en en

Diesel-electric submarine U-31 (S181)

Diesel-electric submarine U-31 (S181) 0Diesel-electric submarine U-31 (S181) 1Diesel-electric submarine U-31 (S181) 2Diesel-electric submarine U-31 (S181) 3Diesel-electric submarine U-31 (S181) 4

Classification

Ship class:
Type 212 submarine
Type:
Attack submarine (SSN, SSK)

Basic information

Operator:
German Navy (Deutsche Marine)German Navy (Deutsche Marine)
Country of build:
Laid down:
Launched:
Commissioned (service):
Status:
Active

Ship measurements

Displacement:
1,524 t
Submerged displacement:
1,830 t
Length:
56 m
Beam:
7 m
Draft:
6 m

Machine

Propulsion:
  • 1 * MTU 16V 396 marine diesel engine
  • 9 * HDW/Siemens PEM fuel cells, 30–40 kW each
  • 1 * Siemens Permasyn electric motor 1700 kW
  • 1 * shaft
  • 1 * seven-bladed skewback propeller
Speed:
12 knots
Submerged speed:
20 knots
Test depth:
250 m
Operating depth:
400 m
Range:
8,000 nautical miles at 8 knots
Submerged range:
420 nautical miles at 8 knots

Personnel

Complement:
27

Combat assets

Electronics:
  • CSU 90 (DBQS-40FTC) compact sonar
  • Kelvin Hughes Type 1007 I-band navigation radar
  • ISUS 90 integrated sensor and weapon control system
  • EADS FL 1800U electronic warfare self-protection system
Armament:
  • 6 * 533 millimetres (21 in) torpedo tubes (in 2 forward pointing groups of 3)
  • 13 * DM2A4 Black Shark torpedo
  • or IDAS missiles
  • 24 * external naval mines (optional)

U-31 (S181) is a Type 212A submarine of the German Navy, and the lead ship of her class.

U-31 was built by TKMS, with construction taking place at the shipyards of Thyssen Nordseewerke of Emden and Howaldtswerke at Kiel. Launched on 20 March 2002, U-31 was commissioned alongside her sister ship U-32 by German Minister of Defence Peter Struck in Eckernförde on 19 October 2005. U-31 is propelled by one diesel engine and an electric motor driven by nine fuel cells, making the submarine virtually undetectable.

No comments yet