SAS Protea alongside | |
History | |
---|---|
South Africa | |
Name | SAS Protea |
Namesake | Protea flower |
Launched | 14 July 1971 |
Commissioned | 23 May 1972 |
Homeport | Simonstown |
Identification |
|
Status | Active as of 2023 |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Hecla-class survey vessel |
Displacement | 2,750 tons |
Length | 79.3 m (260.2 ft) |
Beam | 15 m (49.2 ft) |
Draught | 16 ft (4.9 m) |
Propulsion | 4 x 12-cylinder MTU diesels geared to one shaft and controllable-pitch propeller [1] |
Speed | 16 knots (30 km/h) |
Range | 17,000 nmi (31,000 km) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) |
Complement | 124, including 10 officers [2] |
SAS Protea is a survey vessel of the South African Navy, part of the Hecla-class survey vessels [3] built for the British Royal Navy. Protea was the fifth Hecla-class vessel and was commissioned on 23 May 1972 [2]
Protea is a specialist hydrographic survey vessel, although its equipment has been used in search and rescue operations using Protea's shallow water route survey system (SWRSS). [2] She is the only ship in the South African Navy that is painted white, denoting that she is not a warship. [2] Her hull is strengthened for navigation in ice and she is fitted with a transverse bow thruster unit, for increased manoeuvrability in harbour. [1]
Protea was commissioned at Scotstoun, Glasgow and arrived in South Africa on 14 June 1972. [6]
In 1978 Protea took part in an international krill research project, becoming the first South African Navy vessel to round Cape Horn. She also acted as the guardship for the 1976 and 1979 Transatlantic Yacht races. [6]
In 1981 she was involved in Operation Kerslig, a clandestine operation to attack oil facilities in Luanda, Angola.[ citation needed ]
She remained active in the post-apartheid navy and as late as February 2023 was reported to be participating in joint South African-Russian-Chinese exercises which involved the frigate Admiral Gorshkov and tanker Kama from the Russian Navy [7] along with the destroyer Huainan , the frigate Rizhao and the support ship Kekexilihu from the Chinese Navy, as well as other units from the South African Navy including the frigate Mendi. [8]
The Russian Navy Russian: Военно-морской флот [ВМФ], romanized: Voyenno-morskoi flot [VMF], lit. '"Military Maritime Fleet"' is part of the Russian Armed Forces. It has existed in various forms since 1696. Its present iteration was formed in January 1992 when it succeeded the Navy of the Commonwealth of Independent States.
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The South African Navy (SA Navy) is the naval warfare branch of the South African National Defence Force.
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The Hydra class were a class of three paddlewheel steam sloops of the British Royal Navy. They saw active service variously in the Baltic during the Crimean War, against Ottoman forces in Syria and against slavers in West Africa. Latterly, Hydra and Hecate were used for surveys in the Mediterranean, the Pacific, Australia and the Atlantic, and thus their names were re-used for the Hecla-class survey vessels in the late 20th century. Two of the classes were broken up after more than twenty-five years of service, and Hecla was sold for commercial use in 1863.
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HMSAS Protea was the first hydrographic survey ship used by the South African Naval Service. The ship was laid down as a minesweeper to be named HMS Ventnor in 1917 but was renamed HMS Verwood in 1918 while under construction. She was again re-named and launched as HMS Crozier on 1 July 1919. The vessel was converted from a minesweeper to a hydrographic survey vessel in 1921 and transferred to the South African forces in 1922, where she was commissioned as HMSAS Protea. She served as a survey vessel until 1933 when she was returned to the Royal Navy. Protea was eventually sold by the Royal Navy and renamed MV Queen of the Bay where she went on to operate as a pleasure craft out of Blackpool. She was subsequently sold to the Spanish Navy and renamed Lieutenant Captain Remigio Verdia, and used as supply vessel to run blockades, smuggling supplies to the anti-fascists in Spain during the civil war. She ran aground and sunk off Cartagena in Spain in 1939.