×
Aircraft / Aviation Vehicles & Artillery Small Arms Warships & Submarines Military Ranks Military Pay Chart (2024) Special Forces
HOME
NAVAL WARFARE INDEX
MODERN FLEETS
WARSHIPS BY COUNTRY
SHIPBUILDERS
COMPARE WARSHIPS
SHIPS BY CONFLICT
SHIPS BY TYPE
SHIPS BY DECADE
SHIPS BY CLASS
COLD WAR SHIPS

Naval Warfare


Type 205 (class)


Diesel-Electric Coastal Submarine [ 1962 ]



The Type 205 was drawn up to cover the failings of the earlier Type 201 boats and the new class served went on to serve into 2005.



Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 01/07/2019 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

VIEW SPECIFICATIONS [+]
Germany's first post-World War 2 submarine became the coastal patrol-minded "Type 201" (detailed elsewhere on this site). While twelve were planned for the class, just three were built when it was found that their anti-mine hulls were prone to fracturing under basic use. This led to short service lives for the group and the boats were out of service as soon as 1967. To shore up the deficiencies in the Type 201 design, the "Type 205" class was quickly drawn up using a basic single-layer, steel hull. Like the Type 201 boats, the new class was developed for shallow water work in and around the Baltic Sea with the primary enemy of the time being the Soviet Union. For the role, the boats were crewed by a modestly-sized complement and showcased compact dimensions.

All thirteen of the planned boats of the class were completed and three of the lot were eventually preserved once their days were over (the remaining boats were all stripped of their military usefulness and scrapped). Of the thirteen, eleven served with the West German Navy while two, Narhvalen (S320) and Nordkaperen (S321), were built for Denmark (both since scrapped). These were known locally as the "Narhvalen-class".

As built, the class displaced 412 tons (long) when surfaced and 450 tons when submerged. Length measured 145.3 feet with a beam of 15 feet and a draught of 12.5 feet. Power was from twin Mercedes-Benz V12 diesel units of 590 horsepower each coupled to a single BBC generator unit. There was also a single SSW electric motor in the mix and this outputting 1,500 horsepower to the single shaft. Surfaced ocean-going speeds could reach 10 knots with submerged speeds topping 17 knots. Range was out to 4,550 miles when heading at 4 knots. The hull was tested to depths of 330 feet (100 meters).

Aboard was a crew of 22 men (to include four officers). Armament was the typical array of 8 x 533mm (21") torpedo tubes and the boat had a built-in mine-carrying capability.

U-1 was launched on February 17th, 1967, commissioned on June 26th of that year, and operated until November 29th, 1991. She was beaten into service by U-4 which arrived on November 19th, 1962 (though only operating until August 1st, 1974). The last of the German boats became U-12, launched on September 10th, 1968, commissioned on January 14th, 1969 and decommissioned on June 21st, 2005. The class was notable enough to German navy history to see three of their number preserved as floating museums - these becoming U-9, U-10, and U-11.

The two boats built for the "Kongelige Danske Marine" (Danish Navy) operated from 1970 until 2004. Narhvalen was launched on September 10th, 1968, commissioned on February 27th, 1970 and decommissioned on October 16th, 2003. Nordkaperen followed when launched on December 18th, 1969, commissioned on December 22nd, 1970, and decommissioned on February 2nd, 2004.©MilitaryFactory.com
Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.MilitaryFactory.com. It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. If you happen upon this text anywhere else on the internet or in print, please let us know at MilitaryFactory AT gmail DOT com so that we may take appropriate action against the offender / offending site and continue to protect this original work.

Specifications



Denmark; West Germany
Operators National flag of Denmark National flag of modern Germany
1962
Commissioned
Germany
National Origin
Decommissioned, Out-of-Service
Project Status
22
Complement
Type 205-class
Hull Class
13
Number-in-Class
U-1; U-2; U-4; U-5; U-6; U-7; U-8; U-9; U-10; U-11; U-12; Narhvalen (S320); Nordkaperen (S321)
Ships-in-Class


Submerged Attack
Traveling under the surface to search, track, and / or engage or reconnoiter areas.
Offshore Operation
Activities conducted near shorelines in support of allied activities.
Maritime Patrol
Active patroling of vital waterways and maritime areas; can also serve as local deterrence against airborne and seaborne threats.
Fleet Support
Serving in support (either firepower or material) of the main surface fleet in Blue Water environments.


145.3 feet
(44.29 meters)
Length
15.1 feet
(4.60 meters)
Beam
12.5 feet
(3.81 meters)
Draught
462
tons
Displacement
500
tons
Displacement (Submerged)


2 x Mercedes-Benz V12 4-stroke marine diesel engines developing 590 horsepower (BBC generator unit) with 1 x SSW electric motor of 1,500 horsepower driving 1 x Shaft.
Propulsion
10.0 knots
(11.5 mph)
Surface Speed
17.0 knots
(19.6 mph)
Submerged Speed
3,954 nm
(4,550 miles | 7,323 km)
Range
1 knot = 1.15 mph; 1 nm = 1.15 mile; 1 nm = 1.85 km


8 x 533mm (21") torpedo tubes with support for dispensing naval mines as needed.


None.


Military lapel ribbon for the Cold War period
Military lapel ribbon for early warship designs
Military lapel ribbon for the Falklands War
Military lapel ribbon for the 1991 Gulf War
Military lapel ribbon for the Korean War
Military lapel ribbon representing modern aircraft
Military lapel ribbon for the Attack on Pearl Harbor
Military lapel ribbon for the Russian Invasion of Ukraine
Military lapel ribbon for the Vietnam War
Military lapel ribbon for the World War 1
Military lapel ribbon for the World War 2

Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Cookies

2024 Military Pay Chart Military Ranks DoD Dictionary Conversion Calculators Military Alphabet Code Military Map Symbols

The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content; site is 100% curated by humans.

Part of a network of sites that includes GlobalFirepower, a data-driven property used in ranking the top military powers of the world, WDMMA.org (World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft), WDMMW.org (World Directory of Modern Military Warships), SR71blackbird.org, detailing the history of the world's most iconic spyplane, and MilitaryRibbons.info, cataloguing military medals and ribbons. Special Interest: RailRoad Junction, the locomotive encyclopedia.


©2023 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Content ©2003-2023 (20yrs)