Publication: Cape Argus Issued: Date: 2008-05-27 Reporter: Sapa

Lekota: Shortage of Sub Crews 'Fallacious'

 

Publication 

Cape Argus
Date

2008-05-27
Reporter Sapa

Web Link

www.capeargus.co.za


Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota on Tuesday rejected claims that the South African navy only has enough qualified crew to operate one of its new state-of-the-art submarines.

"I don't know what is the source of the information that we can only operate one submarine... that is absolutely fallacious," he told a media briefing at parliament.

"Each one of the submarines we've got has a full complement of personnel.

"How will they be at sea, all three of them, if we only had the ability to operate only one of them? *1" Lekota asked.

Crews had been in training even as the submarines were being built over the past few years.

Each submarine handed over to South Africa by the builders in Germany, had been sailed to South Africa by SA navy personnel trained and ready to operate them.

"And that's why they are commissioned now and operating," Lekota said.

In any event, now that all three submarines had been commissioned, additional crews would also be trained to operate them, he said.

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With acknowledgements to Sapa and Cape Argus.


*1       How indeed?


While I am certainly not the source of the article that the SA Navy has insufficient crews to properly man its four frigates and three submarines, this is something that I hear quite regularly.

One thing is for sure though, is that the SA Navy has insufficient funds to operate and support its four frigates and three submarines.

Submarine crews are especially hard to find, train and keep.

Also, a vessel requires more than just one crew to operate maximally and even optimally.

It is quite possible that "each one of the submarines we've got has a full complement of personnel", but that does not mean that the submarine flotilla is properly or fully manned to operate all of its assets at the required operational level.

As manning is the biggest single cost factor in supporting major weapon systems such as surface combatants and submarines, it stands to reason that manning is a problem.

Other than the cost of manning, there are the problems of staff competence and staff erosion. These are unquestionably critical problem that the SA Navy faces right now - I know because we are directly involved with these matters on a day-to-day basis.