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
Exercise Whippet - successful combined tactical firing of Exocet missiles
The South African Navy conducted its first combined tactical Exocet Missile firing exercise recently. The two frigates, SAS Spioenkop and SAS Mendi, fired the two missiles at MFV Azalea, a derelict fishing trawler given to the SA Navy by I&J fishing company to sink. The firing was conducted on Thursday 28 June in Exercise Area Pandora, 50 nautical miles south of Cape Point.
The cover disengages from the missile launcher - Image: SA Navy (Naval Weapons Analysis Section (NWAS))
Notice the cover flying off to the left of the picture - Image: SA Navy (Naval Weapons Analysis Section (NWAS))
The two frigates were sailing approximately 7 nm abeam of each other, when they altered course to launch their missiles. The SAS Spioenkop, with SAS Mendi stationed to port, fired her missile to starboard whilst SAS Mendi fired her missile to port.
The Exocet MM40 Block 1 missile leaves its launcher - Image: SA Navy (Naval Weapons Analysis Section (NWAS))
The two Exocet MM40 block 1 missiles left their launchers to arrive at the target within seconds of each other. The target, some 25 nm (±47km) away, was broken in two and sunk within minutes.
Once clear of the launcher the rockets of the missile engage - Image: SA Navy (Naval Weapons Analysis Section (NWAS))
SAS Protea towed the target towards the missile firing range, while SAS Galeshewe, a Maritime Patrol Aircraft from 35 Squadron and an Oryx helicopter from 22 Squadron assisted with range clearance.
This exercise proved that the South African Navy is a maritime force to be reckoned with and that the systems and weapons onboard the new frigates are operational and ready.
Source: www.navy.mil.za
Reworked content: Valour class article with new picture
Drawings of all current MEKO 200 designs have been added to the Valour class article.
Drawings of current Meko A200 class vessels - Image: MConrads (from photobucket.com)
Lekota receives SAS Mendi frigate 2
Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota officially received the frigate SAS Mendi on behalf of the government at the Port Elizabeth harbour on Tuesday.
The SAS Mendi is the fourth Meko A-200 San frigate built for South Africa by the German arms company ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems.
Lekota said the commissioning of the ship was an important milestone for South Africa.
SAS Mendi was named after the SS Mendi which sank on February 21 1917 during World War I. The ship carried the last contingent of the South African Native Labour Corps from Cape Town to France.
The contingent comprised five white officers, 17 non-commissioned officers and 805 black privates.
Lekota said the commissioning of the ship was a spiritual return of the troops.
He said the SAS Mendi was a symbol of sacrifice, brotherhood and hope.
"The task of the SAS Mendi will be to participate in the maritime defence of our country, the region and the whole continent of Africa."
The SAS Amatola, SAS Isandlwana, and SAS Spioenkop were the first frigates to be commissioned.
Rear Admiral Robert Higgs said the SAS Amatola and the SAS Isandlwana had already participated in a number of exercises.
SAS Mendi arriving from Germany a few months ago - Image: SA Navy
"The SAS Amatola participated in the silver jubilee of the Nigerian navy in Lagos. It overshadowed other navies. It captured the hearts of the Nigerian media and was held up as a symbol of success in the continent."
He said the SAS Spioenkop and SAS Mendi would soon participate in other exercises.
The 121m frigates are specially adapted to the particular demands of the South African navy and are able to perform a variety of operations including defence, environmental protection, and the safeguarding of fishing and economic zones.
Source: Mail & Guardian Online
Content back: Fleet Review on 17 Sep 2004
SAS Mendi - Image: WO1 Keith Stone
The image gallery of the Fleet Review on 17 Sep 2004 (Part I, Part II) in honour of the arrival of SAS Mendi is back in the Stories & Background section.
Content back: Valour class
First major article is back: Patrol Corvettes: Valour (MEKO 200 SAN) class
Navy takes delivery of new ship
The South African Navy's Captain David Jamieson on Thursday took command of SAS Amatola, a state-of-the-art frigate delivered into the hands of the SANDF and then the Navy from the South Africa-European consortium that built it.
The brand new fighting ship, said to be the most advanced warship in the world today, is the first ship to be designed to the particular needs of the South African Navy, says Rear Admiral Johnny Kamerman, the director of Project SITRON, under which another three "Frigates Small Guided", also known as Corvettes, are to be delivered to the Navy.
Previously, the Navy used ships with "hand me down" designs suited for other navies in the world, Rear Admiral Kamerman said yesterday at the Navy's Simonstown base.
The Navy, he said, was "over the moon" with the ship, which had its platforms built in Germany while 75% of its combat systems were designed and built by over 20 South African companies, much to the pride of the Navy and the National Defence Force.
That combat system - described by a Royal Navy team as "the best frigate combat system afloat today" - was further enhanced by design that Project SITRON went "to great lengths" to make as stealthy as possible, said Rear Admiral Kamerman.
