Navy names new submarines

Mar 25, 2007
Author: P&S

The combat support ship SAS Drakensberg with the first of three new submarines built in Germany for the South African Navy, SAS Manthatisi (S101) en route to South Africa last year. SAS Drakensberg is again escorting a submarine back home, this time SAS Charlotte Maxeke (S102). Picture courtesy SA Navy

It was expected that the South African Navy would wait until they arrived home in Simon’s Town before revealing the names of the next two new submarines, as happened with the first boat, SAS Manthatisi (S101).

Instead the navy both commissioned and named the next two submarines in Emden, Germany this past week, shortly before SAS Manthatisi and her escort SAS Drakensberg slipped their moorings and headed out into the North Sea bound for South Africa.

The names given to S102 and S103 are SAS Charlotte Maxeke and SAS Queen Modjadji respectively. The commissioning took place on 14 March before the Deputy Minister of Defence Mluleki George, the Ambassador to Germany Moss Chikane and the two sponsors, Mrs Mittah Seperepere and Mrs Rita Ndzanga who named S102 and S103 respectively.

Other South African dignitaries in attendance included the chief of the navy Vice Adm Johannes Mudimu, the flag officer Rear Adm H v E Bester and the chief of naval staff R Adm M Magalefa.

With the commissioning of SAS Charlotte Maxeke (S102) the chief of the navy charged the officer commanding, Cdr Roland Shortt to officially take command of the submarine as from 14 March. Two days later SAS Charlotte Maxeke and SAS Drakensberg sailed from Emden on their way home (see our earlier News report dated 22 March)

source – SA Navy