U-434

U-434 (originally Russian Б-515, B-515) is today presented as a museum ship in the Port of Hamburg, making a submarine that formerly served in the Soviet and Russian navies accessible to the public.

The ship is currently berthed at the St. Pauli Fischmarkt (St. Pauli Fischmarkt 10), about 500 metres west of the Landungsbrücken. Previously it was based in HafenCity at the Baakenhafen on Versmannstraße until 15 April 2010.

The boat belongs to project series 641B "Som" (NATO designation: Tango class) and was built in 1976 at a Russian shipyard in Nischni Nowgorod in roughly eight months. As part of the Nordflotte it remained in service until April 2002. Between 1980 and 1984 the submarine carried out several patrols in the Mediterranean and called at Havanna in October 1985. In 1998 it was transferred to the reserve and was decommissioned in 2002.

During its active service the boat received a rubber coating about six centimetres thick to hinder sonar detection and was equipped with a ventilation system; nevertheless, during dives working temperatures of over 40 °C were measured on board and over 60 °C in the engine room.

After decommissioning investors acquired the boat; purchase and transport costs each amounted to about one million euros. The transfer to Hamburg took place under tow. During the voyage the Russian Navy removed numerous technical components, in particular weapons systems and control equipment. Further modifications were carried out at a shipyard in Hamburg: larger openings were created in the bow and stern as entrances and exits for visitors. As a result of these alterations the boat is no longer steerable, seaworthy or capable of diving. The fictitious designation U-434 was adopted for the museum presentation.

Since 2016 the ship has occasionally served as a backdrop for a talk show; conversations take place on the command bridge, with the cramped, labyrinthine conditions on board forming part of the staging.

Technical data (according to the brochure): Length 90.16 m, beam 8.72 m, overall height 14.72 m (including extended antenna), draught 6.6 m. Maximum diving depth 400 m, crush depth 600 m. Displacement: surfaced 2,800 t, submerged 3,630 t. Armament: 6 torpedo tubes; 24 torpedoes calibre 533 mm (length 8.14 m, speed approximately 60 knots); also the use of naval mines and rocket‑propelled torpedoes.