Rearuh

South African Navy
Founded	1851[Note 1]
Country	South Africa
Type	Navy
Size	7,702[1] (active) 1,000 (reserve)
Part of	South African National Defence Force
Garrison/HQ	Saldanha Bay, Simon's Town, Durban, South Africa
Colors	Green and white
Commanders
Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs	Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula
Chief of the Navy	Vice Admiral Mosuwa Samuel Hlongwane
Master at Arms of the Navy	Senior Chief Warrant Officer Matee Molefe[2]
Notable commanders	ADM Hugo Biermann
Insignia
Naval ensign
Naval jack

The South African Navy (SAN) is the naval warfare branch of the South African National Defence Force. The role of the navy is to prepare for and to conduct naval operations in defence of the South African state, its citizens and interests and to carry out peacetime operations in support of other national objectives.^[3]

Other tasks include the maintenance, preservation and the provision of naval services in support of other state departments and authorities, including search and rescue, protection of maritime resources, and diplomatic sea transport support.

History

The South African Navy can trace its official origins back to the SA Naval Service, which was established on 15 November 1921. Unofficially, however, the SAN can trace its history even further back, to the Natal Naval Volunteers (NNV), which was formed in Durban on 30 April 1885 as well as to the Cape Naval Volunteers (CNV), which was formed in Cape Town in 1905. On 1 July 1913 these two units were amalgamated to form the South African Division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR). During World War I a total of 164^[4] members of the RNVR (SA) served in the Royal Navy (RN) and a total of 412 South Africans served in the RNVR (SA) during the war, while the naval base at Simon's Town played a strategic role to the Allies.

The first ships acquired (on permanent loan from the Royal Navy)^[5] by the newly formed navy were HMSAS Protea (a hydrographic survey vessel), HMSAS Sonneblom and HMSAS Immortelle (both minesweeping trawlers). However the Great Depression meant the government had to cut back and the ships acquired by the Navy were handed back to the Royal Navy (HMSAS Protea in 1933 and the remaining ships in 1934).

World War II

When World War II broke out the South African Naval Service was virtually non-existent, with only three officers and three ratings. In January 1940 a new naval unit, called the Seaward Defence Force, was formed.^[6]:338Rear-Admiral Guy Hallifax CMG, who had retired in South Africa from the Royal Navy, was appointed Director of the Seaward Defence Force.^[7] This unit was to be responsible for operating minesweepers and anti-submarine ships, and undertaking other duties including inspection and signalling in South African waters. From 1941 a number of SDF antisubmarine trawlers served in the Mediterranean.^[8]

The Seaward Defence Force and the South African RNVR were consolidated on 1 August 1942 to form the South African Naval Forces (SANF).^[9] Due to the strong Royal Navy influence on its origins, South African naval forces used Royal Navy ranks.

Post World War II

On 1 May 1946 the SANF was reconstituted as part of the Union Defence Force. It was renamed 'South African Navy' on 1 July 1951.^[10] The title of HMSAS (His Majesty's South African Ship) was changed to SAS (South African Ship) in 1952,^[11] and the Crown in the SAN cap badge was replaced with the Lion of Nassau from the crest of the country's coat of arms in 1959, two years before South Africa became a republic.

In 1947, the SANF acquired three additional ships: the Algerine-class minesweepers HMSAS Rosamund (later renamed HMSAS Bloemfontein), HMSAS Pelorus (later renamed HMSAS Pietermaritzburg), and the Flower-class corvette HMSAS Rockrose (later converted into a hydrographic survey ship and renamed HMSAS Protea). The SAN's first destroyer, SAS Jan van Riebeeck (the former British W-class destroyer HMS Wessex) was transferred to South Africa on 29 March 1950.^[12] The SAN's second destroyer, SAS Simon van der Stel (the former HMS Whelp, and a sister-ship of the Jan van Riebeeck), was handed over to the Navy on 23 February 1953.

