In cooperation with Nordseewerke in Emden, HDW developed a new submarine for the German Navy: Class 212A. A contract for the delivery of four boats was signed on 6th July 1994 and followed through by the Working Group U212.

The commissioning ceremony for the two first units - German Navy submarines U31 and U32 - took place on 19th October 2005 at the German Navy submarine base in Eckernförde.

The Class 212A submarine is the first submarine in the world to be equipped with an air-independent propulsion system as standard installation. The fuel cell propulsion system transforms hydrogen and oxygen directly into electrical power without producing noise or exhaust gases and is characterised by high efficiency and low maintenance requirements. The energy conversion process leads to the production of direct current electrical power with distilled water as the only by-product. The fuel cell propulsion system enables the submerged endurance of the submarine to be very considerably increased. The high performance capabilities of this propulsion system have been proven during extensive tests and now in service in the German Navy.

Two identical submarines are being built to German specifications at the Fincantieri shipyard for the Italian Navy. HDW delivered both the weapon tube set (including the bows) and the fuel cell propulsion system for both these boats.

Technical Data