South African Navy

Beginnings

Officially, the South African Navy can trace its origins back to the creation of the South African Naval Service on 1 April 1922. Unofficially, however, the Navy has an unbroken association with the Natal Naval Volunteers, formed in Durban on 30 April 1885, and the Cape Naval Volunteers, formed in Cape Town in 1905.^[4] Loosely, and indirectly however, the earliest naval establishment was the Port Elizabeth Naval Volunteer Brigade, founded in 1861.^[6] On 1 July 1913, following the creation of the Union of South Africa in 1910,^[7] the South African Division of the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve (RNVR[SA]) was established, although with complete organisational and operational control being directed by the Royal Navy.^[4][8]

First World War

SAS Immortelle, circa 1935

As part of the British Empire, South Africa went to war against the Central Powers on 4 August 1914,^[9] despite significant Afrikaner opposition.^[10] A total of 412 South Africans served in the RNVR[SA] during the war, with 164 members volunteering for the Royal Navy directly.^[11] One officer and eight ratings died during the course of the war.^[11]  South Africans would see service on warships in European waters and the Mediterranean, as well as participate in the land campaigns in German South West Africa and German East Africa. Under Royal Navy jurisdiction, the RNVR (SA) patrolled South African waters in converted fishing vessels, helping in mine clearance in response to the operations of the German raider Wolf in 1917,^[12][13] as well as protecting the strategically important Royal Navy naval base at Simon’s Town.

Interwar

On 1 April 1922, the South African Naval Service (SANS) was formed and, alongside the RNVR (SA), tasked with the protection of territorial waters, minesweeping and hydrography.^[11] In the same year, the SANS commissioned the small hydrographic survey ship HMSAS (His/Her Majesty’s South African Ship) Protea, two minesweeping converted trawlers HMSAS Immortelle and HMSAS Sonneblom, and the Training Ship General Botha - all formerly in Royal Navy service. As a result of the Great Depression in 1929, coupled with lack of government investment, the SANS by 1939 had been forced to return all vessels to the Royal Navy.^[14] At the outbreak of the Second World War, the service had only three officers and three ratings in its ranks.^[4]

Second World War

The British declaration of war against Germany on 3 September 1939 threw South Africa into a constitutional dilemma due to her status as an autonomous Dominion within the Commonwealth. Prime Minister J.B.M. Hertzog and other anti-British factions of the coalition United Party called for strict neutrality, whilst the more anglophile Deputy Prime Minister Jan Smuts advocated that South Africa was constitutionality, and morally, obliged to support Britain and fight fascism.^[10] Two days later, after a close parliamentary vote of 80 to 67 in favour of Smuts, South Africa followed Britain and declared war on Germany.^[10]

During October 1939, Rear-Admiral Guy Halifax, a retired Royal Navy officer living in South Africa, was appointed Director of the South African Naval Service, later renamed Seaward Defence Force (SDF) in January 1940.^[15] Overseeing a large industrial program of converting civilian whalers and fishing trawlers into military vessels, despite being highly primitive, over 80 such craft would go on to be the backbone of the South African naval forces.

In South African waters, the SDF, in partnership with the Royal Navy, ensured maritime control around the strategic Cape Sea route and was primarily involved in coastal patrol, mine clearance, and significant anti-submarine operations between 1942 and 1945 due to a sustained U-Boat offensive, with over 100 merchant ships being sunk off the South African coast.

Members of the South African Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve serving on board HMS Nelson during WWII

South African naval vessels similarly contributed to the Mediterranean theatre,^[16] and later the Far East.^[17] From 1941, South Africa assisted in escorting convoys along the North African coast, including the resupply and eventual evacuation of Tobruk, embarked on mine clearance operations, successfully engaged enemy submarines and undertook harbour salvage tasks. In 1942, a unified national naval service emerged following the successful amalgamation of the SDF and RNVR(SA), creating the South African Naval Forces (SANF).^[8] As the war came to its end, South Africa received its first purpose-built warships, three Loch-class frigates from the Royal Navy.^[14] Deployed to the Far East under British command, South Africa later contributed to operations to liberate Japanese held territory.^[17]

In total, over 10,000 service personnel volunteered for service in the SANF, and its predecessors, with 324 losing their lives and 26 battle honours gained.^[11]

Post war

A year after the end of hostilities, on 1 May 1946 South African Naval Forces were reconstituted as part of the Union Defence Force before undertaking its final name change in July 1951, when the SANF officially became known as the South African Navy.^[5] The year 1948 was a turning point, not only for South Africa as a country following the National Party's electoral victory, but also the direction of the Navy.^[18] British influence became increasingly diminished and curtailed across the service. In 1952, the previously used ship prefix of HMSAS (His/Her Majesty's South African Ship) changed to just SAS (South African Ship),^[19] in 1957, the Royal Navy transferred control of Simon's Town naval base to the SA Navy after 70 years of occupancy and later, in 1959, the St Edward's Crown, which had featured in the Navy cap badge and other insignia, was replaced by the Lion of Nassau from South Africa's coat of arms.^[20]

SAS Jan van Riebeeck in British service as HMS Wessex

In the immediate post-war years the South African Navy underwent significant levels of qualitative, and quantitative, expansion as the Royal Navy disposed of its surplus war materiel.^[21] In 1947, two surplus Algerine-class minesweepers, were acquired from the United Kingdom, HMSAS Bloemfontein and HMSAS Pietermaritzburg, as well as a Flower-class corvette which was converted into the hydrographic survey ship HMSAS Protea. In 1950, South Africa further expanded her naval capability and purchased the first of two former British W-class destroyers, SAS Jan van Riebeeck, in 1952 SAS Simon van der Stel,^[22] and later, the Type 15 anti-submarine frigate SAS Vrystaat (formerly HMS Wrangler).^[23]

By the early 1960s, the South African Navy was fast reaching its highpoint of international inclusion and is generally considered to be the golden age of a well balanced, modern, and effective service optimised for conventional naval engagement alongside friendly Western international partners.^[21]

From 1962 to 1964, the South African Navy received three Type 12 President-class frigates: SAS President Kruger, SAS President Steyn and SAS President Pretorius respectively.^[22] These were first rate, ocean going fast fleet anti-submarine escorts that propelled the South African Navy into the age of a modern warship operator on equal footing with the West.^[24] The order of three Daphné-class submarine from France in 1968^[25]—to operate submarines for the first time—again catapulted the service further. The early 1970s would see the South African Navy operating at the height of its blue-water power projection ability with the first of the Daphné-class submarines, SAS Maria van Riebeeck, being commissioned in 1970, with SAS Emily Hobhouse and SAS Johanna van der Merwe entering service the following year.^[25]

