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SUID-AFRIKAANSE VLOOT Inleiding Die SA Vloot is 'n volwaardige en effektiewe gevegsdiens. Die doel van die SA Vloot is, soos die van vlootmagte wereldwyd, om die veiligheidsdoelstellings van die RSA te bevorder deur middel van die voer van militere operasies ter see. Die hopffunksies wat hieruit voortvloei, is eerstens die vernietiging van vyandelike vlootmagte en tweedens die ondersteuning van die landgeveg. Ander funksies sluit die begeleiding van handelsvlootskepe, verkenningsoperasies en die beskerming van die RSA se maritieme belange in. Die S A Vloot werk saam met en ondersteun die S A Leer, SA Lugmag en SA Polisie waar nodig om gesamentlike veiligheidsdoelwitte te bereik. Fasiliteite en Toerusting Die Vloot se strategies gelee hoofbasis, Simonstad, 18 seemyl vanaf die Kaap van Goeie Hoop, is die enigste ten voile ontwikkelde militere vlootbasis aan die kuslyn van Afrika buite die Middellandse Seegebied. Kort nadat hierdie vlootbasis in April 1957 kragtens die Simonstad-ooreenkoms by die Britse Koninklike Vloot oorgeneem is, het die SA Vloot die eerste belangrike ontwikkelingsprogram van stapel gestuur. Dit het uitgebreide vasmeergeriewe, werkswinkels, voorraadpakhuise, kantoorgeboue en 'n kragstasie ingesluit verdere uitbreidings en verbeterings het gedurende die sestiger en sewentigerjare asook in die huidige dekade gevolg. Die skeepswerfgebied is by twee geleenthede vergroot. In die laat sestigerjare is 'n aansienlike gebied van die see herwin vir die bou van 'n hawekom en bystandsgeriewe vir duikbote. Later is die oorspronklike hawegebied meer as verdubbel toe die P.W. Botha getykom, wat bykans 30 ha water omsluit, gebou is. Die hawe kan tans tot 50 skepe op 'n keer akkommodeer. Enige grootte skip kan in die diep water van Simonsbaai self, wat grotendeels deur die omjiggende berge teen winterstormwinde beskerm word, voor anker le. Simonstad se herstelfasiliteite vergelyk goed met die beste ter wereld. Dit sluit in 'n sinkrohyser wat vaartuie van tot 2 000 ton vanuit die water tot op 'n platform kan lig van waar hulle op 'n spoorstelsel tot by oop "parkeer-sones" of een van twee werkswinkels onderdak vervoer word. Hier kan hul maklik deur herstel en onderhoud-spanne bereik word. Tans word alle herstel, onderhoud en omskakelings program deur skeepswerfpersoneel uitgevoer. Dit geskied dikwels in samewerking met plaaslike private kontrakteurs. Die fasiliteite van die vlootskeepswerf in Durban is sodanig uitgebrei en gemoderniseer dat die basis ook baie van hierdie take kan verrig, veral wat die aanvalsvaartuie betref. Die skeepswerf beskik ook nou oor 'n sinkrohyser. Tydens die baie suksesvolle Oefening Magersfontein naby Walvisbaai gedurende 1988, wat die grootste vredestydse SA Vlootoefening was wat nog plaasgevind het, is die vermoe van die SA Vloot om sy vaartuie vir 'n lang tydperk ver van hul tuisbasisse af operasioneel in stand te hou, deeglik beproef en bewys. Die effektiwiteit van die SA Vloot se mobiele tegniese logistiese steuneenhede is gedurende die oefening ook bevestig. Die SA Vloot se vaartuie is ideaal geskik vir die Weermagsdeel se taak wat, sedert die verpligte wapenverbod van die VN se Veiligheidsraad in 1977, nie meer namens en in samewerking met die Weste die beskerming van hul algemene belange op die strategiese seeroete om die Kaap insluit nie. Vlootvaartuie sluit vinnige missieldraende aanvalsvaartuie vir bo-wateraanvalle, 'n duikbootflottielje, 'n mynteenmaatreel-flottielje, twee helikopterdraende aanvullingskepe, asook 'n hidrografiese opmetingskip en ander kleiner vaartuie in. Bevel en Beheer Die Vloothoofkwartier is in Pretoria gevestig vir nouer skakeling met die ander Weermagsdele. Daar is twee gebiedskommandemente, te wete Vlootkommandement Wes met sy hoofkwartier by Silwermyn in die Kaapse Skiereiland, en Vlootkommandement Oos wat sy hoofkwartier op die Bluff in Durban het. Personeel Die Vloot se totale personeelsterkte is heelwat kleiner as die van of die SA Leer of die SA Lugmag. Aangesien die doeltreffende funksionering van die Vloot se vaartuie en hul gevorderde wapen en ondersteunende stelsels 'n groot belegging in opleiding vereis, maak Staandemaglede die grootste deel van Vlootpersoneel uit. Die SA Vloot beskik egter oor 'n betreklike groot Bur-germagkomponent met basisse in gebiede van waar die meeste dienspligtiges wat jaarliks aan die Vloot toegewys word, afkomstig is. Twee van hierdie basisse, die SAS Rand en die SAS Magaliesberg, is op die Transvaalse Hoeveld, ongeveer 600 km van die naaste seewater, gelee. Die ander vyf is egter aan die kus gelee. Vroue speel ook 'n belangrike rol in die hedendaagse Vloot. Die oorlogtydse Suid-Afrikaanse Vrouevloothulpdiens het in die vroee sewentigerjare herleef en alle jong Staandemagrekrute word toegewys aan die SAS Saldanha, die SAS Jalsena of die SAS Simonsbergwaar hulle hul basiese opleiding soortgelyk aan die van hul manlike ewekniee, ondergaan. Hierna ondergaan hulle spesialisopleiding in niegevegsindelings wat veral administratief en tegnies georienteerd is. Sommige werk as taktiese data-operateurs op gevorderde kommunikasietoerusting by die gesamentlike hoofkwartier van Vlootkommadement Wes en Suidelike Lugkommandement te Silwermyn, terwyl ander bv as radaroperateurs by kusinstallasies aangewend word. Suid-Afrikaanse Indiervrywilligers wat by die Vloot aansluit, het hul eie qpleidingseenheid, die SAS Jalsena op Salisbury-eiland in die hawe van Durban. Dit is 'n praktiese reeling aangesien die meeste Suid-Afrikaanse Indiers in die omgewing van Durban woonagtig is. Die beskikbare fasiliteite maak voorsiening vir 'n maksimum inname van 400 vrywilligers per jaar. Hul vrywillige dienstermyn van twee jaar wat basiese opleiding van vyf maande insluit, is dieselfde as die van ander Vlootvrywilligers. By verstryking van hierdie dienstydperk kan hulle aansoek doen om by die Staande Mag aan te sluit. Algemene Opleiding Alle dienspligtiges wat aan die Vloot toegewys is, tesame met jong lede van die Staande Mag, ondergaan hul basiese opleiding van 13 weke by die SAS Saldanha aan die weskus. Dit sluit 'n omvattende kursus in die basiese aspekte van seemanskap in. Die basiese opleiding word opgevolg deur spesialis opleiding in die onderskeie beroepsvertakkinge. As die lid bv bestem is om 'n vakman of tegnikus te word, sal hy na die Vloot se tegniese opleidingskool by die SAS Wingfield in Goodwood verwys word. Indien die lid as 'n manskap aan 'n ander vertakking toegewys word, sit hy sy opleiding by die SAS Simonsberg in Simonstad voort. Later word die aspirant-seeman vir 'n verlengde praktiese opleidingstydperk na 'n vaartuig gestuur. Andersins kan hy na 'n evaluering uitgeplaas word as lid van die groot span wat moet toesien dat operasionele vlootvaartuie en hul bemannings doeltreffend ter see funksioneer. Hierdie opleidingsiklus word herhaal totdat die lid voldoen aan die vereiste graad van bekwaamheid. Bykans 2 000 burgerlikes is by die Vlootskeepswerf in Simonstad werksaam. Die grootste konsentrasie van ambagte in die RSA word hier aangetref, al 50 verskillende ambagte. Tans ondergaan meer as 100 vakleerlinge jaarliks opleiding in die skeepswerf. Alle nuwe offisiere en adelborste ontvang hul basiese opleiding by die Vlootkollege te Gordonsbaai sowat 50 km noordoos van Kaapstad. Spesialisopleiding word daarna by die SAS Simonsberg en die onderskeie flottieljes aangebied. Duikbootflottielje Simonstad is die tuiste van die Vloot se konvensionele DAPHNE-Klas duikbote. Hier moes opleiding en vasmeer-fasiliteite in rekordtyd daargestel word met die oog op die aankoms van die eerste duikboot vanaf Frankryk in Mei 1971. Die tuisbasis is die SAS Hugo Biermann. Vergelyke met die duikbote van die groot moondhede is die DAPHNES betreklik klein, maar hulle is stil en uiters hanteerbaar. Hul vermoe om diep te duik, maak hul besonder geskik vir aanwending in Suid-Afrikaanse waters, terwyl hulle ook slegs 'n betreklike klein bemanning van sowat 50 offisiere en manskappe vereis. 