Sturgeon vs Type 209

The Sturgeon and the Type 209 are both Submarine classes. The Sturgeon displaces 3,640 tons — 2.8x the Type 209's 1,285 tons. The Sturgeon reaches 15 knots vs 11 knots for the Type 209. Operational range is 99,999 nautical miles for the Sturgeon vs 11,000 for the Type 209. The Sturgeon carries a crew of 107 vs 36 for the Type 209. Submerged displacement is 4,640 tons for the Sturgeon vs 1,810 tons for the Type 209. The Type 209 can dive to 500 m compared to 400 m for the Sturgeon. The Sturgeon was produced in 37 units vs 68 for the Type 209. The Sturgeon was commissioned in 1967, 4 years before the Type 209 (1971).

American nuclear-powered attack submarine, introduced in 1967, displaced 3,640 tons.
Origin 🇺🇸 United States
Category Submarine
Type Nuclear-powered attack submarine
Manufacturer General Dynamics Electric Boat
Year introduced 1967
Number built 37 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 3,640 tons
Maximum speed 15.0 knots
Range Unlimited
Length 89.1 m
Beam 9.7 m
Crew 107
Max depth 400 m
Propulsion 1 × S5W pressurized water reactor, 2 × steam turbines, total 15,000 shp (11,000 kW), 1 shaft
Armament
  • 4 × 21 inch (533 mm) amidship torpedo tubes
  • Mark 48 and Mk-48 ADCAP torpedoes
  • Harpoon missiles
  • Tomahawk missiles
  • SUBROC anti-submarine missiles
  • Mark 67 Submarine Launched Mobile Mines
  • Mark 60 CAPTOR mines
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 Sturgeon-class or Type 209-class?
The Sturgeon-class has greater displacement at 3,640 tons compared to the Type 209-class's 1,285 tons.
Which is faster, the Sturgeon-class or Type 209-class?
The Sturgeon-class is faster with a maximum speed of 15 knots compared to the Type 209-class's 11 knots.
Which has longer range, the Sturgeon-class or Type 209-class?
The Sturgeon-class is nuclear-powered with unlimited range, while the Type 209-class has a range of 11,000 nautical miles.
Which is longer, the Sturgeon-class or Type 209-class?
The Sturgeon-class is longer at 89.1 meters compared to the Type 209-class's 64.4 meters.
How many crew members do the Sturgeon-class and Type 209-class have?
The Sturgeon-class has a larger crew complement of 107 compared to the Type 209-class's 36 crew members.
Which can dive deeper, the Sturgeon-class or Type 209-class?
The Type 209-class can dive deeper with a maximum depth of 500 meters compared to the Sturgeon-class's 400 meters.
Which has been built in greater numbers, the Sturgeon-class or Type 209-class?
The Type 209-class has been built in greater numbers with 68 vessels compared to 37 vessels of the Sturgeon-class.