The second half of the 1970s however saw South Africa facing severe amounts of international isolation and criticism. In 1973 the UN labelled the policy of apartheid a "Crime against Humanity",^[26] magnified further by the brutal state repression and subsequent mass incarcerations and deaths following the Soweto uprising in 1976^[27] and the death of prominent anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko in 1977.^[28] The following year a UN arms embargo, loosely in place since 1962, became mandatory.^[29] The ensuing international economic disinvestment from South Africa was stepped up, placing huge strains on the economy. Coupled with these severe problems, the cornerstones of the country's regional foreign policy faced collapse and complete transformation with the end of Portuguese rule in Angola and Mozambique in 1975,^[30] and the negotiated settlement in Ian Smith's Rhodesia to the end of white minority rule in 1979.^[31] As South Africa became increasingly involved in the Border War in South West Africa (modern day Namibia) and Angola, the Navy began to readjust its previous international outlook and organisation. The then Minister of Defence, P. W. Botha successfully sought military connections with Israel and nine "Reshef"—Warrior-class in South African service—missile strike craft were ordered in 1974.^[22] Following the Soweto uprising and subsequent mandatory arms embargo, South Africa had been forced to accept the cancellation of another significant naval procurement of two new Type-69A light frigates and two Agosta-class submarines from France.^[32]

In 1987, South Africa commissioned the locally designed and built Fleet Replenishment ship SAS Drakensberg. Constructed in Durban, it remains the largest and most sophisticated warship to ever have built in South Africa. Three years earlier, the Navy's other support ship, SAS Tafelberg, had undergone a refit that greatly increased her amphibious capabilities. A real boost for the Navy's influence, Tafelberg could deploy a company strength landing force, six landing craft, two medium helicopters and be equipped with a small hospital.^[32][21] Throughout the decade, the South African Navy continued to participate in the Border War and coastal protection. For 23 years (1976–1989) the South African Navy maintained determined sea control around Southern Africa and provided valuable support to land operations.^[33] By the end of the 1980s, as white minority rule was coming to a negotiated end, the Navy had lost all of its major surface warships, had a drastically reduced anti-submarine/anti-aircraft capability across the board, and almost complete international isolation.^[11] As South Africa disentangled itself from external and internal security operations, the South African Defence Force underwent severe budgetary cuts. The Navy endured a reduction of personnel by 23%,^[21] the disbandment of the Marines, the closure of two Naval Commands (Naval Command East and Naval Command West), two Naval Bases at Cape Town and Walvis Bay, and the termination of the relatively advanced program to domestically build replacement submarines.^[34] A positive for the Navy during this period however was the acquisition of the multipurpose sealift/replenishment ship SAS Outeniqua, a former Soviet-built Arctic supply vessel, in September 1992 as a replacement for the 35 year old Tafelberg.^[35]

Despite the austere cutbacks, the Navy was leading the way for a South Africa that was slowly being welcomed back into the international community, even before the landmark elections of 1994. In 1990, the survey vessel SAS Protea became the first South African naval vessel to visit Europe since 1972, and in the same year SAS Drakensberg and two Warrior-class strike craft, SAS Jan Smuts and SAS Hendrik Mentz, sailed for Taiwan in what would be the first time South African vessels had been in the Far East since 1945. Other international visits in the following years included Zaire, Kenya, Bangladesh, Turkey, France, Portugal, and Uruguay.^[11] As the "Rainbow nation" was lauded following the ANC victory in the first free democratic elections in 1994, one of the starkest symbols of this new era was the explosion of foreign warships and dignitaries visiting South African ports, often from countries that did not have a previous connection, such as Russia, Poland and Japan.^[20] In 1994, 21 foreign vessels from eight countries called at South African ports, with 26 visits from 12 countries in 1995, and 27 from ten countries in 1996. In 1997 the navy celebrated 75 years, with 15 countries sending ships for the festivities.

The acute need to re-equip the navy, including the wider Armed Forces after the lifting of apartheid-era sanctions, was addressed by the Strategic Defence Package of 1999.^[36] Better known as the infamous "Arms Deal", the acquisitions in the package, and those persons involved, have been repeatedly subject to substantive allegations of corruption, fraud and bribery.^[37] A total of R30 billion (US$4.8 billion in 1999) was pledged to the purchase of modern military equipment. For the navy, its share led to a total transformation from a "brown-water" force of ageing missile patrol craft and short-range submarines, to a force with significant “green-water” combat capability once again.^[38] In 2001, with an initial request of five vessels, later reduced to four, the German Meko A200SAN general purpose corvette design was procured (designated frigates in South Africa), along with four British Super Lynx naval helicopters, and three German Type 209/1400 diesel-powered submarines. Also under construction from 1991 were three locally built T-Craft inshore patrol boats.^[21] As South Africa approached the millennium, and beyond, the ANC government gradually returned the Navy to a level of maritime power last seen in the 1960s and 1970s, and successfully reintegrated the service back into maritime operations with regional and international partners.^[11]

Discover more about History related topics

Durban

Durban

Durban, nicknamed Durbs, is the third most populous city in South Africa after Johannesburg and Cape Town and the largest city in KwaZulu-Natal. Durban forms part of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, which includes neighbouring towns and has a population of about 3.44 million, making the combined municipality one of the largest cities on the Indian Ocean coast of the African continent. Durban was also one of the host cities of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Cape Town

Cape Town

Cape Town, nicknamed the Mother City, is South Africa's oldest city. It serves as the country's legislative capital, being the seat of the South African Parliament. It is the country's second-largest city and the largest in the Western Cape. The city is part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality.

Royal Naval Reserve

Royal Naval Reserve

The Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) is one of the two volunteer reserve forces of the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom. Together with the Royal Marines Reserve, they form the Maritime Reserve. The present RNR was formed by merging the original Royal Naval Reserve, created in 1859, and the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR), created in 1903. The Royal Naval Reserve has seen action in World War I, World War II, the Iraq War, and War in Afghanistan.

Dominion

Dominion

A dominion was any of several self-governing nations of the British Empire. With the evolution of the British Empire into the Commonwealth of Nations, the dominions became independent states.

Central Powers

Central Powers

The Central Powers, also known as the Central Empires, was one of the two main coalitions that fought in World War I (1914–1918). It consisted of the German Empire, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Bulgaria and was also known as the Quadruple Alliance.

Maritz rebellion

Maritz rebellion

The Maritz rebellion, also known as the Boer revolt or Five Shilling rebellion, was an armed insurrection in South Africa in 1914, at the start of World War I. It was led by Boers who supported the re-establishment of the South African Republic in the Transvaal. Many members of the South African government were themselves former Boers who had fought with the Maritz rebels against the British in the Second Boer War, which had ended twelve years earlier. The rebellion failed, and its ringleaders received heavy fines and terms of imprisonment.

East African campaign (World War I)

East African campaign (World War I)

The East African campaign in World War I was a series of battles and guerrilla actions, which started in German East Africa (GEA) and spread to portions of Mozambique, Rhodesia, British East Africa, the Uganda, and the Belgian Congo. The campaign all but ended in German East Africa in November 1917 when the Germans entered Mozambique and continued the campaign living off Portuguese supplies.

Naval Base Simon's Town

Naval Base Simon's Town

Naval Base Simon's Town is the South African Navy's largest naval base, situated at Simon's Town, near Cape Town. The base provides support functions to Fleet Command.

