SA Navy’s second sub due in South Africa this week

Apr 23, 2007
Author: P&S

The South African Navy’s second new submarine, SAS Charlotte Maxeke (S102) is due to arrive in Simon’s Town on Thursday (26 April) accompanied by the combat support ship SAS Drakensberg.

A large welcome home has been arranged by the navy.

S102 sailed from Emden in Germany on 14 March under the command of Cmdr Roland Shortt. It had been expected that the two submarines S102 and S103 would be named only on arrival in South Africa, as happened with the first new sub S101 which was named SAS Manthatisi in Simon’s Town.

Instead, the commissioning of both S102 and S103 took place last month before the Deputy Minister of Defence, Mluleki George, the South African Ambassador to Germany Moss Chikane and two sponsors who named the respective boats SAS Charlotte Maxeke and SAS Queen Modjadji.

Also in attendance were the chief of the navy Vice Adm Johannes Mudimu, the flag officer Rear Adm H Bester and the chief of naval staff R Adm M Magalefa.

SAS Charlotte Maxeke was officially handed over to the South African Navy on 6 November, 2006 since when she underwent sea trials with her new crew. These were completed on 24 February 2007.

Shortly after the naming ceremony S102 and her escort slipped from their moorings and headed out into the North Sea on the start of their long journey home, broken by a visit to a Spanish port along the way.