PETER MADSEN’S KRAKA

DENMARK’S SUBMARINE WIZARD UNVEILS HIS NEXT SUBMARINE: KRAKA

Peter Madsen’s FREYA (featured elsewhere on this site) has made 157 dives as of the end of this season. Now, Copenhagen’s resident submariner has turned his efforts to producing another “one meter boat” with a design operating depth of 40 meters. The KRAKA will feature a diver lockout, an acrylic bubble hatch, a 40kw diesel engine, a snorkel, and it will make better use of space within the pressure hull than did its predecessor, FREYA. Peter is working steadily on it now and hopes to launch in the Spring of 2004.

I really like the way this submarine looks! KRAKA is distinctly reminiscent of the famous German U-Boats of World War II. The “Gray Wolves” are one of my favorite designs, both from a standpoint of appearance and functionality. This sub will encorporate many of the Unterseeboot design features, with adaptations inherent to a modern minisub. I expect it will be a unique combination of beauty and performance.

Here’s a shot of the hull coming right at you. Looks like she’ll cut the water nicely. I do hope those two round openings will be for viewports and not torpedo tubes, but we’ll just have to wait and see. ;-)

Here’s an updated view of KRAKA under construction. The bow has been filled in, and the forward dive planes are installed. To the left of the frame we see FREYA (Peter’s earlier submarine) receiving an extensive overhaul after 157 successful dives.

Here’s a look at the bow from an angle. Peter says he has no intent at this time to cover the “torpedo tube viewports” with clear plastic outer covers, as that might pose a problem where marine growth inside the cover impedes the view. But if he decides to do that in the future, it would be a simple modification.

Here are some more pictures of Peter Madsen’s newest submarine, KRAKA, under construction in Denmark. Obviously, this is a view of the stern area, showing the rudder and propeller positioning; and that round aperture in the aft bulkhead is for the watertight prop-shaft through-hull.

Here’s another angle on the stern. The boat is definitely coming along, and Peter hopes to launch sometime in the Spring of 2004. If so, this boat will have been constructed very quickly indeed. To the right of the picture we can see Peter’s other sub, FREYA, on blocks and looking a little rusty. I understand she’ll be getting an overhaul when the work on KRAKA is completed.

Claus Noerregaard alongside KRAKA: this gives a good reference to the size of the submarine. Claus is part of the team building KRAKA, and in fact designed the bow structure based on pictures of U995: the preserved Type VII-C U-Boat on display in Kiel, Germany. Apparently, there are several craftsmen working on this boat: Peter describes himself as “just the one who screams the loudest”. Sounds familiar. ;-)

Mr. Madsen tells me he has signed the papers to rent a small part of the B&W Shipyard for a time. The new shop will include a huge drydock which will come in handy when it is time to launch the boat.

Well, it’s been some time since we heard from Peter, but he’s been busy. FREYA is back in the water after an extensive overhaul and refit. Some new items have been added, too. Here’s an interior shot showing the new, larger acrylic viewport.

And here’s a look at KRAKA, very close to being ready to put to sea. Classic U-Boat styling, with clever innovations. Here’s a good look at the “torpedo tube” viewports. I predict this is going to be a very popular submarine. The U-Boat is a universal favorite among subbers, and KRAKA captures the spirit of the old “gray wolves” very well. I’m eager to see this boat in the water. Should be soon.

Stand by for more pictures from Peter Madsen in the near future!

Peter Madsen launched his new submarine KRAKA and reports it is a success! Here’s the email he sent me:

Hi Captain...

 Yesterday, April 23 2005, the diesel electric submersible UC2 Kraka was launched.

 On the day before some 600 kg extra solid ballast had been loaded onboard, to adjust the metacentric hight - and efter the launch it was clear that as far as stability she was ok.

 We tested the E-motor and Diesel motor while moored, all ok, and finaly let go for a test run in the harbor.

 It was an fantastic moment - almost three years of work - and this black baby sail out and speeds up down the harbor of our capitol. We run the engine a 1800 rpm and that makes some 500 rpm on the propeller and she made 6.0 knots and looked and sounded just nice.

 In the next days we perpare for first dive, and as soon as I have pictures you will have them too.

 Best regards,

Peter

This is fantastic news, and we celebrate with out friends in Denmark at their fantastic success! Here are pictures of the event:

Interior view of KRAKA, facing forward. The round disk in the center is the pilot seat; the smaller tube forward is a prone observation station, and the two bright circles in the center are the forward viewports: what look like “torpedo tubes” when seen from the outside.

KRAKA sits on the blocks, waiting to be launched for the first time. Looking very much like a classic WWII U-Boat, the submarine is finished in traditional black above the waterline, and red antifouling paint below. In this view, we have a good view of the forward “torpedo tube” viewports; and if you look toward the top of the conning tower, you can see the open hatch has three viewports built in.