Hydrographic survey

Hydrographic survey

Hydrographic survey is the science of measurement and description of features which affect maritime navigation, marine construction, dredging, offshore oil exploration and drilling and related activities. Strong emphasis is placed on soundings, shorelines, tides, currents, seabed and submerged obstructions that relate to the previously mentioned activities. The term hydrography is used synonymously to describe maritime cartography, which in the final stages of the hydrographic process uses the raw data collected through hydrographic survey into information usable by the end user.

Great Depression in South Africa

Great Depression in South Africa

The Great Depression had a pronounced economic and political effect on South Africa, as it did on most nations at the time. As world trade slumped, demand for South African agricultural and mineral exports fell drastically. It is believed that the social discomfort caused by the depression was a contributing factor in the 1933 split between the "gesuiwerde" (purified) and "smelter" (fusionist) factions within the National Party and the National Party's subsequent fusion with the South African Party.

J. B. M. Hertzog

J. B. M. Hertzog

General James Barry Munnik Hertzog, better known as Barry Hertzog or J. B. M. Hertzog, was a South African politician and soldier. He was a Boer general during the Second Boer War who served as the third prime minister of the Union of South Africa from 1924 to 1939. Throughout his life he encouraged the development of Afrikaner culture, determined to prevent Afrikaners from being influenced by British culture.

Jan Smuts

Jan Smuts

Field Marshal Jan Christian Smuts, was a South African statesman, military leader and philosopher. In addition to holding various military and cabinet posts, he served as prime minister of the Union of South Africa from 1919 to 1924 and 1939 to 1948.

SAS Isandlwana docked at the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town

Surface fleet

Commissioned into service from 2006, at a total cost of R9.65 billion, the four Meko A200SANs, the Valour class in South African service, became "easily the most powerful surface combatants in sub-Saharan Africa, and...restored South African naval pre-eminence."^[39] Constructed with principles of stealthy design, the class has a 50% smaller radar signature of similar vessel size, 75% less infrared emissions, 20% lower life-cycle cost, 25% lower displacement and 30% fewer crew members.^[40] Specifically designed to conduct sustained operations in the sea conditions found off the South African coast, the four frigates are able to undertake a range of tasks from maritime law enforcement, to civil support, and military operations such as area denial, gunfire support and intelligence collection. The embarked SuperLynx helicopters significantly improve and extend surveillance, as well as all-round operational capabilities. With a return to operating general-purpose, multi-mission warships, the Valour class have been hailed as modern, impressive and major regional anti-surface, anti-air, and anti-submarine platforms. SAS Amatola, SAS Isandlwana, SAS Spioenkop, and SAS Mendi possess two four-cell launchers for eight Exocet surface to surface missiles, 16 to 32-cell domestically built Umkhonto VLS missiles for air defence, a single OTO Melara 76-millimetre (3.0 in) main gun, a twin Denel 35 mm (1.4 in) Dual Purpose Gun, two Oerlikon 20 mm (0.79 in) cannon, and two 12.7 mm (0.50 in) remotely operated guns.^[40]

As the SA Navy has a strength of only four primary surface warships, in an effort to improve asset availability in more routine littoral patrol operations and ease the stress on sophisticated, but ill-suited, warships, three previously decommissioned Warrior-class strike craft were modernised and recommissioned as offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) between 2012 and 2014 - SAS Isaac Dyobha, SAS Galeshewe and SAS Makhanda.^[41][42] As of February 2023, only Makhanda remains in service. From June 2022, the Patrol Flotilla was strengthened by the commissioning SAS King Sekhukhune I, the first of three Multi-Mission Inshore Patrol Vessels (MMIPVs) being constructed by Damen Shipyards Cape Town.

Primarily, the Patrol Flotilla undertake the more traditional naval task of patrolling South Africa's exclusive economic zone and upholding maritime law enforcement. Ordinary tasks include anti-smuggling, monitoring against illegal immigration, search and rescue, fishery inspection, and routine border protection. With the ability to operate far out into the Cape and handle the often rough seas, the Flotilla is also expected to complement the navies combat ability, particularly when undertaking anti-piracy patrols in the Mozambique Channel.^[43]

Reflecting their new policing role, the Warriors' old Skerpioen missile launchers and the rear 76 mm gun was removed. In replacement, the craft have gained the capacity to support a small rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB) and a limited contingent of Naval Infantry for boarding suspect vessels, as well as maintaining their original 20 mm cannon and 12.7 mm heavy machine guns.^[44]

As of 2020, two River-class coastal mine countermeasures vessels are still in service with the SA Navy, however, they are believed to have lost their mine-hunting capabilities due to the retirement of the antiquated PAP104 autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). Whilst still maintaining a decompression chamber for operational diving, the River class are now deployed on general coastal defence duties, and are equipped with a single Oerlikon 20 mm cannon, two 12.7 mm machine guns, and a RHIB.

Alongside the Warrior and River classes are the more modern T Craft class, with three entering service from 1992. Constructed with twin-hulled catamarans of glass-reinforced plastic sandwich construction, three have also been built for Israel in 1997. The T Craft, with their far lighter construction and smaller size, undertake maritime security patrols considerably closer to the shore and inspect various inlets and bays. SAS Tobie, SAS Tern, and SAS Tekwane are equipped with a single 12.7 mm Browning machine gun and have the capacity to embark a RHIB with a small complement of Naval Infantry to inspect vessels.^[45]

Submarine fleet

Between 2004 and 2008, three German built Type 209/1400 submarines were delivered as a like for like replacement for the obsolescent Daphné-class submarines. The Heroine class represents a significant upgrade of the navy's sub-surface force due to considerable advancement in underwater performance and endurance.^[46]

South African submarines SAS Charlotte Maxeke (S102) and SAS Queen Modjadji (S103), accompanies the United States Navy Los Angeles-class submarine USS San Juan (center), into False Bay in Simon's Town, South Africa on 4 November 2009

As of 2020, South Africa is one of only three states on the African continent, along with Algeria and Egypt, that currently operate submarine assets, and the only state in the sub-Saharan region. With near subsurface supremacy, the SA Navy operates a strong conventional underwater naval deterrent against any theoretical continental state actor.^[47] At the same time, this capability was at risk of eroding. As of 2019, two of the submarines were reported to be in need of "urgent and complete" refits. The recommended approach was to move to a contracting phase in 2020. The Armscor annual report to parliament indicated that should the refits not take place, the submarine capability would not available after FY2022/23.^[48] As of March 2021, the contracting phase had still not been initiated and no dates had been announced for any upgrades of the submarines.^[49]

In August 2021 it was reported that Charlotte Maxeke was being refitted at the Armscor Dockyard. Funding in the amount of R189 million had reportedly been made available to ensure the completion of the refit during the 2023/24 financial year. Funding for the refit of Queen Modjadji was not available, though the reported focus of the Navy was to prioritise essential maintenance and repair of SAS Manthatisi (which had been last refitted during 2013/14) to ensure "expedited operational availability."^[50]

Highly sophisticated vessels, the Heroine class' utility, aside from traditional anti-ship engagement and area denial, is its intelligence collection via special forces deployment. A series of modifications have been made to the class so as to undertake these clandestine operations.^[21]

