SAS Manthatisi

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History
Naval Ensign of South Africa.svgSouth Africa
NameSAS Manthatisi
NamesakeAn 18th Century Batlokwa chieftainess
Operator South African Navy
BuilderHowaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft, Kiel [1]
Launched15 June 2004
Commissioned3 November 2005
Homeport Simon's Town
Statusin active service
General characteristics
Type Heroine-class submarine
Displacement1,454 t, submerged
Length62 m
Beam7.6 m
Draft5.8 m
PropulsionDiesel-electric, 4 diesels, 1 shaft, 6100 shp
Speed
  • 10 knots (19 km/h), surfaced;
  • 21.5 knots (40 km/h), submerged
Range
  • 11,000 nmi. at 10 knots, surfaced,
  • (20,000 km at 20 km/h);
  • 8,000 nmi. at 10 knots, snorkeling,
  • (15,000 km at 20 km/h);
  • 400 nmi. at 4 knots, submerged
  • (740 km at 7 km/h)
Test depth500 m
Complement30
Sensors and
processing systems
Sonar: STN Atlas CSU-90; hull mounted and flank arrays

Radar: Surface search I-band

Optics: Zeiss non-hull penetrating optronic mast
Electronic warfare
& decoys
ESM: Grintek Avitronics, intercept + radar warning receiver ELINT: Saab S/UME-100 tactical electronic support measures
Armament

SAS Manthatisi (S101) is a Heroine-class submarine currently in service with the South African Navy. SAS Manthatisi is named after the female warrior chief of the Batlokwa tribe. The Executive Mayor of Naledi Local Municipality and the godmother of the S101, Dr. Ruth Segomotso Mompati, announced the name of the submarine in 2006 at a ceremony in Simon's Town. [2]

Contents

Background

South Africa placed a contract for three Type 209/1400 submarines in July 2000 on Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) and Thyssen Nordseewerke. The Type 209/1400 submarines replace the French-built Daphné-class submarines, SAS Spear, SAS Assegaai and SAS Umkhonto which were decommissioned in 2003. The Heroine class are sometimes considered to be South Africa's first "true" submarines, as they were more suited to being underwater than the Daphné models. [3] [ disputed discuss ]

Manthatisi arrived in Simon's Town on 8 April 2006, accompanied by the Valour-class frigate SAS Amatola (F145). [4]

Operational history

Exercise Amazolo, the first multi-navy exercise to involve ships of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and the South African Navy took place in September 2007. The NATO ships included the USS Normandy, German tanker Spessart, HNLMS Evertsen, HMCS Toronto, HDMS Olfert Fischer and NRP Álvares Cabral. The Manthatisi managed to penetrate an anti-submarine screen of seven ships, including the two South African Valour-class frigates SAS Amatola (F145) and SAS Isandlwana (F146) and the USS Normandy. After having ‘sunk’ the target being protected by the surface screen, the submarine turned on the surface warships and ‘sank’ each of them as well. [5]

Manthatisi was withdrawn from service in 2007 and placed in reserve as part of the SAN's plan to maintain only two out of its three submarines in service. She began a refit in 2010, and re-entered service in October 2014. [6] As of April 2023, Manthatisi had completed a Docking and Essential Defect (DED) maintenance period and was undergoing post-maintenance trials. [7] However, according to a presentation made to the Joint Standing Committee on Defence by Rear Admiral B.K. Mhlana, Deputy Chief of the Navy in May 2023, the mid-life update for the submarine, that was due to start in 2022, had not yet commenced. [8]

On 20 September 2023, Manthatisi was involved in a fatal accident en route to Table Bay from Simon's Town for the South African Navy Festival. All seven swept off board were recovered by the NSRI near Slangkop Lighthouse with 3 fatalities. [9] [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South African Navy</span> Branch of the South African National Defence Force

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Valour-class frigate South African navy frigates

The Valour class is a class of frigates built for the South African Navy. Part of the MEKO family of warships, the German shipbuilder Blohm+Voss officially designate the class as the MEKO A-200SAN.

