List of active South African Navy ships

This is a list of active South African Navy ships. As of 2023, there are approximately 49 ships in commission including: 4 frigates, 3 submarines, 2 minesweepers, 1 replenishment vessel, 1 survey vessel, 5 tugboats and 33 patrol vessels.

Naval ensign of South Africa

Submarine fleet

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Class Image Type Boats No. Comm. Displacement Base Notes
Submarines (3 in service)
Heroine class   Diesel-electric attack submarine SAS Manthatisi S101 2006[1][2] 1,654 tonnes Naval Base Simon's Town Built by Howaldtswerke at Kiel. Launched in June 2004.[3]
SAS Charlotte Maxeke S102 2007[4] 1,654 tonnes Naval Base Simon's Town Built by Thyssen Nordseewerke in Emden. Launched in May 2005.[5]
SAS Queen Modjadji S103 2008 1,654 tonnes Naval Base Simon's Town Built by Thyssen Nordseewerke in Emden. Launched in May 2006.[6]

Surface fleet

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Class Image Type Ships No. Comm. Displacement Base Notes
Frigates (4 in service)
Valour class   Multi-purpose stealth guided-missile frigate SAS Amatola F145 2005 3,759 tonnes Naval Base Simon's Town Built by Blohm + Voss in Hamburg. Launched in June 2002.
SAS Isandlwana F146 2006 3,759 tonnes Naval Base Simon's Town Built by Howaldtswerke in Kiel. Launched in December 2002.
SAS Spioenkop F147 2007 3,759 tonnes Naval Base Simon's Town Built by Blohm + Voss in Hamburg. Launched in August 2003.
SAS Mendi F148 2007 3,759 tonnes Naval Base Simon's Town Built by Howaldtswerke in Kiel. Launched in October 2003.
Patrol vessels (33 in service)
Warrior class strike craft   Offshore patrol vessel SAS Makhanda P1569 1986[7] 450 tonnes Naval Base Durban Built by Sandock-Austral, Durban, South Africa.
Warrior class   Multi-role patrol vessel SAS King Sekhukhune I P1571 2022 1,031 tonnes Naval Base Durban Built by Damen shipyards in Cape Town.[8]
SAS King Shaka Zulu P1572 2023 -
SAS Adam Kok P1573 2024 -
T class   Inshore patrol vessel SAS Tobie P1552 1992 37 tonnes - Built by T-Craft International in Cape Town.
SAS Tern P1553 1996 37 tonnes - Built by T-Craft International in Cape Town.
SAS Tekwane P1554 1996 37 tonnes - Built by T-Craft International in Cape Town.
Namacurra class   Harbour patrol boats 26 boats - 1981-1982 4 tonnes - Built in South Africa by Tornado Products in 1980–81.
Mine countermeasures (2 in service)
River class   Minesweeper / patrol vessel SAS Umkomaas M1499 1981 390 tonnes - Built by Abeking & Rasmussen, Germany. Named after the river Umkomaas, KwaZulu-Natal.
SAS Umzimkulu M1142 1981 390 tonnes - Built by Sandock-Austral, Durban, South Africa. Named after Umzimkulu River.

Auxiliary fleet

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Class Image Type Ships No. Comm. Displacement Base Notes
Replenishment (1 in service)
AOR   Fleet replenishment ship SAS Drakensberg A301 1987 12,500 tonnes - Fleet Replenishment Ship (AOR). Built by Sandock Austral, Durban. Is the largest and most sophisticated vessel to be constructed in South Africa.
Miscellaneous (1 in service)
Hecla class   Hydrographic survey vessel SAS Protea A324 1972 2,750 tonnes - Specialist Hydrographic Survey Vessel. Built by Yarrow & Co Ltd, Glasgow, Scotland. Launched 1971. Replacement under construction.[9]
Tugboats (5 in service)
Tug SAS Umalusi - - - Completed in 1995 by Jaya Holding Ltd. Acquired from Taikong Trading Company in January 1997[10]
Damen Stan Tug 2006 Tug Indlovu - 2006 - Naval Base Simon's Town Built by Farocean Marine to a design from Dutch firm Damen Group—the vessels have special bows for handling the Navy's submarines.[11]
Tug Tschukundu - 2006 - Naval Base Simon's Town Built by Farocean Marine to a design from Dutch firm Damen Group—the vessels have special bows for handling the Navy's submarines.[11]
Damen ATD 2909 Coastal   Tug Imvubu - 2015 - - Built by Damen Shipyard Cape Town, based on proven Royal Navy Design - SERCO[12]
Inyathi - 2016 - - Built by Damen Shipyard Cape Town, based on proven Royal Navy Design - SERCO[13]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Schmidt, Michael (8 April 2006). "Warrior queen arrives in Simon's Town". The Independent on Saturday. p. 2. Retrieved 8 April 2006.
  2. ^ "S-101 Commissioned" (Press release). South African Navy. 3 November 2005. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2007.
  3. ^ "SSK Manthatisi Class (Type 209/1400) Attack Submarine". Naval Technology. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  4. ^ "South African Navy Commissions Charlotte Maxeke". Archived from the original on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
  5. ^ "SSK Manthatisi Class (Type 209/1400) Attack Submarine". Naval Technology. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  6. ^ "SSK Manthatisi Class (Type 209/1400) Attack Submarine". Naval Technology. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  7. ^ Helfrich, Kim (24 January 2022). "End of the road for SAS Adam Kok". defenceWeb. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  8. ^ "Third SA Navy MMIPV to be christened on Friday | defenceWeb". 28 February 2024. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  9. ^ Martin, Guy (6 October 2022). "Project Hotel survey vessel delivery delayed". defenceWeb. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  10. ^ "Tugs". 5 June 2010. Archived from the original on 5 June 2010. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  11. ^ a b "Damen Shipyards Hardinxveld - Damen". www.damen.com. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  12. ^ Martin, Guy (22 April 2016). "Navy accepts new tugs into the fleet". defenceWeb. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  13. ^ Martin, Guy (22 April 2016). "Navy accepts new tugs into the fleet". defenceWeb. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
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