Currently fitted only with regular torpedo tubes, the Heroines do have optional UGM-84 Harpoon integration capacity for further anti-ship potential, however, as of 2020, this has not been utilised. Similarly, whilst currently not able to deploy any land attack armaments, Germany is developing a medium-range missile, the IDAS, for their own Type 209s which would primarily be targeted against air threats, but also small surface vessels and coastal land targets.^[51]

Auxiliary fleet

With the retirement of SAS Outeniqua in 2004, SAS Drakensberg is the sole fleet replenishment ship with the primary role of supporting combat vessels at sea.^[52] Drakensberg is also modified to carry two RHIBs, as well as two landing craft utility (LCU) for limited amphibious use. Since the end of minority rule, Drakensberg has undertaken numerous humanitarian and anti-piracy operations, consistently shown the ‘rainbow flag’ on global voyages of goodwill, and reintegrated South Africa back into international naval exercises.^[53]  

The SA Navy continues to operate the specialist hydrographic survey vessel SAS Protea, which was commissioned in 1972.^[54]

Marines

The South Africa Marine Corps was first established as a sub-branch of the Navy in 1951 until 1955 and then reformed in 1979 until 1990, both times with the primary purpose of protecting the country's harbours.^[15] The Marines also acted as regular infantry during the war until 1988, as well as performing counter-insurgency operations inside South Africa.^[55] The Marines had an amphibious landing capability by operating from SAS Tafelberg and SAS Drakensberg, with an elite company, named the Marine Amphibious Company (MAC), being formed to ensure beach-head capability for landing large task forces, along with a small elite reconnaissance detachment between 1983 and 1989. The Marines were disbanded on 18 January 1990, following a major restructuring of the Navy at the end of the South African Border War.^[56]

In 2005, the decision was taken to create a Naval Rapid Deployment Force so that South Africa could commit more to peacekeeping operations across the continent, particularly in the Great Lakes region. In 2006, this force became the Maritime Reaction Squadron. The Maritime Reaction Squadron provides an amphibious, diving and small boat capability to the Navy, deploying infantry-trained South African Navy personnel in various peacekeeping roles within the African continent, as well as assisting in boarding operations at sea, and humanitarian and disaster relief.^[57]

The squadron consists of the following components:^[58]

• Operational Boat Division (OBD) with 10 Namacurra-class harbour patrol boats and six Lima-class utility landing craft
• Reaction Force Division (RFD) consisting of one naval infantry company with a command and support element
• Operational Diving Division (ODD) consisting of four operational diving teams of 17 divers.

Current deployments

The Standing NATO Maritime Group (SNMG) 1 in formation with South African navy warships SAS Amatola (F145), SAS Isandlwana (F146) and the submarine SAS Manthatisi (S101) while participating in Exercise Amazolo

The SA Navy maintains the traditional role of providing a credible military deterrent, protecting South African interests against possible enemy attack, and participating in African Union peacekeeping missions. As the likelihood of a naval engagement against a conventional enemy is extremely unlikely, the South African Navy today is primarily engaged in counter-piracy, fishery protection, and anti-smuggling operations.^[21]

Deploying at least a single Valour-class frigate or one Heroine-class submarine, along with aircraft from the South African Air Force, the SA Navy often undertakes exercises with others, such as the United States Navy (Exercise Shared Accord/Southern Accord),^[59] NATO naval battlegroups (Exercise Amazolo), the French Navy (the annual Exercise Oxide),^[60] the German Navy (the biennial Exercise Good Hope),^[61] the Royal Navy (ad hoc exercises when visiting South African waters),^[62] the Indian Navy (the biennial Exercise IBSAMAR),  the navies of Uruguay and Brazil (Exercises Atlasur and IBSAMAR),^[63] and controversially, exercises with fellow BRICS members Russia and China (Exercise Mosi), which are due to take place following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.^[64]

For the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the navy provided air and sea security by deploying three frigates as guard ships off the cities of Durban, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town.^[65]

Operation Copper

Since 2011, one of the SA Navy's major and long-standing focuses has been that of the anti-piracy initiative, Operation Copper. After increased pirate activity in the Mozambique Channel (a crucial import/export sea lane for South Africa),^[66] and subsequent requests for help from fellow Southern African Development Community (SADC) members (Mozambique and Tanzania), the navy has routinely deployed assets in an effort to provide maritime security in the region.^[67]

Since the operation first began, every Valour-class frigate has been deployed to the region on rotation, with the refurbished Warrior-class OPVs also being utilised. In 2012, the replenishment ship SAS Drakensberg was likewise deployed to the region, and alongside European warships, successfully captured seven Somail pirates. Elements of the Navy's Maritime Reaction Squadron (MRS) are routinely embarked on deployed warships so as to give the ability to board suspect vessels.^[55]

Gaps in deployment have previously occurred as a result of mechanical issues, as well as the South African Air Force withdrawing C-47TP maritime patrol aircraft in 2016 from Mozambique due to maintenance problems and lack of sufficient aircrew.^[68] In 2018 the SA Navy notably deployed two warships simultaneously for Operation Copper, and were independent of foreign support.^[69]

Piracy, and other maritime crime, has fallen substantially in the Mozambique Channel since the SADC operation began in 2011. Due to the success of the operation, expenditure for the future 2021/22 deployment is estimated to be R38.9 million, down from R154 million the previous year.^[70]

Operation Copper's mandate could be subject to official change as a result of increasing Islamist violence in the Cabo Delgado province of Mozambique.^[71] On 9 August 2021, the SADC formally announced the deployment of troops into the troubled province. Alongside regional partners such as Botswana, Tanzania and Zimbabwe, the South African government has informed parliament that it intends to deploy 1,495 personnel to Mozambique. SAS Makhanda, a modernised Warrior-class patrol OPV, has reportedly been seen in Pemba, the capital of Cabo Delgado province.^[72]

Operation Corona

For the continued safeguarding of South Africa's borders, Operation Corona aims to combat illegal fishing, poaching, and smuggling within its territorial waters. The SA Navy plans to carry out five maritime patrols in line with Operation Corona, with 84 days of surface and 22 days of subsurface patrols allocated for the financial year 2020/21.^[73] Deploying to known hotspot areas, the SA Navy works alongside other Government departments such as the SA Police Service and Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, in an effort to deter rather than arrest.^[74]

Relationship with Russian and Chinese Navies

In February 2023, the South African Navy planned to engage in joint exercises with the Chinese and Russian navies that were to be held in waters off South Africa. The exercises, which were highly controversial given Russia's invasion of Ukraine, followed on a January 2023 visit by the Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov to Pretoria for meetings with his South African counterpart.^[75] Although the exercises were similar to exercises held in previous years, some suggested that they signalled a significant shift in South African policy toward more overt military engagement with China and Russia.^[76][77] The exercise began on February 18 and involved the frigate Admiral Gorshkov and tanker Kama from the Russian Navy^[78] along with the destroyer Huainan, the frigate Rizhao and the support ship Kekexilihu from the Chinese Navy. Several vessels from the South African Navy were expected to participate including the frigate Mendi as well as the Warrior-class patrol vessel King Sekhukhune I and the hydrographic survey vessel SAS Protea.^[79]

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Cape Town

Cape Town

Cape Town, nicknamed the Mother City, is South Africa's oldest city. It serves as the country's legislative capital, being the seat of the South African Parliament. It is the country's second-largest city and the largest in the Western Cape. The city is part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality.

