Publication: defence THINK!
Issued:
Date: 2006-01-27
Reporter: Leon Engelbrecht
Reporter:
Reporter:
| Publication |
defence THINK! |
| Date |
2006-01-27 |
|
Reporter
|
Leon Engelbrecht |
S101, South Africa’s new Type 209 MOD1400 submarine has
suffered an unspecified technical malfunction during a training exercise in
waters off Norway, the SA Navy said this week. A German Navy team was on board
at the time, spokesman Rear Admiral (JG) Rusty Higgs said. The work up was in
preparation for the submarine returning to South Africa early next
month.
Higgs said none of the 37 crew or five Germans aboard was injured
in the incident and that the SSK returned to Kiel, Germany under her own power.
"At this stage we do not have the picture yet... it's a little bit too early,"
Higgs told DSD on Friday. "We were told that there was a technical malfunction
and in the spirit of the people's navy we are keeping people in the picture," he
said. Higgs expects the boat's mid-February voyage to South Africa slip slightly
to the left as the boat is currently in the care of shipbuilders HDW.
The South African Navy’s combat support ship (AOR) SAS Drakensberg
(A301) sailed from Cape Town on January 17 to escort the boat home. The planned
date of departure was February 13. “Following a stop-over in Rota in Spain
between February 22 and 25 the long haul will begin with the estimated time of
arrival in South Africa currently being 22 March,” the Navy said in an earlier
statement. DSD’s correspondent has been invited along for the Kiel – Rota leg of
the trip.*
Chief of the Navy Vice Admiral Refiloe Mudimu believes
submarines are a major force multiplier and a vital asset to the fleet. “We are
looking forward to welcoming the submarine and her crew back home where they
will work up in local waters before commencing the operational duties that we
have planned for them”. He said that the arrival of S101 would signal the
revitalisation of the SA Navy’s submarine service that has been lacking since
the withdrawal of the now-decommissioned Daphne-class submarines - the last of
which was taken out of service in November 2003.
The highly successful
Type 209 submarine, currently in service in 13 navies worldwide, is ideally
suited for operations off the South African coastline. “This voyage will not
only test the SA Navy’s ability to operate submarines for such long distance
deployments, but also our ability to support them away from home base for
extended periods”. S101 was launched by struggle veteran Dr Ruth Mompati in
Kiel, Germany, on the June 15, 2004. She was handed over to the SA Navy on
September 20, 2005 and commissioned under the command of Commander Gary
Kretschmer in Kiel on November 3, last year. With acknowledgements to Leon Engelbrecht and defence THINK!