Cool video of sub on surface w/ 2 helo escort

[robert]

Not sure who's/what kind of sub it is:

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=bf0_1181948314

[u-5075]

This is likely either the

This is likely either the Salvatore Todaro, a Type 212A or the Scire, both are Italian Navy. More info further below.

Tim Smalley has posted some impressive photos of the German's new Typ 212, the U-34 on the

SC Message Board, General Forms, General, "Fantastic Photos of German Type 212"

http://s181686668.onlinehome.us/phpBB2/ ... oards.php5



HERE'S THE INFO ON THE TYPE 212 AND 212A

The German Type 212 is an advanced design of non-nuclear U-Boat developed by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft AG (HDW) for the German Navy. It features diesel propulsion with an air-independent propulsion (AIP) system using Siemens polymer electrolyte module (PEM) hydrogen fuel cells. The submarine can operate at high speed on diesel power or switch to the AIP system for silent slow cruising, staying submerged for up to three weeks without surfacing and with no exhaust heat. The system is also said to be vibration-free, extremely silent and virtually undetectable.

Type 212 is the first of the only two fuel cell propulsion system equipped submarines ready for series production by 2007, the other being the Project 677 Lada class submarine designed by Russian Rubin Design Bureau.

The German government in 1998 placed an initial order of four Type 212 submarines. Because of significant updates to the design the designation was changed to Type 212A since then. The German Submarine Consortium built them at the shipyards of HDW and Thyssen Nordseewerke GmbH (TNSW) of Emden. Different sections of the submarines were constructed at both sites at the same time and then half of them were shipped to the respective other yard so that both HDW and Thyssen Nordseewerke assembled two complete submarines each. In 2006, 2 more submarines (with some improvements) were ordered by the German Navy, which will be delivered from 2012 on. Those boats will have an increased length by 1.20 meters due to additional space for a new reconnaissance mast.

Salvatore Todaro, a Type 212A built by Fincantieri for the Marina Militare (Italian Navy), was commissioned in March 2006, and her sister Sciré was commissioned in May 2006. Two more Italian Type 212As are planned.



More info

http://www.nti.org/db/submarines/germany/index.html

http://www.pbase.com/image/42237992

[u-5075]

Here's an even better review

Here's an even better review of the capabilities of the Tpe 212 class.

http://www.answers.com/topic/type-212-submarine