SA Navy receives second corvette
Thabo Mokgola
27 February 2004
The second of four new patrol corvettes, the SAS Isandlwana, part of the government's multi-billion rand arms procurement deal, arrived in Table Bay, Cape Town on Wednesday.
According to the SA Navy, the SAS Isandlwana left Kiel, Germany on 31 January, stopped in Brest, France to load up equipment, then sailed to Algericas, Spain to refuel and afford the crew an opportunity for rest and recreation.
The SAS Isandlwana rendezvoused with other SA Navy ships in False Bay on Wednesday morning, among them the SAS Drakensberg, with family members of the ship's company of SAS Isandlwana on board.
The South African Air Force ran a fly-past over all the ships in formation, after which the ships entered the harbour.
The SAS Isandlwana was then returned to administrative commission to commence the fitting of the ship's weapons systems and combat suites.
Progress has been made on the fitting of the weapons systems and combat suites
of the first patrol corvette, the SAS Amatola, that arrived in November last year.
South Africa's other two corvettes, the SAS Spioenkop and SAS Mendi, are still under construction in Germany.
The state-of-the-art German-made warships are part of a multi-billion rand arms procurement deal that will see the defence force overhauling its ageing arsenal with technologically advanced machinery and equipment.
Each corvette will have perseverance of 28 days, a range of 6 200 nautical miles, 20 knots cruising speed, and 27-plus knots maximum speed.
Over the next few years, the SANDF will also take delivery of 30 utility helicopters, 24 Hawk lead-in fighter trainers and 28 Gripen advanced fighter aircraft.
Source: BuaNews
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