Seawolf vs Type 209

The Seawolf and the Type 209 are both Submarine classes. The Seawolf displaces 8,600 tons — 6.7x the Type 209's 1,285 tons. The Seawolf reaches 18 knots vs 11 knots for the Type 209. Operational range is 99,999 nautical miles for the Seawolf vs 11,000 for the Type 209. The Seawolf carries a crew of 140 vs 36 for the Type 209. Submerged displacement is 9,138 tons for the Seawolf vs 1,810 tons for the Type 209. The Type 209 can dive to 500 m compared to 490 m for the Seawolf. The Seawolf was produced in 3 units vs 68 for the Type 209. Cost per hull is $3,000M for the Seawolf vs $285M for the Type 209. The Seawolf was commissioned in 1997, 26 years after the Type 209 (1971).

American nuclear attack submarine, entered service in 1997, uses a pump-jet propeller.
Origin 🇺🇸 United States
Category Submarine
Type Nuclear attack submarine
Manufacturer General Dynamics Electric Boat
Year introduced 1997
Number built 3 units
Estimated unit price $3,000 million
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 8,600 tons
Maximum speed 18.0 knots
Range Unlimited
Length 108.0 m
Beam 12.0 m
Crew 140
Max depth 490 m
Propulsion 1 S6W PWR 220 MW (300,000 hp), 1 secondary propulsion submerged motor, 2 steam turbines 57,000 shp (43 MW), 1 shaft, 1 pump-jet propeller
Armament
  • 8 x 26.5-inch torpedo tubes
  • Tomahawk land attack missile
  • Harpoon anti-ship missile
  • Mk 48 guided torpedo
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 Seawolf-class or Type 209-class?
The Seawolf-class has greater displacement at 8,600 tons compared to the Type 209-class's 1,285 tons.
Which is faster, the Seawolf-class or Type 209-class?
The Seawolf-class is faster with a maximum speed of 18 knots compared to the Type 209-class's 11 knots.
Which has longer range, the Seawolf-class or Type 209-class?
The Seawolf-class is nuclear-powered with unlimited range, while the Type 209-class has a range of 11,000 nautical miles.
Which is longer, the Seawolf-class or Type 209-class?
The Seawolf-class is longer at 108.0 meters compared to the Type 209-class's 64.4 meters.
How many crew members do the Seawolf-class and Type 209-class have?
The Seawolf-class has a larger crew complement of 140 compared to the Type 209-class's 36 crew members.
Which can dive deeper, the Seawolf-class or Type 209-class?
The Type 209-class can dive deeper with a maximum depth of 500 meters compared to the Seawolf-class's 490 meters.
Which is more expensive, the Seawolf-class or Type 209-class?
The Seawolf-class is more expensive at approximately $3.0 billion per unit compared to the Type 209-class at $285 million.
Which has been built in greater numbers, the Seawolf-class or Type 209-class?
The Type 209-class has been built in greater numbers with 68 vessels compared to 3 vessels of the Seawolf-class.