U17 at the Technik Museum Sinsheim
Are you ready? ... the submarine U17 opens its hatches on May 24, 2025!
In just a few weeks, the time has come: A whole new highlight awaits you at the Sinsheim Technology Museum – the authentic U17 submarine will be accessible!
Experience firsthand what it's like to climb through the narrow corridors of a real submarine, take a seat at the controls, and immerse yourself in the fascinating world of the deep sea. Technology, history, and goosebumps-inducing moments merge here into an experience you won't soon forget.
Our team is working hard on the final preparations to present you with a special exhibit starting May 24, 2025, with exciting background information, exclusive tours, and real insights into life on board.
Whether you're a technology enthusiast, a history buff, or simply curious – the U17 submarine is a must-see for explorers of all ages.
Immerse yourself in another world – starting May 24, 2025, at the Sinsheim Technology Museum – and look forward to an unforgettable journey into the underwater world!
Stay tuned – we'll keep you updated!
You can find all the information here or on our social media channels.
What you always wanted to know about U17 and the past transport
The U17 will be open from May 24, 2025. Can I see the submarine from the outside beforehand?
Although it will not be possible to enter the submarine U17 until Saturday, May 24, 2025, visitors to the Technik Museum Sinsheim can already view this exhibit from the outside.
What awaits me in the submarine?
The U17 was acquired by the Technik Museum Sinsheim in its complete state—so inside, visitors experience a submarine with operational equipment. The periscope offers a glimpse of the museum's Tupolev Tu-144, and the torpedo bay has also been creatively staged. We don't want to reveal any more at this point before the opening date on May 24, 2025...
How do I get access to the U17?
Starting May 24, 2025, visitors will be able to board the submarine via the roof of Hall 2 of the museum. From there, they will access the interior of the submarine directly via a specially installed bridge and ladder. For safety reasons, access is limited to a maximum of 30 people at a time. This is controlled by an electronic turnstile located directly before boarding the submarine. This ensures an orderly and safe visit for an immersive and uninterrupted experience on board.
What are the technical details of the U17 submarine?
- Length: 48.6 m
- Width: 4.6 metres
- Draught: (max.) 4.3 to 4.5 metres
- Displacement: submerged 450 tonnes, stowed 498 tonnes
- Diving depth: 100 metres
- Crew: 22 to 23 men#
- Engine: Siemens electric traction motor with 1,100 kW / 1,500 hp; two MTU diesel engines with 440 kW / 600 hp each to drive the generators (charging the battery) Max. Speed 10 kn (18.52 km/h) surfaced, 17 (31.484) kn submerged
What are the key data of the U17 submarine?
- Order: June 1969
- Keel laid: 1 June 1970
- Launching: 10 October 1972
- Commissioned: 28 November 1973
- Decommissioned: 14 December 2010 decommissioned in Eckernförde
- Over 37 years in service with the German Navy and the German Navy
- Distance travelled: 201,152 nm (= 372,533.504 km), of which 80,105 nm (148,354.46 km) were submerged
Who owns U17?
Our new exhibit is on loan from the Defence Technology Study Collection of the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support.
How did the Technik Museen Sinsheim Speyer come to U17?
We owe this to our museum members. At BRAZZELTAG®, the annual technology festival at the Technik Museum Speyer, our museum president Hermann Layher and some museum members were sitting together when the idea of bringing a submarine to Sinsheim came up. In December 2017, the Museum Association Auto - Technik - Museum e.V. expressed its interest to the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support in acquiring or loaning a submarine. U17 is perfect for our museum - it is a further development of the U9 submarine on display at the Technik Museum Speyer. We are thus saving U17 from being scrapped and expanding our naval exhibition.
Why another submarine? Isn't there already one in Speyer?
Our museums display remarkable and historic vehicles and machines to showcase technical development and engineering skills. The submarine adds a marine history perspective to the exhibition and offers visitors the rare opportunity to experience such a means of transport at close quarters. U17 is the further development of U9 - the submarine located in the Technik Museum Speyer.
