Siemens delivers fuell cell AIP propulsion for Italian Navy’s two 212A type submarines

The Siemens Industry Solutions Division has received an order from Fincantieri Cantieri Navali Italiani S.p.A., Genova, to equip for the Italian navy two new submarines of the 212 A type with the latest drive, automation and power engineering. Already in summer 2009, Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft GmbH (HDW) contracted Siemens to provide the submarines with fuel-cell modules for air-independent propulsion. The current order volume is in the double-digit million-euro range.

U212A type submarine of the Italian navy equipped with fuel cell technology from Siemens near Taranto, Italy.

The order for Siemens from the Italian navy includes the supply of a Permasyn motor (permanently excited synchronous propulsion motor) for each boat, switchgear and the marine automation system EMCS (Engineering, Monitoring and Control System). The solutions and systems being used are part of the Sinavy SUB family of products developed for submarines and comply with the high requirements of submarine specifications.

The Permasyn motor was especially designed to propel submarines. The motor is extremely compact and lightweight, and because a converter is integrated inside the motor, it is highly efficient. Thanks to its special design, the Permasyn motor offers much higher performance and is quieter than DC motors available up until now, and it produces only small amounts of electromagnetic radiation. The integrated automation system EMCS controls, monitors and coordinates the vessel’s engineering systems. Operator control and visualization are carried out centrally from the control console. As a result, the operator is relieved from having to perform routine tasks, operation of the submarines is made easier, and safety and reliability are increased. The scope of supply also includes submarine-specific DC voltage switchgear, technical service and electronic documentation.

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Autopilot Systems for Second Series of U212A Submarines

Avio has signed a contract with the Naval Division of the Fincantieri Company for the development and manufacture of two Autopilot systems for the second series of U212 A submarines, destined for the Italian Navy.

Thanks to this contract, worth about EUR 6 million, the overall number of U212 autopilot systems for Avio has risen to eight: four already supplied to the German Navy and two to the Italian Navy for the first construction lot.

In this order, some modernisation has also been included with respect to the previous version.

Production will begin this year – March is envisaged; the working team involved in the project will be that of Naval Automation at the Rivalta di Torino industrial site.

The two U212A submarines will be delivered to the Italian Navy, respectively, in 2015 and 2016.

It is foreseen that Avio deliver the first autopilot in March 2013, and the second by 2014. These will then pass to the shipyard test sessions.

Submarine Salvatore Todaro, Project 212A

(photo warships.ru)
Creation in Germany submarine of project 212 are more likely to mean the beginning of a technological revolution in the field of non-nuclear submarines, since it is the first production by a submarine with a combined power plant in the central part of the diesel-electric plant and an electrochemical generator.

Work on the project 212 were initiated by German firms in 1988. An intergovernmental agreement between Germany and Italy on the joint development and construction of buildings of the project 212 submarines was signed in 1994.

Bookmark submarine for the Navy of Italy S526 "Salvatore Todaro" was held in 1999, the second boat was laid in 2000. It is planned that in the future for the Navy of Italy will be ordered two more submarines of this type.

Construction Project 212 submarine is traditional for German submarines. Durable housing consists of two cylindrical sections of different diameters, connected by a short conical section. In the forward torpedo tubes are placed with the systems of fire, batteries, central office, premises and systems of the crew. In the connection section contains the fuel cell stack of polymer electrolyte membranes. In the stern section of smaller diameter are the main modules of power plant, which operates automatically and when working in normal mode does not require maintenance personnel. Main ballast tanks are located in the fore and aft ends of the outer hull. ? In the aft located also shockproof containers with liquid oxygen and steel tanks with a source of hydrogen - metal hydride.

New in the construction of the German submarines are the location of hydroplanes on fence cutting and application of X-shaped stern rudders for better handling the boat submerged.

