After the war, Norway needed a navy more suited for coastal operations rather than large, seagoing vessels.

A German Type 201 submarine was lent to the Royal Norwegian Navy for evaluation and adaptation.

All Kobben-class submarines were built by Rheinstahl Nordseewerke GmbH in Emden.

[3] During that period, four others were sold to the Royal Danish Navy (known there as the Tumleren class), three operational (modernized) and one for spare parts.

Five modernized vessels were given to the Polish Navy, four as operational units and one for spare parts.