U-Boat Museum

Hamburg's Baakenhafen is the new home of the U-434, one of the world's largest non-nuclear submarines. A fascinating, informative tour of this undersea craft is not to be missed. Built in 1976 in Nizhny Novgorod, this Tango class U-Boot had a maximum operating depth of 400 metres. Until 2002, it was part of Russia's Northern Fleet and was subject to the utmost secrecy. The U-434 was an espionage submarine used in special operations. These including clandestine missions off the East Coast of the USA and long-distance patrols in the territorial waters of the Soviet Union. Its specially designed rubber coating made it virtually invisible to the sonar devices employed by Western intelligent services. At stealth speed, the submarine was propelled by four electric engines. A behind-the-scenes guided tour of the U-434 takes visitors on a journey into the world of espionage and the spartan lives led by the undersea crew. Information boards explain the submarine's complex technology in a simple, straightforward manner. Open daily.