SAS Amatola

SAS Amatola

SAS Amatola (F145) is the first of four Valour-class frigates for the South African Navy by the European South African Corvette Consortium.

SAS Isandlwana

SAS Isandlwana

SAS Isandlwana (F146) is the second of four Valour-class frigates for the South African Navy built by the European South African Corvette Consortium. SAS Isandlwana was named after the Battle of Isandlwana at a ceremony held in Kiel in December 2002, by Deputy Defence Minister Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge.

SAS Spioenkop

SAS Spioenkop

SAS Spioenkop (F147) is the third of four Valour-class frigates for the South African Navy built by the European South African Corvette Consortium. She was named by Ms Thandi Modise, the then Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Defence, in Hamburg, Germany, on 4 June 2003.

SAS Mendi

SAS Mendi

SAS Mendi (F148) is the last of four Valour-class frigates built for the South African Navy by the European South African Corvette Consortium and entered service in March 2007. SAS Mendi was named by Mrs Helena Retief, wife of the (then) Chief of the Navy Vice Admiral Johan Retief.

Exocet

Exocet

The Exocet is a French-built anti-ship missile whose various versions can be launched from surface vessels, submarines, helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.

OTO Melara 76 mm

OTO Melara 76 mm

The OTO Melara 76 mm gun is a naval gun built and designed by the Italian defence company OTO Melara. It is based on the OTO Melara 76/62C and evolved toward 76/62 SR and 76/62 Strales.

Denel 35mm Dual Purpose Gun

Denel 35mm Dual Purpose Gun

The Denel 35mm Dual Purpose Gun (35DPG) is an inner layer of defence (ILD) weapon system for warships built in South Africa by Denel Land Systems. It is currently in service on the Valour-class frigates of the South African Navy.

Oerlikon 20 mm cannon

Oerlikon 20 mm cannon

The Oerlikon 20 mm cannon is a series of autocannons, based on an original German Becker Type M2 20 mm cannon design that appeared very early in World War I. It was widely produced by Oerlikon Contraves and others, with various models employed by both Allied and Axis forces during World War II. Many versions of the cannon are still used today.

SAS Isaac Dyobha

SAS Isaac Dyobha

SAS Isaac Dyobha was a Warrior-class strike craft of the South African Navy.

SAS Galeshewe

SAS Galeshewe

SAS Galeshewe was a Warrior-class strike craft of the South African Navy, configured as an Offshore Patrol Vessel before being decommissioned in 2020.

SAS Makhanda

SAS Makhanda

SAS Makhanda is a Warrior-class strike craft of the South African Navy, currently configured as an Offshore Patrol Vessel.

As the SA Navy enters the 2020s, the service faces significant challenges if it is to arrest its current decline.^[21] At the opening of the South African Maritime Security Conference on 31 May 2018 in Cape Town, Chief of the Navy Vice Admiral Hlogwane warned that:

‘the navy sits at the crossroads where its very existence is threatened... Some of the countries in the SADC are injecting financial resources to build their military capacity through acquisition programmes. Conversely, South Africa is on a path of reduced defence expenditure.”^[80]

At a speech a year later on 12 July 2019, Hlongwane, recognising the struggling economy, again reminded his audience that:

“in the absence of a clear and present military threat, the government will find it difficult to justify spending large sums of money on defence. The platforms acquired under the Strategic Defence Packages (four frigates and three submarines) are beginning to suffer from lack of funds for support and maintenance, [and] urgently require refits in order to keep them operational to the end of their 30-year design lives...while the new hydrographic survey vessel and IPVs are modern robust ships fully suited to perform their missions, they will not significantly improve the combat capability of the SAN which is required to defend our country and national interests in terms of our constitutional mandate...the naval balance of power is shifting on our continent.”^[81]

Budget

The South African defence budget has been on a downward trajectory since 1994 when expenditure was 2.56% of GDP. In 2010, that level was 1.12%, and in 2020, expenditure is expected to fall to around 0.95%, its lowest level since 1960.^[82][83] For 2020/21, the Defence Budget totals R52.4 billion (£2.4 billion^[84]),^[85] with the SA Navy being allocated R4.9 billion (£226 million^[84]), roughly 9%.^[86] South African defence spending however has not matched recent inflation levels, an average of 5% annually,^[87] which has pushed the Department of Defence deeper into financial difficulties and operational consequences.  

As a whole, the Defence Budget for 2020/21 has been given 87% of its required funding, a shortfall of R9.4 billion (£433 million^[84]).^[85] The SA Navy for 2020/21 has been allocated only 65% of what is reportedly required, a shortfall of R2.8 billion (£130 million^[84]). As a result of the declining financial situation, the Navy has warned that it will seriously struggle to maintain its current capabilities, levels of investment, and international commitments.^[86] As a result of Covid-19, as well as ongoing problems within the South African economy, GDP is expected to fall by 5.6% in 2020/21, with significant ramifications for the country and the South African Navy.^[88]

Operational hours

In 2013/14, the SA Navy operated with an annual target of 22,000 hours at sea. By 2018/19 this number had been lowered to 12,000 hours, with a further reduction to 10,000 hours annually from 2019/20.^[89] By its own admission, the Navy requires a minimum of 12,000 hours (500 days) at sea per year to sufficiently train personnel, with an absolute minimum of 7,800 hours dedicated annually to fulfil its Force Employment obligations of border protection, maritime security, and anti-piracy operations.^[90] Despite these requirements, by 2019/20 the SA Navy is financially resourced for only 6,000 hours at sea, and only 4,320 hours allocated for Force Employment operations. Vice Admiral Hlongwane has warned:

“Should sea hours be reduced below 10 000 per year, the SA Navy will decline rapidly and...any further reduction in sea hours will impact severely on individual and team training at sea, maintaining safety at sea and the safe navigation of all SA Navy vessels.”^[90]

Skills recruitment

In addition, the SA Navy is facing an acute skills shortage which is severely frustrating vessel availability. Vice Admiral Hlongwane stated that "the Navy Engineering capability is now extremely limited, which will increasingly impact on the safety and seaworthiness of ships and submarines and their ability to deploy."^[91] It is currently a cause for concern whether or not the SA Navy has the required skills to fully crew multiple highly sophisticated warships and submarines simultaneously.