What significance does the submarine have for the collection and exhibition at the Technik Museen Sinsheim Speyer?
The submarine is of great importance to our collection at the Technik Museen Sinsheim Speyer, as it is a unique and impressive exhibit that transports visitors into the fascinating world of underwater vehicles. The submarine enables us to offer our visitors even more diverse insights into the history of maritime technology and thus arouse their interest and curiosity.
How expensive was the transport and what about the financing?
The project cost around two million euros and is mainly financed by donations. The museums are run by the non-profit organisation Auto + Technik Museum Sinsheim e. V. The museums are financed exclusively by admission fees, donations and membership fees. Surpluses are used to maintain and expand the museums. Donations are always welcome. Anyone can make a financial contribution to the U17 Transport project and help to ensure that this mega exhibit is preserved for future generations.
About U17
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The submarine U17 will open its hatches at Saturday, May 24th.
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U17 is a class 206A submarine that is around 48 metres long, with a draught of 4.6 metres, and displaces roughly 500 tonnes when submerged.
- Submarines were mainly deployed in the North Sea and Baltic Sea, and then, later, after the conversion to the class 206 Alpha, in the Mediterranean as well.
- U17 had a very special mission and, together with U26, was the first German submarine in American waters after the Second World War and the first submarine to enter the port of Baltimore after the last submarine anchored there in 1916 (U-Germany).
- The Type 206 submarines have served in the German Navy for almost 40 years – more than any other submarine before – and after such a long time it would have weighed on the souls of the generations of crew members if people had not preserved them and made them accessible for posterity. The "U17 submarine camaraderie", consisting of former crew members, will later take care of preserving the submarine as an exhibit.
Overcoming the impossible together
Every euro counts to get closer to our goal!
With your donation, you can help ensure that the submarine is safely transported, restored and made accessible to the public. Together, we can ensure that this mega-exhibit is preserved for future generations. With a contribution of 25 euros or more, you can have your name listed as a donor on this page.
Support the shipment with membership!
Our non-profit association is the backbone of many activities in and around our museums. We have our members to thank for the fact that the museums are also prepared for the future. Become part of a community of technology fans and get to know other people whose hearts beat for technology. Your membership directly helps our work at the museum – and thus also transporting U17.