SAS <i>Amatola</i>

SAS Amatola (F145) is the first of four Valour-class frigates for the South African Navy by the European South African Corvette Consortium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South African National Defence Force</span> Military of South Africa

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SAS <i>Isandlwana</i>

SAS Isandlwana (F146) is the second of four Valour-class frigates for the South African Navy built by the European South African Corvette Consortium. SAS Isandlwana was named after the Battle of Isandlwana at a ceremony held in Kiel in December 2002, by Deputy Defence Minister Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge.

SAS <i>Spioenkop</i>

SAS Spioenkop (F147) is the third of four Valour-class frigates for the South African Navy built by the European South African Corvette Consortium. She was named by Ms Thandi Modise, the then Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Defence, in Hamburg, Germany, on 4 June 2003.

SAS <i>Mendi</i>

SAS Mendi (F148) is the last of four Valour-class frigates built for the South African Navy by the European South African Corvette Consortium and entered service in March 2007. SAS Mendi was named by Mrs Helena Retief, wife of the (then) Chief of the Navy Vice Admiral Johan Retief.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Umkhonto (missile)</span> Short to medium range surface-to-air missile

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Heroine-class submarine Variant of the German Type 209 diesel-electric attack submarine (commissioned 2005)

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SAS <i>Assegaai</i>

SAS Assegaai, formerly known as SAS Johanna van der Merwe, was a Daphné-class submarine of the South African Navy. Decommissioned in 2003, SAS Assegaai is the only one of the former three Daphné-class submarines to have been retained for preservation as a museum boat, the other two have been cut up and sold for scrap. The Daphné-class submarines have since been replaced by the Type 209, or Heroine-class submarines.

SAS <i>Charlotte Maxeke</i> Heroine-class submarine

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SAS <i>Queen Modjadji</i>

SAS Queen Modjadji is a variant of the Type 209 diesel-electric attack submarine developed by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) of Germany, currently in service with the South African Navy. She was named after the South African Rain Queen on 14 March 2007 by the ship's sponsor, Mrs. Rita Ndzanga, at a ceremony in Emden, Germany.

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Rear Admiral Bubele Kitie Mhlana is the current serving Deputy Chief of the South African Navy, he was also the longest serving Flag Officer Fleet. He has had numerous Commands of South African warships including being the first black South African naval Officer to Command a Valour-class Frigate, the SAS ISANDLWANA F146, then later SAS MENDI F148.

SAS <i>Outeniqua</i>

SAS Outeniqua was a sealift and replenishment ship operated by the South African Navy between 1993 and 2004. During her operational career she conducted several "flag-showing" cruises to African ports and provided support for South Africa's Antarctic research program. Outeniqua was also the venue for unsuccessful peace talks between Zaire's President Mobuto Sese Seko and rebel leader Laurent Kabila in May 1997.

Rear Admiral Guy Jamieson is a retired South African Navy officer, served as Deputy Chief of the South African Navy.

S101 may refer to:

References

  1. "Fact file: Heroine-class diesel-electric submarine | DefenceWeb". Archived from the original on 18 February 2012. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  2. Letaoana, Lebohang (May 2006). "The arrival of our first submarine" (PDF). SA Soldier: 17.
  3. Engelbrecht, Leon (5 February 2008). "SA gets third submarine". ITweb. Retrieved 23 October 2008.
  4. "Warrior queen arrives in Simon's Town - South Africa - IOL | Breaking News | South Africa News | World News | Sport | Business | Entertainment | IOL.co.za". Archived from the original on 2 February 2011.
  5. "SA sub causes red faces in Nato exercise".
  6. Heitman, Helmoed-Römer (23 October 2014). "South Africa's first Type 209 sub returns to service after seven years". IHS Jane's 360. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  7. Lesedi, Sarah (13 April 2023). "South African Navy allocated R1.4 billion to refit fleet". Military Africa. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  8. "SA Navy's repair and maintenance of Frigates and Submarines; Status Update on Projects BIRO and HOTEL; with Deputy Minister". Parliamentary Monitoring Group. 18 May 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  9. Luvhengo, Phathu. "SAS Manthatisi submarine tragedy off Cape coast to be investigated". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  10. Martin, Guy (20 September 2023). "Three SA Navy submariners dead after fatal incident at sea". defenceWeb. Retrieved 21 September 2023.