Each a class of its own – the successful submarines

Virtually no shipyard the world over has more experience in the design and construction of non-nuclear submarines than Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW). HDW partners the German Navy and has also delivered submarines for coastal and blue water deployment to the navies of 17 other countries.

Decades of experience as well as continuously introduced innovative ideas and concepts are the basis for the success of the submarine shipyard HDW. Like the submarine class 209, which can be found in every ocean in the world. No other class of submarine has been built more often since World War II. Now the submarine classes 212A and 214 have entered new dimensions.

Ever since there have been submarines, the goal has been to extend their diving time. With air-independent propulsion systems, this has become possible for non-nuclear boats. These propulsion systems increase the underwater range significantly and thus reduce the risk of discovery. At HDW an air-independent propulsion system has been simultaneously developed and deployed - the fuel cell plant. Besides new submarines, serving boats can also be retrofitted with this system.

Class 212A and 214 submarines were the first in the world to undertake seriously long dives independent of external air sources, equipped with a high-performance fuel cell propulsion system.

Both boat classes set new standards in the areas of:

• signatures
• range
• automation
• weapons control
• external communication
• crew comfort and convenience

Innovation has been a tradition at HDW for many years: Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft traces its origins to the year 1838. HDW unites submarine competence from basic research and development to design, manufacture, outfitting, testing and "in-service-support". Everything from HDW comes at first hand.