Design and configuration
An X-tail arrangement provides the external stern-control layout. The sail and retractable masts sit above a streamlined hull.1
FORCETALLY
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Submarines2005–presentProfile in progress
Type 212A is a conventional submarine combining batteries, diesel generation and fuel-cell air-independent propulsion. The compact design is associated with German and Italian naval requirements.
GermanyTechnical data
Type 212A
Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft GmbH ( HDW ), Fincantieri SpA
German Navy Italian Navy
Type 206 submarine (Germany) Sauro class submarine (Italy)
Type 212CD U212 NFS
€ 280−560M
1998-2017
2005–present
10
10
10
Attack submarine
1,524 t (1,500 long tons) surfaced 1,830 t (1,800 long tons) submerged
56 m (183 ft 9 in) 57.20 m (187 ft 8 in) (2nd batch)
6.80 m (22 ft 4 in)
6.40 m (21 ft 0 in)
2
Diesel-electric / AIP : Diesel engine : 1 × MTU-396 16V 2,150 kW (2,880 hp) Generator : 1 × Piller Group 3,120 kW (4,180 hp) Fuel cells AIP 9 × SiNavyCIS PEM BZM 34 ( HDW - Siemens ), PEM , with 34 kW (46 hp) each (U-31) 2 × SiNavyCIS PEM BZM 120 ( HDW - Siemens ), PEM , with 120 kW (160 hp) each (U-32, U-33, U-34) Lead–acid battery : 216 × EnerSys-Hawker (Hagen) modules with 2 rows Electric motor : 1 × Siemens FR6439-3900kW Synchronous motor with Permasyn 2,850 kW (3,820 hp) Propeller : 7-blades skewback type
Under diesel propulsion : Surfaced: 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph) Submerged: 20 kn (37 km/h; 23 mph) Under fuel-cells silent propulsion : Submerged: 8 kn (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) (15 days without surfacing possible)
8,000 nmi (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) at 8 kn (15 km/h; 9.2 mph)
12 weeks overall 3 weeks without snorkeling
250 m (820 ft) crush depth over 700 m (2,296 ft)
Germany: 28 Italy: 9 officers, 15 sailors, 3 extra-crew possible
EloUM : ELINT and ESM : FL1800U suite (EADS Systems & Defence Electronics / Thales Defence Ltd )
Torpedoes : 6 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes (in 2 forward pointing groups of 3) with 13 Germany heavyweight torpedo: DM2A4 Seehecht (Atlas Elektronik) Italy heavyweight torpedo: Black Shark (WASS) , or A.184 Mod.3 (Whitehead SpA) Decoys : Anti-torpedo decoy: C303/S launching system (with 40 × jammers / decoys) Other weapons : Naval mines : 24 held externally Air-defence missile: IDAS (in development)
Steel: non-magnetic austenitic stainless steel (supplied by Thyssen Krupp) Snorkeling system: Riva Calzoni periscope Batch 2, diver lock added for special forces transfer
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Reference text from Wikipedia contributors, used under CC BY-SA 4.0.
The system in detail
An X-tail arrangement provides the external stern-control layout. The sail and retractable masts sit above a streamlined hull.1
Fuel-cell AIP supplements battery operation without making the boat nuclear-powered. Diesel generation still provides a distinct energy-replenishment mode.1
This profile covers Type 212A. Type 212CD introduces a different design and must not inherit the same dimensions or systems by name association.1
Submerged endurance depends on speed and hotel loads. AIP endurance and maximum submerged speed are different conditions, not simultaneous performance figures.1
Type 212A equipment records. Variants, orders and quantities are shown as reported in each inventory source; coverage is incomplete.
GermanyNavy holdings of the exact named Type-212A component: active, reserve operational and training units, excluding equipment in store. This is a service-scoped observation, not a national total or combat-readiness count. No parent-design, sibling-variant, heading aggregate or mounted-weapon total is inherited.
ItalyItalian Navy U212A/Todaro-class submarines in the fleet during 2025. Excludes the separately discussed future U212 NFS programme and four Sauro-class boats. Fleet composition, not simultaneous deployability.