by Kieran Griffith
1/144 U32 (Revell Germany)
This is a Type 212A submarine that is a highly advanced design of non-nuclear submarine developed by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft AG (HDW) for the German Navy. It features diesel propulsion with an air-independent propulsion (AIP) system using Siemens polymer electrolyte module (PEM) hydrogen fuel cells. The submarine can operate at high speed on diesel power or switch to the AIP system for silent slow cruising, staying submerged for up to three weeks without surfacing and with no exhaust heat. The system is also said to be vibration-free, extremely quiet and virtually undetectable. The Model was fun to build and is very highly detailed, I did not make it as detailed as it could be because I did not want it to put my other models to shame. As the model is now it’s a lot easier to fly about in your hand. You get the feeling your holding a Wachhund Unterseeboot that is designed to scare away any potential baddies from the German Baltic Sea coast. But I hear it is also great for shallow water so the Special Forces love it.
