B-515

A Soviet Tango-class attack submarine built in 1976, B-515 sits aground beside the jetties at the St. Pauli fish market, where it serves as the Submarine Museum Hamburg. It is often called U-434, after the number painted on its hull. At low tide, its original propellers, dive planes and rudder are visible.

The boat was built in just eight months at the Krasnoye Sormovo shipyard in Nizhny Novgorod. A crew of 78 operated it with the Soviet Northern Fleet on hunting, espionage and patrol missions. Its hull carries a six-centimetre rubber coating that made it harder to locate by sonar.

After decommissioning, investors bought the submarine for one million euros and spent another million having it towed to Hamburg. The Russian Navy first removed weapon and control systems and other secret equipment. Large openings were later cut at the bow and stern so visitors can enter and leave, and the boat can no longer dive. It moved to its present berth from HafenCity in 2010.