Last leg of the journey for decommissioned naval submarine

Technology - Last leg of the journey for decommissioned naval submarine

A German Navy decommissioned U-boat has been transported towards South Germany for approximately a year. The steel behemoth, which began its journey in Kiel, is being taken to Sinsheim in Baden-Württemberg. The final stage of the journey is about to begin. It is scheduled to start on this coming Sunday (8 a.m.) at the Technik Museum in Speyer, Pfalz. In four weeks, the nearly 50-meter long and around 350-tonne heavy submarine U17 will be expected in the exhibition hall in Sinsheim.

First, the vessel will be transported spectaculary on a barge on the Rhine and Neckar rivers and then over land. This requires stopping trains and removing signals, overhead power lines, and guiding rails. The U17 will have to be tilted repeatedly because bridges are too low and locks are too narrow.

U17 was in service since 1973 and was decommissioned in 2010. About a year ago, it was lifted onto a floating dock in Kiel. From there, it went over the North Sea to Rotterdam and then up the Rhine to Cologne, Mainz, and Mannheim before reaching Speyer. Thousands of onlookers gathered at the shore to follow the transport. The costs for this project are covered by the museums and donations.

Information about the U17 project: Link

1. After spending over a year in transit, the German Navy's decommissioned U-boat, U17, is set to arrive in Sinsheim, Baden-Württemberg, on Sunday at 8 a.m.
2. The journey from Kiel to Sinsheim in Southern Germany has been an intricate process, with the U17 requiring multiple tilts due to low bridges and narrow locks.
3. As the submarine approaches Sinsheim, it will navigate through the Rhine and Neckar rivers before continuing its land journey.
4. Germany's Rhineland-Palatinate region has played a crucial role in U17's transportation, with stops in cities like Cologne and Mannheim.
5. The U17, a 49-meter long submarine, was commissioned in 1973 and served until its decommissioning in 2010.
6. Visitors interested in the U17 project can find more information on the Technik Museum's website in Speyer, Pfalz.
7. The transportation of U17 from Kiel to Sinsheim has been a collaborative effort between various museums and sponsors, funded partly by donations.
8. By the end of four weeks, the U17 submarine will find its permanent home in the exhibition hall in Sinsheim, Southern Germany, where it will be a major attraction in the technology museums.

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