German submarine makes historic journey to Sinsheim museum

After a four-week journey filled with numerous obstacles, a German submarine finally reached its destination, creating a spectacle online and becoming a tourist attraction.

The German submarine U17 S196 arrived at the Museum of Technology in Sinsheim. The operation of transporting the submarine from Speyer to Sinsheim began on June 30 and concluded on Sunday, July 28, generating immense interest. The event was streamed live on the museum's YouTube channel, and many people watched the various stages in real time.

The gigantic platform, pulled by trucks, had to stop in many places to change the submarine's position to lying down. The submarine's conning tower couldn't fit under some viaducts or power lines.

The transport was carried out on a low-deck platform with thirty axles, pulled and pushed by MAN TGX and Mercedes Actros ballast tractors. Four vehicles were sometimes used simultaneously. The cargo itself was over 157 feet long and weighed 772,000 pounds.

The U17 S196 submarine served in the German army from 1973 to 2010 and participated in NATO exercises. After its service period, it was intended to be a museum exhibit. In 2023, the unit arrived at the Museum of Technology Speyer, where it underwent renovation and weight reduction. As of July 28, it is located in the Museum of Technology Sinsheim, where it will soon be displayed.