Type 212A submarine

The Type 212A is a class of diesel-electric submarine

developed by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft AG
(HDW) for the German Navy (German: U-Boot-Klasse
212 A), and the Italian Navy where it is known as the
Todaro class.[7] It features diesel propulsion and an
additional air-independent propulsion (AIP) system
using Siemens proton-exchange membrane (PEM) 212A-class profile
compressed hydrogen fuel cells. The submarines can
operate at high speed on diesel power or switch to the
AIP system for silent slow cruising, staying submerged
for up to three weeks with little exhaust heat. The
system is also said to be vibration-free and virtually
undetectable.

The Type 212 is the first fuel cell propulsion system

equipped submarine series.

Development
U-34 underway
At the beginning of the 1990s the German Navy was Class overview
seeking a replacement for the Type 206 submarines.
Builders Howaldtswerke-Deutsche
Initial study started on a Type 209 improved design,
Werft GmbH (HDW),
with AIP capability, called Type 212.
Fincantieri SpA
The final programme started in 1994 as the two navies Operators German Navy
of Germany and Italy began working together to design
Italian Navy
a new conventional submarine, respectively to operate
in the shallow and confined waters of the Baltic Sea Preceded by Type 206 submarine
and in the deeper waters of the Mediterranean Sea. The (Germany), Sauro class
two different requirements were mixed into a common submarine (Italy), Ula-class
one and, because of significant updates to the design,
submarine (Norway)
the designation has been changed to Type 212A since
then. Succeeded by Type 216 submarine
Cost €280-560 million [1]
On 22 April 1996 a Memorandum of Understanding
gave the start to the cooperation for building four Built 1998–present
vessels for German Navy and four vessels for Italian In commission 2005–present
Navy. Its main aim was the construction of identical Planned 20
boats and the start of a collaboration in logistic and life-
cycle support for the two navies. Completed 10
Active 10
The German government placed an initial order of four
Type 212A submarines in 1998. The German General characteristics
Submarine Consortium built them at the shipyards of Displacement 1,524 tonnes (1,500 long
HDW and Thyssen Nordseewerke GmbH (TNSW) of tons) surfaced
Emden. Different sections of the submarines were 1,830 tonnes (1,800 long
constructed at both sites at the same time and then half tons) submerged
of them were shipped to the respective other yard so
that both HDW and Thyssen Nordseewerke assembled Length 56 metres (183 ft 9 in)
two complete submarines each. 57.20 metres (187 ft 8 in)
(2nd batch)
In the same year the Italian government placed an order
of two U212A submarines built by Fincantieri for the 58.30 metres (191 ft 3 in)
Italian Navy (Marina Militare) at Muggiano shipyard, (212 NFS)
designated as the Todaro class.[7] Beam 6.80 metres (22 ft 4 in)

The German Navy ordered two additional, improved Draught 6.40 metres (21 ft 0 in)
submarines in 2006, to be delivered from 2012 on. Decks 2
They will be 1.2 meters longer to give additional space Installed 1 × MTU-396 16V (2,150
for a new reconnaissance mast.
power kW); 1 × Siemens Permasyn
On 21 April 2008 the Italian Navy ordered the optional electric motor Type FR6439-
second batch of submarine, in the same configuration of 3900KW (2,850 kW)
the original ones. Some upgrading should involve Propulsion 1 × MTU 16V 396 marine
materials and components of commercial derivation, as
diesel engine[2]
well as the software package of the CMS. The intention
is to keep the same configuration of the first series and 9 × HDW/Siemens PEM fuel
reduce maintenance costs. cells, 30–40 kW each (U31)
2 × HDW/Siemens PEM fuel
The export-oriented Type 214 submarine succeeds the cells each with 120 kW (U32,
Type 209 submarine and shares certain features with
U33, U34)[3]
the Type 212A, such as the AIP fuel cell propulsion.
1 × Siemens Permasyn
Poland announced in December 2013 they will not buy, electric motor 1700 kW,
but only lease, two U212-A's, on account of not driving a single seven-
meeting "requirements of tactical and technical bladed skewback propeller
equipment developed by the military, including in
particular the propulsion system, missile weapons and Speed 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
rescue system".[8] surfaced
20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
On 22 December 2015 Admiral Giuseppe De Giorgi,
submerged[6]
Commander in Chief of the Italian Navy, announced
plans to build another two U212A submarines. In Range 8,000 nautical miles
December 2022, an amended contract was signed for (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) at 8
production of a third NFS Submarine based on the knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph)
design of the previous two submarines. The third
Endurance 3 weeks without snorkeling,
Submarine (NFS 3) is planned to be delivered at the
end of 2030, while a contract for the fourth boat is 12 weeks overall

