Kobben-class submarine


The Kobben class is a customized version of the German Type 205 submarine. Fifteen vessels of this class were built for use by the Royal Norwegian Navy in the 1960s. The class later saw service with Denmark and Poland. The boats have since been withdrawn from service in the Norwegian and Danish Navy. Polish Navy still operates two Kobben-class submarines as of 2020.

History

Along with the rest of the Royal Norwegian Navy, the submarine fleet was to be modernized according to the Fleet plan of 1960. After the war, Norway needed a navy more suited for coastal operations rather than large, seagoing vessels. This made the choice of a new type of submarines rather slim, not many NATO submarines being suited for this type of operations. A German Type 201 submarine was lent to the Royal Norwegian Navy for evaluation and adaptation. The result was the Type 207, of which 15 vessels were delivered to Norway in the period 1964 – 67. All Kobben-class submarines were built by Rheinstahl Nordseewerke GmbH in Emden. Between 1985 – 93, six boats were lengthened by and modernized, most notably with new sonar equipment.
During that period, four others were sold to the Royal Danish Navy, three operational and one for spare parts. served in the 2003 invasion of Iraq from May 2002 until June 2003.
In 2001, the Kobben class was completely phased out in Norwegian service, replaced by the newer. Five modernized vessels were given to the Polish Navy, four as operational units and one for spare parts. Before they were transferred, the Polish crews were trained and the boats were overhauled.
During 2004, all of the operational Danish boats were decommissioned. They were mothballed, waiting to be scrapped or transferred to another nation.

In popular culture

The Kobben is mentioned in Tom Clancy's 1986 techno-thriller Red Storm Rising.

Vessels

PennantNameCommissionedNotes
S-315Kaura1965Transferred to Denmark in 1991 for spare parts
S-316Kinn8 April 1964Scuttled in Bjørnafjord in 1990
S-317Kya15 June 1964Transferred to Denmark in 1991 as the HDMS Springeren
S-318Kobben15 August 1964Transferred to Poland in 2002 for spare parts and as of 17 December 2011 moved to Maritime Academy in Gdynia for crew training.
S-319Kunna29 October 1964Transferred to Poland in 2003 as ORP Kondor. Decommissioned as of 20 December 2017.
S-300Ula1965Renamed Kinn in 1987, scrapped in 1998
S-301Utsira1965Scrapped in 1998
S-302Utstein1965Transferred to the naval museum in Horten in 1998 as a museum ship
S-303Utvær1965Transferred to Denmark in 1989 as HDMS Tumleren
S-304Uthaug1965Transferred to Denmark in 1990 as, now a museum ship
S-305Sklinna1966Reconditioned in 1989, scrapped in 2001
S-306Skolpen1966Transferred to Poland in 2002 as
S-307Stadt1966Scrapped in 1989
S-308Stord1967Transferred to Poland in 2002 as
S-309Svenner1967Transferred to Poland in 2003 as