South African Navy

From Roach Busters

The South African Navy (SAN) is the branch of the South African military tasked with the maritime defense of the nation. Its primary bases are located in Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, East London, Durban, Lüderitz, and Walvis Bay. Vice Admiral Mhlobo ka Tshiwo is the commander of the navy.

Classified as a medium navy, the South African Navy is nevertheless the strongest navy in Africa, and one of the best in the world. It is rapidly being modernized into a full blue water navy.

The navy's primary missions include sea patrols of territorial waters; anti-piracy and anti-smuggling operations; protection of the Cape Sea Route; search and rescue missions; and preventing illegal entry into the country. The navy employs small riverine patrol craft, deployed at bases on Lake Tanganyika and Lake Malawi, to accomplish the latter mission.

As of 2008, the SAN currently employs 100,000 active duty personnel (with another 3,000 in reserve) and has 102 ships in service, and operates 134 aircraft.

Contents 1 Inventory 1.1 Ships (103 in service) 1.1.1 Frigates (15 in service) 1.1.2 Fast attack craft (9 in service) 1.1.3 Submarines (6 in service) 1.1.4 Mine countermeasures vessels (8 in service) 1.1.5 Auxiliary vessels (2 in service) 1.1.6 Other vessels (62 in service) 1.2 Aircraft 1.2.1 Helicopters (99 in service) 1.2.2 Fixed-wing (31 in service)

Inventory

Ships (103 in service)

Frigates (15 in service)

• 8 Valour class frigates
  • SAS Vaal
  • SAS Umzimkulu
  • SAS Limpopo
  • SAS Elsieskraal
  • SAS Liesbeek
  • SAS Maputo
  • SAS Orange
  • SAS Umfolozi
• 4 Transvaal class frigates (modified Karel Doorman class)
  • SAS Marthinus Wessel Pretorius
  • SAS Willem Cornelis Janse van Rensburg
  • SAS Thomas François Burgers
  • SAS Paul Kruger
• 3 D'Estienne d'Orves class frigates
  • SAS Pretoria
  • SAS Bloemfontein
  • SAS Cape Town

Fast attack craft (9 in service)

• 9 Askari class missile boats (modified Sa'ar 4.5 class)
  • SAS Mageba
  • SAS Ndaba
  • SAS Jama
  • SAS Senzangakhona
  • SAS Shaka
  • SAS Dingane
  • SAS Mpande
  • SAS Cetshwayo
  • SAS Dinuzulu

Submarines (6 in service)

• 3 Type 209 diesel-electric attack submarines
  • SAS Manthatisi
  • SAS Charlotte Maxeke
  • SAS Queen Modjadji
• 3 Daphné class diesel-electric patrol submarines
  • SAS Spear
  • SAS Umkhonto
  • SAS Assegai

Mine countermeasures vessels (8 in service)

• 4 River class coastal mine hunters
  • SAS Umkomaas
  • SAS Umhloti
  • SAS Umgeni
  • SAS Umzimkulu
• 4 City class coastal minesweepers
  • SAS Tshwane
  • SAS Mangaung
  • SAS Kapa
  • SAS Thekwini

Auxiliary vessels (2 in service)

• SAS Drakensberg fleet replenishment ship
• SAS Outeniqua logistic support ship

Other vessels (62 in service)

• 3 amphibious warfare vessels
• 1 hydrographic survey vessel
• 1 diving support vessel
• 1 Antarctic transport
• 3 tugs
• 3 inshore patrol vessels
• 20 small harbor patrol boats
• 30 riverine patrol boats

Aircraft

Helicopters (99 in service)

• Agusta A109 LUH SAR/utility helicopter x20
• Atlas Oryx medium utility helicopter x6
• MBB/Kawasaki BK 117A utility/transport helicopter x4
• Westland Lynx helicopter
  • Super Lynx 300 maritime attack helicopter x28
• Eurocopter Dauphin utility/transport helicopter
  • AS 365F1 utility helicopter x12
  • AS 565MA/MB naval search and rescue helicopter x4
  • AS 565SA/SB ASW helicopter x25

Fixed-wing (31 in service)

• CASA C-212 Aviocar 200M maritime patrol aircraft x20
• CASA CN-235 MPA maritime patrol aircraft x11