'n Volledige logistiese en ondersteuningstelsel is reeds ontwikkel en die Vloot se eie tegnici en ambagsmanne is goed onderle in die onttakeling en versiening van hierdie duikbote. Die onderhoudsprogram is so ontwikkel dat ten minste twee duikote altyd operasioneel is. Aspirant-duikbootvaarders - hulle is almal vrywilligers - ondergaan strawwe keuringstoetse. Dit sluit sielkundige toetse in waardeur bepaal word of die kandidate in staat sal wees om as lede van 'n span oor 'n lang tydperk ter see hul take doeltreffend in die ingeslote ruimte van 'n duikboot te kan verrig. Na 'n inleidende formele opleidingskursus, gevolg deur 'n kort dienstydperk ter see, ontvang die kandidate spesialisopleiding in die onderskeie beroepsindelings sowel as in die meganika en funksies van al die stelsels en toerusting aan boord. Een belangrike opleidingsfasiliteit is die rekenaarbeheerde nabootser wat op 'n realistiese wyse al die operasionele situasies weergee waarmee duikbootvaarders gekonfronteer kan word, insluitende noodprosedures wat gevolg moet word wanneer 'n brand aan boord uitbreek, die stuurgerei weier, die duikboot sink of as gevolg van 'n waterlek oorstroom word. Gevorderde opleiding sluit oefeninge saam met of "teen" die Vloot se ander vaartuie in. Die Vloot het onlangs begin om die DAPHNE duikbote in Simonstad se skeepswerf te moderniseer en op te gradeer wat die effektiewe slaankrag van die duikbote aansienlik sal verhoog. Die eerste een wat voltooi is, die SAS Emily Hobhouse, het sy laaste seeaanvaardingsproewe in Januarie 1989 suksesvol voltooi toe hy in 'n oefening suid van Kaappunt, 'n ou vistreiler wat as teiken gedien net, gekelder het. Aanvalsvaartuigflottielje Die MINISTER-klas aanvalsvaartuie wat in Mei 1979 vir die eerste maal bekendgestel is, kan as die trots van die Vloot se oppervlakvaartuie beskou word. Die aanvalsvaartuie met inbegrip van hul gesofistikeerde offensiewe en defensiewe toerusting, is in Suid-Afrika ontwerp en deur Sandock-Austral in Durban gebou. Alhoewel hulle baie kleiner is, ewenaar hul effektiewe slaan-krag die van die groot slagskepe van die verlede. Die vaartuie is bewapen met Skerpioen oppervlakop-pervlakmissiele wat groot vaartuie kan vernietig, terwyl die rekenaarbeheerde 76 mm kanonne aanvalle van vyandelike vliegtuie en vaartuie afweer. Hulle beskerm die skip ook teen aanvalle deur naderende missiele. Hierdie wapens word gerugsteun deur 'n omvattende reeks radars en ander elektroniese stelsels wat ontwerp is om teikens oor lang afstande op te spoor, te volg en te identiflseer. Die Aanvalsvaartuigflottielje is in twee eskaders onder-verdeel wat onderskeidelik in Durban en Simonstad gestasioneer is. Beide kan egter vir operasionele doeleindes in enige ander gebied ontplooi word. Mynteenmaatreel-flottielje Die Mynteenmaatreelflottielje (MTM) , wat die TON en RIVIER-klas MTM-vaartuie insluit, beskik oor die kundigheid en vermoe om vyandelike myne in die toegangswee tot die RSA se hawens en in die hawens self te neutraliseer. Dit verseker die veilige toegang van handelskepe na en van ons hawens en dus ook die ongehinderde voortsetting van die RSA en verskeie van sy Afrika-buurstate se lewensbelangrike in en uitvoerhandel. Die operasionele leeftyd van hierdie vaartuie word grootliks verhpog deur die gereelde rotasie van vaartuie in gebruik en die uitstekende beskikbare basisondersteuningsfasiliteite by die SAS Chapman in Simonstad. Benewens aanwending in hul primere rol, word hierdie vaartuie ook vir patrollie, kusverkenning en opleiding ter see gebruik. Die MTM-flottielje is feitlik enig in sy soort in Afrika. Ondersteuningsvaartuie Die SA Vloot se eerste aanvullingskip, die SAS Tafelberg, is gedurende 1983-1984 in Simonstad se skeepswerf heeltemal hertoegerus en gemoderniseer. 'n Groot vliegdek tussen die twee voorwerkeilande en twee loodse weerskante van die skoorsteen is tegelykertyd aangebring. Dit het aan hom die vermoe gegee om twee Super Frelon of Puma-helikopters ter see aan te wend. Dit is dus nou vir hierdie aanvullingskip moontlik om ander SA Vlootvaar-tuie ter see per leierstagoorplasing, per boot of per helikopter te bevoorraad. Die skip is ook met twee 40 mm en twee 20 mm kanonne bewapen. Die modernisering van die SAS Tafelberg het ook die geleentheid gebied om maritieme lugverkenning teen billike koste te verkry. Die rol van die Pumas sluit verkenning, vaartuigidentifikasie, die oorplasing van toerusting vanaf die see na die land, asook kqmmunikasievlugte in. In 'n patrollie-ondersteuningsrol bied die SAS Tafelberg tesame met sy helikopters uitstekende langafstand-verkenningsvermoe. Die omskakeling het aansienlike onbenutte ruimte onder die vliegdek gelaat wat gebruik is om bykomende mediese en akkommodasiefasiliteite teen geringe addisionele koste te verskaf. Tesame met sy helikopters en vermoe om groot skeepsbote te dra, verleen dit aan die SAS Tafelberg 'n waardevolle seelugreddingsvermoe en rampbystandpotensiaal. Dit is reeds bewys toe die skip in geselskap van die aanvalsvaartuig, die SAS Jim Fouche, aan die einde van 1987 na wrakstukke en slagoffers van die Helderberg-lugramp in die see naby Mauritius help soek het. Die skip het ook 'n amfibiese vermoe wat effektief tydens Deferring Magersfontein (Sep-Okt 88) gedemonstreer is. Soldate, mariniers en groot hoeveelhede wapentuig en militere voertuie is tydens die vlootoefening naby Walvisbaai aan wal gebring en weer ontruim. Die SA Vloot se tweede aanvullingskip, die SAS Drakensberg, is in 1987 in diens gestel. Die moderne vaartuig van 12 500 ton, wat plaaslik ontwerp en in Durban gebou is, sal die SAS Tafelberg in al sy huidige rolle bystaan en het dus die SA Vloot se algehele vermoe tot sy spesifieke gebied van operasies ter see aansienlik verhoog. Die nuwe skip het ook reeds sy slag deeglik bewys toe dit aan die begin van 1988 in geselskap van die aanvalsvaartuig, die SAS Frans Erasmus, tydens 'n amptelike besoek aan Chili verskeie van die land se hawens aan die Stille Oseaan aangedoen het nadat hy Krygkor se tonne uitstal-materiaal na Valparaiso vir die Fi'da-skou in Santiago vervoer het. Die SAS Drakensberg het ook teen die einde van 1988 twee maal Beira hawe aangedoen om daar toerusting vir die Mosambiekse weermag af te laai. Hidrografiese Opname Die Vloot se hidrograaf (seekaartmaker) is die karteringsoutoriteit vir die seegebied langs die kuslyn van die RSA en Suidwes-Afrika/Namibie. Die tak Hidrografie is die oudste vertakking van die SA Vloot en sy opmetingsvaartuie is reeds jare lank besig met die verkenning van die suidelike oseane. In hierdie tydperk is elke skeur, rif, berg en vallei benede die seeoppervlakte noukeurig aangeteken om die seeroetes om die Kaap vir alle vaartuie steeds veiliger te maak. Die SAS Protea is met hierdie belangrike taak belas. Die skip beskik oor die mees moderne outomatiese verkennings, dataversamelings en skeepnavigasietoerusting. 