Two fuel cell-powered submarines have been commissioned by the German navy in an environmental first for the underwater world, reports DDP.

The navy received a U31 and a U32, both class 212 submarines using fuel cell technology, in September and yesterday (October 19th) commissioned them as part of its fleet.

Each submarine is fitted with a fuel cell plant capable of turning hydrogen and oxygen into power.

This allows the vessels to travel under water for long periods of time and is both strategically and environmentally important, as it produces no harmful emissions and no noise that might cause it to be detected.

The submarines began sea trials in April 2003 and have since proved their worth in seas such as the Baltic.

Peter Struck, the German defence minister, hailed them as a "milestone in the transformation of the armed forces".

The commissioning of the Wittenberg and Edenkoben, a U31 and U32 respectively, took place at Eckernfoerde, Schleswig-Holstein.

Two further fuel cell submarines are due to be commissioned by the German navy next year.


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