Navy Fires Exocets
The South African Navy will fire Exocet surface to surface missiles on board the frigates SAS AMATOLA and SAS ISANDLWANA on Thursday 01, November 2007. The missiles will be fired as part of the South African Navy’s annual Fleet’s combat preparation exercise called RED LION, which started on Monday 22, October 2007.
The objective of the preparation exercise is to enhance the capabilities of South Africa National Defence to ensure global maritime safety and security in the Southern African region and to provide an opportunity for the South African Navy to hone its skills in numerous maritime disciplines. This year’s Exercise RED LION will be conducted in two phases. The first phase will concentrate on the simulation exercises which will be conducted in the West Coast area and the second phase will culminate in the firing of missiles at sea.
The South African Navy’s Task Group will comprise of hydrographic vessel SAS PROTEA, VALOUR CLASS Frigates, SAS AMATOLA, SAS ISANDLWANA, SAS SPIOENKOP, SAS MENDI and the HEROINE CLASS Submarine SAS MANTHATISI, a WARRIOR CLASS strike craft, SAS GALESHEWE, ISAACK DYOBHA and the Mine Warfare vessels SAS UMKOMAAS and SAS UMHLOTI. Elements of the South Air Force, Army Special Forces and South Military Health Services will also be involved in the exercise. The main objectives to be achieved during the military exercise are as follows:
· To evaluate the Fleet’s combat readiness in multi- threat scenario.
· To evaluate and develop Operational Boat Squadron and Operational Diving Team capabilities.
· To evaluate the capability of the Fleet Command to support forces of distant and sustained deployment.
The target will be a derelict mine warfare [ex Federal German Ship Konstanz – M1081] vessel that is no longer in use. Exercise RED LION will end on Friday 23, November 2007. During exercise RED LION, all safety procedures will be adhered to ensure safety of personnel and marine life. [The Konstanz was acquired in 2000 along with five sister vessels of whom four were commissioned into South African service. The Konstanz was retained for spares].
Source: SA Navy
Reworked content: Valour class article with new picture
A new picture has been added to the Valour class article.
Valour class frigate fires Exocet - Image: SA Navy (from www.victorlogistics.co.za, thanks to Wilhelm van Zyl for the hint)
Navy floats new bid for frigate
The South African Navy may soon get the green light to buy a fifth patrol corvette, or frigate, after the government's go-ahead for fresh negotiations.
Highly placed navy and defence industry sources have revealed that the cabinet has agreed to open negotiations for a fifth ship in the Valour Class MEKO A-200 series, four of which have already been delivered to the country.
The ship could cost about R2,5-billion, compared to the R1,5-billion price tags of the first four, due to the recent weakening of the rand and other escalations, including that closed production lines would have to be re-opened.
The German-built ships are globally recognised as among the most modern in their class.
Two have been commissioned and have had busy schedules with visits to foreign countries and naval exercises.
The navy has designated the ships as frigates, because of their hull size, although their armament systems are not yet up to frigate specifications.
Sources say the navy is also lobbying for the purchase of a Landing Platform Helicopter Dock, a support vessel capable of operating helicopters, a large marines contingent, a fully equipped hospital and a large administrative facility to allow long-distance force projections for peacekeeping.
Both ships were expected to get the final go-ahead in the new year, said the sources.
The director of maritime warfare, Rear Admiral Rusty Higgs, on Tuesday confirmed that the option of a fifth frigate was being investigated, but said it was being done at a high political level and that the navy was not yet involved.
South African Navy Chief Admiral Johannes Mudimo had earlier confirmed in a letter that the option of a fifth frigate was being discussed, Higgs said.
He also confirmed that discussions about a Landing Platform Helicopter Dock were advanced. These ships would enable the South African National Defence Force to operate long distances away from home on peacekeeping missions, especially with the back-up of the new frigates.
The ships would range from 15 000 to 20 000 tons, and be useful for Nepad operations, especially African Union operations, said Higgs.
Independent defence analyst Helmoed Romer-Heitman said the government would have been better served had it gone for a fifth and even a sixth corvette from the outset, as originally advised.
Under the circumstances, however, it might also have been wiser leaving the fifth and sixth until after the Landing Platform Helicopter Docks were acquired.
"By then, they could have applied lessons learnt from the first four," he said.
Heitman said the Landing Platform Helicopter Docks were essential if the government wanted to play the role of regional power.
"The fact is this country does have the responsibility and the need for such a role.
"The stability of countries elsewhere in Africa is essential for our own economic interests and, apart from that, we have already taken responsibility for large areas of ocean," he said.
"These ships will allow for the rapid deployment of sufficiently powerful forces, with helicopter back-up, where needed. It may be significant to note that most African capital cities are on the coast or within spitting distance of the coast."
Heitman also said the navy was looking at buying smaller, 80-metre multi-mission offshore patrol vessels to replace the strike craft and other inshore patrol vessels in the long-term. These ships would carry mine counter measure equipment.
Source: Independent Online
Content back: Valour class
First major article is back: Patrol Corvettes: Valour (MEKO 200 SAN) class
SAN orders first Rogue
(dated 17 July 2006)
The South African Navy (SAN) has ordered an initial Rogue remotely operated gun system from Reutech Defence Logistics (RDL) Technologies for qualification purposes.
Once qualified, the intention is to fit each of the SAN's four Meko A-200 patrol corvettes with four Rogues for close-in self-protection in asymmetric warfare conditions.
The Rogue may also be later fitted to other SAN ships for the same purpose and could logically serve as the main armament of the planned inshore patrol vessels and possible riverine craft.
The Rogue was originally developed as an overhead mounting for armoured vehicles.
The naval version has been successfully trialled, as a temporary installation, aboard the Warrior-class missile fast attack craft SAS Makhanda. It demonstrated very good accuracy against small targets and also showed potential as a useful additional observation channel.
The Rogue is designed to mount a 12.7mm machine gun, a 20mm cannon (20x82) or a 40mm automatic grenade launcher. It can also mount a 7.62mm machine gun if a small calibre weapon is preferred.
The SAN has chosen to mount 12.7mm machine guns from their own stocks. A final decision on the sight has not been made, but the standard sight would normally comprise a TV camera with continuous zoom lens (allowing good target recognition and identification) and a thermal imager can be incorporated for night use.
Depending on the effective range of the weapon selected for a particular application, the thermal imager could be an un-cooled or a cooled unit. A laser rangefinder can also be mounted. The system is controlled via a colour multi-function display and a joystick, which will usually be installed in the ship's operations room.
The video sight system incorporates a recording function for debriefing and evidence purposes.
The 55 cm-high mounting has an elevation range of -40? to +60? and full 360? traverse with programmed firing arc limits, elevating and traversing at better than 90?/sec. it has standard two-axis stabilisation that has been shown to be effective at sea during the trails aboard SAS Makhanda.
The Rogue has a combat weight of less than 200kg when fitted with the day/night sight, a 12.7 mm machine gun and a box of 200 rounds. Its warm-up time is less than 10 seconds.
The Rogue is being marketed by EADS under an agreement with RDL Technologies.
Source: Reutech Defence Logistics (Thanks to Wilhelm van Zyl)
