As of: February 28, 2024, 8:28 a.m
By: Marcus Giebel
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Two out of six: The German Navy currently uses half a dozen Class 212A submarines.
© imago
The war in Ukraine threatens to create a new conflict between Russia and the NATO states.
This could also involve submarines.
Berlin – They can hardly be seen or heard, but that is precisely why submarines are one of the showpieces of every navy.
Thanks to their special abilities, they pose a danger to the enemy from below. They therefore receive greater attention, especially in times of crises, conflicts or wars.
Submarines in the Baltic Sea: Sweden claims to be “experts” in the water
Precisely because of the feared threat to large parts of Europe from Russia as a result of the two-year war in Ukraine, submarines are increasingly coming into focus again.
Because they can also be sent on secret missions to gain information about other fleets.
So the view inevitably goes towards the Baltic Sea.
In the wake of Sweden's NATO accession, which is now nearing completion after a long effort, Paula Wallenburg, head of the country's submarine flotilla, emphasized: “We are the experts in the Baltic Sea.
We know the region inside and out like no one else.” As a result, the balance of power in the European inland sea could shift.
Bundeswehr and submarines: Six examples of the Class 212A are currently in service
It's not just experts who are wondering: How many submarines are in the Baltic Sea?
Only military strategists or naval leaders can answer this question seriously.
Otherwise, the option remains to approach the number.
The information from Jacob Westberg helps here.
According to Tagesschau,
the professor at the Swedish Defense University in Stockholm points out
that, apart from his home country, from a NATO perspective, “only Germany and Poland have submarines.”
According to its own information, the Bundeswehr currently has six examples of the Class 212A.
They have the official designations U 31 to U 36, whereas in NATO they are S 181 to S 186.
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German submarines in the Baltic Sea: home in Eckernförde and designed for worldwide missions
The 1st submarine squadron has its home port in Eckernförde on the western Baltic Sea. The submersible floating vehicles are primarily intended to collect information using their long-range sonar and also combat targets above and below water, for which, among other things, six torpedo tubes with a range of 50 kilometers are available .
They are designed for global missions, but are particularly suitable near the coast and in shallow water.
The crew consists of 28 people.
While the first four of the still active submarines were put into service between 2005 and 2007, the U 35 and U 36 are significantly newer, but have also been in service with the Navy since 2015 and 2016 respectively.
New submarines for the Bundeswehr: Germany and Norway are building Class 212CD models
But work is already underway to increase it.
Last September, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) and his Norwegian colleague Björn Arild Gram gave the starting signal for the construction of a Class 212CD submarine.
This model is based on the proven Class 212A, but comes with improved sensor technology, increased range and reduced sound signature, making it more difficult to detect.
The advantage is also touted that the model can easily be used by soldiers from different navies in collaboration.
Initially, the production of six Class 212CD submarines is planned - two for Germany and four for Norway, which is one of NATO's founding members.
Overview of the active submarines of the Bundeswehr
Designation |
Date of commissioning |
|---|---|
U31 (S181) |
October 19, 2005 |
U 32 (S 182) |
October 19, 2005 |
U 33 (S 183) |
June 13, 2006 |
U 34 (S 184) |
May 3, 2007 |
U 35 (S 185) |
March 23, 2015 |
U 36 (S 186) |
October 10, 2016 |
Submarines and the Baltic Sea: Sweden has five examples and is building two new ones
But before these new models dive into the Baltic Sea, some water will still flow into the inland sea.
With its own accession to NATO, Sweden is bringing five Gotland and Västergötland class submarines into the alliance.
The Scandinavian navy had already worked very closely with NATO.
The previous submarines have been around for around three decades, and two new examples of the A26 model – also known as the Blekinge class – are currently being planned.
These are scheduled to enter service in 2027 and 2028 and will patrol the eastern NATO border.
A crew and their submarine: Russia is constantly putting new war equipment into service, as here in St. Petersburg in January 2024.
© IMAGO / ITAR-TASS
Poland's submarines: Crew is said to have complained about the condition of the last active submarine
Poland is currently said to have only one submarine in service.
However, ORP Orzel dates back to the times of the USSR.
However, crew members are said to have warned in an anonymous open letter in 2021 that the submarine was “in a deplorable technical condition, and every trip could end in sinking and our death,” as the
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
wrote.
That year, the last two of the four Kobben-class submarines taken over from the Norwegian fleet were decommissioned.
In 2023, then Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak announced that he wanted to strengthen the fleet with submarines acquired from partners.
Norway itself has six Ula-class submarines.
In Germany these were manufactured under the name A210.
All copies are from 1989 to 1992, so despite updates they are no longer up to date.
Submarine fleet of Russia: Putin has control over several dozen examples
It is difficult to estimate how many submarines Russia could deploy against the NATO states in the Baltic Sea.
However, it seems as if Moscow is preparing for a larger conflict; the economy is said to have long since switched to war production.
Russian news agency
Tass
reported in December that the Navy had “received four modern multi-purpose submarines,” according to Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.
Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin is said to have previously had several dozen submarines under his command.
Some of them can fire nuclear weapons.
The non-profit organization Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) attributed a total of 58 submarines to Russia as early as March 2023.
Russia and NATO: Moscow must also focus on the USA and Ukraine
In terms of numbers, Russia would probably be significantly superior to the states bordering the Baltic Sea that are part of NATO.
However, because of its global operations, Moscow will hardly be able or willing to concentrate on one body of water.
From Putin's point of view, the deterrence towards the USA must above all be maintained.
The opponent who deserves the most attention from the perspective of the president who is facing re-election is and remains Ukraine.
And it is located hundreds of kilometers from the shore of the Baltic Sea.
(mg)