During the month of September ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems has delivered a total of three submarines. The boats are being in built in joint venture by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft GmbH (HDW) in Kiel and Nordseewerke GmbH in Emden.They are part of two major contracts for the German and the South African Navy.

First fuel cell propelled submarine for German Navy
On September 7th, the world's first fuel cell propelled submarine "U31" was handed over to the German Office for Defence Technology and Procurement (BWB). Today, the second submarine "U32" was delivered in Emden. These class 212A submarines are destined for the German Navy and are the first of four submarines of this class currently under construction at the yards of HDW and Nordseewerke. The commissioning will take place at the German submarine base in Eckernförde in October 2005.

The new submarine class 212 developed by HDW is characterised by an air-independent propulsion system using the hydrogen fuel cell. The fuel cell plant, which produces electrical energy from oxygen and hydrogen, permits the new class of submarines to cruise under water for weeks without surfacing. In addition, the fuel cell makes no noise and produces no give-away exhaust heat. Together with the extremely favourable signatures and the boat's detection and weapon systems, the fuel cell plant makes the submarine virtually undetectable.

The christening of the first boat took place at HDW in Kiel in March 2002. At the end of April 2002 "U31" was launched. Extensive port and sea trials in the Baltic Sea and in the Skagerak off the Norwegian Coast followed.

South African Navy gets most successful conventional submarine design in the world
On September 20th, the South African Client Project Team took over the first of three class 209 type 1440 mod submarine destined for the South African Navy . The official commissioning of the diesel-electric-powered boat "S101" will take place in November 2005.

The three submarines are part of an extensive modernisation programme for the South African navy. The submarines are the latest of the conventional 209 class, type 1400 MOD that the German consortium - ThyssenKrupp Marinesystems' Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft in Kiel, Nordseewerke in Emden and Ferrostaal AG in Essen - has successfully been exporting for many years. So far practically 60 of these submarines are either in service or being built in 12 countries worldwide. The submarine can also be fitted with an air-independent fuel cell or Stirling propulsion system on request.

Technical Data "U31"/"U32":･ Length over all: ca. 56 m
･ Max. hull diameter: ca. 7 m
･ Displacement: ca. 1450 t
･ Crew: 27
Technical Data "S101":･ Length over all: ca. 62 m
･ Max. hull diameter: ca. 7 m
･ Displacement: ca. 1450 t
･ Crew: 27