Future acquisitions

Despite the current budgetary crisis within South African defence spending, the purchase of the three new inshore patrol vessels (IPVs), termed Project Biro and also the procurement of a new hydrographic survey vessel, Project Hotel have been approved in recent years. These acquisitions have been linked to the Government's broader aims of development of the ocean economy - Operation Phakisa.^[92][93] With 90% of imports and exports dependent on the sea, South Africa's exclusive economic zone which is reportedly rich in natural resources, and the estimated loss of nearly $23bn annually to illegal and unregulated fishing, the SA Navy has successfully argued that maritime security is crucial to the national interest and economic development.^[94]

Project Biro

Since 2013, the ambition for the SA Navy was the domestic construction of three offshore, and a minimum of six (later reduced to three) inshore patrol vessels as a replacement for the increasingly aged Warrior-class OPVs and River-class OPV/IPVs, as part of Project Biro. However, in 2018 it was confirmed that only the three MMIPVs (multi-mission inshore patrol vessel) would be constructed, with the OPVs being cancelled as a cost-saving measure.^[95] The new vessels will also be named the Warrior-class, and cost R3.6 billion.^[96]

Whilst the introduction of these three modern IPVs will immediately play a crucial role in maritime law enforcement, it has been regretted by analysts that the offshore craft option was not also financially feasible. It had been hoped that the OPVs, with their helicopter carrying abilities, would have played a much more effective role in policing South Africa's extensive exclusive economic zone (1.5 million km),^[97] particularly in the rough seas of the Cape. It was even reported in 2011 that nine OPVs could be constructed, without any IPVs, due to the rough sea state off the coast and the practical experience gained which favoured larger vessels.^[98]        

In 2021, it was announced that the aging Warrior-class OPVs would undergo phased decommissioning as the new Warrior-class IPVs come online.^[99]

First laid down in February 2019 at Damen Shipyards Cape Town (DSCT), the timeline of delivery to the SA Navy of all three vessels is March 2022, June 2023 and September 2024 respectively. Armscor, the state acquisition agency, has an option from DSCT to purchase additional inshore patrol vessels at the same price the original three were bought for.^[96]

Project Hotel

The second future acquisition programme for the SA Navy falls under Project Hotel, the replacement of the sole hydrographic survey vessel SAS Protea. The construction of this new vessel, currently being built by Durban based Sandock Austral Shipyard, will represent a major upgrade in capability for the Navy. Whilst SAS Protea was built in 1972, her replacement will be based on Vard Marine's VARD 9 105 science vessel, specifically adapted for South African service and ‘incorporates the latest hydrographic and oceanographic sensor suite’.^[100] The ship will be an evolution from the Vard Marine designed HMS Echo and HMS Enterprise which have been in Royal Navy service since 2002.^[101]

Also as part of Project Hotel, the SA Navy will receive two next-generation survey motor boats, one sea boat, and another inshore survey motor boat to be kept ashore in reserve, as well as upgrading shore-based hydrographic infrastructure.^[102] The project has a current completion date target of August 2023, with the first of the motor boats being launched in September 2020.^[103]

Issues

As of 2020, the SA Navy's main projects are under serious threat from years of underfunding, as well as recent budget cuts. Allocation of funding for Projects Biro (modern inshore patrol vessels) and Hotel (replacement hydrographic survey vessel), as well as the Army's Project Hoefyster (new infantry combat vehicles), amounts to R2.8 billion (£129 million),^[84] however the required level of funding needed is expected to be R13.7 billion (£633 million),^[84] nearly a R11 billion shortfall (£508 million).^[84] It is currently unclear how these projects will be financed if they continue to proceed.^[104]

Similarly, Project Syne and Project Napoleon, the planned and urgently required midlife overhauls for the Valour class and Heroine class respectively, are both currently on hold due to lack of adequate funding. According to a 2021 Department of Defence (DoD) progress report, the full repair cost requirement of R1.470 billion is only 53.4% funded, with R786 million allocated.^[105] The SA Navy is currently finding it difficult to effectively resource the growing backlog of refits, maintenance periods, and repair projects that are needed. With each delay due to financial insufficiency and every vessel that continues to operate without adequate maintenance, the SA Navy is pulled deeper into a vicious cycle of exacerbating known issues and escalating longer-term costs, until a point of forced reduced vessel availability.

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Samuel Hlongwane

Samuel Hlongwane

Mosiwa Samuel Hlongwane is a South African Navy officer, who served as Chief of the Navy.

Department of Defence (South Africa)

Department of Defence (South Africa)

The Department of Defence is a department of the South African government. It oversees the South African National Defence Force, the armed forces responsible for defending South Africa.

Economy of South Africa

Economy of South Africa

The Economy of South Africa is the third largest in Africa and the most industrialized, technologically advanced, and diversified economy in Africa overall. South Africa is an upper-middle-income economy, one of only eight such countries in Africa. Following 1996, at the end of over twelve years of international sanctions, South Africa's Gross Domestic Product (nominal) almost tripled to a peak of US$416 billion in 2011. In the same period, foreign exchange reserves increased from US$3 billion to nearly US$50 billion, creating a diversified economy with a growing and sizable middle class, within two decades of ending apartheid.

Patrol boat

Patrol boat

A patrol boat is a relatively small naval vessel generally designed for coastal defence, border security, or law enforcement. There are many designs for patrol boats, and they generally range in size. They may be operated by a nation's navy, coast guard, police, or customs, and may be intended for marine, estuarine, or river environments.

River-class mine hunter

River-class mine hunter

The River class is a class of four minehunters built for the South African Navy. They have a secondary role as Inshore Patrol Vessels.

Hydrographic survey

Hydrographic survey

Hydrographic survey is the science of measurement and description of features which affect maritime navigation, marine construction, dredging, offshore oil exploration and drilling and related activities. Strong emphasis is placed on soundings, shorelines, tides, currents, seabed and submerged obstructions that relate to the previously mentioned activities. The term hydrography is used synonymously to describe maritime cartography, which in the final stages of the hydrographic process uses the raw data collected through hydrographic survey into information usable by the end user.

SAS Protea

SAS Protea

SAS Protea is a survey vessel of the South African Navy, part of the Hecla-class survey vessels built for the British Royal Navy. Protea was the fifth Hecla-class vessel and was commissioned on 23 May 1972

Fincantieri

Fincantieri

Fincantieri S.p.A. is an Italian shipbuilding company based in Trieste, Italy. Already the largest shipbuilder in Europe, after the acquisition of Vard in 2013, Fincantieri group doubled in size to become the fourth largest in the world (2014). The company builds both commercial and military vessels.

HMS Echo (H87)

HMS Echo (H87)

HMS Echo was the first of two multi-role hydrographic survey ships commissioned by the Royal Navy. With her sister ship, HMS Enterprise, they formed the Echo class of survey vessels. She was built by Appledore Shipbuilders in Devon in 2002 and was the ninth Royal Navy vessel to carry the name. She was retired from service in 2022.

HMS Enterprise (H88)

HMS Enterprise (H88)

HMS Enterprise, the tenth ship to bear this name, is a multi-role survey vessel - hydrographic oceanographic (SVHO) of the Royal Navy. Both Enterprise and HMS Echo make up the Echo class of survey vessels.

Royal Navy

Royal Navy

The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against France. The modern Royal Navy traces its origins to the early 16th century; the oldest of the UK's armed services, it is consequently known as the Senior Service.

Patria AMV

Patria AMV

The Patria AMV is an 8×8 multi-role military vehicle produced by the Finnish defence industry company Patria.

