For the first time over the centuries' old history, a warship from the South African Republic has arrived on a friendly visit to China. According to the local press reports on Friday, Shanghai port met the South African vessel.

The visit is timed to the 10th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Last year, delegations of the two states' Defence Ministries discussed the possibility of such contacts.

Local media reported that Chinese ships have only twice in history reached the South African coast. First time - during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) and second - in 2000. However, South African ships have never before visited China.

According to a report of the China Daily newspaper, the first warship from the African continent to visit China docked at Huangpu River port Thursday, ending 600 years of one-way visits.

The SAS Spioenkop with "all religions and races in the new South Africa on board, symbolizes a new transformation in South Africa," Rear Admiral Rusty Higgs said at a welcoming ceremony in Shanghai, according to the report.

"I can feel the excitement of the ship's company. They' ve gone through a long trip and some quite rough weather. I know they are happy to be here," he said. The visit is part of the yearlong celebrations to mark the 10th anniversary of China-South Africa diplomatic relations.

A Chinese frigate escorted the Spioenkop into the port. Wu Weihua, chief of staff of the Shanghai Naval Base of the East China Sea Fleet, headed a delegation of military and local officials, and diplomats, to welcome the ship, according to China Daily.

"You've travelled a long distance to bring the friendly greetings of the South African people. We really appreciate it," Wu said.

South African Ambassador to China Ndumiso Ntshinga was also there to welcome the ship.

"A plan to send a South African warship to China was discussed more than a year ago as a way to consolidate relations with China. We also realized that there was a gap in bilateral naval visits," Ntshinga said, the newspaper reported.

"In history, the Chinese twice made voyages to South Africa, one during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and the other in 2000, but we never reciprocated the visits," he said.

Source: SAAF Mailing List (17.10.2008)

The SA Navy is going to dedicate its only extensive visit abroad this year to supporting the government's diplomatic relations in China and other eastern countries, at a cost of about R30m. In the past and due to the navy's limited budget, these types of visits usually focused on training and joint exercises with naval allies.

"Strategically seen, the saying is that you keep your friends close and your enemies closer," said military analyst Helmoed-Römer Heitman.

"China is a future colonial power in Africa and it makes sense for South Africa to seek favour now.

This will mean that South Africa will become a client rather than a colony of China in the future.

"This is really the only alternative for South Africa, seeing as it regards the USA as an enemy and Europe as an officious entity in Africa."

Inter-continental ties

Navy spokesperson Captain Lisa Hendricks said one of the navy's brand new frigates, the SAS Spioenkop, will support the government's diplomatic initiatives.

The ship will also visit Vietnam, India, Mauritius and Singapore.

The trip will last from October until December and will deplete most of the navy's budget for these kinds of deployments.

"The aim of the visits is to create inter-continental ties with the East and the Far East and to develop co-operation," Hendricks said.

Source: flyafrica.info

SAS Amatola receives the refuelling probe during a RAS between FGS Berlin & SAS Amatola - Image: SA Navy

25 February 2008 dawned a clear and sunny day in the naval harbour of Naval Base Simon’s Town. It is here that Task Group 501, comprising of South African and German Naval vessels commenced on EXERCISE GOOD HOPE III. EXERCISE GOOD HOPE III is a multinational exercise between the German Armed Forces (Navy and Air Force) and the SANDF (mainly the Navy and Air Force) taking place in the Cape Town, Simon’s Town and Overberg area.

Our day started at 0800B when the Officer Commanding (OC) Captain Michael Girsa, briefed his ships company on the flight deck. The OC welcomed all the new members that had joined the ship for the Exercise. He furthermore passed his appreciation to the ships company for a job well done in getting the ship ready to sail as scheduled. The OC spoke of the forthcoming days’ events and how only good habits would help through this exercise. After a meticulous final check, the naval tugs assisted helped this operationally ready warship out of port. SAS AMATOLA sailed at 0900B.

At 1145B, ‘hands to flying stations’ was piped. An Oryx Helicopter from AFB Ysterplaat landed on the flight deck while SAS AMATOLA sailed out of False Bay. SAS AMATOLA plays host to the Commander Task Group (CTG) 501.02 Captain Steven-Jennings and his staff. The Task Force is divided into two Task Groups, with Captain Michael Budde of the Federal German Navy as CTG 501.01 which comprises of FGS HAMBURG, FGS KÖLN, FGS BERLIN, FGS WESTERWALD and task group 501.02 comprising the SAS DRAKENSBERG, SAS ISLANDWANA, SAS AMATOLA, SAS GALESHEWE, SAS ISAAC DHYOBA, SAS UMKOMAAS.