Fincantieri Starts Construction of New U212A-Class Submarine for the Italian Navy

Today at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Muggiano there was the ceremony to celebrate the cutting of the first sheeting – marking the start-up of construction of the first of the second pair of class U212A “Todaro” submarines, ordered by the Central Unit for Naval Armament – NAVARM for the Italian Navy. Scheduled for delivery in 2015 and 2016 the Navy has earmarked these vessels to replace the “Prini” and the “Pelosi” submarines (“Sauro” classe– third series), built at the end of the 1980s.

Present at the ceremony were, beside Fincantieri’s representative, Admiral Dino Nascetti, General Director of NAVARM.

Construction of the two submarines is the continuation of a program which started in 1994 in cooperation with the German Submarine Consortium, which led to two submarines being built for Italy – the “Todaro” and the “Scirè”, delivered by Fincantieri in 2006 and 2007 respectively – and four submarines for Germany.
At an overall length of 56 metres, the vessels will have a surface displacement of 1,450 tons and a maximum diameter of 7 metres and be able to reach a submerged speed of 20 knots with a crew of 24. As the other submarines in the series, this new submarine will feature highly innovative technological solutions and will be entirely built employing amagnetic materials, applying the latest silencing devices in order to reduce its acoustic signature. The vessel will be equipped with a silent propulsion system based on fuel cell technology, producing energy through an oxygen-hydrogen reaction independently from external oxygen, ensuring a submerged range three to four times higher than the conventional battery-based systems. It will also feature a fully integrated electro-acoustic and weapon-control system, and a modern platform automation system.

The first two submarines of this type delivered by Fincantieri are already successfully at work within the fleet of the Italian Navy. Indeed, on the first December the “Scirè" returned to Taranto having participated in CONUS ’09 - an intense naval campaign in the Atlantic with the US Navy while in the summer the “Todaro” was also engaged in a similar mission within the framework of NATO manoeuvres. This submarine is at present anchored at Fincantieri’s Muggiano yard for scheduled maintenance to be carried out by Fincantieri which has recently also been tasked with managing the vessel’s life support program.

Commenting, Fincantieri’s Chief Executive Officer, Giuseppe Bono, said: “Continuation of this program with the Navy benefits both our national defence and our industry. These submarines constitute state-of the-art for the sector, our country cannot not afford to lose the know-how needed to work in such a high tech field.” (More)

Italian Mini Submarines

The Naval Special Services Group (SSGN), numbering 1,000 marines, is responsible for conducting unconventional operations at sea and along the shoreline. Delivery or insertion of maritime special forces includes fixed- wing/helicopter low-level parachuting, light craft beaching and underwater conveyance, for which the navy operates at least three Cosmos Class MG110 miniature submarines (SSI) and some swimmer- delivery vehicles.

On the basis of design developed by PN Dockyard, this type of mini submarine has been constructed at PN Dockyard. These mini-submarines can be used for various purposes like attacking enemy units in harbour with Frogmen/Charriots, at sea with torpedoes, at shore installations by commandos etc. other uses include mine laying, defensive barrier in shallow waters, advance pickets duties, intelligence gathering etc.

Although the Italian Navy pioneered the use of human torpedoes (known today as swimmer delivery vehicles or SDVs), in today's Italian Navy there are no midgets. However Cosmos of Livorno has sold a number of midgets abroad. The SX 404 type sold to Pakistan in the early 1970s have been replaced by three [or possibly four] Italian-built SX-756-class midget submarines, delivered in 1988. These displace 40 tons and are capable of diving to a depth of 100m. They can carry six swimmers and two SDVs, as well as 2 tons of explosives (globalsecurity).

Specifications
Length overall	27.28 meters
Height overall	5.59"
Pressure Hull Diameter	2.30"
Pressure Hull Length	19.10"
Displacement	102 tons (surfaced), 110 tons (sub-merged)
Operation Depth	In excess of 100 m
Test Depth	In excess of 100 m
Max. speed (surfaced)	9 KTS (on diesel engine)
Max. speed (submerged)	6 KTS (on batteries)
Endurance	Over 1000 NM on diesel engine, Over 40 NM on batteries
Complement	14 (6 operators + 8 commandos)
Armament	Torpedo Firing Tubes, Mine Laying Hooks