anticipated in 2023.[9] Test depth 250 metres (820 ft)

crush depth over 700 m
In October 2016, during the celebration of the
(2,296 ft)[4]
commissioning of U36, the German Navy announced
the intent to procure another batch of two U212A Complement 5 officers, 22 men
within the next decade.[10] Sensors and CSU 90 (DBQS-40FTC),
processing Sonar: ISUS90-20, Radar:
Type 212CD systems Kelvin Hughes Type 1007 I-
band nav.,
In February 2017, it was announced that the Royal Electronic EADS FL 1800U suite
Norwegian Navy will procure four submarines based warfare
on Type 212. Initial plans envisaged service entry & decoys
between 2025 and 2028.[11] However, the Norwegian
2020 Defence Plan later envisaged service entry Armament 6 × 533 millimetres (21 in)
"around 2030".[12] This "CD" (Common Design) torpedo tubes (in 2 forward
variant of the Type 212 will consist of six submarines, pointing groups of 3) with
with the German Navy ordering two new boats 13[5] DM2A4, Black Shark
alongside the four Norwegian vessels.[1] In March torpedo, IDAS missiles and
2021 it was indicated that an agreement had been 24 external naval mines
reached between Norway and Germany to initiate the (optional)
acquisition program, pending approval by the
Bundestag. The contract for construction of the six boats was signed in July 2021 with delivery of the first
boat to the Royal Norwegian Navy anticipated in 2029.[13][14]

Design
Partly owing to the "X" arrangement of the stern planes, the Type 212 is capable of operating in as little as
17 metres of water. This is a long-standing requirement for German submarine designs, enabling them to
pass a strategic point in the Baltic Sea (the "Kadettrinne") submerged.[15] This allows it to come much
closer to shore than most contemporary submarines. This gives it an advantage in covert operations, as
SCUBA-equipped commandos operating from the boat can surface close to the beach and execute their
mission more quickly and with less effort.

A notable design feature is the prismatic hull cross-section and smoothly faired transitions from the hull to
the sail, improving the boat's stealth characteristics. The ship and internal fixtures are constructed of
nonmagnetic materials, significantly reducing the chances of it being detected by magnetometers or setting
off magnetic naval mines.

Air-independent propulsion
Although hydrogen–oxygen propulsion had been considered for
submarines as early as World War I, the concept was not very
successful until recently due to fire and explosion concerns. In the
Type 212 this has been countered by storing the fuel and oxidizer in
tanks outside the crew space, between the pressure hull and outer
light hull. The gases are piped through the pressure hull to the fuel U32
cells as needed to generate electricity, but at any given time there is
only a very small amount of gas present in the crew space.

Weapons
Currently, the Type 212A is capable of launching the fiber optic-guided[16] DM2A4 Seehecht ("Seahake")
heavyweight torpedoes, the WASS BlackShark torpedoes and short-range missiles from its six torpedo
tubes, which use a water ram expulsion system. Future capability may include tube-launched cruise
missiles.