'n Rekenaar lei die skip op 'n roete wat vooraf bepaal is en deur die gebied wat verken moet word, loop. Die data wat deur hierdie opmetingskip ingesamel is, word in 'n reeks kaarte en ander publikasies verwerk, insluitende navigasiegidse en getytafels. Hierdie kaarte en publikasies is beskikbaar en kan deur die publiek en enige internasionale skeepsredery aangekoop word. Die Vloot se hidrograaf koordineer ook navigasiewaarskuwings aan seevaarders op die Suid-Atlantiese en Indiese Oseaan en verteenwoordig Suid-Afrika in die Internasionale Hidrografiese Organisasie. Duikers Die Vloot se duikers word by die SAS Simonsberg Duik-skool te Simonstad opgelei. Na voltooiing van hul basiese opleiding en seevaartkursusse by die SAS Saldanha en die SAS Simonsberg, moet die kandidaatduikers 'n reeks streng keuringstoetse slaag voordat hulle met hul veeleisende opleidingsprogram kan begin. Diegene wat die kursus voltooi, is ongetwyfeld van die fisies, fiksste, taaiste en doeltreffendste operateurs in die SAW. Hul primere taak is om seemyne op te ruim en om enige onderwatersabotasie aanvalle en insurgensie teen skepe en hawe-installasie's af te weer. Hul vredestydse take sluit in noodonderwaterbergings en herstelwerk en hulpverlening met die vasmeer van Vlootvaartuie in die droogdok en op sinkrohysers. Mariniers Die klemverskuiwing in die S A Vloot se take in 1979 na die VN se boikotbesluite, het tot die herlewing van die Marinierstak gelei. Hierdie vertakking se funksie is om ons hawens en vlootinstallasies teen terroriste aanvalle en sabotasie vanaf die see of land te beskerm. Dit het ook 'n beperkte amfibiese funksie. Die meerderheid is lede van die Staande Mag of dienspligtiges, terwyl Burgermaglede tussen 15 en 30 persent van hierdie vertakking uitmaak. Hulle opereer in noue samewerking met die SAP en ander owerheidsinstellings. Eenhede is reeds gevestig by Vlootbasisse vanaf Richardsbaai in die noordooste en verder langs die kuslyn af by Durban, Oos-Londen, Port Elizabeth, en by Simonstad, Tafelbaai, Saldanhabaai, sowel as by Walvisbaai. Aangesien die take van mariniers 'n samestelling is van die van seemanne sowel as infanteriste, word hul in beide hoedanighede opgelei. Hul opleiding is dus omvattend en veeleisend. Na hul opleiding is die lede van 'n marinierseenheid bedrewe in infanterietaktiek, ongewapende gevegskuns, duiktegnieke, teeninsurgensie en sekere amfibiese operasies. Die NAMACURRA-tipe hawebeskermingsbpte en DELTA-tipe landingsvaartuie wat deur die mariniers gebruik word, is in Suid-Afrika ontwerp en gebou. Die hawebeskermingsbote word as van die mees swaargewapende kleinvaartuie ter wereld beskou, terwyl die landingsvaartuie aan die mariniers hul amflbiese vermoe gee. Soek en Redding Soek en reddingsoperasies word langs die suidelike en oostelike kuslyn onderneem deur eenhede van die Vloot en Lugmag in samewerking met die Nasionale Seereddingsinstituut, 'n private vrywilligerorganisasie wat grootliks deur bydraes van die publiek gefinansier word. 'N KORT GESKIEDENIS VAN DIE SA VLOOT Die oorsprong van die Suid-Afrikaanse Vloot kan terug gevoer word na die "Port Elizabeth Naval Volunteer Brigade" wat in 1861 op die been gebring is, maar skynbaar die volgende jaar met 'n vrywilligerartillerie-eenheid saamgesmelt het. Op 30 April 1885 is die "Natal Naval Volunteers" (NNV) - 'n deeltydse eenheid - in Durban gevorm. Die manskappe van die eenheid het in die Tweede Vryheidsoorlog (1899-1902) en die Zoeloerebellie van 1906 aan wal gedien. Die SA Vloot se band met die NNV, wat nou bekend staan as die SAS Inkonkoni, is nooit gebreek nie. 'n Soortgelyke eenheid, die "Cape Naval Volunteers", nou die SAS Unitie, is in 1905 in Kaapstad gestig en op 1 Julie 1913 het die twee eenhede saamgesmelt om die Suid-Afrikaanse divisie van die Koninklike Marine-vrywilligerreserwe te vorm. Tydens die Eerste Wereldoorlog (1914-1918) het Suid-Afrikaanse Vlootvrywilligers in die Duits-Suidwes-Afrika-en Duits-Oos-Afrikaveldtog gedien. Suid-Afrikaners het ook in die "Royal Naval Air Service" gedien en kontingente van die Koninklike Marine-vrywilligerreserwe (SA) in na Britse oorlogskepe afgedeel. In 1921 is 'n nuwe basis van die Koninklike Marine-vrywilligerreserwe (SA) by Port Elizabeth gevestig (nou die SAS Donkin) en die volgende jaar is nog 'n basis by Oos-Londen in diens gestel (nou die SAS Port Rex). Die SAS Inkonkoni, die SAS Unitie, die SAS Donkin en die SAS Port Rex is vier van die sewe Burgermagbasisse van die SA Vloot. Twee van die ander drie, al die SAS Rand en die SAS Magaliesberg, is op die Hoeveld gelee en die SAS Yselstein in Simonstad. Suid-Afrika se eerste Staandemagvloot, die SA Seediens, is op 1 April 1922 op die been gebring. 'n Hidrografiese opmetingskip, herdoop as HMSAS Protea, en twee mynveegtreilers, herdoop as HMSAS Sonneblom en HMSAS Immortelle, is in Brittanje deur Suid-Afrika aangekoop. Tussen 1933 en 1934 het die Werelddepressie egter die regering genoodsaak om die skepe terug te gee en alle SA Seediensoffisiere af te betaal, behalwe drie offisiere en drie manskappe wat behou is vir opmetingswerk en die opleiding en aanvulling van die Koninklike Marine-vrywilligerreserwe (SA) wat in werking gebly het. Op 15 Januarie 1940 het Suid-Afrika 'n nuwe vloot-eenheid, die Verdedigingsmag ter See, gestig waaroor die Britse skout-admiraal G.W. Hallifax, die bevel gevoer het. Die Verdedigingsmag ter See het die verantwoordelikheid vir die instandhouding van mynveers, duikbootjagdienste en ander ondersoek en seindienste in Suid-Afrikaanse waters van die Britse Vloot oorgeneem. Tydens die Tweede Wereldoorlog het Suid-Afrika se "klein skepe" 'n benydenswaardige reputasie in die Middellandse See verwerf. Daar is gese dat die disipline, moreel en veral die skietkuns van die manne van die 22ste Duikbootjageskader ongeewenaar was in die kus-eskader. Suid-Afrika se magnetiese mynveers het ook 'n deurslag-gewende rol in mynopruiming in die Egei'ese See en die ontsetting van Griekeland gespeel. Gedurende die oorlog het Suid-Afrika se skepe die toegangsvaarwaters na Suid-Afrika se hawens in sy gebiedswaters bewaak, konvooie tussen hawens begelei, seemyne van die vyand gevee en meer as 400 oorlewendes van skepe wat deur vyandelike duikbote getorpedeer is, gered. Op 1 Augustus 1942 het die Verdedigingsmag ter See en die Koninklike Marine-vrywilligerreserwe (SA) saamgesmelt om die Suid-Afrikaanse Seemag, waarin 10 332 offisiere en manskappe tydens die Tweede Wereldoorlog gedien het, te vorm. In 1944, toe die Tweede Wereldoorlog sy hoogtepunt bereik het, het die Suid-Afrikaanse Seemag uit 87 vaartuie bestaan. 