Thank you very much!
We would like to thank the following persons, companies and institutions who made this transport possible with their donations.
Frieder Saam, Jörg Wiest, Ben Einkörn, Jürgen Weber (VDU), Ubootkameradschaft München 1926, Ubootkameradschaft U-17, FT1 U19 Walter Kryskiw, Carl Bender, Christian Reuter, Eugen Witte, Werner Vogt U8, Tom Eiteljörge, Dr. Jürgen Brandt, Uwe Pretzsch (exSmut U28), Markus Bloem, Michael Dittmann (A 1418 Meersburg), Otto Christoph, Udo Geffers, Detlef Bexkens, Ulrich Späh, M. Marschalt (E-Maat U19), Lutz-Peter Unger, Klaus Magdziak, Detlev Helmker, Jörg Braun, Wolfgang Müller-Seedorf (Kdt. U17 von 1995 -1998), Martin Witt (Sonarmaat U17), Johannes Förster, Gerhard Senning, Sandra Wissmann, Christoph Knauer (U15), Erwin Daube (VDU), Hinrich Neumann (U13), Pierre Fiedler (Vice U17), Dieter Wexenberger, Ubootkameradschaft U15, Familie Holz, Timor K.F. Feigion (Smut U30), Jürgen Schick, Michael Setzer (VDU), Torsten Riedel (VDU und U28), Günther Gründel (UK U11), Jörg Rinkowski, Thomas Brandau, Christoph Merkel, Roland Scharf (ELO auf U17), Verband Deutscher Ubootfahrer e.V. (VDU), Hans-Joachim Gurske, Armin Quante (EMaat U24), Herbert Kupzyk, Horst Weber, Ernst Kiesling (U20), Ulrich Zorn, Walter Franke (Sonarmaat U20), Simon Schmidt-Zenner, Dieter Kapelle (UK U11), Ingo Buth (ehem. Kdt U26), Dirk Spengler, Jürgen Gädigk (UK17), Torsten Heinrichs, Frank Straub, Armin Schaletzki (E-Maat U20), Familie Hemstedt, Rolf Bittner, Wolfgang Gosch, Siegfried Sebernegg, Ingo Bauernfeind, Markus Zickermann (III WO U17, Kdt U28), Uwe Meyer, Raimund Damm, Petra Fiedler, Frank Holecek, Christian Paschen, Patricia Grubliauskas, Alexander Fromm, Alexey Konovalov, Deutsches Paintball Museum, Norbert Dörich, Frank Laurenat (U28 Torp I), Wilfried Kallenbach, Carolin Höfling, Frank Averbeck, Miriam Herrmann, Reginald Eder, Fritz Werthmann, Raimund Wallner, Dr. Maik Dietrich, Jürgen Kupieczek (E-Maat U23), Detlef Ehmke, Doris und Arno Milschewski, Bernd Haines, Wolfgang Baars (Ex Reederei F. Laeisz), Dietmar Wolf, Philipp Acker, Jürgen Engelfried, Ubootkameradschaft U11, Thomas Körner, Jörg Ziegelmüller, Ilona Scheidt, Christoph Hartung (Funker U17 und U31), Jürgen Rödig, Konrad Zientek, Ramon Tino Bütow (Elo MT U17), Autohaus Kobia GmbH, Jürgen Kahl, Bernhard Klier, Christiaan Vink, Ralf Monzel, Carsten Kuczma (STO-Pra U17 + STO U19), Joachim Schneider, Familie Steingass, Stefan Mayer, Werner Hoffmann, Matthias Schütte, Dieter Eisenhauer (Mot-T-Maat U17), Timo Holzner, Jörg Süpke (U-15), Bianca Schneider, Jörn Schierhorn, Barbara Kasper, Marek Deutschmann, Norman Vogel, Holger Kretschmer, Steffen Hartel, Sonarmaat Besatzung GOLF, Peter Krämer, Wolfram Ritter, "Zentrum für Cyber-Sicherheit der Bundeswehr - Regionalzentrum Nord (Wilhelmshaven)" , Kuno Göttinger (1953-2023; Mot-Maat U 9), Andreas Meier, Eduard Scholer (Ex Puster), Rainer Hankiewicz (Viz U13), Siegfried Sebernegg (1949-2023 UK München 1926), Manfred