German Navy Orders 2 More U-212A Submarines
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On September 22, 2006, ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems subsidiaries HDW and Nordseewerke (DBA “ARGE 2. Los 212A”) signed a contract with the German Federal Office of Defence Technology and Procurement. It covers the delivery of another two U-212A Class diesel-electric submarines with air-independent propulsion systems and “major” communications improvements, as well as improved underwater sensor and signal processing technologies. See HDW release. In April 2006, a German U-212A set a world record for non-nuclear subs with a two-week-long dive from Eckernfoerde in Germany to Rota in Spain.
This second batch for the German Navy will be constructed “according to the already tried and tested general design for the first four submarines and will likewise be built in non-magnetic steel.” They are also equipped for deployment of special forces. Delivery is set for 2012 and 2013, and HDW’s release notes that the order “will provide long-term security for several hundred jobs in Kiel and Emden.” While costs were not disclosed, it’s worth noting that HDW’s recent contract to build 2 similar SSK Dolphin class AIP submarines for Israel amounted to about EUR 1 billion ($1.27 billion).