The SAS Amatola, the first of four frigates bought by government as part of the Strategic Defence Package sealed several years ago, was received by the SANDF at a signing ceremony at Simonstown attended by a number of military top brass, political principals and representatives of the European-South African Corvette Consortium.
These included the chief of the SA Navy, Vice-Admiral Johannes Mudimu, the chief of the National Defence Force, General Godfrey Ngwenya, Defence Secretary, January Masilela, representatives of Armscor as well as the Minister of Public Enterprises, Alec Erwin, the Minister of Defence, Mosiuoa Lekota and First Lady Zanele Mbeki.
It was Mrs Mbeki who named the first of the MEKO A200-class frigates the SAS Amatola, in 2002 in Germany when the ship's platform (not it combat suite) was completed, and she was the first dignitary to board the ship and sign its visitor's book yesterday, as the "godmother" of the most modern warship in the world today.
Amatola is taken from a famous battle in 1852 in the Eastern Cape led by Chief Maqoma, where "valour was shown on both sides", according to the ship's commander, Captain Jamieson, adding that it was this that inspired the ship's insignia, an axe and a feather.
The other three Valour-Class Patrol Corvettes, already delivered but due to have combat systems completed later this year, are named the SAS Isandlwana, SAS Spioenkop and SAS Mendi.
With enough power on board to light up the city of East London, the 121-m SAS Amatola can travel at a speed of 30 knots on the high seas, stop at a distance only three times its length - quicker than a vessel eight times smaller - and can carry around 500 refugees in a humanitarian operation.
At the same time, the ship is also designed for electronic warfare such as radar jamming, and has electro-optic missile and gun systems that include surface-to-surface missiles, uMkhonto surface-to-air missiles, a 76 mm gun weapon and two 20mm cannon, along with another 35mm dual purpose gun and decoy rocket launchers for defensive tactics.
It carries up to 120 crew and is designed to accommodate several different helicopters, including two maritime Lynx day-and-night helicopters at one time, or one Lynx helicopter with two drone UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) or one Oryx, or a Rooivalk. It's designed for punishment as well, according to the Navy, including air and sea strikes as well as biological and chemical defence protection.
Ultimately, it's designed for effective surveillance patrol, crisis response, anti-piracy and peace support operations capabilities, in particular "stability projection operations", with capacity, said Kamerman, to stay at sea for up to three months on "both sides of the equator".
It will also be used for effective monitoring and protection of South Africa's marine resources and environment in its huge eexclusive economic zone, and is effective too for disaster relief and humanitarian aid operations.
Lekota said yesterday that the Corvettes would be critical in ensuring that "for many years to come the Navy will be able to provide the requisite levels of operations and support to ensure stability, peace and security of the both the Indian and Atlantic ocean coastlines of South Africa, Southern Africa and further afield".
In keeping with the principles of Nepad (the New Partnership for Africa's Development) and the "African Agenda", South Africa must be "fully prepared for any threats to the critical economic activity of the international sea routes around us".
The SAS Amatola will also be added to the arsenal at the disposal of the South African Development Community regional Standby Force, one of the African Union's five regional brigades for peacekeeping and rapid reaction in Africa.
The recent establishment of the SADC brigade along with a continental Regional Early Warning System all pointed Africa in a direction of hope and progress, said Lekota.
"We are now collectively capable of pre-emptive and rapid response to situations both military and where humanitarian disaster may occur," the defence minister said.
Source: BuaNews (thanks to Wilhelm van Zyl)
SA navy to have all new corvettes and submarines by 2007
The South African Navy would by March 2007 become a fully fledged navy after the expected delivery of the last batch of corvettes.
This was announced on Monday by the Chief of the South African Navy Vice Admiral Johannes Mudimu who said construction work on the SAS Mendi was at an advanced stage.
The acquisition of the helicopters, including submarines and corvettes, is part of the arms deal that was approved by Cabinet in 2001.
Admiral Mudimu said because the Navy was also engaged in peace support operations in the continent as part of the African Union vision state-of-the-art ships were essential.
'Our participation is essential in bringing a stable and peaceful environment in Africa and that will allow for development and economic growth on the continent,' he said.
'The SA Navy is running full steam in ensuring we have an effective and efficient fighting force that will enable us fulfil our roles.'
And in preparation for the operation of the submarines, a group of 20 submariners is receiving training in general submarine knowledge in India.
The group, made up of 11 combat officers and nine technical officers, is expected to finish its training by next February.
Vice Admiral Johannes Mudimu said some of the corvettes were conducting trials in South Africa to see if they are suitable for conditions here and the installation of combat suites.
'Our first submarine, S101was commissioned in November this year in Germany and is now flying the South African flag,' Admiral Mudimu said.
Last month the Department of Defence received four of the 30 state-of-the-art helicopters from Augusta, Italy, to replace the ageing Alouette III fleet.
It is also anticipated that by 2007, the SA Air Force (SAAF) would have acquired a complete fleet of the new helicopters.
Source: Engineering News/BuaNews (Thanks to Wilhelm van Zyl)
