SAS Queen Modjadji

Last updated
SAS Queen Modjadji.jpg
History
Naval Ensign of South Africa.svgSouth Africa
NameSAS Queen Modjadji
NamesakeA South African Rain Queen
BuilderNordsee Werke, Emden [1]
Launched18 March 2006
Commissioned22 May 2008
Identification Pennant number S103
Statusin active service (awaiting refit as of 2023) [2]
General characteristics
Type Heroine-class submarine
Displacement1,454  t (1,431 long tons), submerged
Length62.0 m (203 ft 5 in)
Beam7.6 m (24 ft 11 in)
Draft5.8 m (19 ft 0 in)
PropulsionDiesel-electric, 4 diesels, 1 shaft, 6,100 shp (4,500 kW)
Speed
  • 10 knots (19 km/h), surfaced;
  • 21.5 knots (40 km/h), submerged
Range
  • 11,000 nmi (20,000 km; 13,000 mi) at 10 kn (19 km/h) (surfaced,)
  • 8,000 nmi (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) at 10 knots (snorkeling)
  • 400 nmi (740 km; 460 mi) at 4 kn (7.4 km/h) (submerged)
Test depth500 m (1,600 ft)
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 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. [3] [4]

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. [5]

History

Queen Modjadji arrived in Simonstown on 22 May 2008. [6]

Commander Handsome Thamsanqa Matsane became the first black officer to command a South African submarine when he took command of Queen Modjadji in April 2012. [7] SAS Queen Modjadji was involved in an accident on the 17 July 2012 when the submarine hit the seabed during training. A 1.5-by-1.5-metre (4.9 ft × 4.9 ft) dent was made in the outer protective plating. [8]

The submarine took part in the joint naval exercise Good Hope V between the South African Navy and the German Navy. The exercise also included the South African Air Force and took place in March 2012. [9] The submarine participated in two further naval exercises in 2012; the multinational maritime exercise between the navies of South Africa, Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay, Atlasur IX between 24 September and 10 October 2012 and Exercise IBSAMAR III, a trilateral naval exercise between Brazil, India and South Africa from 10 to 26 October 2012.

As of August 2021, Queen Modjadji was said to be in urgent need of a refit but funding was not immediately available. The Department of Defence stated that plans for the refit of the submarine would be finalised "based on the availability of progressive funding to enable the phased commencement of [her] refit. The average cost of a submarine refit was reported to be R660 million, the department stated. [10] As of April 2023, Queen Modjadji was undergoing preservation and pre-refit planning activities, in preparation for a refit. [11]

Related Research Articles

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

The South African Navy (SA Navy) is the naval warfare branch of the South African National Defence Force.

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.

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">Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft</span> German shipbuilding company

Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft is a German shipbuilding company, headquartered in Kiel. It is part of the ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) group, owned by ThyssenKrupp. The Howaldtswerke shipyard was founded in Kiel in 1838 and merged with Hamburg-based Deutsche Werft to form Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) in 1968. The company's shipyard was formerly used by Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft until the end of World War II.

Type 214 submarine Submarine class

The Type 214 is a class of diesel-electric submarines developed exclusively for export by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft GmbH (HDW). It features diesel propulsion with an air-independent propulsion (AIP) system using Siemens polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) hydrogen fuel cells. The class combines the design principles of the Type 209 submarine family and the features of the Type 212A submarine. However, as an export design, it lacks some of the classified technologies of the Type 212 such as the non-magnetic steel hull that makes it difficult to detect using a magnetic anomaly detector.

<i>Shishumar</i>-class submarine Diesel-electric attack submarines of the Indian Navy

The Shishumar-class submarines are diesel-electric attack submarines, currently in active service with the Indian Navy. These submarines are an Indian variant of the Type 209 submarines developed by the German yard Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft under the internal designation "Type 1500". The first two vessels were built by HDW at Kiel, Germany, while the remainder were built by Mazagon Dock Limited, at Mumbai, India, under a technology transfer agreement. The submarines were commissioned between 1986 and 1994. These submarines have a displacement of 1,660 tons when surfaced, a speed of 22 knots, and a complement of 40 including eight officers.

