Most sources list these 2365ts (submerged) boats as a separate class. The TR 1700 class has only six torpedo tubes and can reach a diving depth of 300 m. Contrary to Type 209, it has the diving planes on the sail and they are not retractable. It has a rather high speed for a conventional submarine and has an auto reload system which can reload torpedo tubes within 50 seconds. These are rather expensive boats, so that the Argentine Navy got only two out of six planned, due to budgetary cuts. P 6071 Based on the Type 210, the 1150ts (submerged) Norwegian Ula class was the replacement for half of the boats of the Type 207 Kobben class. It has a diving depth of some 250 m and is armed with the standard German 8 torpedo tube battery using DM2A3 Seehecht torpedoes. The most interesting feature of this class is that the Norwegians wanted to have only the best devices in their boats, so that system integration was the most challenging task. For example the radar used is a Kelvin Hughes 1007, the electronic warfare device is a British Racal Sea Lion, the sonar is of German Krupp Atlas type (DBQS-21F or CSU-83 and PRS 3-15), the flank array is French (Thomson-CSF), the periscopes are Italian (Riva Calzoni Trident), the navigation system is of USA origin (Rockwell-Collins NAVSTAR GPS) and the fire control system is the Norwegian Norsk Forsvarsteknologie MSI-900. These six boats were put into service between 1989 and 1992. IKL 800 Israel ordered this 1710ts (submerged) design as Dolphin class. It is based on the Type 211 and three boats were commissioned in 1999 and 2000. A heavy battery of 10 torpedo tubes using modern multipurpose torpedoes like the German Seehake or missiles like the American Sub-Harpoon gives these boats a heavy punch. The latest sonar (e.g. CSU-90, PRS 3-15, FAS 3-1) and an integrated fire control system assures fast reaction time and an advantage in detection range against most possible adversaries. These boats replace the three elderly Type 206 submarines of the Israeli Navy, which are planned to be sold. Type 214 This is the newest of the German export subs. It combines the best design aspects of the Type 209 and Type 212. Greece has ordered three units and so has South Korea. These are big boats, displacing 1,700 tons surfaced, and will incorporate a fuel cell AIP system. Bibliography Ewerth, Hannes; Die U-Flottille der Deutschen Marine; Koehler, 1995 Fock, Harald; Marinekleinkampfmittel; Koehler, 1996 Gabler, Ulrich; Unterseebootbau; Bernard&Graefe Verlag, 1987 Miller, David - Jordan, John; Modern Submarine Warfare; Salamander Books, 1987 Miller, David; Submarines of the World; Salamander Books, 1991 Möller, Eberhard; Marinegeheimprojekte; Motorbuch, 2000 Preston, Anthony; The World’s Great Submarines; Brown Packaging Books, 2000 Rössler, Eberhard; Die Deutschen U-Boote und ihre Werften; Bernard&Graefe Verlag, 1990 Rössler, Eberhard; Die Sonaranlagen der Deutschen U-Boote; Koehler, 1991 Rössler, Egerhard - Köhl, Fritz; Uboottyp XXIII; Bernard&Graefe Verlag, 1993 Rössler, Egerhard - Emsmann, Hans-Jochen; Ubootklasse 205; Bernard&Graefe Verlag, 1996 Rössler, Egerhard; U-Boottyp XXI; Bernard&Graefe Verlag, 2001 Till, Geoffrey; Modern Sea Power; Brassey’s 1987 Weyers Flottentaschenbuch - Warships of the World - several issues BT Back to The Naval Sitrep #20 Table of Contents Back to Naval Sitrep List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 2001 by Larry Bond and Clash of Arms. 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