German navy launches SWATH research vessel

In August, the German Navy launched its new research and test vessel at the ThyssenKrupp shipyard of Nordseewerke in Emden. Named Planet, the vessel?s hull shape makes use of the SWATH technology (small waterplane area twin hull) developed by the yard. Delivery of the newbuilding is scheduled for the summer next year.

Two organisations will make use of the Planet, the research organisation of the German Forces for water acoustics and geophysics in Kiel and the naval authority responsible for ships and navy weapons in Eckernfoerde (Western Baltic). Main tasks of the Planet are surface and underwater naval research as well as testing of navy-specific components, in particular torpedoes and sonar equipment.

With a length of 73 metres and an underwater beam of 27,20 metres, the newbuilding has a draught of 6.80 m and a deadweight of 3,500 tonnes. Accommodation is provided for a crew of 25 persons and 20 scientists

Service speed is 15 knots giving the ship an operational range of 5,000 nm and an endurance of about 30 days. The diesel electric plant consists of two 12-cylinder and two 16-cylinder MTU 396 series high-speed diesel gensets with a total output of about 6,000 kW. The challenge when designing the Planet was to develop a small motor with a high efficiency and very low noise emission. This resulted in four permanent-magnetic propulsion mot-ors being chosen for the propulsion system, two of which are installed in-line in each float. These werespecifically designed for the application on board the Planet and were supplied by MM Magnet-Motor in Starnberg (Bavaria). The main reason for this arrangement was to minimize the signature using only one motor in each float when operating the vessel in a sensitive environment. It is intended to gain experience with this equipment in order to develop future propulsion systems of advanced naval vessels.

The yard claims that the Planet is the first all-electric surface naval ship for the German navy. With this system all the advantages of submarine propulsion have been adopted to develop propulsion plants with an extreme low signature. All generator sets and auxiliaries are installed in the engine room on the main deck, well above the waterline.