SAS Protea alongside
History
South Africa
NameSAS Protea
NamesakeProtea flower
Launched14 July 1971
Commissioned23 May 1972
HomeportSimonstown
Identification
StatusActive as of 2023
General characteristics
Class and typeHecla-class survey vessel
Displacement2,750 tons
Length79.3 m (260.2 ft)
Beam15 m (49.2 ft)
Draught16 ft (4.9 m)
Propulsion4 x 12-cylinder MTU diesels geared to one shaft and controllable-pitch propeller[1]
Speed16 knots (30 km/h)
Range17,000 nmi (31,000 km) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement124, including 10 officers[2]

SAS Protea is a survey vessel of the South African Navy, part of the Hecla-class survey vessels[3] built for the British Royal Navy. Protea was the fifth Hecla-class vessel and was commissioned on 23 May 1972[2]

As of 2023, Protea remains in service.[4][5]

Role

Protea is a specialist hydrographic survey vessel, although its equipment has been used in search and rescue operations using Protea's shallow water route survey system (SWRSS).[2] She is the only ship in the South African Navy that is painted white, denoting that she is not a warship.[2] Her hull is strengthened for navigation in ice and she is fitted with a transverse bow thruster unit, for increased manoeuvrability in harbour.[1]

History

Protea was commissioned at Scotstoun, Glasgow and arrived in South Africa on 14 June 1972.[6]

In 1978 Protea took part in an international krill research project, becoming the first South African Navy vessel to round Cape Horn. She also acted as the guardship for the 1976 and 1979 Transatlantic Yacht races.[6]

In 1981 she was involved in Operation Kerslig, a clandestine operation to attack oil facilities in Luanda, Angola.[citation needed]

She remained active in the post-apartheid navy and as late as February 2023 was reported to be participating in joint South African-Russian-Chinese exercises which involved the frigate Admiral Gorshkov and tanker Kama from the Russian Navy[7] along with the destroyer Huainan, the frigate Rizhao and the support ship Kekexilihu from the Chinese Navy, as well as other units from the South African Navy including the frigate Mendi.[8]

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to IMO 7114707.
  1. ^ a b "SAS Protea". South African Navy. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d Helfrich, Kim (April 30, 2013). "SAS Protea has plenty of life until replacement – Navy". Defenceweb.co.za. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
  3. ^ Potgieter, Thean (2012). "Guiding the seafarers : the South African Hydrographic Office and the contribution of the three Proteas" (PDF). Scientaria Militaria. 40 (3): 147–176.
  4. ^ "Fact file: Hecla (Protea)-class hydrographic vessel". DefenceWeb.za. Retrieved 2013-12-06.
  5. ^ Ryabchiy, Kate (16 February 2023). "South Africa's naval drills with Russia, China "tantamount to joining war against Ukraine"". Euromaidan Press.
  6. ^ a b Wessels, Andre (2006). "The SAN during the years of conflict, 1966-1989" (PDF). Journal for Contemporary History. 31 (3). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-12-02.
  7. ^ "Russia, China and South Africa began naval maneuvers". Prensa Latina. 17 February 2023.
  8. ^ Ryabchiy, Kate (16 February 2023). "South Africa's naval drills with Russia, China "tantamount to joining war against Ukraine"". Euromaidan Press.
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