from:
http://www.military.com/soldiertech/..._U212,,00.html

"For starters, it is capable of being underwater for up to three consecutive weeks -- THREE WEEKS!

The secret behind the U212's underwater endurance lies in its air-independent propulsion (AIP) system. Developed by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft GmbH (HDW), the U212's AIP system uses a silently operating fuel cell plant. (...) Without a need to snorkel, the AIP system also allows the U212 to operate silently without emitting exhaust heat, reducing detection.

The U212 also uses a state-of-the-art sensory system (...) An integrated DBQS-40 sonar system aboard incorporates the following: a cylindrical array for passive medium-frequency detection; a TAS-3 low-frequency towed array sonar; a FAS-3 flank array sonar for low/medium frequency detection; a passive ranging sonar; a hostile sonar intercept system; and, an active high-frequency mine detection sonar - the STN Atlas Elektronik MOA 3070.

Besides carrying up to 24 sea mines externally, the submarine is armed with the DM2A4 torpedo from STN Atlas Elektronik. The DM2A4 -- aka Seahake Mod 4 -- is an electrically-driven torpedo that has a range of more than 27 nautical miles (50km) and a speed of approximately 50 kts. The DM2A4 uses new, conformal acquisition sonar, featuring 38 staves (152 transducers), which produce pre-formed, wide-angle beams. In addition, the Seahake utilizes a 250kg hexagon/RDT/aluminum high-explosive warhead (equivalent to 460kg of TNT) with magnetic influence and contact fuzes, as well as a wake sensor to improve torpedo counter-countermeasures capabilities.

Additionally, the U212's torpedo launchers have something most other submarines do not have -- a water ram expulsion system. Don't you wish you had one? Whereas the 688 Los Angeles class launches torpedoes using "noisy" compressed air, the Type 212's water ram expulsion system ejects the torpedo from the tube without the launch "transient" associated with using compressed air. In other words, the 212 can fire torpedoes stealthily, reducing the possibility for a counter attack."

Pics:
http://www.pbase.com/vikingspirit/ubootsubmarine

Most important, maybe: 212/214 is easily the most silent sub in the ocean today.

On a documentation about the 212A class, the Captain of U31 (I think) said they had to abort a test drive where they were to record and check for their own accoustic signature because they couldn't hear it, and thats with barely someone else around to make noise and pretty good sonar conditions. Speaks volumes about the quietness of the sub ...

Probably at the max range it'd only be making like 20 knots and at max speed it might last only 10km considering the performance of other electric weapons including this one's A3 predecessor. Unlike electronics, this is an engine and fuel source (silver zinc battery) issue - there is no "magic" for revolutionary improvement in such things.

I would have thought water-ramming existed a long time ago because it reduces the use of compressed air at high depth launches?

My gut tells me the 212/4 is probably the quietest submarine hull in the world with a slightly subpar (as compared to SSN21 or Virginia) sonar and weps system and the overall performance of a Collins on roids.

But that's just my Benegesserit training and no actual facts speaking...

"Sub Par" weapons compaired to the 21 and Va? The 212 isn't even in the ballpark! No TLAMs or VLS tubes on the 212. So thats basicly one whole form of combat the 212s can't do.

Well, the next time the Germans need to launch a cruise missile strike on Norway, you can remind them how much they should have put TLAM capability on their new subs. :lol:

I was only comparing the subs in terms of the missions they were designed to do... Germany and it's export partners don't find themselves needing to conduct off-shore bombardment very often, unlike we Americans. :rock:

Besides, what good will a TLAM strike really do without all the other gear. 12 1000 pound warheads come in, make a few dents, kill a few people, put an airbase out of action for a few hours till they fill the holes ... and that's it. As a component of a massive strike including reusable aircraft it is useful, by itself it is a pinprick.

A dozen TLAMs are really useful when you don't have a Carrier or Airbase near by or can't risk sending maned jets in to do the job. :yep:

Well, as Lw mentioned, the question is ... what is the mission of the 212 class subs? It certainly is no H/K sub designed to roam the deep waters around the world. And it is definitly no SSG or SSB. The job of the 212 class is primarly intelligence gathering especially in littoral waters and SpecOps missions ... and I think we all agree that a TLAM is not the weapon of choice while on a SpecOps mission or while laying 2nm offshore gathering intelligence.

On the other hand you have the Seawolf class which is a designated H/K SSN, designed for one purpose - go alone deep into enemy waters and get as much enemy SSBN/SSGNs as possible before comming back to rearm (well thats how its stated in the "Third Battle").

Precisely, as a component in a combined arms air force it can be very useful. But Germany does not have power-projection to bring all the other components into play in most places.

Furthermore, Germany is still probably somewhat enshackled by WWII and the self-defense only stuff that came from it. Equipping their subs with a dedicated land-attack ability will cause furor. Probably less than Japan if she had done so, because Germany apologized to the satisfaction of most of its victims, but still considerable upset.

In a pinch, I'm sure you can use the torpedo tubes anyway with the proper electronics.

How quiet compared to an Ohio?

Well, the Ohio is really old technology, by the standards of digitally aided design and production, but that doesn't mean that it is enherently louder than anything produced recently...

However, considering the massive size difference and the inherent quietness of fuel-cell electrical propulsion verses nuclear propulsion, I'd say that it is safe to assume the 212/4 is significantly quieter than the Ohio.

Note, that "significantly" is in physical terms... whether that has an impact during actual operational conditions, well it's a crapshoot.

I'm really out of my depth here... don't know what I'm talking about, so don't listen to me... :yep:

She is a pretty boat isn't she...has some very exact lines she does.

This would be the boat id want to go to war on.

The dining area (officers mess?) looks exactly like the one in the sub in Das Boot. Did they do this on purpose...? :-j

I'm sorry, but if I had to go to war in a hunter/killer sub, I'd rather have a Seawolf or a Virginia any day.

We each have our own prefrencies, but its not about the submarine its about the captain and crew.

It's about both, I think...you could put the best crew in the world aboard something like a Foxtrot-class...but when you put them up to something like a Seawolf with a moderately trained crew (i.e. to the point of competancy), and I bet the Seawolf would win nine out of ten times.

Simple solution sent ten Foxtrots after each Seawolf. :up: :know:

But highly impractical, wasteful, and expensive.