'n Totaal van 329 lede van die Suid-Afrikaanse Seemag is tydens vyandelike aksie ge-dood of het gesterf terwyl hulle op aktiewe diens was en 225 toekennings is vir dapperheid of uitnemende diens aan Suid-Afrikaanse seelui toegeken. Daarbenewens is 128 gevegsonderskeidings aan Suid-Afrika se skepe, waarvan drie in die Verre Ooste gedien het, toegeken. Die Vrouevloothulpdiens is op 9 Oktober 1943 gestig waarna 281 vroue as mynbeheerders en haweverdedigingsoperatrises gedien en administratiewe poste beman het. Altesame 2 937 offisiere en manskappe is na die Britse Vloot gesekondeer, met die gevolg dat Suid-Afrikaanse seevaarders aan byna elke belangrike vlootoperasie van die Tweede Wereldoorlog deelgeneem het. Hulle het ook allerhande interessante take verrig, van mynveegoperasies naby die Faroer-eilande tot hidrografiese opmeting in Chinese waters. Hulle het ook in die Stille Oseaan in konvooie na Rusland gedien, was teenwoordig by die Normandiese landings op D dag en baie van hulle het in die lugvaarttak van die Britse Vloot gedien. Suid-Afrika se seevaarders het getoon dat hulle net so goed as die bestes in die wereld is en 'n trotse gevegstradisie daargestel. Na afloop van die oorlog is drie LOCH-klas fregatte, HMSAS Good Hope, HMSAS Natal en HMSAS Transvaal aan Suid-Afrika oorhandig. Die HMSAS Natal het die unieke prestasie behaal deur 'n Duitse duikboot, die U714 op 14 Maart 1945 naby St Abb's Head aan die noordkus van Engeland te sink terwyl die skip nog op proefvaart was. Op 1 Mei 1946 is die Suid-Afrikaanse Seemag opnuut saamgestel as deel van die Unieverdedigingsmag, met 'n sterkte van 60 offisiere en 806 manskappe. Die Vloot het bestaan uit drie LOCH-klas fregatte, twee sperboomvaartuie (HMSAS Barbrakeen HMSAS Barcrpss), een mynleer (HMSAS Spindrift) en elf haweverdedigingsmotorbote. Ses jaar later het die syfers gegroei na 132 offisiefe en 1 499 manskappe. Twee vlootmynveers, twee torpedojaers en 'n opmetingskip is tot die Vloot toegevoeg. Die Suid-Afrikaanse Seemag het op 1 Januarie 1951 die Suid-Afrikaanse Vloot geword. Tydens die Tweede Wereldoorlog (1939-1945) is 78 Suid-Afrikaners ook na die Britse Mariniers gesekondeer. Die SA Marinierskorps is in 1951 gevorm en het bestaan uit kus en lugafweerartillerie-regimente. In 1955 het kus-artillerie egter in onbruik verval en is die korps ontbind. In 1955 is die Simonstad-ooreenkoms deur Groot-Brittanje en Suid-Afrika onderteken. Ingevolge die ooreenkoms het die SA Vloot onderneem om addisionele skepe van Groot-Brittanje te koop en is Simonstad se Vlootskeepswerf en basis op 2 April 1957 aan Suid-Afrika oorhandig. Die hoofvlootbasis van die SA Vloot is ook van Durban na Simonstad verskuif en die Vloothoofkwartier van Pretoria na Simonstad waar dit tot 1976 gebly het toe dit teruggeskuif is na Pretoria. As deel van die Simonstad-ooreenkoms het Suid-Afrika ook vyf seeweerbote, tien TON-klas kuspatrollie mynveers, een tipe 15 fregat (die SAS Vrystaat) en drie tipe 12 fregatte (die PRESIDENT-klas skepe: die SAS President Pretorius, die SAS President Kruger en die SAS President Steyn) van Groot-Brittanje gekoop. Hulle het gedurende die vyftiger en sestigerjare, tesame met twee Britse W-klas torpedojaers (die SAS Jan van Riebeeck en die SAS Simon van der Stel die kern van die SA Vloot gevorm. Gedurende hierdie tydperk en tot in die sewentigerjare het die meeste van hierdie skepe, asook die SAS Tafelberg en die nuwe SAS Protea talle suksesvolle welwillendheids-besoeke afgele aan hawens in Afrika, Europa, Australie, Noord and Suid-Amerika en het hierdie "grys diplomate" soos hulle bekend geword het, die Suid-Afrikaanse vlag daar met waardigheid vertoon. Die Suid-Afrikaanse Vloot het in 1970 'n duikboottak gestig en het tans drie DAPHNE-klas duikbote wat deur die Franse gebou is: die SAS Maria van Riebeeck, die SAS Emily Hobhouse en die SAS Johanna van der Merwe. 'n Duikbootkaai, werkswinkels, 'n marinehyser en hoofkwartier (die SAS Hugo Biermann) is gedurende 1970-1972 op drooggelegde grond gebou en later, in 1980, is die totale wateroppervlakte van die hawe meer as verdubbel met die voltooiing van die P.W. Botha-getykom. Die hawe kan nou meer as 50 skepe van verskillende tonnemaat gelyktydig akkommodeer. Toe mnr Harold Wilson se Arbeidersparty op 16 Junie 1975 die Simonstad-ooreenkoms eensydig herroep het, was die SA Vloot genoodsaak om sy rol as beskermer van die Kaapse seeroete vir die Weste te laat vaar en het sedertdien met welslae op die beskerming van die lang Suid-Afrikaanse kuslyn en sy eie maritieme belange gekonsentreer. Mariniers is in 1979 weer as afdeling van die Vloot in die lewe geroep. Dit is die mariniers se funksie om Suid-Afrika se hawens en vlootinstallasies teen terroriste en sabotasie vanaf die land sowel as van die see se kant te help beskerm en hulle het ook 'n amfibiese funksie en vermoe. Die mariniers het ook die bote beman wat die Zambezirivier vanaf Katima Mulilo gepatrolleer het en het tot 1988 in 'n infanterierol in die operasionele gebied van SWA gedien. Die Aanvalsvaartuigflottielje is in 1980 in diens gestel. Tans beskik hierdie flottielje oor nege missieldraende MINISTER-klas aanvalsvaartuie. Hierdie vinnige en dodelike skepe is bewapen met geleide Skerpioen oppervlakoppervlakmissiele, twee 76 mm kanonne en kleiner kortafstandkanonne. Hulle is in Durban gebou en na vorige Ministers van Verdediging vernoem. Hierdie aanvalsvaartuie het reeds talle suksesvolle lewendige missielskietoefeninge na oppervlakteikens langs die Suid-Afrikaanse kus uitgevoer. Die eerste plaaslik geboude aanvullingsvaartuig en tot op hede die grootste skip wat in sy geheel plaaslik spesifiek vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Vloot ontwerp en gebou is, die SAS Drakensberg, is op 24 April 1986 deur mev Elize Botha, eggenote van die Staatspresident, in Durban te water gelaat. Die SAS Drakensberg is 147 meter lank en het 'n verplasingsvermoe van 6 000 ton (leeg) en 12 500 ton (volle vrag). Dit is in staat om 5 500 ton brandstof en 750 ton droe ware en ammunisie te vervoer. Die SAS Drakensberg is in Oktober 1987 in Durban deur die skeepsbouer aan die SA Vloot oorhandig en op 11 November 1987 in Kaapstad in diens gestel. Kort hierna het die SA Vloot se eerste aanvullingsvaartuig, die SAS Tafelberg, saam met die aanvalsvaartuig die SAS Jim Fouche, naby Mauritius gehelp in die soektog na oorlewendes en wrakstukke van die SAL-Boeing wat daar in die Indiese Oseaan gestort het. Gedurende 1988 was die SA Vloot ten nouste betrokke in die Dias-feesvieringe. 'n Hoqgtepunt wat in hierdie verband uitgesonder kan word, is die eerste Presidents-revue-orde van sestien vlootskepe en duikbote voor anker in Mosselbaai in Februarie. Tydens hierdie geleentheid is die nuwe RIVIER-klas mynteenmaatreelvaartuie vir die eerste keer aan die publiek bekendgestel. Een besondere gebeurtenis wat saam met die seesoektog naby Mauritius die SA Vloot se internasionale aansien verhoog het, was die historiese eerste besoek van Suid-Afrikaanse oorlogskepe - die nuwe aanvullingskip, SAS Drakensberg en die aanvalsvaartuig, SAS Frans Erasmus - aan vier Chileense hawens aan die Stille Oseaan in Maart 1988. Die SAS Drakensberg het ook later in die jaar twee maal by Beira toerusting vir die regering van Mosambiek gaan aflaai. 'n Uiters geslaagde vlootoefening, OefeningMagersfontein, is in September en Oktober 1988 by Walvisbaai gehou. Dit was die grootste vredestydse vlootoefening wat nog ooit deur die SA Vloot gehou is. Tydens hierdie oefening het die Vloot se ondersteuningsvermoe tydens vlootoperasies ver van sy normale basisse, asook die amfibiese rol van sy mariniers wat vanaf die SAS Tafelberg opgetree het, duidelik geblyk. Die eerste DAPHNE-klas duikboot van die SA Vloot wat in die Vlootskeepswerf te Simonstad gemoderniseer en opgegradeer is, die SAS Emily Hobhouse, het sy seeproewe suksesvol voltooi toe dit 'n uitgediende vistreiler wat as teiken naby Kaappunt gebruik is, in Januarie 1989 met 'n lewendige torpedo gesink het. 'n Proses van rasionalisasie het tot gevolg gehad dat 'n vaartbelynde Vloot, met sy hoofkwartier steeds in Pretoria, nou bestaan uit twee gebiedskommandemente, te wete Vlootkommandement Wes met sy hoofkwartier te Silwermyn in die Kaap en Vlootkommandement Oos met sy hoofkwartier op die Bluff in Durban. |
