Type 209 submarine

For the U-Boat used in World War II, see German submarine U-209.
Chilean Navy's Type 209/1400 Simpson (SS-21) pulling into port at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in 2004.
Colombian Navy's Type 209/1200 Pijao (S-28) in Naval Station Mayport, Florida for Exercise Smart Search 2005.
Class overview
Builders
OperatorsSee § Operators
Preceded byType 206
Succeeded byType 214
Subclasses
Built1968–present
In commission1971–present
Planned77
On order3
Completed68
Cancelled9 (1 Brazil, 2 India, 6 Iran)
Active58 (2 possibly laid up)
Laid up1 (+2 probable)
Lost1
Retired8
Preserved1 (planned)
General characteristics
TypeSee § Technical specifications
Length
  • 209/1500: 64.4 m (211 ft 3 in)
  • 209/1200: 55.9 m (183 ft 5 in)
Draft
  • 209/1500: 6.2 m (20 ft 4 in)
  • 209/1200: 5.5 m (18 ft 1 in)
Propulsion
  • Diesel-electric, 4 diesels, 1 shaft.
  • 209/1500: 4,500 kW (6,100 shp)
  • 209/1100–1400: 3,700 kW (5,000 shp)
Speed
  • 11.5 kn (21.3 kilometres per hour; 13.2 miles per hour) surfaced
  • 22.5 kn (41.7 km/h; 25.9 mph) submerged
Range
  • 11,000 nmi (20,000 km; 13,000 mi) at 19 km/h (10 kn) surfaced
  • 8,000 nmi (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) at 19 km/h (10 kn) snorkeling
  • 400 nmi (740 km; 460 mi) at 7 km/h (4 kn) submerged
Endurance50 days[2]
Test depth500 m (1,600 ft)
Complement36
Armament

The Type 209 (German: U-Boot-Klasse 209) is a range of diesel-electric attack submarines developed exclusively for export by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft of Germany. Five class variants (Types 209/1100, 209/1200, 209/1300, 209/1400 and 209/1500), including modifications thereof, have been successfully exported to 15 countries, with 68 submarines being built and commissioned to five different variants between 1971 and 2021. More boats have been built to modified designs.

The original variant, the Type 209/1100, was designed in the late 1960s with Greece becoming its first adopter. Turkey is the largest adopter, having purchased 14 submarines consisting of eight Type 209/1400 and six Type 209/1200 submarines. A non-specific variant was adopted by Israel as its first Dolphin class. The Type 209 family is the most widely proliferated submarine in Latin America, having been adopted by seven countries.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference janesfs0405 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Type 209 Diesel-Electric Attack Submarine (1971)". Military Factory. 2016-04-14. Archived from the original on 2016-09-18. Retrieved 2016-08-29.