Meanwhile, negotiations were taking place between the British and South African governments on the future of the Royal Navy's base at Simon's Town. The outcome of these talks was that the base was transferred to the Union on 2 April 1957 under the terms of the Simonstown Agreement, and that the Navy would purchase four additional frigates, ten coastal minesweepers and five seaward defence boats from Britain. In 1963 the first of the Type-12 President-class frigates were delivered^[13] and in 1970 the Navy received the first of its three Daphné-class submarines from France, the first of which being named SAS Maria van Riebeeck, after Jan van Riebeeck's Walloon wife.

Political unrest in Soweto and elsewhere prompted the apartheid government to take even sterner measures in an attempt to keep the opposition under control which in turn led to a mandatory arms embargo against South Africa in 1977. As a result of this, two corvettes and two Agosta-class submarines^[14] that had been ordered for the Navy were not delivered. Instead, South Africa covertly ordered the Warrior-class strike craft from Israel, with three being built in Israel and six in South Africa.^[15]

In 1977 the then Chief of the South African Defence Force changed the Navy's focus to that of a coastal navy and as the Border War began to escalate, the Navy's budget was cut dramatically.^[16] The Border conflict ended in April 1989 and was followed by cutbacks in all arms of the South African Defence Force and the Navy had to retrench approximately 23% of its personnel,^[17] the South African Marines were disbanded and the two Naval Commands (Naval Command East and Naval Command West) were closed, as were the Naval Bases Cape Town and Walvis Bay.^[18]

Post 1994

After the first democratic elections in South Africa, the South African Navy once again started showing the flag around the world and began participating in exercises with other navies.^[19] In 1997 the South African Navy celebrated 75 years with 15 countries sending ships for the festivities.^[20]

The need to re-equip the Navy was addressed by what is known as the Arms Deal and the Navy acquired four frigates (the South African Air Force also acquired helicopters for the frigates) as well as three submarines.^[21]

The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) was located in a bunker at Silvermine.^[22] In 2004 this function passed from the Department of Defence to the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), an agency of the Department of Transport (South Africa). The MRCC is located within the SAMSA Centre for Sea Watch and Response.^[23]

A budget of roughly R2.55 billion ($303 million at 2012 exchange rates) was allocated for the Navy for the 2012–2013 fiscal year.^[24] Despite an updated fleet, AllAfrica reported in December 2010 that the navy's capabilities are limited and it would have difficulty contributing to anti-piracy efforts off Somalia.^[25]AllAfrica reported in January 2011 that with the navy's current budget it would only be able to put one frigate and support ship to sea at any given time. It was thought that such a deployment would deplete the 2011 annual operational budget.^[25][26]

The Navy conducts several naval warfare and patrol exercises per year despite its budget problems such as Exercise Red Lion. It regularly participates in exercises with other national navies such as the United States Navy (Exercise Shared Accord/Southern Accord), NATO naval battlegroups (Exercise Amazolo), German Navy (the biennial Exercise Good Hope), Royal Navy (several ad hoc exercises when ships visit South African waters),^[27]Indian Navy (the biennial Exercise Ibsamar), National Navy of Uruguay and the Brazilian Navy (Exercises Atlasur and Ibsamar).^[28] At least one or two Valour-class frigates and one Heroine-class submarine takes part in these multinational exercises, usually along with aircraft support from the South African Air Force.^[29] The Navy has also provided security for the 2010 FIFA World Cup by deploying three frigates to the coastal waters off the cities of Durban, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town. The frigates' sophisticated air and sea surveillance radars allowed them to provide security for the events taking place along the coast.^[30]

