The type 211 was a
planned but never built class of German submarines, to be designed for the German navy in the mid-1980s as replacement for the type 205 and type 206 U-boats. The German Navy wanted both to contribute to NATO see strategy and to secure the survival of the German U-boat industry. Early in 1986 the TR 1600 design from Emden based Nordseewerke was short-listed as preferred design for further development. However in spring of 1987, 2 years prior to the delivery of the first Ula class / Type 210, the 211 project was terminated due to financial difficulties. It turned out to be impossible to procure both the U211 and the F123 projects at the same time. The already developed elements of the design went into the next U-boat project, the type 212 class.
Based on
Babelfish translation of a
German article in MarineForum
The type 211 is neither the German version of the Norwegian Ula class, nor is it the Dolhpin class, developed in the mid 1980s to Israeli specification.
As far as I know, my informations, that comes from real life submariner with whom I have the pleasure to talk every day, says that the submarine known as Dolphin (Irsraeli designation, germans uses numbers as project designations) is the project 211, 212’s grandpa.
Of course my informations could still be wrong, I should check that out in order to verify.
Check the link to the German article: on p 3 of 7 there is a schematic of a Type 209/1400, from which the internal and external similarities with 214 are evident when compared to the 214 schematic provided earlier. Eternally at least, Dolphin class is more similar to 214 than to 212A
I disagree, from an engineering point of view, 209 its very similar to 214 (you are right) but “Dolphin” its very similar to 212.
Its perceptive even from outside, compare dimensions (Dolphin and 212 are almost equals like 209 do with 214) and calculate the proportion index.
Both “211” and 212 have a pi under 9 (212 got a goofy 7.98!), that’s why they need a X rudders system instead of a conventional cross one, while both 209 and 214 have a pi above 9 (214 have a good 10.31), in fact both uses a cross system.
Internal compartmentations may be different, but basically, a submarine design (without hold in consideration everything in it, such as equipments, propulsion etc.) its estimated in relation with the fluid in which its submerged, so in order to compare two projects you should look the basic values such as length, height, diameter, wet displacement and so on.
That’s not a surprise since 212 and 214 are direct evolutions respectively of 211 and 209 projects!
[edit]
I've noticed just now that you had previously replied to the acustic signature question before I did, sorry for that, it was not my intention to overlap you
About that message, let me correct a few little but critical things:
Belows the surface, subs run not on diesel but on electric motors. In a nuclear sub, there are no diesel, just electric motors. However, in order to regulate a nuclear power plant, you need to cool it constantly, which means the SSN has pumps on constantly pumping coolant for the nuclear plant, which are a source of noise that an SSK on batteries or AIP doesn't have to contend with.
Nuke subs doesnt not run on electric motors (the last generations uses em for silent running operations, but its not possible to switch the reactor tottally off), nuke submarines are operated by a steam reactor that drives a turbine directly geared to the shaft, there is none electric motor in the middle (ecs are used to store energy, but not for propulsion).
Also, there are several diesel AIPs out there (AIPs born with diesel!), submarines runs underwater on electrical, diesel or nuclear power.
