Naval Base Durban in Durban harbour is a naval base of the South African Navy, situated on Salisbury Island, which is now joined to the mainland through land reclamation.

Naval Base Durban
Salisbury Island, Durban Harbour
Map
Coordinates29°52′57.47570″S 31°2′22.43605″E / 29.8826321389°S 31.0395655694°E / -29.8826321389; 31.0395655694
Site information
OwnerDepartment of Defence
OperatorSouth African Navy
Site history
BuiltWWII

It was formerly a full naval base until it was downgraded to a naval station in 2002. With the reduction in naval activities much of the island was taken over by the Army as a general support base, but they left after a few years resulting in the abandoned section becoming derelict.[1] In 2012 a decision was made to renovate and expand the facilities back up to a full naval base to accommodate the South African Navy's offshore patrol flotilla.[2][3] In December 2015 it was officially redesignated Naval Base Durban.[4]

Three Warrior-class offshore patrol vessels; SAS Isaac Dyobha, SAS Galeshewe and SAS Makhanda are based in Durban. When the new offshore and inshore patrol vessels enter service they will replace the Warrior-class vessels.[4]

History

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Second World War

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The entry of Japan into the Second World War on the side of the Axis Powers and their ability to threaten the east coast of Africa prompted the construction of a new naval base on Salisbury Island. In the process of this construction the island was linked to the mainland by a causeway and the level of the land was raised three metres. Besides wharves the base facilities included barracks, workshops, a hospital as well as training facilities. A floating dry dock and crane were also installed. The construction was however only completed after the war had ended.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Wingrin, Dean (16 March 2012). "Plans for Salisbury Island elaborated". DefenceWeb.co.za. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  2. ^ Engelbrecht, Leon (27 February 2012). "Navy may upgrade Naval Station Durban". DefenceWeb.co.za. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  3. ^ Helfrich, Kim (23 September 2013). "Naval Base Durban still a way off". DefenceWeb.co.za. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  4. ^ a b Helfrich, Kim (9 December 2015). "Minister says it's Naval Base Durban, not Station". defenceWeb. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
  5. ^ Wessels, Andre (June 1996). "South Africa and the War against Japan 1941-1945". Military History Journal. 10 (3). The South African Military History Society. ISSN 0026-4016. OCLC 2512522.