SOUTH AFRICAN NAVY Introduction The Navy is a fully-fledged and effective fighting force. The purpose of the S A Navy (SAN) is, as is that of other navies world-wide, to promote the security goals of the RSA by means of maritime military operations. The main functions emanating from this is firstly, the destruction of enemy naval forces and secondly, the support of the landward battle. Other functions include the escort of merchant fleet vessels, scouting operations and the protection of the maritime interests of the RSA. The SA Navy co-operates with and supports the SA Army, the SA Air Force and the SA Police where necessary in the achievement of joint security goals. Facilities and Equipment Simon's Town, the Navy's strategically situated major base, 18 nautical miles from the Cape of Good Hope, is the only fully developed military naval base on the African coastline outside the Mediterranean. Shortly after the base was taken over from the British Royal Navy in April 1957 in terms of the Simon's Town Agreement, the SA Navy launched the first major development programme. This included extensive new docking facilities, workshops, storerooms, office buildings and a power station. Further extensions and improvements followed during the sixties and seventies. The dockyard area has been enlarged twice. First in the late sixties, when a substantial area of land was reclaimed from the sea to build the submarine basin and support facilities. Later the original harbour area was more than doubled when the P.W. Botha tidal basin, which encloses nearly 30 ha of water, was constructed. The harbour can now accommodate up to 50 ships at a time. The deep water of Simon's Bay, largely protected by the surrounding mountains against winter gales, can also provide safe anchorage for warships of any size. Repair and refitting facilities at Simon's Town are second to none. These include a synchro-lift which can lift vessels of up to 2 000 tons out of the water onto a platform from where they are transported on a series of rails to open "parking bays" or one of two sheds for easy access by the repair and maintenance teams. Today, all repair, maintenance and conversion programmes are carried out by dockyard personnel, often in co-operation with private local contractors. The facilities of the Navy dockyard in Durban have been enlarged and modernised so that this base is now also able to undertake many of these functions, especially with regard to the strike craft. The dockyard also has a synchro-lift at its disposal. During the very successful Exercise Magersfontein near Walvis Bay during 1988, which was the biggest peace-time SAN exercise ever to have taken place, the ability of the SAN to operate and maintain its vessels for a long period far away from their home bases, was thoroughly tested and proved. The effectiveness of the SA Navy's mobile technical logistical support units was also confirmed during the exercise. Vessels used by the Navy are ideally suited to a task which, following the mandatory arms embargo imposed by the UN Security Council in 1977, no longer includes protecting the general Western interests on the strategic Cape sea-route. These vessels include fast locally-built missile carrying strike craft for surface attack, a flotilla of submarines, a flotilla of mine countermeasure vessels and two helicopter-carrying replenishment vessels, as well as a hydrographic survey ship and other smaller craft. Command and Control The Navy's headquarters is based in Pretoria for closer liaison with the other Arms of the SADF. There are two area commands, ie Naval Command West with headquarters at Silvermine in the Cape, and Naval Command East with its headquarters on the Bluff in Durban. Personnel The total staff complement of the SA Navy is much smaller than that of either the SA Army or the SA Air Force. Most of its members belong to the Permanent Force, as the effective operation of the Navy's vessels and their advanced weapon and other systems demand considerable investment in specialist training. However, the Navy does command a fairly large Citizen Force with bases located in areas from which most national servicemen allocated to the Navy are drawn. Two of these bases, the SAS Rand and the SAS Magaliesberg, are in fact on the Transvaal Highveld, about 600 km from the nearest salt water, but the other five are at the coast. Women play quite an important role in today's Navy. The war-time SA Women's Auxiliary Naval Service (SWANS) was resuscitated in the early seventies and all young Permanent Force recruits are drafted to the SAS Saldanha, the SAS Jalsena or the SAS Simonsberg where they receive basic training similar to that of their male counterparts. After that they undergo specialist training in non-combatant musterings, especially in administrative and technical fields. Some work as tactical data operators on advanced communications equipment at the joint headquarters of Southern Air Command and Naval Command West at Silvermine, and others as naval radar operators at shore installations. South African Indian volunteers who want to join the Navy have their own training unit, the SAS Jalsena, situated on Salisbury Island in Durban harbour. This is a practical arrangement as most Indians live in and around Durban. The available facilities allow for a maximum intake of 400 volunteers a year. Their service of two years, which includes five months' basic training, is identical to that of other naval volunteers. On completion of this period of service they can apply to join the Permanent Force. General Training All national servicemen allocated to the Navy, together with all young volunteers for the Permanent Force, are drafted to the SAS Saldanha on the west coast for their 13-week basic training. This includes a comprehensive course in the fundamentals of seamanship. Basic training is followed by specialist training in the various musterings. If the trainee is to be an artisan or technician, he will go to the Navy's technical training school at the SAS Wingfield inGoodwood and if he is to be a rating in another branch, he will continue his training at the SAS Simonsberg in Simon's Town. Later the prospective seaman is drafted to a vessel for an extended practical training period or to some shore