The command structure is depicted below.^{[106]: 59 [107]} The Chief of the Navy, based at Navy Headquarters at the Navy Office (SAS Immortelle) located in Pretoria, is head of the South African Navy. All operational forces, including ships and submarines, fall under the control of the Flag Officer Fleet who is based in Simon's Town.

Fleet Command

Fleet Command includes all vessels and units of the Navy other than Naval Headquarters, Pretoria. Fleet Command is based in Simon's Town under control of Flag Officer Fleet.^[106]

Four directorates are responsible for the day to day control of Fleet Command:^[106]: 70

• Director Fleet Force Preparations (DFPP) is responsible for the day-to-day running of the ships and submarines and for ensuring their operational readiness. The Maritime Reaction Squadron and NavComCens also report to DFFP
• Director Fleet Human Resources (DFHR) is responsible for all training and manning and also controls the training units.
• Director Fleet Quality Assurance (DFQA) is responsible for the output of Fleet Command and monitoring quality assurance throughout Fleet Command
• Director Fleet Logistics (DFL) is responsible for all Logistics units as well as for the maintenance of the fleet.

Naval bases

A view of Simon's Town and the naval base

The Navy operates the following Naval Bases:^[106]: 149

• Naval Base Simon's Town – the largest and main naval base currently used by the South African Navy.  Constructed by the Dutch East India Company in 1743, and later developed by the Royal Navy, the base was transferred to South Africa in 1957 as part of the Simon’s Town Agreement and expanded in 1975. Simon’s Town is the homeport of the frigate and submarine flotillas, as well as housing training facilities.
• Naval Base Durban – constructed during the Second World War to better serve the deployment of naval vessels off the eastern coast of Africa, particularly after the Japanese declaration of war in 1941.^[17] In 2002 Durban was downgraded to a Naval Station with much of the infrastructure being taken over by the Army and later abandoned. In 2012, the decision was taken to renovate and expand the facilities. However, it was announced in 2020 that due to budget constraints, the reclassification of Durban as a fully operational Naval Base would be delayed. The station is currently home to the fleet's offshore patrol flotilla and will continue to be so after the delivery of replacement offshore/inshore vessels.^[117]
• Naval Station Port Elizabeth – provides support to the fleet and host to visiting ships, however no major vessels are based here.^[118]

Training units

• SAS Saldanha – located on the West Coast and provides training and development for ratings.^[119]
• SAS Wingfield – located in the Greater Cape Town area. Historically provided practical training for apprentices, but now offers training to both ratings and officers.
• SAS Simonsberg – located in Simon’s Town and provides training in gunnery, anti-submarine warfare, communications, diving and seamanship. Simonsberg also includes:
  • Maritime Warfare Training Centre.
  • Submarine Training Centre, East Yard.
  • Nuclear, Biological, Chemical, Damage Control Training Centre.
  • Military Training Centre, West Yard.
• South African Naval College - located in Gordon's Bay, the establishment provides training for naval officers.

Personnel

As of the end of the financial year 2018/19, there were approximately 6,816 active uniformed members of the SA Navy, just short of the 7,071 target.^[120] In addition, there are a further 1,071 civilian staff that further support the Navy.^[121]

In 2006, the old Naval Reserve Units that were modelled on the Royal Naval Reserve system were closed down. A new Navy Reserve system was created consisting of roughly 1,000 reserve posts. These posts are pooled and members are drawn from them as needed to augment full-time units and ships' companies.

Uniforms

From 1922 to the 1940s the SA Navy was effectively an extension of the Royal Navy, and therefore wore the same uniforms and similar insignia. As British influence was gradually curtailed, in 1959 the British Crown in the SA Navy cap badge was replaced with the Lion of Nassau from the crest of the country's coat of arms. A black beret later replaced the peaked cap in working uniforms.^[106]

In 2000 the new Coat of Arms was unveiled and the Chief of the Navy tasked Fleet Command to look at revising the Navy uniforms to reflect the new coat of arms. This saw new rank insignia for non-commissioned officers being implemented as well as the introduction of a side cap.^[122]

Ranks

Due to historical influence, the rank system is based on that of the Royal Navy.^[123]

Naval ensign

Naval jack

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Pretoria

Pretoria

Pretoria is South Africa's administrative capital, serving as the seat of the executive branch of government, and as the host to all foreign embassies to South Africa.

Naval Base Simon's Town

Naval Base Simon's Town

Naval Base Simon's Town is the South African Navy's largest naval base, situated at Simon's Town, near Cape Town. The base provides support functions to Fleet Command.

Monde Lobese

Monde Lobese

Monde Lobese is a South African naval officer, serving as Chief of the South African Navy.

Bubele Mhlana

Bubele Mhlana

Bubele Kitie Mhlana is a South African naval officer.

Gladys Mbulaheni

Gladys Mbulaheni

Gladys Mbulaheni is a South African Naval officer, serving as the Chief of Naval Staff from 1 June 2020.

David Mkhonto

David Mkhonto

David Mkhonto is a South African Navy officer, serving as Chief Director: Maritime Strategy.

Musawenkosi Nkomonde

Musawenkosi Nkomonde

Musawenkosi Nkomonde is a South African naval officer, currently serving as Flag Officer Fleet.

Ralph Ndabambi

Ralph Ndabambi

Rear Admiral Ralph Ndabambi is a retired South African naval officer.

Fleet Command (SA Navy)

Fleet Command (SA Navy)

Fleet Command is the South African Navy's single type command and controls all vessels and units of the South African Navy, besides Naval Headquarters. The commander of Fleet Command is a Rear Admiral and referred to as Flag Officer Fleet (FOF). The post was previously known as Chief of Naval Operations.

Naval Base Durban

Naval Base Durban

Naval Base Durban in Durban harbour is a naval base of the South African Navy, situated on Salisbury Island, which is now joined to the mainland through land reclamation. It was formerly a full naval base until it was downgraded to a naval station in 2002. With the reduction in naval activities much of the island was taken over by the Army as a general support base, but they left after a few years resulting in the abandoned section becoming derelict. In 2012 a decision was made to renovate and expand the facilities back up to a full naval base to accommodate the South African Navy's offshore patrol flotilla. In December 2015 it was officially redesignated Naval Base Durban.

Japanese declaration of war on the United States and the British Empire

Japanese declaration of war on the United States and the British Empire

The Imperial edict of declaration of war by the Empire of Japan on the United States and the British Empire was published on December 8, 1941, 7.5 hours after Japanese forces started an attack on the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor and attacks on British forces in Malaya, Singapore, and Hong Kong. The declaration of war was printed on the front page of all Japanese newspapers' evening editions on December 8. The document was subsequently printed again on the eighth day of each month throughout the war, to re-affirm the resolve for the war.

Cape Town

Cape Town

Cape Town, nicknamed the Mother City, is South Africa's oldest city. It serves as the country's legislative capital, being the seat of the South African Parliament. It is the country's second-largest city and the largest in the Western Cape. The city is part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality.