Penz, OFw d. Res. Brilon, Peter Stöckl, Gernot Riecker, Darius Niestroj, Caddy-Service Dirk Müller, Dr. Pietro Raineri, Stefan Drumm, Familie Mroß, Andreas Ruppenthal (Kdt U 18 - 90/93) Dieter Fritzsche, Mathias Wulff, Steffen Abel, Gerhard Ott, Detlev Lang, David Rentschler, Bernd Lang, David Rentschler, Familie Rehg, Bernhard Strobel ( Torpedo-Maat U8 + U29), Michael Serr (Vice U19), Jürgen Gollan, Peter Kellner, Ulrich Rothenbacher (1925-2023 UK München) , Tom Nitsche, Lars Hümmeler (Soni U17), Michael Drews, Uwe Schmidt-Harms, SPRITE 67, Vanja Crncec, Regina Lauè, Thorsten Lachenmayer (Vize U26-Kiel), Dr. Ute Albrecht, Bernd Willms (SmutU17), Rainer Böker, Daniel Kamm, Dietmar Landau (Puster U13),Bernhard Nigl (E-Meister U20), Andre Marrek (Ex E-Mstr.), Franz Josef Maag, Karsten Fick (U21 + U22), Monika Hühner, Ludwig Weber (Puster U17), Alexander Barth, Nikola Spuzic, Joachim Happe, Dirk Herzmann, Daniel Göhrs (EloB U24), Jessica Lenhardt, Merten Link,Rainer Österlen, Mirko Just, Lisa Muehlenbruch, Andre Loppien, Johannes Lamsbach, Steuerei U24, Timo Lörsch (U12), Tobias Spiechowicz, Franziska Kirchner, Georg u. Lukas Stockhammer, Harald Lück, Romana, Böhme, Magnus Piekny, Oliver Zabel, Markus Tenhagen, Daniel Mommsen, Wolfgang Ries, Andreas Nolte (EMI U17), Marcus Knopp (Elo U16), Michael Kallage, Frank Kirchberger, Thomas Nemet U-Jagdboot "Thetis", Frank Matern, Gerd Becker, Gerald Schatz, Eva-Maria Petrus, Harald Otto DH3SUP, Matthias Stoeckert, Tom Huber, Oliver Schöpe, Thomas Jilg, Karlheinz Becker, Wolfgang Mayer-Brod, Ines Biedermann, Hideya Yoda, Hermann Klinzing,Ronald Drummond, Jochen Nass, Ina Kuhn, Marcus Bertram, Christian Löllgen, Finja, Linus u. Tilda Fischer, Marco Torkler (E-Maat U17 1995-1998), Christian Zey, Georg Hienzsch, Volker, Heizer S-Löwe P6065, Uwe Grieger, Wolfgang Dorrscheidt, David Korell, Andreas Göbel, Karl Ludwig Wagner, Ulrich Rosskopf, Die Fischers, Markus Bochem, Tobias Ritter, Peter Frank, Heiko Dörr, Arno Schmitt, Sven Bohlmann, Kevin Barth, Sascha Völling, Werner Zinser, Peter Rohenkohl, Martin Zur, Carsten Bleikertz, Reinhold Schmid, Holger Schiele, Michael Wittke, Dorothea Treichel-Linnenweber, Thorsten u. Kerstin Küppers, Jürgen Rüffer, Andrea Pauwen, Helmuth Storck, Ingo Sommer, Robert Meyboom, Dieter Fell Puster U13 1984, Klaus Benthaus (STO U18), Ursula Höhne, Bettina Wilting, Info Stellenhofsky, Sabine Scholt, Reinhild Beyreiss, Uwe Gundacker, Ulrike Lentner, Bernd Helfmann, Evylyn Grahl, Angela Brigitte Roemelt, Burkhard Bergmann, Heiko Sander, Andreas Deckers, Peter Grampe, Peter Igl, Manuela Müller, Anja Köhler, Nick, Mafalda u. Erik Neuhoff, Fam. Bartz/Hock, Manfred Michel, Ruskowski Klaus-Hermann, Dr. Maximilian Reininghaus, Falko Adrian Froehling, Nikolaj Reichard, Kurt Hochreutener, Michael Jeub, Michal Stachowicz, Jörg Schug, Ulrich Giesecke, Jörg Hörnemann, Bernd Heilmann, Thomas Busko, Simon Brüggemeier, Silvia Voigts, Gawlowski Thomas, Lothar Walliser, Daniela