NATO members are bolstering their defenses as geopolitical tensions in eastern Europe continue to mount. Last week, Germany’s Defense Minister submitted a proposal to acquire four new cutting-edge 212-class submarines. As detailed in a Reuters report, this potential purchase goes hand-in-hand with the country’s efforts to improve maritime defenses in the North Atlantic and Arctic regions. The Type 212 submarines symbolize a joint enterprise between Germany and Norway. 

According to the NATO partners, “We need the submarines because the maritime threat situation makes this necessary,” adding that the Russian navy is “extremely active in the North Sea, the North Atlantic, and the Baltic Sea and poses a clear threat.”

The Origin Story of the Type 212 Submarine

Following the collapse of the USSR in the early 1990s, Germany sought out a replacement for its aging Type 206 submarines. Initially, Germany began working with Italy to design a new conventional submarine jointly. A Memorandum of Understanding signed by both waters a few years later required the construction of identical boats. Germany built their original Type 212A boats at the Thyssen Nordseewerke GmbH shipyards.

While these vessels are small, they are mighty. These diesel-electric submarines can covertly sail the seas with a water depth of as little as seventeen meters. The Type 212A is the first submarine class equipped with fuel cell propulsion, giving these boats the capability to operate independently of outside air for longer periods. As detailed by The War Zone, “The Type 212A’s AIP system generates energy in a series of Siemens Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) fuel cells, where a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen generates electricity for the electric motor and the batteries. The waste product of the fuel cells’ powerplant is water that is collected and used e.g., toilet flushing.” 

The primary weapon featured on the submarine is the 533-millimeter torpedo tube. These vessels are also capable of firing the DM2A4 heavyweight torpedo, the WASS BlackShark torpedo, and short-range missiles.  

Introducing the Type 212CD Submarine Variant

Although the Type 212A submarines remain capable vessels in modern times, subsequent variants have been introduced that are even more advanced. In 2021, Norway and Germany signed a deal to construct new Type 212CD submarines based on the Italian-German Type 212A model. 

Naval Technology reported that these new submarines will feature modern combat systems, enhanced firepower, and superior stealth technology when introduced by the end of the decade. The upcoming combat system, known as ORCCA, has been described as “the most advanced combat system for non-nuclear submarines available on the market.” Notably, the 212CD variant will be powered by two diesel engines instead of one.

As part of the €5.5 billion deal, Germany was set to acquire two of these cutting-edge vessels while the Norwegian Navy was set to acquire four. However, since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, both nations hope to purchase additional boats.  

Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. Carlin has over 1,000 articles published over the last several years on various defense issues.

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