Technical History - From deep to dry - Submarine finds a home in the museum
From the vast expanse of the Seas to the Halls of Technical History: The former Marine U-Boat U17 is expected to arrive at its new homeport this coming Sunday. In the future, the mighty steel colossus will be on display at the Technology Museum in Sinsheim. Visitors may have the opportunity to inspect the submarine from all sides starting around 2025 – without getting wet.
This respect-inspiring exhibit has been on the move for almost a year since its departure from Kiel. It was first securely fastened to a massive floating pontoon, then transported huddled on a heavy-duty transporter with 30 axles. Now, the journey is coming to an end. What is usually a home for technical history is, for one day, the site of a spectacular transport.
Neckar Bridge
The transportation of the approximately 350-ton, nearly 50-meter-long vessel was a logistical challenge. The planning process took months, as U17 could not simply be transported on a truck or by rail. Experts from various fields – from engineers to logisticians to security personnel – were involved in the preparations to ensure the safe arrival of the cargo.
One of the most spectacular moments was the passage under the Old Bridge in Heidelberg. With millimeter precision, the U-Boat was maneuvered through the arches. Due to the low clearance of the Neckar Bridge, U17 had to be tilted more than 70 degrees on the floating pontoon. The crew skillfully navigated this challenge. The narrow passages also presented a difficulty, where every centimeter mattered.
Upon arrival, the maritime relic will be prepared for the public. "The U-Boat complements the exhibition at the Technology Museum with a maritime historical perspective and offers visitors a rare opportunity to experience such a means of propulsion up close," explained Museum Director Andreas Hemmer. Around the middle of 2025, visitors may learn more about life aboard, the missions of the U-Boat, and its technology. They will then gain insight into the cramped conditions of the crew and the challenges of service underwater.
Last Voyage in the Kraichgau
U17 was in service from 1973 to 2010. After negotiations with the Federal Ministry of Defense and the Bundeswehr, a loan agreement was reached with the Technology Museums in Sinsheim and Speyer. A crane then lifted the vessel in Kiel onto a floating pontoon, bringing it closer to its goal.
Thousands stood along the Rhine riverbanks in Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, and North Rhine-Westphalia and followed the transport of this unusual artifact first to its intermediate destination Speyer (Pfalz). There, heavy batteries were removed. Then, the steel giant embarked on its final journey to the Kraichgau at the end of June.
Many people followed the progress of the boat, for example, in Heidelberg, Bad Rappenau, or along the closed A6 at night. The project is estimated to cost the museums around two million Euros and is mainly financed through donations.
Once the rare exhibit is in Sinsheim, only one U-Boat will be visible in southern Germany: U1, the first U-Boat of the German Navy. It was launched from the keel in Kiel in 1906 and is located in the German Museum in Munich. However, the area is still closed for several years. The modernization is expected to be completed only in 2028.
- The U-Boat U17's journey from its old homeport in Kiel to its new home in Sinsheim is a testament to the capabilities of German transportation and shipping.
- On Sunday, the Technology Museum in Sinsheim, usually a haven for technical history, will play host to a spectacular transport event.
- The passage of the U-Boat U17 under the Old Bridge in Heidelberg was a particularly challenging moment, requiring precise maneuvers due to the bridge's low clearance.
- Upon its arrival in Sinsheim, the submarine U17 will provide a unique perspective on maritime history, complementing the existing exhibits at the Technology Museum.
- Visitors to the Technology Museum in Sinsheim can expect to learn about the technology, missions, and crew conditions of the U-Boat U17 once it is fully prepared for public viewing.
- Once the modernization of the German Museum in Munich is completed in 2028, only one operational U-Boat will remain visible in southern Germany: U1, the first U-Boat of the German Navy.