Schulz, SKODA/RICHTER, Alexander Proboszcz, Jens Hildebrandt, Kneilmann Gerätebau GmbH, Irene Ramesh, Raphael Sklorz, Hans-Joachim Willems, Reiner Raether, Joachim Peitz, Christiane Häßler, Klaus Richter, Florian Nünlist, Peter Hühner, Josef Mertens, Kai Stepken, Stefan Schaefer, Odilo Natzel, Franc Bartelt, Tim Kohaupt, Sabine Wisskirchen, Li Cai-Wachter, Wladimir Jablonowski u. Irina Jablonowska, Angelika W. Schrettenbrunner, Die Bellis aus Düsseldorf, Klaus Barghoorn, Ulrich Hardt, Nicole Bueermann, Anja Wirtz, Detlef Pezely, Petra Quademechels, Jürgen Raab, Martin Frevert, Hans-Günter Lübben, Melanie Buschbell, Simone Williams, Axel Bock, Britta Hammann, Ute + Markus Weyers, Robert Schumann, Markus Flosdorf, Elke Heuckeroth, Sylvia Kuehnrich, Brigitte Schäfer, Bertold Casaretto, Ralf Lamers, Uwe Schütz, Frank Dickmann, Peter Pleiner, Michael Honisch, Sabine Zabel-Schulte, Gisela Machel, Thomas Elsner, Werner Horn, Markus Röder, Arnd Gräfe, Dagmar Werner, Francisco Simon Fernandez, Oliver Schappe, Christine Knoepffler, Julia Buschbell, Dr. Patrick Liptau, Lars Hoese (Puster U26) , Christian Kaiser + Alexandra Zajonz, Heinrich Stammen, Dämmline Dämmsysteme, Werner Künstle, Birgit Antia,HS CAR DESIGN, Tom Wesely, Mario Pagenkemper, Simone Hänse, Markus Schöllgen, Birgit Hücking, Jörg Grössl, Ursula Keller, Dirk Berns, Helmut Clemens, Michael Stelgens, Peter Merkler (SonMt U17 91-93), Thomas Suhr, Martin Becker, Dr. Joachim Dörr, Herbert Zedka, Dorothee Kaspari, Dennis Grothmann, Volker Hingst, Edward Godzick, Heinrich Mohr, Bernhard Schüßler, Katalin Molnar, Karin Winkler, Gerüstbau Wolfgang Fuchs GmbH, Fam. A. Danieli, Sam Großmann, Herbert Schaefer, Beate Scholl, Markus Höfling, Dieter Vogt, Manfred Lauk, P. Schindler OMt36, David Korell, Patrick Lünow, Fam. Sauer aus Bretten, Jürgen Kuntner, Karin Breitfeld, Werner Sepke, Marco Mossa, Fabian Baumgartner, Raimund Wallner, Hans Heling, Die Urenkel Franz Heim - Daniela Heim, Jürgen Mayer, Harald Haller, Marco Bilwachs, Jürgen Wilms, Julia Meyer, Jutta und Michael Donhauser und Schöneberger, Martina Eck, Jan Moritz (Vize U17/Strm U17), LR Versand Richter, Harry Voegtlin, Maxi Pfeffer, Jörg Kaufmann (I WO U17, 1994-1995), HEBSE alias Herbert Dietzel, Thomas Hahn, Joerg Peter, Karsten Gillert, Patrick Strauß, Wido Ballmann, Thorsten Krohmer (Unterwassenwaffen U26 und U14) Joseph Silverstein, Dr. Wolfgang Eggersmann, Stephan Weise, Wolfgang Kieslich, Bärbel & Stefan Steeg, Alexander Nehring, Jonas Linge, Elly, Sonja + Niklas Maier, Werner Künstle, Uli Joos, Kim-Georg Weidler, Zent Michael (Funker U17), Karoline u. Peter Kornmeier, Manfred Rehbock (U22, U20, U30), Mag. Peter Hofecker, Ulrike Lersch, Erich Weiß, Obersteuermann Klaus Grundwald, Egon Müller, ECK (Puster U15, 1.1.1977 bis 31.12.1979), Schulschenk, Ulrich U24, Peter Tobias, UK München, Johann Lamprecht, Ulrich Habel, Stefan Zerrweck, Vasileios Tsitsiklis, Lilia Riefert, Rene Braun, Kevon Hovis, Peter Kellner +177 further supporters