Dolphin-class submarine

Dolphin-class
INS Rahav, a Dolphin-II submarine, seen here during its sea trials at Wilhelmshaven, Germany in July 2014.
Class overview
BuildersHowaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW)
Operators Israeli Navy
Preceded byGal class
Succeeded byDakar class
Completed
  • Dolphin
  • Leviathan (trans. "Whale" or Leviathan)
  • Tekumah (trans. "Revival")
  • Tanin (trans. "Crocodile" or Tannin)
  • Rahav (trans. "Splendour" or Rahab)
Active5 (another 1 fitting-out)[1][2]
General characteristics
TypeDiesel-electric submarine
Displacement
  • Dolphin-I Class: 1,640 tons surfaced, 1,900 tons submerged
  • Dolphin-II Class: 2,050 tons surfaced, 2,400 tons submerged[3]
Length
  • 57.3 m (188 ft) for Dolphin 1
  • 68.6 m (225 ft) for Dolphin 2[3]
Beam6.8 m (22 ft)
Draught6.2 m (20 ft)
PropulsionDiesel-electric, 3 diesels, 1 shaft, 4,243 shp (3,164 kW); Dolphin 2 class: air-independent HDW Fuel Cell System[4]
Speed
  • Dolphin 1 class: 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
  • Dolphin 2 class: excess of 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)[3]
Test depthAt least 350 m (1,150 ft)
Complement35 + 10 additional
Sensors and
processing systems		STN Atlas ISUS 90-55 combat system
Armament
  • 6 × 533 mm (21.0 in) torpedo tubes
  • 4 × 650 mm (26 in) diameter torpedo tubes
NotesThe first three, non-AIP submarines of the class (Dolphin-I) are set to be replaced by the new Dakar-class submarines, beginning from 2027.[5]

The Dolphin class (Hebrew: הצוללות מסדרת דולפין) is a diesel-electric submarine developed in Israel[6] and constructed by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) in Kiel, Germany, for the Israeli Navy's Shayetet 7 flotilla.[7] The first boats of the class were based on the export-only German 209-class submarines, but modified and enlarged. The Dolphin 1 sub-class is slightly larger than the German Navy Type 212 in length and displacement. The three newer air-independent propulsion (AIP) equipped boats are similar to the Type 212 vessels in underwater endurance, but are 12 metres (39 ft) longer, nearly 500 tonnes heavier in submerged displacement and have a larger crew than either the Type 212 or the Type 214.

The Dolphin 2 class submarines are the largest to have been built in Germany since World War II and the most expensive single vehicles in the Israel Defense Forces.[3][8] The Dolphin class replaced the aging Gal class, which had served in the Israeli navy since the late 1970s. Each Dolphin-class submarine is capable of carrying a combined total of up to 16 torpedoes and Popeye Turbo submarine-launched cruise missiles (SLCMs).[9] The cruise missiles have a range of at least 1,500 km (930 mi)[10] and are widely believed[11][12] to be equipped with a 200 kiloton nuclear warhead containing up to 6 kilograms (13 lb) of plutonium.[13][14] The latter, if true, would provide Israel with an offshore nuclear second-strike capability.[15][16][17][18]

The first batch of the class – the three Dolphin-I submarines – are set to be replaced by the newer Dakar-class submarines from 2031 onwards.[19]

  1. ^ Eshel, Tamir (6 May 2011). "Israel to Receive a Third Enhanced Dolphin Submarine". Defense Update. Archived from the original on 2 July 2011. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
  2. ^ "Sixth Submarine: "The Contract Continues"". israeldefense.com. 31 October 2011. Archived from the original on 21 October 2013. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d Cavas, Christopher P. (15 August 2014). "Israel's Deadliest Submarines Are Nearly Ready". Intercepts. Defense News. Archived from the original on 15 August 2014. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  4. ^ "HDW Class Dolphin AIP Submarine". Thyssenkrup Marine Systems. Archived from the original on 2020-10-25. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  5. ^ "Israel signs $ 3.4 billion submarines deal with Germany's Thyssenkrupp". reuters.com. 20 January 2022.
  6. ^ "Israeli Dolphin Sub Leaves German Shipyard En Route to Home Base". Dec 17, 2015.
  7. ^ "Israel's Navy Receives the Fifth Dolphin Submarine". Defense-Update.com. 29 April 2013. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  8. ^ "'Spy tool': Commander touts strategic role of new Israeli submarines". World Tribune. 5 December 2013. Archived from the original on 22 December 2014. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  9. ^ "SSK Dolphin Class, Israel". naval-technology.com. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  10. ^ Friedman, Norman (2006). The Naval Institute guide to world naval weapon systems. Naval Institute Press. p. 505.
  11. ^ Bergman, Ronen (3 June 2012). "Report: Dolphin subs equipped with nuclear weapons". ynetnews.com. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  12. ^ "International and Professional Press about the new Dolphin Submarines". Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  13. ^ "Popeye Turbo". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  14. ^ Mahnaimi, Uzi; Campbell, Matthew (18 June 2000). "Israel Makes Nuclear Waves With Submarine Missile Test". Sunday Times. London.
  15. ^ Cirincione, Joseph; Wolfsthal, Jon B.; Rajkumar, Miriam (2005). Deadly arsenals: nuclear, biological, and chemical threats. Carnegie Endowment. pp. 263–4. ISBN 9780870032165.
  16. ^ Plushnick-Masti, Ramit (25 August 2006). "Israel Buys 2 Nuclear-Capable Submarines". The Washington Post. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  17. ^ Ben-David, Alon (1 October 2009). "Israel seeks sixth Dolphin in light of Iranian 'threat'". Jane's Defence Weekly. Archived from the original on 3 October 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-03.
  18. ^ Mahnaimi, Uzi (30 May 2010). "Israel stations nuclear missile subs off Iran". The Sunday Times. London. Archived from the original on May 6, 2011. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  19. ^ "Israel inks multi-billion dollar submarine deal with Germany". bgdailynews.com. 20 January 2022. Archived from the original on 24 January 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2022.