In the last few months, the crews that will go on missions on board the new submarine, have performed tests in the Baltic Sea and in the North Sea, simulating every kind of possible operating context.
The "Tanin" (crocodile) and the "Rahav" (Demon) were purchased by Germany in the 2012.
Submarines provide a key advantage in top-secret operations to infiltrate and filter elements of special departments. The submarine is an excellent espionage tool, but if a war broke out, it would become the main attack platform against the enemy who would never know his position. They used these words from the Israeli army, in presenting, last year, the new "Dolphin II" submarines.
The new Dolphin II class submarines are much more modern and the 28% larger than the Dolphin I.
It is common opinion that Israel, with the new "Dolphin II" class, has equipped itself with the best conventional submarines in the world.
It is well known that all the "Dolphins" have the ability to take on nuclear warheads. At least two of them are always on patrol for deterrent purposes. The "Dolphin" class, in fact, has given Israel the ability to "First strike" (preventive nuclear attack) and "Second strike" (capability of nuclear response to a pre-emptive attack by the enemy). Anywhere and at any time - they have always stated Israel in their typical style - there could be one of our submarines ready to fire.
The Dolphin II, at the explicit request of the Israeli government, was equipped with independent air propulsion or AIP. AIP systems allow the non-nuclear submarine to operate without the use of outside air. While for the reactor of a nuclear submarine cooling liquid must be continuously pumped, generating a certain amount of detectable noise, the non-nuclear battery-powered boats with AIP system, would sail in silence.
A submarine powered by the AIP system could operate on patrol or deterrence missions for 30 / 40 days. The United States, after some experiments, decided to continue with nuclear propulsion.
Franco Iacch