The short-range IDAS missile (based on the IRIS-T missile), primarily intended for use against air threats as
well as small or medium-sized sea- or near land targets, is currently being developed by Diehl BGT
Defence to be fired from Type 212's torpedo tubes. IDAS is fiber-optic guided and has a range of approx.
20 km. Four missiles fit in one torpedo tube, stored in a
magazine.[17] First deliveries of IDAS for the German Navy were
scheduled from 2014 on.[18]

A 30mm auto-cannon called Muräne (moray) to support diver

operations or to give warning shots is being considered, too. The
cannon, probably a version of the RMK30 built by Rheinmetall,
will be stored in a retractable mast and can be fired without the boat
emerging. The mast will also be designed to contain three Aladin
UAVs for reconnaissance missions. This mast is likely to be U31 of the German Navy in Kiel
mounted on the second batch of Type 212 submarines for the harbor
German Navy.

Operations
In April 2006, the German Navy's U-32 sailed from the Baltic Sea
to Rota, Spain in a journey lasting two weeks which covered 1,500
nautical miles (2,800 km; 1,700 mi) without surfacing or
snorkelling.[19]

The Italian Navy's S 526 Todaro was deployed, for over six months
U33 in Tallinn harbor, Estonia
in 2008, to the United States for CONUS 2008 exercise with the
United States Navy.

The Italian Navy's S 527 Scirè was deployed, for over five months
in 2009, to the U.S. for CONUS 2009 exercise with the United
States Navy.

The Italian Navy's S 526 Todaro, between 1 September 2012 and

13 February 2013, for the first time was deployed to the Gulf of
Aden, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean.

In 2013, while on the way to participate in naval exercises in U.S.

waters, the German Navy's U-32 established a new record for non- Scirè arrives on a port visit at New
nuclear submarines with 18 days in submerged transit without London, Connecticut, on 27 August
snorkelling.[20] 2009
On 15 October 2017, the German Navy's U-35 suffered damage to its rudder fins while conducting dives
off the Norwegian coast.[21]

List of boats
Pennant Laid
Name Launched Commissioned
number down

German Navy

S181 U-31 1 July 1998 20 March 2002 19 October 2005

S182 U-32 11 July 2000 4 December 2003 19 October 2005

S183 U-33 30 April 2001 September 2004 13 June 2006

S184 U-34 December 2001 July 2006 3 May 2007

S185 U-35 21 August 2007 15 November 2011 23 March 2015

S186 U-36 19 August 2008 6 February 2013 10 October 2016

Italian Navy

S 526 Salvatore Todaro 3 July 1999 6 November 2003 29 March 2006

S 527 Scirè 27 May 2000 18 December 2004 19 February 2007

S 528 Pietro Venuti 9 December 2009 9 October 2014 6 July 2016

S 529 Romeo Romei 2012 4 July 2015 11 May 2017[22]

TBC (U212 NFS 1) 11 January 2022[23] 2027[24]

TBC (U212 NFS 2) 6 June 2023[25] 2029[24]

TBC (U212 NFS 3)[24][9] 2026 2030

TBC (option)[24] 2028 2031 (if confirmed)[25]

Italics indicate estimated date

General characteristics
Displacement: 1,450 tonnes surfaced, 1,830 tonnes
submerged 2,500 tonnes surfaced for 212CD
Length: 56 m (183.7 ft), 57.2 m (187.66 ft) (2nd batch) 73
m for 212CD
Beam: 7 m (22.96 ft) 10 m for 212CD
Draft: 6 m (19.68 ft) 7 m for 212CD
Propulsion:

1 MTU 16V 396 diesel-engine[2]

9 HDW/Siemens PEM fuel cells, 30–40 kW each
(U31)
In dock at HDW/Kiel
2 HDW/Siemens PEM fuel cells 120 kW (U32, U33,
U34)
1 Siemens Permasyn electric motor 1700 kW, driving a single seven-bladed skewback
propeller
 Speed: 20 knots (37 km/h) submerged, 12 knots
surfaced[6]
Depth: over 700 m (2,300 ft)[4]
Range:
8,000 nautical miles (14,800 km, or 9,196 miles) at
8 knots (15 km/h)
Endurance: 3 weeks without snorkeling, 12 weeks
overall Todaro in dock at Fincantieri,
Armament: Muggiano.