Here’s a side view of KRAKA being prepared for her maiden voyage. I really like this picture. This is easily one of the best homebuilt submarines I’ve ever seen: captures all the beauty and mystique of the vaunted “gray wolves” of WWII; and at the same time, very functional with dual power systems, multiple crew accommodations, diver lockout; and those two forward-looking “torpedo tube” viewports are just too cool! J

It took Peter Madsen and his crew three years of hard labor to get to this point, but finally KRAKA hangs in the sling and is ready to be lowered into the water. Actually, building a boat like this in only three years is an amazing accomplishment all in itself.

Afloat dockside, KRAKA dwarfs Madsen’s earlier submarine FREYA. As the day continued, successful tests of the electric and diesel motors was done, and then the submarine was taken for its maiden voyage, logging a speed of approximately six knots in the waters near Copenhagen. Salute! Congratulations to Peter Madsen, Claus Noerregaard, and crew! Our friends in Denmark have taken homebuilt submarines to a new level of accomplishment. This is truly great! Well done!

I borrowed this picture from the UC3 website. This is Peter Madsen caught in a moment of reflective thought. When I look at his face, I think I know what’s going through his mind. After three years of working on something, to finally see it all come together and work as planned…this is really a special moment. “Wow! It’s finally done!” Or maybe he’s thinking, “Did I leave that damn induction valve open or closed?” J

The interior of KRAKA, looking aft toward the engineroom. Very clean. Everything nice and neat, and easily accessible. Ample reinforcements. Looks well thought-out. Great workmanship throughout the sub, really.

Check this out! A bottom hatch. A diver could exit and re-enter the sub this way for an excursion under the sea. Oh yeah! Ya gotta have a dive hatch!

Here’s a view of KRAKA underway on diesel power. And churning up a very respectable wave, too. Do you see the small cylindrical attachment forward of the conning tower? That’s an observation turret. We’ll be referring to it in a moment as you read on.

KRAKA underway on diesel power, begins to submerge on the dive planes.

And now, fully submerged, running with only the very tips of the video periscope and schnorkle mast standing above the water. This maneuver shows the boat is very stable and capable of precise control. Good work by the pilot, too.

Here, I believe Peter has honored us with the first picture on the internet showing KRAKA underwater. Remember that observation turret I mentioned a moment ago? That’s where this picture was taken from. The turret is sort of like a large deep sea diving helmet with multiple view ports, built into the top pressure hull of the submarine and standing above the deck. Offers a great view, and a fine vantage point from which to maneuver the submarine when underwater.

And here’s a view looking forward from the deck observation turret, now that we’re back on the surface again and heading toward the dock. I’ll tell you all something. I really can’t say enough about how impressed I am. These guys really know their stuff when it comes to building submarines. Salute!

And here we see a lucky guy who got to be a passenger aboard KRAKA while it was making the dive you just saw pictures of. Look familiar? I’ll give you a couple clues. “Sgt. Peppers.” (No dummy! It’s not Ringo Starr! Try again!) How’s this: “Think big.” Figured it out yet? It’s Carsten Standfuss, designer and builder of the EURONAUT. Apparently dropped by for a dive. Judging from the grin on his face, I’d say he likes it! J

NEW! Peter Madsen sent us more information regarding his remarkable submarine, KRAKA. Big things happening for our friends in Copenhagen, including construction of their new, larger submarine, the UC-3. Meanwhile, Peter’s doing amazing things with KRAKA, like driving it across the Baltic Sea for example. Quite an accomplishment!

KRAKA: The moment is captured in time as Mette (also affectionately know by the nickname Jolene) breaks a bottle of champagne over the bow while christening the boat.

KRAKA underway at sea. This submarine has conducted many open-water operations. As Peter recently told me, “I keep my self sharp in submarine navigation by diving Kraka as often as I can - she has crossed the Baltic Sea and dived to 22.5 meters - she has had divers on EVA - and she performs just wonderful. Like a destroyer surfaced - like an airship submerged.”

Here’s an interesting “birds-eye-view” of the submerged boat. Note the periscope and snorkel.

This is the depth gauge for KRAKA, apparently taken when the boat was at a depth of approximately six meters. A closeup of the gauge face gives an idea of the boat’s operational depth capabilities.

Here, Peter Madsen and the crew of KRAKA are deploying a diver on an EVA mission through the access-hatch in the keel. The diver is equipped with a “hookah-type” air regulator system. The ability to launch and recover a diver has many advantages to salvage operations, inspection of the submarine, and so on. Not to mention the fact that it’s just a whole lot of fun! J

Very cool, Captain Madsen. Congratulations to all of you, and we look forward to seeing what’s next!

NOTE: TO SEE MORE PICTURES OF THIS SUBMERSIBLE, VISIT THE FOLLOWING WEBPAGE. THERE YOU’LL FIND A SERIES OF THUMBNAILS THAT WILL LEAD YOU TO MULTIPLE IMAGE SLIDESHOW PRESENTATIONS DOCUMENTING VARIOUS STAGES OF THE PROJECT. REALLY WORTH A VISIT. CHECK IT OUT!

http://www.bluesky-services.dk/submarine/pages/page_063_uk.html

(Photos courtesy of Peter Madsen)

HOME PREVIOUS NEXT