Submarines Are Always Silent and Strange - These German Subs Are Only Strange

There may have been more to this. When BMW sells new models, are they delivered to customers before proven to work as designed? The German maker of state-of-the-art AIP subs (HDW) does less? Don't believe it. Germany and the U.S. knew Musharraf was considering suspending Pakistan's constitution. Diplomacy at its best between the U.S. and Germany perhaps took over:

Rough Timeline

October 8, 2005 - ISLAMABAD - Pakistan will purchase new submarines from Germany or any other country to fulfil the requirements of its navy, said the outgoing Naval Chief Admiral Shahid Karimullah here Friday.

February 26, 2007 - Pressure Grows On Musharraf After U.S. Vice President's Visit - U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney made a surprise visit to Pakistan today amid international concerns over Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf's efforts to fight Al-Qaeda and Taliban extremists.Musharraf is under growing Western pressure to act against Islamic militants thought to be using Pakistan's tribal regions to carry out cross-border attacks in Afghanistan. ... U.S. intelligence officials now conclude that the terrorist infrastructure is being rebuilt in Pakistan -- and that while Pakistani troops have attacked some of their camps, its overall effort has been waning.

November 5, 2007 - ISLAMABAD -German subs deal: Senate defence body not satisfied: Several analysis were carried out on this deal and it was concluded by the concerned officials that bypassing of the process and procedures were reported as perhaps some “big gun” was interested in this controversial purchase of 'not in-service subs – Class U-214.'

November 5, 2007 - ISLAMABAD - Musharraf sweeps democracy aside - Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf over the weekend suspended the country's constitution and declared a state of emergency.

November 5, 2007 - ISLAMABAD - The Senate Standing Committee on Defence has sought an explanation from the Defence Ministry over the controversial purchase of German submarines U-214, which have been found to be lacking stability in rough sea conditions, having faulty Air Independent Propulsion system, vacillating periscopes and were easy to detect. ... the Air Independent Propulsion system malfunctions after few hours of sailing. [T]he sub is not that quiet as is supposed to be, so it is easy to detect it. [W]hen the sub is sailing at more than 3 knots, the periscope starts wobbling so there are troubles in looking at the target.

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NOTES: Pakistan's submarine order:
Compared to Type 212, the Type 214 AIP submarine will have an increased diving depth (> 400m), due to improvements in the pressure hull materials. Four of the eight torpedo tubes will be capable of firing missiles. source

A hull shape which has been further optimised for hydrodynamic and stealth characteristics and a low noise propeller decrease the submarine's acoustic signature. source

AIP submarines running on their fuel cells produce much less sound, consequently the effective detection range of many passive acoustic sonobuoys is reduced. source

NOTES: Potential use of Pakistan's U-214 subs:
Concerns regarding the integration of a navalized "Barbur" cruise missile in the future and the unstable Pakistan government are expressed, culminating in speculations that after a possible take-over by muslim extremists these submarines would be a very threatening asset. source

Keep Your Eye On Pakistan This Week - The unrest is about one thing and one thing only: who controls Pakistan's nuclear weapons. source Moltenthought

Moltenthought directs our eyes to the important ball in-play. Sen. John McCain agrees with him, too. McCain said today he was particularly concerned about the country's possession of nuclear weapons and what would happen if such explosives fell into the hands of radical Islamists. Nuclear weapon proliferation to Pakistani submarines is a worst case scenario, in Vigilis's opinion.