South African Navy

From Roach Busters

Revision as of 07:05, 25 July 2008

South African Navy ensign.

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; providing naval defense for regional countries; anti-piracy and anti-smuggling operations; protection of the Cape Sea Route; search and rescue missions; and preventing illegal entry into the country.

As of 2008, the SAN currently employs 120,000 active duty personnel (with another 3,000 in reserve) and has 80 ships in service, and operates about 150 aircraft.

Inventory

Ships (80 in service)

Destroyers (3 in service)

• 3 Hoofstad class guided missile destroyers (modified Type 42 class)
  • SAS Pretoria
  • SAS Bloemfontein
  • SAS Cape Town

Frigates (12 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

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 (3 in service)

• 3 Type 209 diesel-electric attack submarines
  • SAS Manthatisi
  • SAS Charlotte Maxeke
  • SAS Queen Modjadji

Mine countermeasures vessels (8 in service)

• 4 Umzimkulu 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

Patrol vessels (34 in service)

• 3 T Craft clas inshore patrol vessels
  • SAS Tobie
  • SAS Tern
  • SAS Tekwane
• 31 Namacurra class small harbor patrol boats

Auxiliary vessels (2 in service)

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

Amphibious warfare vessels (3 in service)

• 2 Rotterdam class amphibious transport docks
  • SAS Willem van Oranje
  • SAS Filips Willem van Oranje
• 1 Barbe class utility landing craft
  • SAS Junker

Tugs (3 in service)

• SAS De Mist coastal tug
• SAS De Neys harbor tug
• SAS Umalusi harbor tug

Other vessels (3 in service)

• 1 hydrographic survey vessel
• 1 diving support vessel
• 1 Antarctic transport

Aircraft

Helicopters

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

Fixed-wing

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