Type 206 submarine German made submarine class

The Type 206 is a class of diesel-electric submarines (U-boats) developed by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW). Its design is based on the preceding Type 205 submarine class. These small and agile submarines were built during the Cold War to operate in the shallow Baltic Sea and attack Warsaw Pact shipping in the event of military confrontation. The pressure hulls were built out of non-magnetic steel to counter the threat of magnetic naval mines and make detection with MAD sensors more difficult. The low emission profile allowed the submarines in exercises to intrude even into well-protected opposing forces such as carrier formations with their screen.

Type 209 submarine Submarine class

The Type 209 is a range of diesel-electric attack submarines developed exclusively for export by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft of Germany. Five class variants, including modifications thereof, have been successfully exported to 15 countries, with 68 submarines being built and commissioned to five different variants between 1971 and 2021. More boats have been built to modified designs.

Heroine-class submarine

The Heroine class are 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. The class is composed of three vessels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South African Naval Museum</span> Naval museum in Dockyard Magazine and Storehouse, Simons Town South Africa

The South African Naval Museum is a maritime museum in Simon's Town, South Africa. It contains collections and artefacts related to the maritime history of South Africa and the South African Navy.

SAS <i>Umkhonto</i>

SAS Umkhonto (S98), formerly SAS Emily Hobhouse, was the second of three French-built Daphné-class submarines ordered by the South African Navy in 1968. Laid down in December 1968 and launched on 24 October 1969 and commissioned into the South African Navy under the command of Lt Cdr Lambert Jackson "Woody" Woodburne on 26 February 1971. The submarine was decommissioned in 2003 and scrapped in 2008.

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.

<i>Jang Bogo</i>-class submarine Submarine class

The Jang Bogo-class submarine or KSS-I is a variant of the Type 209 diesel-electric attack submarine initially developed by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) of Germany, intended for service with the South Korean Navy and Indonesian Navy. A Daewoo (DSME)-upgraded model of the Jang Bogo class Type 209 was exported by Korea to Indonesia in 2012, amid heavy competition from Russian, French, and German-Turkish consortiums including from Germany's original Type 209. The variant was considered for possible purchase by Thailand as well, as both newly built and second-hand options. The class is named for ancient Korean maritime figure Jang Bogo.

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.

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

SAS Charlotte Maxeke (S102) is a Heroine-class submarine, 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 is named after Charlotte Maxeke, a South African religious leader and political activist.

<i>Cakra</i>-class submarine Submarine class

The Cakra class is a class of two Type 209/1300 attack submarines developed by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft of Germany that were bought and commissioned by the Indonesian Navy in the 1980s. The second member of the class, KRI Nanggala sank in 2021 with all hands during an exercise. The lead submarine, KRI Cakra, remains in service.

KRI <i>Cakra</i> (401) Indonesian Navy Cakra-class submarine

KRI Cakra (401) is the lead vessel of the two-member Cakra class of diesel-electric attack submarines operated by the Indonesian Navy.

References

  1. "Fact file: Heroine-class diesel-electric submarine". defenceweb.co.za. Archived from the original on 18 February 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  2. Lesedi, Sarah (13 April 2023). "South African Navy allocated R1.4 billion to refit fleet". Military Africa. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  3. SIYAKHULA/070323_Sitrep08/article.htm [ dead link ]
  4. "The SA Navy Proudly Welcomes SAS CHARLOTTE MAXEKE and SAS QUEEN MODJADJI". Archived from the original on 2012-02-12. Retrieved 2013-04-07.
  5. Leon Engelbrecht (2008-02-05). "SA gets third submarine". ITweb. Retrieved 2008-10-23.[ permanent dead link ]
  6. "Queen Modjadji 1 arrives in Simon's Town". ports.co.za. 27 May 2008. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  7. Davids, Nashia (30 April 2007). "Mariner's Crowning". Times Live. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  8. "SAS Queen Modjaji's hull received 1.5 x 1.5 m dent in accident". defenceweb.co.za. 12 September 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  9. Rakoma, Ally (27 March 2012). "Exercise Good Hope Concludes". Department of Defense of South Africa. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  10. Martin, Guy (20 August 2021). "Refit of SA Navy frigates and submarines stalled by lack of funding". DefenceWeb.co.za. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  11. Lesedi, Sarah (13 April 2023). "South African Navy allocated R1.4 billion to refit fleet". Military Africa. Retrieved 12 September 2023.