Kobben-class submarine
 HNoMs Utstein, now a museum ship | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders: | Nordseewerke GmbH |
| Operators: | |
| Succeeded by: | Ula class |
| Subclasses: | Tumleren class |
| Built: | 1963–1966 |
| In commission: | 1964–2001 (Royal Norwegian Navy) |
| Completed: | 15 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Submarine |
| Displacement: |
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| Length: | 47.2 m (155 ft) |
| Beam: | 4.7 m (15 ft) |
| Draft: | 3.8 m (12 ft) |
| Propulsion: |
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| Speed: |
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| Range: |
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| Test depth: | 180 m (590 ft) |
| Complement: | 24 |
| Armament: |
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The Kobben class or Type 207 is a version of the German Type 205 submarine customized for use by the Royal Norwegian Navy. The class later saw service with the Danish and Polish navies, the final boat being withdrawn from service in 2005.
History
Along with the rest of the Royal Norwegian Navy, the submarine fleet was to be modernized according to the Fleet plan of 1960. After the war, Norway needed a navy more suited for coastal operations rather than large, seagoing vessels. This made the choice of a new type of submarines rather slim, not many NATO submarines being suited for this type of operations. A German Type 201 submarine was lent to the Royal Norwegian Navy for evaluation and adaptation. The result was the Type 207, of which 15 vessels were delivered to Norway in the period 1964 – 67. All Kobben-class submarines were built by Rheinstahl Nordseewerke GmbH in Emden. Between 1985 – 93, six boats were lengthened by 2 m (6 ft 7 in) and modernized, most notably with new sonar equipment.
During that period, four others were sold to the Royal Danish Navy (known there as the Tumleren class), three operational (modernized) and one for spare parts. HDMS Sælen served in the 2003 invasion of Iraq from May 2002 until June 2003.
In 2001, the Kobben class was completely phased out in Norwegian service, replaced by the newer Ula class. Five modernized vessels were given to the Polish Navy, four as operational units and one for spare parts.[1] Before they were transferred, the Polish crews were trained and the boats were overhauled.
During 2004, all of the operational Danish boats (Tumleren, Sælen and Springeren) were decommissioned. They were mothballed as of 2005, waiting to be scrapped or handed over to another nation.
Vessels
| Pennant | Name | Commissioned | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| S-315 | Kaura | 1965 | Transferred to Denmark in 1991 for spare parts |
| S-316 | Kinn | 8 April 1964 | Scuttled in Bjørnafjord in 1990 |
| S-317 | Kya | 15 June 1964 | Transferred to Denmark in 1991 as the HDMS Springeren |
| S-318 | Kobben | 15 August 1964 | Transferred to Poland in 2002 for spare parts and as of 17 December 2011 moved to Maritime Academy in Gdynia (Akademia Marynarki Wojennej) for crew training.[2] |
| S-319 | Kunna | 29 October 1964 | Transferred to Poland in 2003 as ORP Kondor |
| S-300 | Ula | 1965 | Renamed Kinn (S-316) in 1987, scrapped in 1998 |
| S-301 | Utsira | 1965 | Scrapped in 1998 |
| S-302 | Utstein | 1965 | Transferred to the naval museum in Horten in 1998 as a museum ship |
| S-303 | Utvær | 1965 | Transferred to Denmark in 1989 as HDMS Tumleren (S322) |
| S-304 | Uthaug | 1965 | Transferred to Denmark in 1990 as HDMS Sælen (S323), now a museum ship |
| S-305 | Sklinna | 1966 | Reconditioned in 1989, scrapped in 2001 |
| S-306 | Skolpen | 1966 | Transferred to Poland in 2002 as ORP Sęp |
| S-307 | Stadt | 1966 | Scrapped in 1989 |
| S-308 | Stord | 1967 | Transferred to Poland in 2002 as ORP Sokół |
| S-309 | Svenner | 1967 | Transferred to Poland in 2003 as ORP Bielik |
Notes
References
External links
Sites with information about the Kobben class.
- Nordseewerke - manufacturer's website
- Polish Navy - with Polish commission dates, pictures and information
- Danish Naval History - information about Danish use (1989–2004)
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