In recent years several decommissioned Warrior-class strikecraft were refurbished by Simons Town Dockyard and recommissioned as offshore patrol vessels (OPVs). Their aged Skerpioen missile launchers were removed, providing extra room for a small RHIB boat and a small contingent of seaborne commandos to board suspect vessels. Reclassed as OPVs, these vessels are armed with one or two OTO Melara 76 mm naval artillery gun as well as a pair of 20 mm guns and a pair of 12.7 mm heavy machine guns. Three of the former strikecraft were refurbished and are commissioned as SAS Isaac Dyobha, SAS Galeshewe and SAS Makhanda. A fourth vessel, SAS Adam Kok, is being considered for refurbishment.^[31] However, as of August 2014 it appears unlikely that this fourth vessel will be converted, though its fate remains undetermined.^[32]
The South African Navy Director Force Preparation has also said that they hope to use these craft as training vessels for the naval training base SAS Saldanha. A further four ex-Mine Hunter vessels are also being operated in the OPV role. These include SAS Umkomaas, SAS Umhloti, SAS Umzimkulu and SAS Umgeni. Rear Admiral Hanno Teuteberg, Chief Director Maritime Strategy, said in 2013 that the early Indications are that the life of the OPV vessels can be extended for at least five or more years, to coincide with Project Biro, the new build Offshore/Inshore patrol vessel project.^[33]

The Navy currently has a warship deployed in the Mozambique Channel to support the anti-piracy initiative, Operation Copper, which aims to dissuade pirates from operating in Southern African waters. The Operation has been running since 2011 after several ships were attacked by pirates in the area. All of the Navy’s Valour-class frigates have been deployed in the region on rotation since the operation first began. The refurbished Warrior-class OPVs have also been deployed several times. The Navy’s single replenishment vessel SAS Drakensberg (A301) has also spent time on station. The vessels are supported by a C-47TP maritime patrol aircraft and rotary-winged aircraft including Super Lynx and Oryx helicopters from the South African Air Force. In addition to ship’s crews the Navy has also deployed elements of its Maritime Reaction Squadron (MRS) aboard vessels in the Mozambique Channel.^[34]

Naval Base Durban, previously downgraded to a naval station in 2002, is being upgraded to a fully-fledged naval base to house the newly refurbished Warrior-class Offshore Patrol Vessels, as well as those to be procured through Project Biro in the future. Rear Admiral Mosuwa Hlongwane commented that "The re-establishment of the naval base on Salisbury Island is on track and the OPVs will be stationed in Durban. As this facility is in the heart of South Africa’s busiest harbour, a balance has to be found between commercial and defence requirements in the ever-growing Durban port". This also gives the South African Navy an operating base from which it can more effectively conduct missions along the South African Eastern coast and in the Indian Ocean. In December 2015 the facility was redesignated a naval base.^[35]

Decommissioned ships

Marines

The South Africa Marine Corps was set up as a sub-branch of the Navy in 1979,^[6]:339 with the primary purpose of protecting harbours. Marines were also deployed at Katima Mulilo in South West Africa during the South African Border War, where they were responsible for patrolling the Zambezi River. The Marines also acted as regular infantry at the Border until 1988 as well as performing counter-insurgency operations inside South Africa. During township duties in the mid-1980s the detachment used facilities at SAS Rand in Johannesburg and on Signal Hill outside of Heidelberg. The Marines had an amphibious landing capability by operating from Tafelberg and Drakensberg. An elite company, named the Marine Amphibious Company (MAC), was formed to ensure the beach-head capability for landing large task forces. The Marines trained and fielded a small elite reconnaissance detachment between 1983 and 1989, under the direct control of the Marine CO, they received airborne, diver and urban counter measures training from other army units within the SADF.

The Marines were disbanded on 18 January 1990,^[36] following a major restructuring of the Navy at the end of the South African Border War.

A Maritime Reaction Squadron was established in 2005, which is effectively a marine corps.

Naval ensign

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Command, control & organisation

The command structure is depicted below.^[37][38] The Chief of the Navy, based at Navy Headquarters at the Navy Office (SAS Immortelle) located in Pretoria, heads up 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.