installation where he will be a member of a large team whose job is to keep the vessels and their crews operating efficiently at sea. This training cycle is repeated until trainees comply with the high standard of proficiency required. About 2 000 civilians are employed in the Simon's Town Naval dockyard. It is the highest concentration of trade disciplines in the Republic, and more than 50 different trades are practised. Nearly 100 apprentices undergo training in the dockyard every year. All young officers and midshipmen are trained at the Naval College, Gordon's Bay, 50 km north-east of Cape Town. Specialist training is afterwards given at the SAS Simonsberg and the various flotillas. Submarine Flotilla The Navy's DAPHNE class submarines are based at Simon's Town, where training and docking facilities were constructed in record time for the arrival of the first submarine from France in May 1971. The support base is the SAS Hugo Biermann. While the conventional DAPHNE submarines are small compared to those of the super powers, they are quiet and highly manoeuvrable and, with their deep diving capability, well-suited to operating in South African waters. They also require a relatively small complement of about 50 officers and other ranks. A full logistic and support facility has been developed and the Navy's technicians and artisans have the experience to refit and maintain these vessels. The maintenance programme is designed to keep at least two submarines at sea most of the time. Candidate submariners - all volunteers - undergo rigorous selection tests, including psychological testing, to determine whether they will be suitable to perform their duties efficiently as members of a team in the confined environment of a submarine during long periods at sea. After an introductory course of formal training followed by a short spell at sea, candidates are given specialist instruction in the various musterings as well as in the mechanics and functions of all systems and equipment on board. An important training facility is the computer-controlled simulator which realistically simulates the operational situations which submariners may be confronted with, including the flooding or sinking of a vessel. Advanced training includes joint exercises with the Navy's other vessels. The Navy has recently started modernising and upgrading the DAPHNE submarines in the Simon's Town dockyard. This will improve their striking power considerably. The first one to be completed, the SAS Emily Hobhouse, successfully completed its last acceptance trials in January 1989, when during an exercise South of Cape Point, it sank an old trawler used as the target. Strike Craft Flotilla The MINISTER class strike craft, revealed to the public in May 1979, are the pride of the SA Nav/s surface fleet. The strike craft, including their sophisticated offensive and defensive weapon systems were designed in South Africa and built by Sandock-Austral in Durban. Although small by comparison, they have an effective strike power similar to that of battleships employed during the Second World War. These vessels are armed with the Skerpioen surface-to-surface missile which is capable of neutralising large ships, while the computer controlled 76 mm guns can ward off enemy aircraft and vessels attacks. They can also protect the ship against incoming missile attacks. These weapons are backed up by a comprehensive range of radars and other electronic equipment designed to detect, classify and track targets at long range. The Strike Craft Flotilla is divided into two squadrons, one based in Durban and the other in Simon's Town, although either squadron can be deployed for operational reasons to any other area. Mine Countermeasures Flotilla The Mine Countermeasures Flotilla which operates TON and RIVER class MCM vessels, maintains the expertise of being able to neutralise any enemy mining of the Republic's harbours and their approaches. This ensures the safe passage of all merchant vessels to and from our harbours and accordingly the unhindered continuation of the vitally important import and export trade of the RSA and several of its neighbours in Southern Africa. The operational life of the MCM vessels is greatly extended by regular rotation of vessels in commission and the excellent base support facilities available at the SAS Chapman in Simon's Town. Besides remaining proficient in their primary role, these vessels are also used for coastal patrols and sea-training. The MCM Flotilla is virtually the only force of its kind in Africa. The Support Vessels The S A Navy's first replenishment ship, the SAS Tafelberg, was refitted and modernised in the Simon's Town dockyard during 1983-1984. A large flight deck between two superstructure islands and two hangars, one on either side of the funnel, were added at the same time. This has given her the capability of operating Puma or Super Frelon helicopters. She is therefore now able to replenish other ships at sea by jackstay, boat and helicopter (vertrep). Two 40 mm and two 20 mm guns were also added. The SAS Tafelberg presented the opportunity to get some "maritime air observation" at a reasonable cost. Roles envisaged for the helicopters include visual reconnaissance, vessel identification, vertrep, vertrep to shore, and communications flights. In a patrol support role, the SAS Tafelberg, taking into consideration the capabilities of her helicopters, will offer excellent endurance. The conversion resulted in considerable unutilised space below the flight deck, which has been used to provide added accommodation and medical facilities at little additional cost. Coupled with her helicopters and the ability to carry large boats, this has given the SAS Tafelberg a valuable search and rescue and disaster relief potential. This has already been proved when the ship, together with the strike craft, the SAS Jim Fouche, assisted in the search for wreckage and victims of the Helderberg air disaster in the sea near Mauritius at the end of 1987. The ship also has an amphibious capability which was demonstrated effectively during Exercise Magersfontein (Sep-Oct 88). During this big SA Navy exercise at Walvis Bay, a large number of men and large quantities of arms and military vehicles were brought ashore and then evacuated. The SA Navy's second replenishment ship, the modern SAS Drakensberg, was commissioned in 1987. The locally designed and built vessel of 12 500 tons will supplement the SAS Tafelberg in all her present roles and will greatly enhance all the SA Navy's capabilities in her specific field of operations at sea. The new ship has already thoroughly proved herself. At the beginning of 1988, accompanied by the strike craft, the SAS Frans Erasmus, she called at several Pacific Ocean ports during an official visit to Chile after she had transported tons of Armscor's exhibition material to Valparaiso for the Fida exhibition in Santiago. Towards the end of 1988, the SAS Drakensberg also called at the Mozambican port of Beira twice in order to unload equipment for that country's Defence Force. Hydrographic Survey The hydrographer of the Navy is the charting authority for the seas along the coast of the Republic of