Sierra vs Type 209

The Sierra and the Type 209 are both Submarine classes. The Sierra displaces 7,200 tons — 5.6x the Type 209's 1,285 tons. The Sierra reaches 10 knots vs 11 knots for the Type 209. Operational range is 99,999 nautical miles for the Sierra vs 11,000 for the Type 209. The Sierra carries a crew of 61 vs 36 for the Type 209. Submerged displacement is 8,300 tons for the Sierra vs 1,810 tons for the Type 209. The Sierra can dive to 600 m compared to 500 m for the Type 209. The Sierra was produced in 4 units vs 68 for the Type 209. The Sierra was commissioned in 1984, 13 years after the Type 209 (1971).

Soviet nuclear attack submarine, introduced in 1984, has a displacement of 7,200 tons.
Origin 🇨🇳 Ex-USSR
Category Submarine
Type Nuclear attack submarine
Manufacturer Krasnoye Sormovo
Year introduced 1984
Number built 4 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 7,200 tons
Maximum speed 10.0 knots
Range Unlimited
Length 107.2 m
Beam 12.3 m
Crew 61
Max depth 600 m
Propulsion 1 × PWR, 190 MW (HEU <= 45%), 2 × 1,002 hp (747 kW) emergency motors, 1 shaft, 2 spinners
Armament
  • 4 × 650 mm (26 in) torpedo tubes (only Sierra I)
  • 4 × 530 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes (6 x Sierra II)
  • SS-N-21 Sampson SLCM
  • SS-N-15 Starfish anti-submarine weapon
  • SS-N-16 Stallion
  • 42 mines (instead of 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 Sierra-class or Type 209-class?
The Sierra-class has greater displacement at 7,200 tons compared to the Type 209-class's 1,285 tons.
Which is faster, the Sierra-class or Type 209-class?
The Type 209-class is faster with a maximum speed of 11 knots compared to the Sierra-class's 10 knots.
Which has longer range, the Sierra-class or Type 209-class?
The Sierra-class is nuclear-powered with unlimited range, while the Type 209-class has a range of 11,000 nautical miles.
Which is longer, the Sierra-class or Type 209-class?
The Sierra-class is longer at 107.2 meters compared to the Type 209-class's 64.4 meters.
How many crew members do the Sierra-class and Type 209-class have?
The Sierra-class has a larger crew complement of 61 compared to the Type 209-class's 36 crew members.
Which can dive deeper, the Sierra-class or Type 209-class?
The Sierra-class can dive deeper with a maximum depth of 600 meters compared to the Type 209-class's 500 meters.
Which has been built in greater numbers, the Sierra-class or Type 209-class?
The Type 209-class has been built in greater numbers with 68 vessels compared to 4 vessels of the Sierra-class.