South African Navy

From Daily Escape

The South African Navy is the branch of the South African military tasked with the maritime defense of the nation. It is commanded by Vice Admiral Mhlobo ka Tshiwo.

Contents 1 Mission 2 The fleet 2.1 Surface combatants 2.2 Aircraft carriers 2.3 Submarines 2.4 Amphibious forces 2.5 Auxillaries 2.6 Patrol vessels 3 Organization 3.1 Amphibious fleet 3.2 Battle fleet 3.3 Aviation fleet 3.4 Submarine fleet 3.5 Coastal guard fleet 4 Naval aviation 5 Naval infantry 5.1 Units 5.2 Equipment 5.2.1 Individual weapons 5.2.2 Armored vehicles 5.2.3 Artillery 5.2.4 Missiles 5.2.5 Aircraft

Mission

• Sea patrols of territorial waters
• Establish presence in disputed territorial waters and protect current interests
• Anti-piracy, anti-smuggling, search and rescue
• Maintain security of territorial waters
• Active logistical support role of combatants and island garrisons
• Maintain security of Sea Lines of Communications

Wartime

• Littoral defense of local seas
• Blockade or protection of vital ship routes and choke points
• Tactical transport, support, and amphibious operations of ground forces
• Air defense
• Anti-submarine operations
• Engagement of enemy shipping
• Active logistical support role of combatants and island garrisons

The fleet

Surface combatants

• 8 Ticonderoga class cruisers
  • 2 Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk multimission maritime helicopters
• 20 Arleigh Burke class destroyers
  • 2 Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk multimission maritime helicopters
• 30 Valour class frigates
  • 1 Westland Super Lynx 300 maritime attack helicopter
• 25 Warrior class fast attack craft
• 15 Minister class fast attack craft
  • 2 Eurocopter Panther AS 565 MA/MB naval search and rescue helicopters

Aircraft carriers

• 1 Nimitz class supercarrier
  • 45 Dassault Rafale M multirole fighters
  • 15 Dassault-Breguet Super Étendard carrier-borne strike fighters
  • 5 EA-6B Prowler electronic warfare aircraft
  • 5 C-12 Huron RC-12D electronic surveillance aircraft
  • 4 E-2C Hawkeye AEW aircraft
  • 6 Eurocopter Panther AS 565 SA/SB ASW helicopters
  • 2 ES-3A Shadow ELINT aircraft
  • 2 C-2 Greyhound carrier borne transports
  • 6 Eurocopter Panther AS 565 MA/MB naval search and rescue helicopters
• 3 Charles de Gaulle class carriers
  • 20 Dassault Rafale M multirole fighters
  • 8 Dassault-Breguet Super Étendard carrier-borne strike fighters
  • 2 E-2C Hawkeye AEW aircraft
  • 5 Eurocopter Panther AS 565 SA/SB ASW helicopters
  • 5 Eurocopter Panther AS 565 MA/MB naval search and rescue helicopters

Submarines

• 25 Type 209 diesel-electric attack submarines
• 15 Scorpène class diesel-electric attack submarines
• 2 Le Redoutable class SSBNs
• 2 Le Triomphant class SSBNs
• 6 Rubis class SSNs

Amphibious forces

• 7 LHD-1 Wasp class amphibious assault ships
• 4 LPD 4 Austin class Landing Port, Dock (LPD)
• 8 San Antonio class Landing Port, Dock (LPD)
• 8 Newport class Landing Ship, Tank (LST)

Auxillaries

• 6 Supply class fast combat support ships
• 7 Drakensberg fleet replenishment ships
• 7 T-AO 187 Henry J. Kaiser class oilers
• 11 River class coastal mine hunters
• 11 City class coastal minesweepers
• 4 Hecla class survey ships
• 5 seaplane oilers
• 5 DSRVs
• 6 RORO ships
• 5 hospital ships
• 4 Stalwart class tactical auxiliary general ocean surveillance ships
• 7 T-AKR 287 Algol SL-7 Type fast sealift ships
• Various tankers and other support craft

Patrol vessels

• 30 Patrol Boat, River (PBR)
• 20 Fast Patrol Craft (PCF)
• 30 Combat Boat 90 military assault craft
• 4 Cyclone class patrol ships
• 5 Fremantle class patrol boats
• 5 Armidale class patrol boats

Organization

The navy is organized into several operational fleets, which are as follows:

Amphibious fleet

The amphibious fleet has permanently assigned amphibious vessels to transport Marines and Army personnel. A small number of frigates are assigned to the fleet on a short-term basis to act as escorts.

