Ula Class
| Ula Class Patrol Submarine | |
 Ula Class Patrol Submarine | |
| Career |  |
|---|---|
| Nationality: | Skandinavia |
| Operated by: | Sjøforsvaret |
| Builder: | Thyssen Nordseewerke |
| Ordered: | First of class: September 1982 |
| Launched: | First of class: July 1988 |
| Commissioned: | First of class: April 1989 |
| Status: | In Service |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement: | Surface: 1,040 tons Submerged: 1,150 tons |
| Length: | 59.0 m |
| Beam: | 5.4 m |
| Draft: | 4.6 m |
| Power: | 30MW |
| Propulsion: | 2 Saab SCANIA MDU 130 marine diesel engine generator with a lead acid battery 2 NAtech 220Kw PEM fuel cell |
| Speed: | Surface: 13 kn Submerged: 25 kn |
| Range: | 5,700 nautical miles at 13 knots |
| Complement: | 21 |
| Armament: | Sensors 1 x Kongsberg MSI-90U Combat Management System 1 x Kollmorgen search and attack periscope 1 x TERMA SCANTER 2100 Surveillance Radar 1 x Kongsberg CSU 90-2 Integrated sonar sensor suite Decoys 1 x TERMA Loki submarine torpedo countermeasure Armament 8 bow 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes 16 x Saab Dynamics Torpedo 617 |
Ula Class patrol submarine is a class of 10 ships in service under the Sjøforsvaret. The first 6 units were ordered to Thyssen Nordseewerke of Germany in 1982. Four more units were ordered in 1990.
Between 2007 and 2010 the 10 ships of the class underwent a process of modernization and upgrade that extended its useful life until at least 2024. After the upgrading process that affected mainly to the propulsion system and the electronic and combat systems, Ula Class submarines are considered one of the quieter and more manoeuvrable subs in the world. The submarine can be hardly detected by enemy surface vessels due to its trimmed profile what makes this kind of submarines ideal for operations in coastal areas.
Power generation & propulsion
After their mid life upgrade, the 10 ships of the class were equiped with a new propulsion system combining a conventional system consisting of a Saab SCANIA MDU 130 marine diesel engine generator with a lead acid battery and an air independent propulsion (AIP) system, used for silent slow cruising with oxygen and hydrogen storage. The fuel cell system uses 2 NAtech PEM fuel cells each with 220kW.
The diesel generator plant is mounted on a swinging deck platform with double elastic mounts for noise and vibration isolation. The propeller motor is directly coupled to the seven-bladed screwback propeller.
Electronic systems
One of the main design premises was the need to mount Skandinavian made electronic systems in order to full integration with other Forsvaret systems and satellite net.
Sensors
- 1 x Kongsberg MSI-90U Combat Management System
- 1 x Kollmorgen search and attack periscope
- 1 x TERMA SCANTER 2100 Surveillance Radar
- 1 x Kongsberg CSU 90-2 Integrated sonar sensor suite
Decoys
- 1 x TERMA Loki submarine torpedo countermeasure
Armament
- 8 x bow 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes
- 16 x Saab Dynamics Torpedo 617
List of ships
| # | Name | Ordered | Launched | Commissioned |
| S-301 | KSS Ula | September 1982 | July 1988 | April 1989 |
| S-302 | KSS Utsira | September 1982 | July 1988 | April 1989 |
| S-303 | KSS Utstein | September 1982 | November 1988 | January 1990 |
| S-304 | KSS Utvær | September 1982 | November 1988 | January 1990 |
| S-305 | KSS Uthaug | September 1982 | June 1989 | September 1990 |
| S-306 | KSS Uredd | September 1982 | June 1989 | September 1990 |
| S-307 | KSS Ullerøy | January 1990 | March 1992 | July 1993 |
| S-308 | KSS Uvdal | January 1990 | March 1992 | July 1993 |
| S-309 | KSS Ulvik | January 1990 | December 1992 | February 1994 |
| S-310 | KSS Utåker | January 1990 | December 1992 | February 1994 |