6 x 533 mm torpedo tubes (in 2 forward-pointing

asymmetric groups of left 4 + right 2 ) with 13[5] torpedoes or 24 tube mines[26]
IDAS missiles
24 external naval mines (optional)
Countermeasures:
Torpedo defence system Tau, 4 launchers, 40 jammers/decoys
Sensors:
STN Atlas DBQS40 sonar suite:
TAS-3 passive low-frequency towed array sonar (deployed from sail)
FAS-3 passive low-, and medium-frequency hull-mounted flank array sonar
MOA 3070 mine detection sonar
Periscopes:
Carl Zeiss SERO 14, with FLIR and optical rangefinder
Carl Zeiss SERO 15, with laser rangefinder
Riva Calzoni periscope masts and snorkeling systems
Kelvin Hughes Type 1007 I band navigation radar
EADS FL 1800U ESM suite
WASS hydrophones
Avio GAUDI autopilot and hydraulic systems
Kongsberg MSI-91 combat system
Crew complement: 23–27 (incl. 5 officers)

See also
List of submarine classes in service
List of active German Navy ships
List of active Italian Navy ships

Submarines of similar comparison

Type 214 submarine - A class of export-oriented diesel-electric attack-submarines, also

developed by ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems and currently operated by the Hellenic Navy,
the Portuguese Navy, the Republic of Korea Navy and the Turkish Naval Forces.
Type 218SG submarine - A class of extensively-customised diesel-electric attack-
submarines developed ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems and currently operated by the
 Republic of Singapore Navy.
Dolphin-class submarine - A class of extensively-customised diesel-electric attack-
submarines developed by ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems and currently operated by Israel.
Dakar-class submarine - A unique class of diesel-electric attack-submarines developed by
ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems and currently being built for Israel.
Scorpène-class submarine - A class of export-oriented diesel-electric attack-submarines,
jointly developed by Naval Group and Navantia and currently operated by the Chilean Navy,
the Royal Malaysian Navy, the Indian Navy and the Brazilian Navy.
S-80 Plus submarine - A class of conventionally-powered attack-submarines, currently being
built by Navantia for the Spanish Navy.
Blekinge-class submarine is a class of submarine developed by Kockums for the Swedish
Navy
KSS-III submarine - A class of diesel-electric attack submarines, built by Hanwha Ocean and
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and operated by the Republic of Korea Navy.
Sōryū-class submarine - A class of diesel-electric attack-submarines, built by Mitsubishi
Heavy Industries for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
Taigei-class submarine - A class of diesel-electric attack submarines currently being built by
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kawasaki Heavy Industries for the Japan Maritime Self-
Defense Force
Type 039A submarine - A class of diesel-electric attack-submarines operated by the People's
Liberation Army Navy (China) and being built for the navies of the Royal Thai Navy and the
Pakistan Navy.
Lada-class submarine - A class of diesel-electric attack-submarines being built for the
Russian Navy.

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Bibliography
Karr, Hans (2014). Deutsche Uboote seit 1956 (in German). Stuttgart: Motorbuch.
ISBN 9783613037083.

External links
German Bundeswehr official Type 212A web page (http://www.marine.de/portal/poc/marine?
uri=ci%3Abw.mar.waffenun.uboote.212a)
naval-technology.com — U212/U214 Attack Submarines, Germany (http://www.naval-technol
ogy.com/projects/type_212/)
German Type 212A deal bolsters submarine force (http://www.janes.com/defence/news/jni/jn
i060928_1_n.shtml) Jane's Navy International, 28 September 2006
Todaro (S 526) (https://www.marina.difesa.it/noi-siamo-la-marina/mezzi/forze-subacquee/Pa
gine/ComandanteSalvatoreTodaro-S526.aspx) Marina Militare website

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