Battle fleet

The battle fleet is comprised of the majority of the navy's destroyers, frigates, and corvettes, assigned on a long-term basis.

Aviation fleet

The aviation fleet is assigned aircraft carriers, which are escorted by destroyers and frigates (assigned on a long-term basis).

Submarine fleet

The navy's submarines are all assigned to this fleet - as can be surmised by the name.

Coastal guard fleet

The coastal guard fleet is comprised of the navy's patrol vessels, complemented by maritime patrol aircraft and ASW helicopters. It is tasked with patrolling the shores and coasts of South Africa and conducting anti-piracy, anti-smuggling, and search and rescue missions.

Naval aviation

The navy also has a large aviation element, comprising numerous aircraft. They are as follows (note that these do not include aircraft stationed on carriers and other ships):

• Dassault Rafale multirole fighter
  • Rafale M: Naval version
• Dassault-Breguet Super Étendard carrier-borne strike fighter
• CH-53E Super Stallion heavy-lift cargo helicopter
• MH-53E Sea Dragon mine countermeasures helicopter
• Eurocopter Panther utility helicopter
  • AS 565 UA/UB: Utility version
  • AS 565 AA/AB: Attack version
  • AS 565 MA/MB: Naval search and rescue version
  • AS 565 SA/SB: Anti-submarine warfare version
  • AS 565 N3: Maritime patrol and surveillance version
  • Panther 800: Light utility version
• Agusta A109 utility helicopter
  • A109A Mk.II MAX: Aeromedical evacuation version
  • MH-68A Stingray: Short range armed interdiction version
• Bell 412 multipurpose utility helicopter
  • Bell Griffin HT1: Advanced training version
  • Bell Griffin HAR2: Search and rescue version
  • Agusta-Bell AB 412 Grifone: Military utility transport version
• Westland Lynx helicopter
  • Super Lynx 300: Maritime attack version
• Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk multimission maritime helicopter
  • SH-60B Seahawk: Surface warfare version
  • SH-60F Oceanhawk: Anti-submarine warfare and search and rescue version
  • HH-60H Rescue Hawk: Combat search and rescue version
  • MH-60S Knighthawk: Transport and vertical replenishment version
  • MH-60R Seahawk: Multimission version
• Lockheed S-3 Viking anti-submarine aircraft
  • ES-3A Shadow: ELINT version
  • KS-3A: Air tanker version
  • KS-3B: Air tanker version
  • US-3A: COD version
• E-2 Hawkeye AEW aircraft
  • E-2C: Improved version with new electronics, surveillance radar, and search radar
  • E-2D Advanced Hawkeye: Latest version
• EA-6B Prowler electronic warfare aircraft
• C-2 Greyhound carrier borne transport
• C-12 Huron civil utility aircraft
  • TC-12B: Navy training version
  • RC-12D: Electronic surveillance version
• P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft
  • UP-3A: Utility transport version
  • EP-3E Aries II: ELINT version
  • EP-3J: FEWSG version
  • P-3N: Coast guard version
  • CP-140 Aurora: Longe-range maritime reconnaissance, anti-submarine warfare version

Naval infantry

Units

• 2 naval infantry divisions
• 6 special operations forces battalions
• 1 naval aviation brigade

