Uploaded on Nov 19, 2009 "The latest German submarines. Virtually undetectable, unlike diesel or nuclear submarines that generate more noise and/or higher heat signatures."
---
![]()
Admiring a TKMS-HDW Type 216 (foreground), in the ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) Endeavour program for Australia’s future submarine are: (left) Dieter Rottsieper, Deputy Chairman, Executive Board, TKMS; Vice Admiral Andreas Krause, Chief of the German Navy; and (right) Dr John White, Chairman, TKMS Australia. A Type 212A is behind the 216. (Photo courtesy Australian Defence Business Review).
---
---
---
After I published this article at 7:43pm, March 17, 2016 Australia's ABConline posted an article at 8.24pm that day, entitled "Germany argues political incentives in bid for submarine contract".
Two major TKMS points in it were:
- "…choosing their boats, unlike Japan's, would avoid inflaming tensions with Beijing." and
- "…offering to build all 12 submarines entirely in Australia."
---
Uploaded on Feb 5, 2009. U-32 (S182) is the second Type 212A submarine of the German Navy. U-32 is powered by one diesel engine and an electric motor driven by two fuel cells and features a cavitation-free screw, making it virtually undetectable. U-32 was the first non-nuclear submarine to stay submerged for two weeks.
---
---
Likely No Conflict of Interest
Noticed by Submarine Matters on October 10, 2015 the Australian Prime Minister's wife, Ms Lucy Turnbull AO, was/is an Honorary Office holder (President no less) of the German Australian Chamber of Industry and Commerce. As at March 17, 2016 Lucy still is see http://australien.ahk.de/en/about-us/board-of-directors/
"Honorary Officers of the Chamber
Patron / Schirmherr: | H.E. Dr Christoph Müller Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany |
President / Präsident: | Ms Lucy Hughes Turnbull AO Turnbull & Partners Pty Ltd |
Vice-President / Vizepräsident: | Mr Paul G Koenig European Australian Advisory Group |
Vice-President / Vizepräsident: | Dr Wolfgang Babeck Buse Heberer Fromm" |
Note also that Lucy is a prominent member of the The Australia-Germany Advisory Group which has been established to build closer ties between Australia and Germany. See the photo of the Advisory Group (towards the end of this Australian DFAT report of November 13, 2015t) where Lucy (no husband Malcolm in sight) is standing next to German Leader Angela Merkel.
Obvious conflict of interest questions would come up if TKMS has been chosen. But I think TKMS has not - so no conflict of interest.
Germany hardly mentioned in 2016 Defence White Paper
Mentions in Defence White Paper Japan 36, France 10, Germany 3. Not conclusive but I think indicative.
Not even some sound arguments by Dr John White will likely save the TKMS bid.
But who knows?
Pete