Chief of the SA Navy Vice Adm M.S. Hlongwane[39]
Deputy Chief Navy R Adm D.G. Jamieson[40]	Chief of Naval Staff R Adm Asiel E. Kubu[40]	Chief Director Maritime Strategy R Adm D.M. Mkhonto[41]	Flag Officer Fleet R Adm Bubele Kiti Mhlana[39][42]
Director Maritime Plans R Adm (JG) W van Nieker[39]	Director Naval Personnel R Adm (JG) J.S. Matshimane[40]	Director Maritime Warfare R Adm (JG) Douglas Faure	Chief of Fleet Staff R Adm (JG) Leslie Katerinic	Director Fleet Force Preparation RAdm(JG) Solly Petersen
Inspector General (SA Navy) R Adm (JG) M. Nkomonde[40]	Director Naval Logistics R Adm (JG) F A Hans [39]	Director Maritime Intelligence R Adm (JG) N.S. Gumede[39]	Director Fleet Logistics R Adm (JG) Joseph Ikaneng[43]	Director Fleet Human Resources R Adm (JG) L. Metu[39]
Naval Budget Manager Mrs R. Mamaguvhi[39]	Director Naval Transformation R Adm (JG) E. Masanabo[39]	Director Maritime Diplomacy & Strategy R Adm (JG) M.J. Josias[39]	Director Naval Engineering Services R Adm (JG) Kevin J. Watson[39]	Flag Officer Commanding R Adm (JG) J. Dlamini[39]
Director Naval Reserves R Adm (JG) R. Ndabambi[39]			Director Fleet Quality Assurance Capt (SAN) Kevin Packer[39]

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.^[44]

Four directorates are responsible for the day to day control of Fleet Command:^[45]

• 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

The Navy operates the following Naval Bases:^[46]

• 
  Naval Base Simon's Town – the only full naval base currently in the SAN. All combat units have been concentrated here in an attempt to curb costs. The base also houses training facilities for the new frigates and submarines. A naval dockyard is also situated here, although it is in the process of being privatised.

• 
  Naval Base Durban – Naval Base Durban, built during the Second World War, was scaled down to a naval station in 2002 with the rationalisation of the fleet. In April 2013 it was announced that the base would be re-opened and upgraded to assist with the piracy mission on Africa's East coast and to establish a permanent fleet presence on the East Coast.^[47] In December 2015 it was redesignated a naval base.^[35]
  


• Naval Station Port Elizabeth – provides support to the fleet.

Training units

• 
  SAS SALDANHA – located on the West Coast and provides training and development for ratings.^[48]
  


• 
  SAS WINGFIELD – located in the Greater Cape Town area. Provides practical training for apprentices and the technical musterings^[49]
  


• SAS SIMONSBERG– training in gunnery, anti-submarine warfare, communications, diving and seamanship, which includes:
  
  
  
  • Maritime Warfare Training Centre, Simon's Town
  
  
  • Submarine Training Centre, East Yard, Simon's Town^[50]
    
  
  
  • Nuclear, Biological, Chemical, Damage Control Training Centre, Simon's Town.
  
  
  • Military Training Centre, West Yard, Simon's Town^[51]
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  South African Naval College, Gordon's Bay – training college for naval officers.

Personnel

As at 1 September 2011^[50] there are approximately 6,104 active uniformed members augmented by 1,313 civilians and 1,000 reserve members. The seven old Navy Reserve units were closed down during 2006. They were modelled on the Royal Naval Reserve unit system. A new Navy Reserve system was created consisting of roughly 1,000 reserve posts. These posts are pooled and members drawn from them as needed to augment full-time units and ships' companies.

Uniforms

From 1922 to the 1950s the SA Navy was effectively part of the Royal Navy and wore the same uniforms and similar insignia. In 1959 the Crown in the SAN cap badge was replaced with the Lion of Nassau from the crest of the country's coat of arms. A black beret replaced the peaked cap in working uniforms.^[52]

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.^[53] This saw new rank insignia for non commissioned officers being implemented as well as the introduction of a side cap.

Ranks

The rank system is based on that of the UK's Royal Navy.^[54]

Officers

Equivalent NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D) and student officer
South Africa (Edit)	No equivalent
			Admiral		Vice admiral		Rear admiral		Rear admiral (junior grade)		Captain		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Sub lieutenant			Ensign			Midshipman

Warrant officers and other ranks

Equivalent NATO code	WO-5	WO-4	WO-3	WO-2	WO-1
South Africa (Edit)
	Master chief warrant officer	Senior chief warrant officer	Chief warrant officer	Master warrant officer	Senior warrant officer

The warrant officer ranks were expanded in 2008,^[55] with ranks that had been substantive based on the post now becoming a rank that the person maintained.

