I always found it remarkable that the Dutch LCF loses an entire cluster of 8 VLS because of the small Goalkeeper mount below the bridge.
THere is no goalkeeper below the bridge. It is located just forward of the APAR mast i.e. atop and behind the bridge. The 6th 8-cell vlu wasn’t fitted because the Dutch decided the LCF didn’t need Tomahawk cruise missiles and therefor 8 extra cells. Its an economy measure… space and weight reserve remains available.
There are really a few different submarines called Type 209. The Portuguese navy, for example, has a Type 214 variant re-badged as U-209PN, the South Korean Type 209s have been upgraded beyond recognition, and so on.
Isn’t that what exactly what U-214 is, U-212A technologies blended with the succefull features of the 209 to form a new design that would be commercially more viable, and emulated the succes of the U-209?
Portugal
The Portuguese government awarded in 2005 a contract to Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft for two type 214 submarines, which have been delivered in 2010.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_214_submarine
Five variants of this submarine have been produced: Type 209/1100, Type 209/1200, Type 209/1300, Type 209/1400 and Type 209/1500. The U-209PN ordered by the Portuguese Navy is actually a Type 214.[10] The Dolphin class submarines built for the Israeli navy are a based on the Type 209 although heavily modified and enlarged
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_209_submarine
The class “Trident” is the version for the Portuguese navy German submarine U-214 model. Initially known as the U-209PN, this type of submarine, shares all features with the type submarine U-214, having little to do with the older series U-209. The reason for the reference to U-209PN is explained in the article about the differences between U214/212/209.
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http://www.areamilitar.net/DIRECTORIO/NAV.aspx?NN=28
Article on the history of the 209PN program:
http://translate.google.nl/translate?sl=pt&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=nl&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.areamilitar.net%2FDIRECTORIO%2FNAV.aspx%3FNN%3D28
In short, the German HDW offered a 209/1500/AIP initially (i.e. a mod-ded 209/1500) then during the 2nd phase of the competition switched to 214. For legal reasons or tactical reasons, the name U209PN remanded. There is not design connection.
In fact: “Faced with the situation of the German project of victory, France’s DCN, contested the results of the competition, because in their view, the new submarine, was not a U209, U214 but one, and in this case, the HDW should have been excluded because the submarine shown in the second stage, there was the same as given in the first phase. “
The South Koreans are doing to their 209s essentially what the Swedes are doing with their subs.
The Swedish Södermanland class of diesel-electric submarines consist of the HMS Södermanland and HMS Östergötland. These two submarines were originally launched as Västergötland class submarines in 1987 and 1990, and have been relaunched as a new class after extensive modernization 2003 and 2004 by Kockums AB. The pressure hull had been cut in two after the sail and a 12 m long new section with an air-independent propulsion system was inserted.Two submarines of similar modifications, known as the Archer class submarine are in service with the Republic of Singapore Navy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%B6dermanland_class_submarine
On 11 April 2010 the Swedish Defence minister Sten Tolgfors announced plans of acquiring two new submarines to be commissioned in 2018-19 replacing the two submarines of the Södermanlands class. The plans also included a Mid-Life Upgrade program of two submarines of the Gotland class. Additional submarines could later be ordered to replace the Gotland class
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