more newsfeed, new development this time.
(Source: HDW; issued Sept.13, 2004)
By the name of U 33, today Jutta Doenitz christened one of the
most modern non-nuclear submarines in the world from
Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft AG (HDW) in Kiel. The Class 212 A
submarine is intended for service in the German Navy, and is the
third of four submarines, which are currently being built at HDW
and at the Nordseewerke in Emden. After an extensive period of sea
trials, it is expected that U 33 will enter service on 31 January
2006.
The characteristic feature of the new submarine Class 212, which
has been developed by HDW, is an atmospheric air-independent
propulsion system based on the hydrogen fuel cell. HDW is thus the
first company in the world to produce a production-ready fuel-cell
propulsion system. The fuel cell, which produces electricity from
hydrogen and oxygen, enables the new class of submarine to cruise
submerged for weeks at a time. Conventional diesel-electric
submarines have exhausted their batteries after about two days
submerged cruising. In addition, the fuel cell generates no noise
and no exhaust heat. It is thus virtually impossible to fix the
submarines position.
The further development of position-finding technology and the
increasing number of submarine-hunting methods, together with the
extended field of deployment, necessitated the development of the
new Class A generation of submarines. The extremely favorable
signatures, the fuel-cell propulsion system and the
position-finding and weapons technology will ensure that the new
type of submarines will be successful in every conceivable field of
operations. At the same time, the design of the vessel is
characterized by a high degree of availability and low maintenance
costs.
In the speech he made at the christening, HDW Board member Walter
Freitag pointed out that the very early decision to use the fuel
cell in submarine construction had laid the foundations for HDWs
technological market leadership.
The development of the fuel cell propulsion system has produced a
series of subsequent orders for HDW. Thus, HDW has received orders
for seven submarines of the export version Class 214 submarine, of
which four vessels are for the Greek Navy and three other vessels
for the Korean Navy. The Italian Navy has also followed the example
of the German Navy with two Class 212 A submarines, which are being
built at Fincantieri. The Portuguese Navy has signed a contract to
have three of its Class 209 submarines modernized with a fuel-cell
propulsion system. Eventually, the Greek Navy will have 3 of its
Class 209 submarines modernized with a fuel cell propulsion system.
Thus, the German technology of the atmospheric air-independent
submarine propulsion system is meanwhile being used by five
Navies.
Thus, the German technology of the atmospheric air-independent
submarine propulsion system is meanwhile being used by five
Navies.