Equivalent NATO code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
South Africa (Edit)																	No equivalent										No equivalent								No equivalent
	Warrant officer class 1						Warrant officer class 2		Chief petty officer		Petty officer												Leading seaman						Able seaman

Ships and weapons

Ships

Combat fleet

Image	Class/name	Type	Number	Entered service
	Heroine class	Submarine	3	2005[56]
	Valour class	Frigate	4	2004[57]
	Warrior class	Offshore patrol vessel	3[58][59]	1979[60]
	River-class minehunter	Mine counter measures vessels/ Offshore Patrol Vessel	4[58][59]	1981[61]
	T class	Inshore patrol vessel	3	1992[60]
	Namacurra class	Harbour patrol boat	21	1981[60]

Support fleet

Image	Class/name	Type	Number	Entered service
	SAS Drakensberg	Replenishment vessel	1	1987[62]
	SAS Protea	Hecla-class survey vessel	1	1972[62] (due to be replaced)
	Tugboat	Coastal & Harbour tugs	5	1995–2016 [63]
	Lima-class utility landing craft	Landing Craft Utility	6	1990[64]

Air force maritime aircraft

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

• 1 × Atlas Oryx – medium utility helicopter (deployed on the SAS Drakensberg)^[65]
  


• 4 × Westland Super Lynx 300 Mk64 – ASW and ASuW helicopter (deployed on the Valour-class frigates)^[65]
  

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 SAN in the anti-submarine warfare role.

Naval weapons systems

Weapon systems of the South African Navy
Type	Manufacturer	Model	Platform
Anti-ship missile	MBDA	Exocet MM40 Block 2[66]	Valour-class frigate (8 missiles in 2 quad-packed launchers)
Surface-to-air missile	Denel Dynamics	Umkhonto IR Block 2[67]	Valour-class frigate (16/32 missiles in a vertical launching system)
Torpedo	Atlas Elektronik	533mm (21") Atlas Elektronik SUT 264 heavyweight torpedo	Heroine-class submarine (8 bow tubes with 14 torpedoes)
Naval gun	Oto Melara/Otobreda	OTO Melara 76mm/62 compact	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	Valour-class frigate (2 GA35 rapid-fire automatic cannons mounted side by side in an unmanned low radar observable turret)
Autocannon	Oerlikon	Oerlikon 20 mm cannon	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	Valour-class frigate (2 Reutech Rogue turrets), Warrior-class Offshore Patrol Vessel (2 guns), SAS Drakensberg (6 guns), River-class minehunter (2 guns), T Craft-class inshore patrol vessel (1 gun), Namacurra-class harbour patrol boat (1 gun)
7.62mm General purpose machine gun	Browning Arms Company, FN Herstal or Denel Land Systems	Browning M1919, FN MAG or Vektor SS-77	Namacurra-class harbour patrol boat (2 guns)

Maritime Reaction Squadron

The Maritime Reaction Squadron provides an amphibious, diving and small boat capability to the Navy,^[68] deploying infantry-trained South African Navy personnel in various peacekeeping roles within the African continent and to assist in boarding operations at sea, humanitarian operations and disaster relief.^[68] The Maritime Reaction Squadron was formed as the Naval Rapid Deployment Force (NRDF) in 2005.^[69]

The squadron consists of the following components:

• 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.^[70]
  

See also

• Military history of South Africa


• South African military ranks


• List of South African military chiefs


• 
  Simonstown Agreement (1955–1975) between the UK and South Africa.


• South African environmental patrol vessels


• South African Naval Museum

Notes

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Navy of South Africa.

• South African Navy home page


• Ships of the South African Navy, Past & Present


• South African Navy uniform regulations