HDW Introduces Type 210mod Submarine

On September 11th at SUBCON 2007 HDW of Kiel introduced its latest export submarine, the Type 210mod. Built on the design of the Type 210 (example Ula class), the Type 210mod is intended to compete in the export markets where the Type 212/214 is too expensive due to fuel cells.

The U-210mod is 56 meters length project and 10.6 meters broad. Its roots evolve from a type which was already delivered to the Norwegian navy...“We thus have a project which is more compact than the large submarines”, Peter Hauschildt, the director of shipyards declared HDW. The new project is clearly smaller than the U-212A and U-214 with a lower displacement by 1000 tons.

Translation by me, may be inaccurate.

Some additional features courtesy of Kato:

Dimensions: 56 m length, 1,000 tons submerged
Crew: 15 men crew in two-shift, 21 men in three-shift operation; additional bunkspace reserved
Endurance: 30 days target
Construction: Single-hull, HY80 steel; small sail for signature reduction
Propulsion: Diesel-electric; 2x improved MTU 12V 396 diesel; Permasyn electric engine
Signature Reduction Features: X-Rudder configuration, Skew-Back propeller
Armament: 8x 533mm torpedo tubes; x14 torpedoes; missile launch or mine capability installable on customer demand
Sail installations: optical periscope, telescoping communications mast, telescoping radar mast, two-man diver chamber (SOF); additional space reserved

Target customers mentioned include Peru, Colombia, and Indonesia, with Indonesia specifically discussed as an interested customer.

The way HDW introduces the Type 210mod is interesting because it pitches it as the low part of a potential high/low mix of submarines for existing Type 212/214 customers. HDW sees the competition of the Type 210mod being the Russian Amur, but also as a replacement for older Type 209s. HDW emphasizes the design and components build on the Type 212/214 with the exception of the engines.

All photos courtesy of Kato (more photo's here)