Equipment

Individual weapons

• R4 assault rifle
  • R5 carbine
  • R6 mini-assault rifle
• Heckler & Koch G3 battle rifle
• Vektor SS-77 general purpose machine gun
• BXP submachine gun
• FN Minimi light machine gun
• Milkor MGL semi-automatic grenade launcher
• RBS 70 MANPADS
• Armsel Striker shotgun
• Vector Z88 pistol
• Heckler & Koch P9S suppressed pistol
• Heckler & Koch P11 underwater pistol
• Denel NTW-20 20mm sniper rifle
• Galat'z designated marksman rifle
• Accuracy International Arctic Warfare folding sniper rifle
• Starstreak lightweight multiple launcher

Armored vehicles

• See Leeu Main Battle Tank¹
• Stridsvagn 103 Amphibious Main Battle Tank
• Véhicule Blindé de Combat d'Infanterie Armored Fighting Vehicle
  • VCI: Infantry combat vehicle
  • VCP: Command post vehicle
• Véhicule Blindé Léger 4x4 All-Terrain Vehicle
  • VBL MILAN: Anti-tank medium range (up to 2000 meters)
  • VBL ERYX: Anti-tank short range (up to 600 meters)
  • VB2L POSTE DE COMMANDEMENT: Command version
  • VBL RECO 12.7: Reconnaissance version
  • VBL AT4CS: Anti-tank short range (<250 meters)
• AMX-10P Infantry Fighting Vehicle
  • AMX-10P: Variant with Milan or HOT ATGM launcher
  • AMX-10P/Milan: ATGM launcher vehicle, with two launchers
  • AMX/HOT: ATGM launcher vehicle (Toucan II turret, 4 launchers)
  • AMX-10 TM: Mortar carrier towing 120mm RT-61 mortar
  • AMX-10 PAC 90: Fire support/AT variant with Giat 90mm gun
  • AMX-10P Marine: Improved swim variant w/ 12.7/25/90mm gun
  • AMX-10 PC: Command variant with varied command stations
  • AMX-10 RC: Wheeled (6x6) fire support vehicle with 105mm gun
• Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé Armored Personnel Carrier
  • Armored personnel carrier
  • Anti-tank missile launcher (HOT missiles)
  • 12.7mm turret
  • 20mm turret
• LAV 25 Wheeled Armored Personnel Carrier
  • LAV-AT: Anti-tank variant
  • LAV-M: Mortar-equipped variant
  • LAV-AD: Air defense variant
  • LAV-R: Recovery variant
  • LAV-C2: Command variant
  • LAV-LOG: Logistics variant
  • LAV-MEWSS: Electronic warfare variant
  • LAV-EFSS: Fire support variant
• Sisu Pasi Wheeled Armored Personnel Carrier
  • Sisu XA-180: Original version
  • Sisu XA-181: Air defense variant
  • Sisu XA-202: Command version
• Petit Véhicule Protégé Armored Car

¹Amphibious variant of the Leeu MBT.

Artillery

• G1 88mm towed artillery
• G2 140mm towed artillery
• G4 155mm towed artillery
• G5 155mm towed howitzer
• G6 155mm self-propelled howitzer
• G7 105mm towed howitzer
• Condor 155mm truck-mounted artillery piece
• M40A1 106mm recoilless launcher
• Bateleur 127mm 40 tube multiple rocket launcher
• Valkiri-22 24 tube self-propelled multiple rocket launcher
• Valkiri-5 towed multiple rocket launcher
• Oerlikon 20mm anti-aircraft gun
• Oerlikon 35mm anti-aircraft gun
• M224 60mm lightweight mortar
• M252 81mm medium mortar
• M120 120mm mortar
• Brandt 60mm long-range gun-mortar

Missiles

• Crotale surface-to-air missile
• Mistral surface-to-air missile
• Umkhonto surface-to-air missile
• MILAN anti-tank missile
• Euromissile HOT anti-tank missile
• Ingwe anti-tank missile

Aircraft

• Westland Super Lynx 300 maritime attack helicopter
• Sikorsky SH-60F Oceanhawk ASW and search and rescue helicopter
• Bell Griffin HAR2 search and rescue helicopter
• CH-53E Super Stallion heavy-lift cargo helicopter
• Eurocopter Panther 800 light utility helicopter

South African Defence Force
South African Army | South African Air Force | South African Navy | South African Military Health Service