South Africa and South West Africa/Namibia. The hydrographic branch is the oldest in the Navy and for many years its survey vessels have scoured the southern oceans, carefully plotting every underwater crag, promontory, mountain and valley, to make the Cape sea-lanes safer for all vessels. The SAS Protea is engaged in this important task. She is fitted with the most modern automatic survey, data-logging and ship guidance equipment. A computer guides the ship on a pre-selected track across the area to be surveyed. The information gathered by this vessel is processed into a series of charts and other publications, including navigation guides and tidetables. These are also available and on sale to the public and shipping lanes of the world. The Navy's hydrographer co-ordinates navigation warnings to mariners in the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans, and represents South Africa on the International Hydrographic Organisation. Divers The Navy's divers are trained at the SAS Simonsberg Diving School in Simon's Town. After completing their basic training and seamanship courses at the SAS Saldanha and the SAS Simonsberg, candidate divers must pass a series of stringent selection tests before embarking on a strenuous training programme. Those who complete the course certainly constitute some of the fittest and most effective operators in the SADF. Their major role is mine clearance and the protection of shipping and harbour installations against underwater sabotage and insurgency. Peacetime duties include underwater salvage or repairs, and assisting in berthing naval vessels in drydock and on synchro-lifts. Marines The shift in emphasis in the SA Navy's duties in 1979 as a result of the UN arms embargo and boycott actions, led to the revival of the Marines Branch. It is the function of this branch to help protect our harbours and naval installations against terrorist attacks or sabotage from land or sea. It has also a limited amphibious function. The majority are members of the Permanent Force or national servicemen, while Citizen Force members constitute between 15 and 30 per cent of the branch. The Marines operate in close co-operation with the SA Police and other authorities. Units have now been established from Richard's Bay on the north-east coast of South Africa through Durban, East London, Port Elizabeth, Simon's Town, Table Bay, Saldanha Bay, as well as Walvis Bay. Because the duties of the Marines are a combination of those of sailors and soldiers, they are trained as both, and consequently their training is tough and comprehensive. After training a Marine unit is proficient in infantry tactics, unarmed combat, diving techniques, counter-insurgency operations and certain amphibious operations. The NAMACURRA type harbour patrol boats (HPBs) and DELTA type landing-craft used by the Marines are designed and built in South Africa. The HPBs rank among the most heavily armed small boats in the world, while the landing-craft provide the Marines with their amphibious capability. Search and Rescue Rescue operations along the southern and eastern seaboards are undertaken by units of the Navy and the Air Force in co-operation with the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), a voluntary private organisation funded largely by donations from the public. A SHORT HISTORY OF THE SA NAVY The South African Navy's earliest beginnings can be traced to the Port Elizabeth Naval Volunteer Brigade which was raised in 1861 but seems to have merged with a volunteer artillery unit in the following year. On 30 April 1885 a part-time unit named the Natal Naval Volunteers (NNV) was formed in Durban. They served ashore in the Second Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902) and the Zulu Rebellion of 1906. The SA Navy has an unbroken link with the NNV, which is now the SAS Inkonkoni. A similar unit, the Cape Naval Volunteers, now the SAS Unitie, was formed in Cape Town in 1905, and on 1 July 1913 these two units were amalgamated to form the South African Division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR). During the First World War (1914-1918), South African Naval volunteers served in the German South West African and German East African campaigns. South Africans also served in the Royal Naval Air Service and RNVR contingents were drafted to British warships. In 1921 a new RNVR base was established at Port Elizabeth (now the SAS Donkin) and in the following year another base was commissioned at East London (now the SAS Port Rex). The SAS Inkonkoni, the SAS Unitie, the SAS Donkin and the SAS Port Rex are four of the seven Citizen Force bases of the SA Navy. Two of the other three (the SAS Rand and the SAS Magaliesberg) are situated on the High Veld and the SAS Yselstein in Simon's Town. South Africa's first Permanent Force Navy, the SA Naval Service (SANS), was established on 1 April 1922. A hydrographic survey vessel, renamed HMSAS Protea and two minesweeping trawlers renamed HMSAS Sonneblom and HMSAS Immortelle, were purchased by South Africa from Great Britain. Between 1933 and 1934, however, the World Depression forced the Government to return the ships and pay off all but three SANS officers and three ratings who were retained for survey work and the training and supply of the RNVR(SA), which continued to operate. On 15 January 1940 South Africa established a new naval unit, the Seaward Defence Force, which was commanded by Rear-Admiral G.W. Hallifax of the RN. The Seaward Defence Force took over responsibility from the Royal Navy for operating the minesweepers, anti-submarine services, and the other examination and signalling duties in SA waters. During the Second World War (1939-1945), South Africa's "little ships" earned an enviable reputation in the Mediterranean. It was said that the discipline, morale and above all the marksmanship of the 22nd Anti-Submarine group were unequalled in the Inshore Squadron. The Navy's magnetic minesweepers played a vital role in mine clearance operations in the Aegean and the relief of Greece. In South African waters the Navy's ships patrolled the approaches to our ports, escorted convoys between them, swept up enemy mines and rescued more than 400 survivors from ships torpedoed by enemy submarines. On 1 August 1942 the Seaward Defence Force and the Royal Navy Reserve (South Africa) were amalgamated to form the South African Naval Forces (SANF) in which 10332 officers and ratings served during the Second World War. At the peak period of the Second World War in 1944, the South African fleet consisted of 87 vessels. A total of 329 members of the SANF were killed in action or died in service and 225 awards for gallantry or distinguished service were bestowed on South African sailors. Furthermore 128 battle honours were conferred on South Africa's ships, three of which served in the Far East. The SA Women's Auxiliary Naval Service (SWANS) was established on 9 October 1943. Two hundred and eighty one SWANS served as Controlled Mining and Harbour Defence Operators and in administrative posts. A total of 2 937 officers and rating were seconded to the Royal Navy, so that the South African sailors took part in nearly every major naval