In a feat of engineering and logistics, Kübler Schwertransporte is undertaking a unique and challenging transport job: moving a 500-tonne cargo, comprising approximately 350 tonnes of submarine and 150 tonnes of low-loader, through the Kraichgau region in northern Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Their cargo is the U 17 submarine, decommissioned by the German Navy in 2010, en route to its new home at the Sinsheim Museum of Technology.
The U 17 submarine, an almost 50-metre long steel behemoth, is mounted on a 30-axle platform trailer, pulled by a robust MAN TGX 41.680 8×6. Kübler Schwertransporte, a long-time MAN customer, has relied on the reliability of MAN vehicles for such special transports. Niclas Grimm, Project Manager at Spedition Kübler GmbH, stated, “We rely on MAN because the reliability of the vehicles has convinced us. We had a MAN TGX 41.680 converted into an 8×6 for special transports like this one.”
The transport journey began on June 30 from the Technikmuseum Speyer to the Rhine. From there, the U 17 was loaded onto a river pontoon for transportation via the Rhine to Mannheim and then via the Neckar to Haßmersheim by July 9. The final leg of the journey, by road, will conclude at Sinsheim on July 28, with Kübler responsible for the entire route.
Transporting the U 17 is not just about its massive weight; its dimensions also present significant challenges. The submarine has to be repeatedly turned by 73 degrees both on water and road to navigate railway crossings and under bridges. This is achieved using a specially designed turning device for U 17’s final journey.
Kübler Schwertransporte, based in Michelfeld-Erlin, is a global logistics provider in the heavy goods sector, well-versed in handling such complex tasks. The company’s experience, powerful low-loaders, and trucks are crucial, but the expertise and concentration of their drivers are indispensable.
Frieder Saam, an experienced heavy goods vehicle driver, is at the wheel of the MAN TGX 41.680 8×6, guiding the U 17 towards Sinsheim. “I’ve been driving heavy goods vehicles for many years, and it’s still always something special, because no two jobs are the same,” Saam remarked. “It also makes me proud to be able to drive such large transports.”
Preparations for such a complex transport begin well in advance. Routes are explored, arrangements are made with authorities and police, and every tour is customized. Planning for the U 17 transport began five years ago, involving a dedicated team of 2-3 people, including driver Saam.
Once the transport sets off, maximum concentration is required. The team maneuvers the 90-metre long and 10-metre high transport through deep bridges and narrow streets of the picturesque Kraichgau region. One of the trickiest moments is turning the submarine multiple times on the pontoon, a task that had previously only been done on land. On the water, the crew must balance both the boat and the pontoon, particularly when sailing off the pontoon in Haßmersheim.
“We can only master a transport like this as a team,’ says Niclas Grimm, Project Manager at Spedition Kübler GmbH. ‘As we have been in business for many years, our employees have been able to gain experience with all kinds of challenges all over the world. Of course, we are now benefiting from this – and we are also extremely proud that the Sinsheim Museum of Technology has entrusted us with this complex project.”