Ships

Combat fleet

Image	Class/name	Type	Origin	Number	Entered service
	Heroine class	Submarine	Germany	3	2005[124]
	Valour class	Frigate	Germany	4	2004[125]
	Warrior class	Offshore patrol vessel	Israel /  South Africa	1[126]	1979[127]
	Warrior class	Inshore patrol vessel	South Africa	1	Three vessels ordered, with two currently construction. The first vessel entered service in 2022.
	T Craft class	Inshore patrol vessel	South Africa	3	1992[127]
	Namacurra class	Harbour patrol boat	South Africa	21	1981[127]
	River class	Mine countermeasures vessels/ Offshore patrol vessel	South Africa	2	1981[128]

Support fleet

Image	Class/name	Type	Origin	Number	Entered service
	SAS Drakensberg	Replenishment vessel	South Africa	1	1987[129]
	SAS Protea	Survey vessel	United Kingdom	1	1972[129] (replacement under construction)
	Tugboat	Coastal and harbour tugs	South Africa	5	1995–2016[130]
	Lima-class utility landing craft	Landing Craft Utility	South Africa	6	1990[131]

Air force maritime aircraft

Although the SA Navy does not operate any aircraft itself, aircraft used on ships or supporting are operated by 22 Squadron SAAF:

• 1 × Atlas Oryx – medium utility helicopter (deployed on SAS Drakensberg)^[132]
• 4 × Westland Super Lynx 300 Mk64 – ASW and ASuW helicopter (deployed on the Valour-class frigates)^[132]

There is a planned programme to equip the frigates with UAVs to supplement the helicopters. Previously before its retirement, the SAAF operated the Westland Wasp for the SA Navy in the anti-submarine warfare role.

Naval weapons systems

Weapon systems of the South African Navy
Type	Manufacturer	Model	Photo	Origin	Platform
Anti-ship missile	MBDA	Exocet MM40 Block 2[133]		France	Valour-class frigate (8 missiles in 2 quad-packed launchers)
Surface-to-air missile	Denel Dynamics	Umkhonto IR Block 2[134]		South Africa	Valour-class frigate (16/32 missiles in a vertical launching system)
Torpedo	Atlas Elektronik	533mm (21") Atlas Elektronik SUT 264 heavyweight torpedo		Germany	Heroine-class submarine (8 bow tubes with 14 torpedoes)
Naval gun	Oto Melara/Otobreda	OTO Melara 76mm/62 compact		Italy	Valour-class frigate (1 foredeck gun), Warrior-class Offshore Patrol Vessel (1 foredeck gun)
Close-in weapon system	Denel Land Systems	Denel 35mm Dual Purpose Gun		South Africa	Valour-class frigate (2 GA35 rapid-fire automatic cannons mounted side by side in an unmanned low radar observable turret)
Autocannon	Denel	Denel Land Systems GI-2		South Africa	Valour-class frigate (2 guns), Warrior-class Offshore Patrol Vessel (2 guns), SAS Drakensberg (4 guns), River-class minehunter (1 gun)
12.7mm Heavy machine gun	General Dynamics, FN Herstal, U.S. Ordnance or Manroy Engineering (UK)	M2 Browning		United States
7.62mm General purpose machine gun	Browning Arms Company, FN Herstal or Denel Land Systems	Browning M1919, FN MAG or Vektor SS-77		South Africa

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List of active South African Navy ships

List of active South African Navy ships

This is a list of active South African Navy ships as of 2023. There are approximately 47 ships in commission, this includes 4 frigates, 3 submarines, 2 minesweepers, 1 replenishment vessel, 1 Survey vessel 5 tugboats and 31 patrol vessels.

List of decommissioned ships of the South African Navy

List of decommissioned ships of the South African Navy

The following is a list of decommissioned ships of the South African Navy.

Heroine-class submarine

Heroine-class submarine

The Heroine class are a variant of the Type 209 diesel-electric attack submarine developed by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) of Germany, currently in service with the South African Navy. The class is composed of three vessels.

Germany

Germany

Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second-most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated between the Baltic and North seas to the north, and the Alps to the south; it covers an area of 357,022 square kilometres (137,847 sq mi), with a population of over 84 million within its 16 constituent states. Germany borders Denmark to the north, Poland and the Czech Republic to the east, Austria and Switzerland to the south, and France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands to the west. The nation's capital and most populous city is Berlin and its main financial centre is Frankfurt; the largest urban area is the Ruhr.

Valour-class frigate

Valour-class frigate

The Valour class is a class of frigates built for the South African Navy. Part of the MEKO family of warships, the German shipbuilder Blohm+Voss officially designate the class as the MEKO A-200SAN.

Israel

Israel

Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia. Situated in the Southern Levant, it is bordered by Lebanon to the north, by Syria to the northeast, by Jordan to the east, by the Red Sea to the south, by Egypt to the southwest, by the Mediterranean Sea to the west, and by the Palestinian territories — the West Bank along the east and the Gaza Strip along the southwest. Tel Aviv is the economic and technological center of the country, while its seat of government is in its proclaimed capital of Jerusalem, although Israeli sovereignty over East Jerusalem is unrecognized internationally.

South Africa

South Africa

South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by 2,798 kilometres (1,739 mi) of coastline that stretches along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countries of Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe; and to the east and northeast by Mozambique and Eswatini. It also completely enclaves the country Lesotho. It is the southernmost country on the mainland of the Old World, and the second-most populous country located entirely south of the equator, after Tanzania. South Africa is a biodiversity hotspot, with unique biomes, plant and animal life. With over 60 million people, the country is the world's 24th-most populous nation and covers an area of 1,221,037 square kilometres. Pretoria is the administrative capital, while Cape Town, as the seat of Parliament, is the legislative capital. Bloemfontein has traditionally been regarded as the judicial capital. The largest city, and site of highest court is Johannesburg.

Warrior-class inshore patrol vessel

Warrior-class inshore patrol vessel

The Warrior-class inshore patrol vessel is a class of multi-mission inshore patrol vessels (MMIPVs) built for the South African Navy, and are intended to replace the Warrior-class OPVs between 2022 and 2024. All three vessels are named after historical South African 'warriors' who had a significant impact on the development of the country.

T Craft-class patrol vessel

T Craft-class patrol vessel

The T Craft-class patrol vessels are a class of inshore patrol boat currently in service with the South African Navy. Comprising three vessels, the class was constructed in South Africa and entered service in 1992. Known just as T craft or by their pennant numbers until 2003 when the vessels received new names.

Namacurra-class patrol boat

Namacurra-class patrol boat

The Namacurra-class patrol boats are a series of small harbour patrol boats currently in service with South Africa, Namibia, Malawi and Mozambique.

River-class mine hunter

River-class mine hunter

The River class is a class of four minehunters built for the South African Navy. They have a secondary role as Inshore Patrol Vessels.

Replenishment oiler

Replenishment oiler

A replenishment oiler or replenishment tanker is a naval auxiliary ship with fuel tanks and dry cargo holds which can supply both fuel and dry stores during underway replenishment (UNREP) at sea. Many countries have used replenishment oilers.