World’s Most Innovative Non-Nuclear Submarine

The German Navy will be getting a revolutionary new submarine – the 212A class. “Conventional“ does not really do justice to it – „non-nuclear“ would be better. The new submarine’s outstanding feature is its atmospheric air independent propulsion system. This is based on a quiet-running hydrogen fuel cell which not only makes the submarine very difficult to detect but also allows it to stay submerged for a long period of time.

The U31 submarine is now undergoing shallow water trials in the western part of the Baltic Sea and deep water trials are expected to start at the end of July 2003 in Norway. Norwegian Navy facilities will be used to test acoustics, sonar and the fire control system. It is also expected that first practice torpedoes will be fired during those trials. The boat will be returning to Kiel around middle of March 2004 for a final commissioning.