Benjamin Franklin vs Type 209

The Benjamin Franklin and the Type 209 are both Submarine classes. The Benjamin Franklin displaces 7,443 tons — 5.8x the Type 209's 1,285 tons. The Benjamin Franklin reaches 16 knots vs 11 knots for the Type 209. Operational range is 99,999 nautical miles for the Benjamin Franklin vs 11,000 for the Type 209. The Benjamin Franklin carries a crew of 140 vs 36 for the Type 209. Submerged displacement is 8,383 tons for the Benjamin Franklin vs 1,810 tons for the Type 209. The Type 209 can dive to 500 m compared to 400 m for the Benjamin Franklin. The Benjamin Franklin was produced in 12 units vs 68 for the Type 209. The Benjamin Franklin was commissioned in 1965, 6 years before the Type 209 (1971).

American nuclear-powered submarine, 7,443 tons displacement, utilizes an S5W pressurized water reactor.
Origin 🇺🇸 United States
Category Submarine
Type Nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine
Manufacturer Electric Boat
Year introduced 1965
Number built 12 units
Estimated unit price NA
German diesel-electric submarine, introduced in 1971, displaces 1,285 tons.
Origin 🇩🇪 Germany
Category Submarine
Type Diesel-electric attack submarines
Manufacturer Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft
Year introduced 1971
Number built 68 units
Estimated unit price $285 million
Displacement 7,443 tons
Maximum speed 16.0 knots
Range Unlimited
Length 130.0 m
Beam 10.0 m
Crew 140
Max depth 400 m
Propulsion 1 × S5W PWR, 2 geared steam turbines (15,000 shp (11,000 kW)), 1 shaft
Armament
  • 16 Polaris A3 or Poseidon C3 or Trident I C4 missiles
  • 4 × 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes
  • 13 torpedoes
Displacement 1,285 tons
Maximum speed 11.0 knots
Range 11,000 nm at 10 knots
Length 64.4 m
Beam 6.5 m
Crew 36
Max depth 500 m
Propulsion Diesel-electric, 4 diesels, 1 shaft, 6,100 shp (4,500 kW)
Armament
  • 8 x 533 mm torpedo tubes
  • 14 torpedoes
  • UGM-84 Harpoon missiles
  • SeaHake mod 4 torpedoes
  • SUT torpedoes
  • SST torpedoes
  • Mark 24 Tigerfish torpedoes
  • DM2A3 torpedoes
  • Blackshark torpedoes
  • A184 mod. 3 torpedoes
  • DM2A4 torpedoes
  • Mark 37 torpedoes
  • Mark 48 torpedoes
  • Mines

Performance Radar Chart

Frequently Asked Questions

Which has greater displacement, the Benjamin Franklin-class or Type 209-class?
The Benjamin Franklin-class has greater displacement at 7,443 tons compared to the Type 209-class's 1,285 tons.
Which is faster, the Benjamin Franklin-class or Type 209-class?
The Benjamin Franklin-class is faster with a maximum speed of 16 knots compared to the Type 209-class's 11 knots.
Which has longer range, the Benjamin Franklin-class or Type 209-class?
The Benjamin Franklin-class is nuclear-powered with unlimited range, while the Type 209-class has a range of 11,000 nautical miles.
Which is longer, the Benjamin Franklin-class or Type 209-class?
The Benjamin Franklin-class is longer at 130.0 meters compared to the Type 209-class's 64.4 meters.
How many crew members do the Benjamin Franklin-class and Type 209-class have?
The Benjamin Franklin-class has a larger crew complement of 140 compared to the Type 209-class's 36 crew members.
Which can dive deeper, the Benjamin Franklin-class or Type 209-class?
The Type 209-class can dive deeper with a maximum depth of 500 meters compared to the Benjamin Franklin-class's 400 meters.
Which has been built in greater numbers, the Benjamin Franklin-class or Type 209-class?
The Type 209-class has been built in greater numbers with 68 vessels compared to 12 vessels of the Benjamin Franklin-class.