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subzx
09-20-12, 04:14 AM
Hello,

I hope it will be ok to post in english in the Deutsches Forum. I am looking for help to identify a small submarine which is visible on Google Maps in the German city of Kiel.

http://i46.tinypic.com/k2gvpk.png

The submarine is about 17 meters long and looks like it has been decommissioned. It is placed openly on the harbour and the top of the turret is removed.

The location is in southern Kiel. Link to Google Maps is here:

http://goo.gl/maps/Uz8HT

I am wondering if anyone knows the name of this submarine type / class?
Kalleblom
09-20-12, 04:43 AM
:salute: kaleu

only know thatīs the area of the howaldtswerke-deutsche Werft
hdw.de
subzx
09-20-12, 06:00 AM
Thanks for the information about the area! I know that HDW is a manufacturer of several submarine classes, including the German 206 type.

I wonder if that specific submarine seen on the map has been in service in the German Navy before?
Gerald
09-20-12, 06:53 AM
:up:
subzx
09-20-12, 07:01 AM
Tack Vendor. :)

Regarding the submarine it seems like the picture on Google Maps was taken as early as 2006. Someone at Virtaulglobetrotting classified it in the year 2006 as a "hydrogen refueling station for fuel cell powered submarines".


http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/hydrogen-refueling-station-for-fuel-cell-powered-submarines/
Kalleblom
09-20-12, 07:16 AM
I will not clear the appropriate why a "hydrogen refueling station for fuel cell powered submarines" has to look like a submarine itself:06::06::hmmm::hmmm:
subzx
09-20-12, 08:28 AM
It clearly is a submarine, but perhaps he meant that the midget submarine was fueled by cell powered?
Gerald
09-20-12, 08:33 AM
It clearly is a submarine, but perhaps he meant that the midget submarine was fueled by cell powered? Look, send a pm to Mr Ryan and he help you out,

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/member.php?u=210904 :)
Herr-Berbunch
09-20-12, 08:55 AM
Looks to me more like a liquid tank than a submarine. :hmmm:
Gerald
09-20-12, 08:58 AM
Looks to me more like a liquid tank than a submarine. :hmmm: With beer,:D
subzx
09-20-12, 09:00 AM
Thanks Vendor, I will contact him.
subzx
09-21-12, 03:18 AM
Looks to me more like a liquid tank than a submarine. :hmmm:

Based on the shape visible from above and the direction of the shadows it is possible to see that the rectangular area emits the elevated part of the shadow.

http://i50.tinypic.com/43p04.png

Since the total length is 17 meters it is also possible to calculate the individual length of the different parts of the device. Above is what I belive the shape as seen from the side, more or less correct in scale.

The tower is located at 8.5 meters from the stern, that is, at the exact middle of the device.
U570
09-21-12, 05:11 AM
Just did a Google Images search for "Kiel submarine" and this fits the description you are giving:
http://neoskosmos.com/news/sites/default/files/gk_sub_papanikolis.jpg
It is the Greek submarine S-120 Papanikolis in October 2009
subzx
09-21-12, 05:42 AM
It is the Greek submarine S-120 Papanikolis in October 2009

Thanks for your reply. The S-120 (or Type 214) looks a bit similar, however it is much larger with 65 meters compared to the very small device above with a length of only 17 meters.
U570
09-21-12, 05:48 AM
Well to be honest, I'm just guessing, and it's the best candidate so far.
Kalleblom
09-21-12, 07:51 AM
Maybe the one on the google maps foto is just a model for studies.:hmmm:
Herr-Berbunch
09-21-12, 07:53 AM
It was there in October 2004, still there in March 2005, again still there in December 2007, not moved, not changed shape, nothing added, nothing removed.

It's not a sub.
subzx
09-23-12, 04:35 PM
It was there in October 2004, still there in March 2005, again still there in December 2007, not moved, not changed shape, nothing added, nothing removed.

It's not a sub.

It has clearly been positioned at that location for several years, but I would not say that rules out it being a sub.

From the look of it in the 2007 photograph on Google Earth it seems to be partly disassembled and it was likely decommissioned at least in 2004 when the first photo on Google Earth was taken.

Here is another view of the device. To me it looks like shaped like a midget submarine.

http://i47.tinypic.com/348q15u.png

http://www.fotos-aus-der-luft.de/Schleswig-Holstein/Kiel_Trockendock_der_HWD_02.html?g2_imageViewsInde x=2
subzx
11-12-12, 04:17 PM
I have been able to find another picture of the device at a quite close range:

http://i46.tinypic.com/20sg7lz.jpg


Even if the shape is somewhat similar to a small submarine it also looks like some kind of tank.

It is still unclear to me what it actually is, what do you think?
Herr-Berbunch
11-12-12, 04:58 PM
Good picture. :up: I still say not a sub and think you may finally believe me. :O:

I still don't know exactly what is for though, keep digging.
subzx
11-13-12, 04:28 PM
I still say not a sub and think you may finally believe me. :O:

Yes, you might be correct.. :cool:

The lack of propellers at the back does certainly point in the non-sub direction, however it might be some kind of prototype or some partly dismantled sub device.

Any suggestions would be interesting!
TLAM Strike
11-13-12, 11:36 PM
I wonder if it might be a decompression chamber that was removed from a ship. The legs look like they bolted down to something.