29 August 2007
The South African Navy will deploy its new frigates and submarines in mock attacks on US, Canadian, Danish, Dutch, German and Portuguese vessels as part of the first North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) training exercise in SA waters off Cape Town next week.
The Nato naval group, consisting of ships from the six countries and making up one of Nato's four standing maritime forces, have sailed from the Mediterranean Sea and along the west coast of Africa en route to Cape Town, where they will spend four days.
According to the SA Navy's Lieutenant Commander Greyling van den Berg, this will be the first time that South Africa uses its new frigates and submarines in a training exercise with foreign forces in local waters.
"The exercise will help to sharpen our skills, and we also hope to learn from each other," Van den Berg said.
South Africa's four new warships, designated locally as Valour Class frigates, are the SAS Amatola, SAS Isandlwana, SAS Spioenkop and SAS Mendi.
The SA Navy will also use three of its German-built U209 class submarines - the SAS Manthatisi, SAS Charlotte Maxeke and SAS Queen Modjadji - in the exercise.
Apart from conducting training exercises, the Nato naval group will give Cape Town residents a sight to remember. "The ships will be opened for members of the public to view over the weekend," Van den Berg said.
Nato secretary general Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said in a statement earlier this month that the exercise would test Nato's ability to respond to crisis situations and foster closer links with regional navies.
The naval group will also conduct exercises off the coast of Somalia, an area frequently affected by acts of piracy.
The group will visit the Seychelles in mid-September and end their mission after passing through the Suez Canal.
"Maritime security, ensuring the safe passage of shipping and supporting a coordinated international approach to protect energy supplies, are high priorities for Nato," De Hoop Scheffer said.
SouthAfrica.info reporter and BuaNews
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