How often do you get the chance to explore a fully operational Soviet submarine? The U-Boot Museum Hamburg (also known as the German submarine museum) is one of the most rewarding things to do in Hamburg and one of the best museums to visit in this vibrant, sprawling German harbour city.
Whether you lived through the Cold War, love military history, or simply want to explore something a little different, the U-Boot Museum in Hamburg is fascinating!
If you enjoy visiting submarine museums, you might also want to explore a British submarine -head to the Royal Navy historic dockyard in Portsmouth for a simply fabulous day out!
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The Submarine Museum Hamburg – Know Before You Go
Read on the find out exactly what you need to know about visiting this unique hidden gem that was on active service in the Russian Navy until April 2002, including how to get there, plus exactly what to see and do on your visit to this submarine in Hamburg.
You’ll also discover what life was like for the crew and find out what the “creeping machine” was.
How to get to the U-Boot Museum Hamburg
Address: U-Bootmuseum Hamburg | St. Pauli Fischmarkt 10 | 20359 Hamburg
By train: The U-boot museum is a very short walk from the Landungsbrucke subway station and the Hamburg fish market
Opening Hours
- Mondays to Saturdays: 9 am until 8 pm
- Sundays: 11 am until 8 pm
Accessibility at the German U Boat Museum
The inside of the submarine is much smaller than you might expect. It’s quite cramped and narrow, with vertical steps to climb and hatches to clamber through, so it’s unsuitable for people with physical limitations (or if you are at all claustrophobic). There is no access for wheelchair users.
Tickets for the U Boot Museum Hamburg
Admission: €9 for adults and €6 for children aged 6-12 (Under 6s go free). A family ticket is €22. Check availability here.
Guided tours: €5 per person, however, these are only offered in German.
We joined the guided tour as it’s the only way to see inside the control room on the submarine. With my schoolgirl German from many years ago and the teen boy’s GCSE German, we picked up most of what the guide was talking about!
OK – Why is there a Russian Submarine in Hamburg Harbour?
Soviet submarine B-515 was a Tango-class submarine built in 1976 and used for hunting, espionage, and patrol purposes. When it was decommissioned, a group of investors bought it for a million Euros and towed it to Hamburg.
The Russian Navy removed the weapon systems, control systems, and technical equipment subject to secrecy rules before transferring the submarine. All of the major systems such as engine and hydraulics were also deactivated.
Then, when B-515 arrived in Hamburg, large holes were cut in the fuselage at the bow (front) and stern (rear) to provide visitor access. As a result, the submarine is no longer capable of diving or independent operation.
7 Things to see at the U-Boot Museum Hamburg
After crossing the bridge from the ticket office, entry to the submarine is via a specially constructed entrance hatchway and steps at the bow (front end) of the boat.
Fun Fact: A submarine is always known as a boat – never a ship!
1. Visit The Torpedo Room
The bow of the boat houses the imposing torpedo room, with its six empty torpedo tubes. These were looked after by 10 submariners. Two torpedo tubes could be loaded at the same time, but it took 3 people to do it!
2. Experience the Accommodation
After the torpedo room, the next area is the officers’ mess and accommodations where the five most senior officers (including two doctors) lived. This area also includes (very sparse) medical facilities.
Every inch of space had a purpose, with some serving double duty – the officers’ mess was also the medical emergency operating room!
3. Check Out the Command Centre
This is the area that’s only accessible on the guided tour.
When the submarine was operating, this cramped space housed 32 men. Even without understanding every word of German it was easy to see the steering position and the seat of the commander in the front of the command centre, plus the seat of the helmsman who controlled the speed and depth of the submarine.
Then there’s the central office with the telephone exchange connecting the bridge with the rest of the boat and the engine telegraphs, connected to the engine room.
4. Inspect the Crew Accommodation
In total, up to 84 men were squeezed on board this Russian submarine – 16 officers, 16 NCOs and 52 other sailors of varying ranks.
Depending on seniority, officers and NCOs either had single or shared (up to 4 bunks) cabins. The rest of the crew slept on camp beds located on the lower deck – wherever space permitted.
The crew operated two watches or shifts, so every bunk or camp bed was used twice in each 24 hour period – once by the first shift, and then by the second shift.
Three chefs kept the crew well-fed, with a hot meal twice a day. Food storage was a real challenge, with provisions stashed all around the boat to ensure supplies did not run out!
5. Investigate the Diesel Engine Room
The chief engineer had a team of 11 engineers working to keep all three of the 6 cylinder turbo diesel direct injection engines in working order. There is plenty of tech for budding engineers to enjoy in this section,
6. Discover the Secrets of the E-Machine Room
Manned by 8 engineers, this room held the submarine’s secret espionage weapon – the creeping machine! In addition to the 3 electric motors, this submarine had a very quiet crawl speed motor, allowing the boat to run unnoticed in espionage areas!
7. Aft Section and Propellers
The final section of the U-434 submarine is where the hydraulic system for the rudder is installed. it’s also where you can learn about the 5 bladed propeller and how it works.
Last Words
As you can see, the U-Boot Museum is the perfect quirky museum to add to your visit to Hamburg – even if you’re only on a short break!
If you love military history, you might also enjoy these articles
- How to Visit the Impressive German Tank Museum (Deutsches Panzermuseum)
- What to see and do at the awesome Bovington Tank Museum in England
- Discovering the Jersey War Tunnels – A Labyrinth of Occupation Horror
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Header image courtesy marketanovakova
Definitely a bit cramped in the submarine, but also quite fascinating to be able to see inside.
It was horribly cramped Alma – and that was with a small tour group of 8 people! I can only imagine what it would have been like with a full crew on board. Truly fascinating though to experience.
That must have been such a cool thing to do! Your teen looked like he was having a lot of fun. I had a chance to be on a submarine once in Sweden and was claustrophobic after a while, but it was exhilarating. I think l would have enjoyed the crew room the most.
You are so right – my lad absolutely loved this visit – especially whizzing through all of the portholes between compartments. I did love seeing the crew quarters, but admit I’d not have enjoyed eating my dinner off the same table that was used for operations!!
This reminded me of a school trip to a submarine in Portsmouth harbour – over 50 years ago now! So cramped in there – the mock-up subs they show in films are so unrealistic as they have to have room for the camera crew etc as well. My O-level is pretty rusty too, and I don’t think I could ever have coped with a commentary on such a subject.
We are planning to visit the naval dockyards in Portsmouth this summer (teen boy is v keen on military history) so it will be good to compare the two experiences. I think we were lucky and had a very patient guide who really wanted us to enjoy the tour 🙂
Interesting look into a bit of history. Not quite what you see in the movies!
It was definitely worth a visit and not at all like the movies! I can’t tell you how many times I nearly bumped my head on things!
I don’t think I could serve on a sub… I’m not terribly claustrophobic, but I think I would be if it were that cramped, particularly knowing I can’t get to the surface either. Really respect the submarine crews.
I totally agree – huge respect to the crews! I found the tour fascinating but was very glad to get out at the end of it. I’m not sure I would have gone on one that would actually submerge!
I have been to Hamburg but missed visiting the U-Boot Museum. Loved reading your post. Thanks for the insight.
Thanks so much Chirasee. I’m thrilled that you enjoyed this post and can definitely recommend the U-Boot Museum.