Date visited 15 April 2023
This is a privately owned and operated museum with an ex-Russian/Soviet Tango class submarine. The museum has been open for more than 20 years. The submarine is well and truly embedded in the mud in Hamburg port, but despite being seriously attacked by algae, still seems to be in reasonable shape. The interior of the submarine is well-presented, and the tour-route is extensive, including a significant portion of the lower deck. Interpretive signage is limited. There was a guy onboard taking a tour-group through - he appeared to be (or at least claimed to be) a former submarine officer, but not sure from what Navy. He might have been a private tour guide, as there was no option for guided tours at the museum cashiers.What struck me about this submarine was how spacious it was. The Tango's were pretty big boats compared to other conventional subs I had been in, and it was a lot roomier than a GUPPY, an O-boat, or a Whiskey/Foxtrot.The quality of workmanship (or lack thereof) in the sub was notable - a lot of things seemed to have been manufactured fairly sloppily when they weren't structurally critical - I guess they could get away with it from a safety perspective, but I can't imagine any Western shipbuilder producing a product like that.This is an interesting operating model for museum ships, however the reality is that this is a commercial venture, and as soon as the hull deteriorates to the point where it needs serious maintenance, the cost-benefit calculation will kill it as a museum, and this sub will likely follow many others to the scrap heap.Still - an interesting museum, so see it while you still can.
