Navy to get 2 more Dolphin subs

[occuserpens]

ARIEH O'SULLIVAN. Navy to get 2 more Dolphin subs http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1132320215141&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

One of the Israeli Navy's three Dolphin submarines: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?blobcol=urlimage&blobheader=image%2Fjpeg&blobkey=id&blobtable=JPImage&blobwhere=1132320215160&cachecontrol=never&ssbinary=true

There was no surprise in the Israel Navy over the weekend report that German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's outgoing government has agreed to sell Israel two submarines for a deeply discounted price.

German news magazines Der Spiegel and Focus reported on Saturday that the submarines would be built in Kiel for a total of about €1 billion (NIS 5.4 billion) and the federal government would pick up one-third of the cost.

The navy has been seeking two more of the state-of-the-art diesel/electric subs to add to its fleet of three Dolphin-class subs which Germany practically donated after the 1990 Gulf War.

But the German government has repeatedly turned down the request, reportedly because of reports Israel had outfitted the submarines with Israeli-made, sea-launched cruise missiles. Sensitive armaments deliveries need approval from Berlin's secretive security council.

The Dolphin-class submarines are the most expensive platforms in the IDF's arsenal. Germany donated the first two submarines to Israel as a gift after the first Gulf War and split the cost of the third. Navy sources said the newer Dolphins will be able to stay submerged for a longer period than the present ones.

The Dolphin was built according to Israeli specifications gleaned from Israel's experience. Its short and stout shape was tailor-made for Israel's special needs and it reportedly has considerable commando capability. It has a crew of 35 and can support 10 additional passengers.

It has a maximum speed of 20 knots, has a range of 4,500 kilometers and, according to Jane's Defense Weekly, it has the capability to launch cruise missiles with nuclear warheads.

[6th Borough]

1. "State of the art diesel/electric subs"...is that an oxymoron?

[occuserpens]

2. No, subs don't need to be nuclear

Although Israelis would love nuclear subs...

[HawkerHurricane]

3. actually, they probably wouldn't.

For what Isreal uses them for, nuclear power plants would make them expensive and vulnerable.

The U.S. could use a few good non-nuclear subs, but Rickover's heirs will never let the fleet get them.

[Name removed]

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[Submariner]

5. They can be quieter than nukes

the diesel-electrics run on noiseless battery power, while the nuke has a noisy steam turbine spinning even at all stop, thus making the d-e "state of the art" in sound-deadening technology.

[occuserpens]

7. Noiselessness is critical for attack subs

which are sub killers. Since Arabs and Iranians don't have any considerable Navy, it is of no importance for the Israelis

[Lithos]

6. Given the Eastern Mediterranean

And the port of Eilat are where the Israeli navy operates, it makes much more sense for them to have D-E boats than nuclear submarines any day of the week. Both the Red Sea and the Eastern Med are relatively shallow which places an emphasis on quieter, smaller subs - which describe todays' modern D-E's.

The only disadvantage of a D-E is that they require much more logistical support to achieve and maintain a distant station. This is not a need Israel requires, but one the US does which is why the US has opted for nuclear propulsion.

L-