South Africa
SA submarine outwits NATO
2007-9-4 21:12
Atlantic Ocean - A lone South African submarine has left some North Atlantic Treaty Organisation commanders with red faces on Tuesday as it "sank" all the ships of the Nato Maritime Group engaged in exercises with the SA Navy off the Cape Coast.
The S101 - or the SAS Manthatisi - not only evaded detection by a joint NATO and SA Navy search party, comprising several ships combing the search area with radar and sonar; it also sank all the ships in the fleet taking part.
Several times during the exercise that lasted throughout Monday night and Tuesday morning a red square lit up the screens where the surface ships thought the submarine was, but it remained elusive.
This gave Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota something to brag about when he landed on the SAS Amatola to speak to the media on Tuesday.
"To be able to frustrate detection by NATO nations is no mean achievement; it speaks of the excellence of the equipment we required for this purpose."
And while this left one of the world's strongest military alliances frustrated, it was also a sign that the group had a capable partner in Africa, Lekota said.
"With sustained co-operation with foreign forces such as NATO, we are well positioned to respond to any unforeseen circumstances that may confront either ourselves or other regions," he said.
Lekota was quite clear that a working relationship with NATO was desired.
"They have a partner of reliable capability because we are forging working relations, we are building mutual confidence for what can be done and what we can do together as NATO and SA or as NATO and Southern African nations," Lekota said.
These sentiments were echoed by the commander of the NATO maritime group. Rear Admiral Mahon, who said the deployment would see the group sailing right around Africa.
"I can't speak for what the future will hold but certainly this was valuable. Africa is a strategic continent. The freedom of the seas, energy, security, they are all critical issue to NATO countries," he said.
The exercises would continue till the end of the week and would include live fire exercises, ship to ship refuelling, search and seizure exercises.
SAPA
http://www.navy.mil.za/archive/0709/070 ... rticle.htm
Day two of exercise AMAZOLO.
Article by Lt Cdr P.G. van den Berg
Photos by Lt Cdr P.G. van den Berg and PO Street (US Navy Staff Photographer).
Day 2 of Exercise AMAZOLO (04 Sep 07) was the day on which the South African Navy (SAN) measured itself against the best in the world – and won!
The SAN submarine, SAS ‘MANTHATISI managed to penetrate an anti-submarine screen of 7 ships (which included the VALOUR CLASS frigates SAS AMATOLA and SAS ISANDLWANA) undetected and “sank” the high value target that the screen was trying to protect. After this she turned on the protecting screen and managed to “sink” the balance of the remaining surface ships.The South African media, and indeed the public at large, are celebrating the fact that the SA Navy has proven to be equal – and in some instances superior – to some of the best Navy vessels afloat. The new vessels acquired by the South African government are proving their worth and the SA Navy are using them to reaffirm its ability to effectively protect South Africa’s maritime interests off the Cape of Storms.
The significance of this for the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), and the SAN in particular is profound. The force-multiplying effect of a submarine was clearly demonstrated during this exercise. This proves that the area off Cape Point is an ideal submarine hunting area – and our submarines crews are good hunters indeed!
In addition to the successes achieved by the submarine, there were also other serials where both the frigates and the WARRIOR CLASS Strike Craft, SAS GALESHEWE performed very well indeed. Both frigates participated in a number of complex anti-surface evolutions. There were also a simulated attack by the SAS GALESHEWE, boarding exercises between various ships
(SAS AMATOLA was “boarded” by marines from NRP ALVARES CABRAL) and helicopter exercises.
The Minister of Defence, Mr M. Lekota, flew to SAS AMATOLA and hosted a media conference for the various media members embedded on the NATO ships. During the media conference he reaffirmed that the SA Navy is a force to reckoned with. Speaking about the feats of SAS ‘MANTHATISI, Mr Lekota said: “To be able to frustrate detection by NATO nations is no mean achievement, it speaks of the excellence of the equipment we acquired for this purpose”.
The regard that the crews of the NATO vessels have for the SAN has also increased tremendously during the past few days. The successes achieved by the SAN clearly demonstrates the high level of training and the proficiency of our crews the properly handle the advanced ships and weapon systems that we can boast with in the SAN.
The rest of today (05 Sep 07) will comprise of more exercise serials such as gunnery exercises where the ships will shoot at a simulated air and surface target, as well as other fleet work evolutions.
The Lynx helicopter from NRP ALVARES CABRAL takes off from the flight deck of SAS AMATOLA.
SAS 'MANTHATISI really proved herself against the NATO vessels.
NATO Task Force Arrives in Cape Town.
http://www.navy.mil.za/archive/0708/070 ... rticle.htmAlvares Cabral arrives in Cape Town
STAY TUNED!!!!
http://www.navy.mil.za/archive/0709/070 ... rticle.htm 
