Patrol Corvettes: Valour (MEKO 200 SAN) class

SAS Amatola either during sea trials or during the delivery journey to South Africa - Image: unknown

Data

Displacement	3,590 tons full load
Dimensions	121 x 16.34 x 6.2 meters
Draught	ca. 4.4 meters
Propulsion	CODAG; 1 GE LM 2500 gas turbine 26,820 hp(m) (20 MW); 2 MTU 16V 1163 TB93 diesels 16,102 hp(m) (11.84 MW); 2 shafts; LIPS cp props; 1 LIPS LJ210E waterjet (centreline)
Speed	> 21 kts cruise, 28 kts max
Range	7,700nm at 15 kts
Crew	92 plus 8 aircrew plus 20 spare
Aviation	Helicopter deck and hangar for 2 Westland Super Lynx helicopters (sea state 6 day and night operation); or 1 Westland Super Lynx plus 2 drone UAVs; or 1 Atlas Oryx (sea state 5 day and night operation); or 1 Rooivalk (sea state 5 day and night operation)
Weapons for Anti-Surface Warfare	1 x 76 mm gun on the foreship 2 x 20 mm cannon for close-in engagement of small targets 8 x Exocet MM 40 Block 2 as anti ship missiles amidships
Weapons for Anti-Air Warfare	Denel Umkhonto 16 cell VLS 2 LIW DPG 35 mm (twin), 2 Oerlikon 20 mm Mk 1
Torpedoes	4-324 mm tubes (2 twin)
Countermeasures	Decoys: 2 Super Barricade chaff launchers
Combat data systems	Thomson-CSF
Navigation/Helicopter control	2 sets; I-band
Sensors	1 x Thomson-CSF 3D; E/F-band 1 x Integrated IFF 1 x Optical and Radar Tracker 1 x Electro-optical Tracker 2 x Target Designation Sights 1 x ESM/ECM System (intercept and jammer) 1 x Thomson Marconi Kingklip; hull mounted, active search; medium frequency 1 x Navigation/Helicopter control; 2 sets; I-band 1 x Super Lynx Maritime Helicopter: Surface Search radar Electro-optical Search Capability Data Link

Vessels

Number	Name	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Notes
F145	SAS Amatola	2 Aug 2001	6 June 2002	2005
F146	SAS Isandlwana	26 Oct 2001	5 Dec 2002	2005
F147	SAS Spionkop	2002	2003	2005
F148	SAS Mendi	2002	2003	2005

History

When the navy retired the last of the Type 12 frigates in 1985, it practically lost the capability of sustained operations in the open sea. Although their replacement, the Minister/Warrior class strike craft was in principle a capable choice, they were not the right vessels to control the huge area that forms the South African exclusive economic zone (EEZ) with about 1.5 million sqkm. This was partially because of the heavy weather prevailing very often in the Southern seas and because the craft did not offer a platform for operating helicopters that usually are seen as a force multiplier, increasing the reconnaissance and patrol coverage of navy ships ten-fold. This lead to a programme to obtain appropriate vessels as early as 1993. The requirements catalogue additionally included effective defensive capabilities against aircrafts and missiles as well as anti submarine (ASW) warfare capabilities and peace support operation capabilities, including disaster relief and humanitarian aid operations.

The MEKO A200 platform was identified as the appropriate solution, thanks to a number of features matching the demands like the stealth design with very low radar, infrared, acoustic and magnetic signatures due to the X-shaped hull and the horizontal exhaust (a world first for a major warship), the high survivability with a capable automated damage control system and biological and chemical defence systems and the good endurance and sea going qualities allowing autonomous operations in the Southern Seas and around the African continent.

These vessels will place the SA Navy squarely within the twenty-first century in maritime warfare capabilities but also bring about operational savings for the navy. The vessels are fitted with a data-link to relay its situational awareness to shore and other vessels. This will portray a real-time surface picture to the operational headquarters for better command and control. The area controlled by one corvette is at least five times as large as that controlled by two strike craft, but the cost of operating a corvette at patrol and loiter speeds is similar to a strike craft. This is due to the advanced "CODAG-WARP" (Combined Diesel And Gas turbine - Waterjet and Refined Propellers) propulsion system (another world first for a major warship).

Mobility (which is also a tactical force multiplier) will be enhanced with its large 45 day unreplenished endurance. These vessels are able to operate independently for surveillance of the long coastline and large EEZ around the RSA as well as beyond the Equator to the east and west of the African continent. With excellent sea-keeping performance in all sea conditions, helicopter operations will be continuous and fast transit times will be achievable even in see state 6.

The MEKO A200 design has a high growth potential with large reserve margins for electrical power, cooling and space. Container storage on the upper deck, space for large numbers of additional personnel or up to 400 refugees during evacuation operations (without degrading the ship's fighting capacity) and good accommodation and recreation facilities for the crew, including special training facilities like a dedicated classroom, give the navy a flexibility and operational capabilities it has never had before.

Therefore these 4 vessels are to form the backbone of the new upgraded South African Navy which has benefited considerably from the huge defence budget allocated for new weaponry designed to bring the SANDF into a new world of high tech weaponry.

The first one, SAS Amatola, is keeping with a naming convention depicting acts of valour and was thus named after the Amatola Mountains where British forces fought the Xhosas in late 1852. Mrs Zanele Mbeki named the vessel at the Blohm & Voss Thyssen Rheinstahl, Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werft (HDW) and Thales shipyards in Germany on 7 June 2002.

A group of South African companies, known as the SA Corvette Group, including Altech Defence Systems, Kentron, LIW Division of Denel, Futuristic Business Solutions, Grintek Avitronics, Grintek Electronics, Reutech and African Defence Systems (a joint venture company between Altech and Thales), is responsible for combining the weapons and electronics subsystems into a fully integrated combat suite. Two of the corvettes will be built by Blohm & Voss at Hamburg, the other two at Kiel.