operation in the Second World War, as well as performing all manner of interesting duties - from minesweeping off the Faroe Islands to hydrographic surveying in Chinese waters. They served in the Pacific, in the convoys to Russia, were present at the Normandy landings on D day and some of them served in the Aviation Branch of the Royal Navy. South African sailors showed that they were as good as the best sailors in the world and established a proud fighting tradition. At the end of the war, South Africa was given three LOCH class frigates: HMSAS Good Hope, HMSAS Natal and HMSAS Transvaal. HMSAS Natal achieved the unique distinction of sinking a German submarine, the U714 whilst busy with her sea trials off St Abb's Head on the north coast of England on 14 March 1945. On 1 May 1946 the South African Naval Forces were reconstituted as part of the Union Defence Force, with an authorised establishment of 60 officers and 806 ratings. Its fleet consisted of three LOCH class frigates, two boom defence vessels (HMSAS Barbrake and HMSAS Barcross), one minelayer (HMSAS Spindrift) and 11 harbour defence motor launches. Six years later this had grown to 132 officers and 1 499 ratings and two fleet minesweepers, two destroyers and a surveying ship had been added to the fleet. On 1 Janury 1951 the SA Naval Forces became the SA Navy. During the Second World War (1939-1945), 78 South Africans were also seconded to the Royal Marines. The SA Corps of Marines was formed in 1951 and was composed of coast and anti-aircraft artillery regiments. However, when coast artillery became obsolete in 1955 the Corps was disbanded. In 1955 the Simon's Town Agreement was signed by Great Britain and South Africa. In terms of the agreement the SA Navy agreed to purchase additional ships from Great Britain and the Simon's Town base and Naval Dockyard were handed over to South Africa on 2 April 1957. The SA Navy's main naval base also moved from Durban to Simon's Town and the Naval Headquarters moved to Simon's Town from Pretoria where it remained until 1976, when it returned to Pretoria. During the fifties and sixties, as part of the Simon's Town Agreement, South Africa also purchased five seaward defence boats, ten TON class coastal minesweepers, one Type 15 frigate (the SAS Vrystaat) and three Type 12 frigates (the PRESIDENT class ships: the SAS President Pretorius, the SAS President Kruger and the SAS President Steyn) from Great Britain. These ships, together with the two previously acquired British W class destroyers (the SAS Jan van Riebeeck and the SAS Simon van der Stel), then formed the nucleus of the SA Navy. During this period and well into the seventies these warships as well as the SAS Tafelberg and the new SAS Protea, officially called at many ports in Africa, Europe, Austrialia, North and South America during goodwill visits and delivery voyages where these "grey diplomats", as they became known, showed the South African flag with distinction. The South African Navy established a submarine branch in 1970 with three French-built DAPHNE class submarines, the SAS Maria van Riebeeck, the SAS Emily Hob-house and the SAS Johanna van der Merwe. A submarine basin, workshop, marine lift and headquarters unit (the SAS Hugo Biermann) were built on land reclaimed from the sea during 1970-1972, and later, in 1980, the total surface area of the harbour was more than doubled by the completion of the P.W. Botha tidal basin. It can now accommodate more than 50 vessels of different sizes at any one time. When Mr Harold Wilson's Labour Government unilateraly abrogated the Simon's Town Agreement on 16 June 1975, the SA Navy was forced to abandon its role as a guardian of the Cape Sea Route for the West and now concentrates on protecting South Africa's coastline and its own maritime interests. Marines were revived as a branch of the SA Navy in 1979. It is a function of this branch to help protect South Africa's harbours and naval installations against terrorist attacks or sabotage from land or sea as well as having an amphibious function. They also manned the boats which patrolled the Zambezi from Katima Mulilo and served in an infantry role in the SWA operational area until 1988. The Strike Craft Flotilla commissioned in 1980, now has nine missile-carrying MINISTER class strike craft. These fast and lethal warships are armed with Skerpioen surface-to-surface guided missiles, two 76 mm guns and smaller close-range guns. They were built in Durban and are named after former Ministers of Defence. The strike craft have conducted numerous successful live missile-firing exercises at surface targets off the South African coast. The first locally-built replenishment vessel, and to date the largest ship completely designed and built in the Republic specifically for the South African Navy, the SAS Drakensberg was launched in Durban on 24 April 1986 by Mrs Elize Botha, wife of the State President. The SAS Drakensberg is 147 metres long and has a displacement capacity of 6 000 ton (empty) and 12 500 ton (deadweight). The ship is able to carry 5 500 ton fuel and 750 ton dry cargo and ammunition. The SAS Drakensberg was handed over to the SA Navy in Durban in October 1987 by the shipyard and was commissioned in Cape Town on 11 November 1987. Shortly afterwards, the Navy's first replenishment vessel, the SAS Tafelberg, in company with the strike craft, the SAS Jim Fouche helped in the search for survivors and wreckage of the SAA Boeing which crashed into the Indian Ocean near Mauritius. Another operation, which together with the search off Mauritius greatly enhanced the SA Navy's international prestige, was the historic first visit of South Africa's warships - the new replenishment vessel, the SAS Drakensberg, and the strike craft, SAS Frans Erasmus to four Chilean ports in the Pacific Ocean in March 1988. Later that year the SAS Drakensberg also twice visited Beira to offload equipment for the Mozambican authorities. During 1988 the S A Navy was closely associated with the Dias festivities. A highlight was the first Presidential fleet review of sixteen naval ships and submarines at anchor in Mossel Bay. On this occasion the new RIVER class mine countermeasure (MCM) vessels were introduced to the public for the first time. A highly successful naval exercise, Exercise Magersfontein, took place at Walvis Bay in September and October 1988. It was the largest peacetime naval exercise ever to be held by the SA Navy and clearly demonstrated the Navy's ability to support naval operations far from its usual bases, as well as the amphibious role of its marines, operating from the SAS Tafelberg. The first DAPHNE class submarine of the SA Navy to be modernised and upgraded in the Naval Dockyard in Simon's Town, the SAS Emily Hobhouse, successfully completed her sea trials when it sunk a derelict trawler used as a target off Cape Point in January 1989. A process of rationalisation has seen the SA Navy streamlined into two area Commands, namely Naval Command West with its headquarters at Silvermine in the Cape, and Naval Command East with its headquarters on the Bluff in Durban. Naval Headquarters remains in Pretoria. |
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