Similar exercises have been conducted twice in the past, between the Armed Forces of the two countries. These exercises are the largest undertaken by the German Defence Force outside of its North Atlantic Treaty Organisation’s (NATO) obligations. Good relationships exist between Germany and South Africa, not only on the military side but also politically and economically. The SAS AMATOLA is expecting to exercise drills and evolutions enabling training of the new personnel that have joined the ship in the art of modern naval warfare. It is expected that the crew will gain a lot of understanding and skills from this exercise. The task group will be alongside over the weekends with our first port of call being the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town for some much needed rest and recovery. Until then the five day passage will be filled exercises and training.

Source: www.navy.mil.za

More pictures of the German navy ships participating in Exercise Good Hope III are available.

View from bridge, over the vertical anti-aircraft missile launchers at A1435 Westerwald and F211 Köln - Image: Dean Wingrin

Harpoon missile launchers - Image: Dean Wingrin

From 18 February to 18 March the seas and skies surrounding Cape Town will be used to conduct military exercises between South Africa and Germany. This series of exercises will be called EXERCISE GOOD HOPE III.

This will be the third time that military exercises will be conducted in South African waters between the two countries, with the last exercise taking place two years ago. During this year's exercise there will be more than 1 800 personnel, 15 ships and 16 aircraft from both countries taking part.

The "theatre of operations" will be around Cape Town and some exercises will be conducted at the Overberg Military Test Area near Bredasdorp and Arniston/Waenhuiskrans. Some of the types of exercises will include live missile and gun firings, anti-submarine warfare with mock torpedo attacks, anti-aircraft drills, fleetwork and maneuvering and more.

The objectives that both countries want to achieve with these exercises are:

• To enhance and maintain the comprehensive defence capabilities of the two armed forces.
• To develop a common understanding of military interoperability and foster mutual trust, respect and co-operation between the German Armed Forces and the SANDF.
• To upgrade operational means and methods of multi-national conventional forces by employing different types of equipment whilst conducting and exercising according to a common set of guiding principles.

The German Defence Force will be represented by two Frigates (FGS HAMBURG and FGS KÖLN) and two Combat Support Vessels (FGS BERLIN and FGS WESTERWALD), six Tornado Fighter Aircraft and two Lynx Helicopters. The SANDF will send three Frigates (SAS AMATOLA, SAS ISANDLWANA and SAS SPIOENKOP), one Submarine (SAS CHARLOTTE MAXEKE) two Strike Craft (SAS GALESHEWE and SAS ISAAC DYOBHA), two Minehunters (SAS UMZIMKULU and SAS UMKOMAAS), two Inshore Patrol Vessels (SAS TERN and SAS TOBIE) and the Combat Support Vessel SAS DRAKENSBERG. In addition to this there will also be six Cheetah Fighter Aircraft and two Oryx Helicopters.

The public of Cape Town will be invited to view the German vessels at the V&A Waterfront on Sat 01 Mar to Sun 02 Mar 08. Thereafter the public can view most of the SA Navy and German vessels during the annual Navy Festival from 14 -16 Mar 08 in Simon's Town.

Source: SA Navy

Naval Base Simonstown, Cape Town, saw the ceremonial handover today of the Super Lynx Mk 64 helicopters to the South African Air Force (SAAF) and South African Navy (SAN).

Super Lynx MK64 194 - Image: Dean Wingrin

The symbolic handover of the Super Lynx by the Minister of Defence, Mr Mosiuoa Lekota, to the Lt. Gen. Carlo Gagiano (Chief of the SAAF) and R Adm Moseou Magalefa (Acting Chief of the SAN) provided a significant boost to maritime and air defence capabilities. In his speech, Lekota emphasised the transformation undertaken in the Department of Defence towards jointness of operations. The naval frigate and airforce helicopter comprise a potent organic partnership. While the airforce was accountable for the helicopters, they will be totally and indivisibly integrated with the combat ships of the Navy.

Super Lynx MK64 193 - Image: Dean Wingrin

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

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.

One of the Frigates as seen through the periscope of the SAS Manthatisi - Image: SA Navy

SAS Protea was also in the sights of SAS Manthatisi - Image: SA Navy

26 June 2007 was the first time since 1982 that South African Navy frigates participated in SMOC and ASW exercises. This was also the first time that the new Valour Class Frigates participated in these exercises and was seen as a significant highlight in the progression to achieving their capabilities.

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)