SAS Spear (pennant number: S97), initially known as the SAS Maria van Riebeeck, was a Daphné-class submarine of the South African Navy (SAN). Built in France during the 1960s, the boat was the SAN's first submarine. It was scrapped in June–July 2003.
| History | |
|---|---|
 South Africa | |
| Name | SAS Spear, ex Maria van Riebeeck |
| Namesake | Maria van Riebeeck |
| Builder | Dubigeon-Normandy, Nantes, France |
| Laid down | 14 March 1968 |
| Launched | 18 March 1969 |
| Christened | by Elize Botha (wife of P.W. Botha) |
| Commissioned | 22 June 1970 |
| Renamed | SAS Spear, 1999 |
| Homeport | Simon's Town |
| Identification | Pennant number:S97 |
| Fate | Scrapped, 2003 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Daphné-class submarine |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 57.8 m (190 ft) |
| Beam | 6.8 m (22 ft) |
| Draught | 4.6 m (15 ft) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Range | 4,500 nmi (8,300 km; 5,200 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph), (snorkelling) |
| Complement | 6 officers and 41 ratings |
| Armament | 12 × 550 mm (21.7 in) torpedo tubes (8 bow, 4 stern) |
Description
editThe submarine displaced 869 metric tons (855 long tons) surfaced and 1,043 metric tons (1,027 long tons) submerged. It measured 57.8 meters (189 ft 8 in) long, had a beam of 6.8 meters (22 ft 4 in) and a draft of 4.6 meters (15 ft 1 in). For surface running, the boat was powered by two SEMT Pielstick 1,300-brake-horsepower (969 kW) diesel engines, each driving a single propeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by a 1,600-brake-horsepower (1,193 kW) electric motor. Spear could reach 13.5 knots (25.0 km/h; 15.5 mph) on the surface and 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph) underwater. While snorkelling, the boat had a range of 4,500 nmi (8,300 km; 5,200 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph). It was armed with a dozen 550 mm (21.7 in) torpedo tubes, eight in the bow and four in the stern. Spear had a complement of 6 officers and 41 ratings.[1]
Construction and career
editThe boat was laid down at the Nantes shipyard of Dubigeon-Normandie on 14 March 1968, launched on 18 March 1969 and commissioned on 22 June 1970.[1]
On 20 August 1970, Maria van Riebeeck collided with the French submarine Galatée (also a member of the Daphné class) off Toulon. Both submarines were badly damaged, with Galatée being forced to run aground to avoid sinking.[2]
The boat received an upgraded sonar and electronics during a mid-life update that was completed in 1992.[3] Spear was scrapped in Simon's Town by SA Metal and Machinery Co. (Pty) Ltd. during June–July 2003.[4]
Citations
edit- ^ a b Moore, p. 400
- ^ "World's Navy News". Warship International. Vol. VII, no. 4. 31 December 1970. pp. 314–15.
- ^ Gardiner, Chumbley & Budzbon, p. 335
- ^ "SAS Assegaai to be preserved as museum". DefenseWeb. 15 December 2008. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
References
edit- Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen & Budzbon, Przemysław (1995). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.
- Moore, John, ed. (1981). Jane's Fighting Ships 1981–82. London: Jane's Pub. Co. ISBN 0-7106-0728-8.
Further reading
edit- Du Toit, Allan (1992). South Africa's Fighting Ships: Past and Present. Rivonia, South Africa: Ashanti Publishing. ISBN 1-874800-50-2.