Location of sacrificial anodes on 212A sub

[Timothy L]

I have not been able to find a photo or information showing the location of the sacrificial anodes on a German 212 A sub. If you happen to have a photo or any information to help me fit them, please let me know. Thank you in advance.

[redboat219]

Maybe it's internal to the casing to minimize turbulence?

[Albacore 569]

I have not been able to find a photo or information showing the location of the sacrificial anodes on a German 212 A sub. If you happen to have a photo or any information to help me fit them, please let me know. Thank you in advance.

The German 212 anodes are not hard to spot. Use a good image search like 'Yahoo Image search' Search for Type 212, zinc anode's location.

Submarines I notice have few fresh anodes added by the builder's yard in the beginning. Where most or all these images originate. But over time more and more appear to be added. Photos of American subs in for overhauls later in their operational lives show loads of them.

In the photos below I counted 16 anodes. 6 forward port and starboard -6 on each side symmetrically,

4 around the stern - Port / starboard, and top / bottom. All on the same position longitudinally.

Red boat's answer shows a propulsor vortex attenuator.

This device I am guessing is made of a robust plastic bolted to the end of the prop and is usually black or matches the hull color. The Israeli Dolphin subs and all current German designs exported use this same device.

This device is not an anode; it is to reduce or eliminate a propellor wake as a countermeasure against wake homing torpedoes.

On my models' simple strips of white styrene plastic work perfectly depending on the scale of your model for anodes. CA glue and paint with the rest of the hull. after lightly sand off the paint from the top surface of the styrene, add your dry transfer hull draught hull numbers or roman numerals and then add your clear coat over the whole model. That way the zincs will have that telltale white corrosion they are designed to show.

see arrows. made them small in the first photo to make you really look closely

[Timothy L]

Albacore 569 - WOW, you are tremendously helpful and informative. With my limited knowledge I was thinking the anodes would be long strips on the bottom of the hull. I see now that they are placed near the waterline and are more numerous and smaller than I anticipated. Your photos are fantastic. I did not see one of those when I was doing my Google searches! I do have a question.. You mentioned the white color. When an anode is corroded, perhaps halfway through its lifespan, Wouldn’t it appear rusty? Or is there a different reaction with seawater that causes it to be white? Again, your answer is extremely helpful and informative and I am very appreciative.

[redboat219]

Red boat's answer shows a propulsor vortex attenuator.
This device is not an anode; it is to reduce or eliminate a propellor wake as a countermeasure against wake homing torpedoes.

"I never specified that the object in the photo I posted IS, WAS the sacrificial anode.

If the court reporter reads back my remarks,
you will see that I did not perjure myself."

[Albacore 569]

Albacore 569 - WOW, you are tremendously helpful and informative. With my limited knowledge I was thinking the anodes would be long strips on the bottom of the hull. I see now that they are placed near the waterline and are more numerous and smaller than I anticipated. Your photos are fantastic. I did not see one of those when I was doing my Google searches! I do have a question.. You mentioned the white color. When an anode is corroded, perhaps halfway through its lifespan, Wouldn’t it appear rusty? Or is there a different reaction with seawater that causes it to be white? Again, your answer is extremely helpful and informative and I am very appreciative.

Sacrificial anodes on ships, typically made of zinc, aluminum, or magnesium, are crucial for preventing corrosion of the hull and other metal parts. These anodes are designed to corrode preferentially, acting as a "sacrificial" element to protect the more valuable metal of the ship. This process, known as cathodic protection, extends the life of the vessel and reduces the risk of leaks and structural damage.

Ships in saltwater are constantly exposed to a corrosive environment. Saltwater acts as an electrolyte, accelerating the natural process of corrosion in metals.
Anodes work by being made of a more reactive metal than the ship's hull and other components. When submerged, they act as the anode in an electrochemical cell, sacrificing themselves to protect the other metals.

This process is called galvanic corrosion. The anode corrodes, while the protected metal (e.g., the ship's hull) becomes the cathode and is spared from corrosion.

They are attached to the hull, rudders, and near propellers usually.

Impressed Current Anodes are different and use an external power source to create a protective electrical current. They are often used on larger vessels or structures where sacrificial anodes might not be sufficient.

Zinc turns that color in nature, like the green patina on copper is primarily a result of oxidation, a chemical reaction that occurs when copper is exposed to oxygen, moisture, and other elements in the atmosphere.


Very Old anodes.




New Anodes on a old boat (SSN 571)

[Timothy L]

Albacore 569 - again, this is very helpful information and the pictures are perfect for what I’m doing. This photo of yours shows a number of weathering features. I am particularly curious about the Irregular black lines showing in and about the red anti- fouling paint; the white/gray film on the upper hull; and the tannish color at the base of the rudder. What causes these various colorations? How long do you think it would’ve taken this vessel to develop these weathering characteristics and how soon might it be ready to be put to dry dock to clean? Again, thank you so much.

[Albacore 569]

Albacore 569 - again, this is very helpful information and the pictures are perfect for what I’m doing. This photo of yours shows a number of weathering features. I am particularly curious about the Irregular black lines showing in and about the red anti- fouling paint; the white/gray film on the upper hull; and the tannish color at the base of the rudder. What causes these various colorations? How long do you think it would’ve taken this vessel to develop these weathering characteristics and how soon might it be ready to be put to dry dock to clean? Again, thank you so much.

Those photos were taken in October 2006 in San dingo by friend Marc D'Antonio while on a leisure trip. He took very detailed photos of also the DSRV and a deep diving man (DSEND) suit, having access to the Bases Undersea Rescue Command.

Marc then drove north and visited my home and saw my shop. .I made us my famous Deep-Dish Chicago pizza with corn meal crust. lol.

He is often seen on the 'Discovery Chanels 'What on Earth' and their similar shows interpreting unusual photos. He is also a first-class Astronomer, and we happen to have interest in RC subs and UFO investigations.

He was always marveling at my amateur submarine research abilities. saying he gets classicized files, and I seem to get the same info, I said you get everything for a model in one manila envelope from a Navy client, I get same, but it takes some months or years just searching the public internet...lol. Any ways, it was very flattering. He is very busy now, being a TV celebrity...lol.

The photo is of USS Dolphin (AGSS -555) which when photo was taken was being refurnished for delivery to the San Deigo Museum where it is on display now.

It was probably about to be sand blasted and given a fresh coat of paint. So I wouldn't consider the condition of the boats surfaces as typical? Many Navy vets here can chime in to clarify and answer better.

As fair as weathering, I would follow David Merriman's threads on submarine hull painting and weathering. research here in the website's library.

Nuff said.

[Timothy L]

Albacore 569 - thank you so much . That is s great story behind the photographs. I will search out David’s weathering thread. I had a chance to see his models up close and his painting skill (artistry) is jaw dropping - and motivating. Thank you again for your friendly and patient help!

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Albacore 569 - thank you so much . That is s great story behind the photographs. I will search out David’s weathering thread. I had a chance to see his models up close and his painting skill (artistry) is jaw dropping - and motivating. Thank you again for your friendly and patient help!

Craft, damnit!...CRAFT!!!

The word 'artist' as used today has been assigned to so many no-talent hacks that it has lost all worth as a positive descriptive of what a well executed rendering actually is.

I. Am. A. CRAFTSMAN!!!!!!!

If it ain't 'photo real', it's expressionistic, lazy, undefinable, woke, elephant-**** on a canvas.

You're welcome.