SAS Spear

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:
  • 869 t (855 long tons), surfaced
  • 1,043 t (1,027 long tons), submerged
Length: 57.8 m (190 ft)
Beam: 6.8 m (22 ft)
Draught: 4.6 m (15 ft)
Installed power:
  • 2 × 1,300 bhp (969 kW) (diesel)
  • 2 × 1,600 bhp (1,193 kW) (electric)
Propulsion:
  • 2 × propeller shafts
  • 2 × diesel engines, surfaced
  • 2 × electric motors, submerged
Speed:
  • 13.5 knots (25.0 km/h; 15.5 mph), surfaced
  • 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph), submerged
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 45 ratings
Armament: 12 × 550 mm (21.7 in) torpedo tubes (8 bow, 4 stern)

Description

The 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

The 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
  1. Moore, p. 400
  2. "World's Navy News". Warship International. Vol. VII no. 4. 31 December 1970. pp. 314–15.
  3. Gardiner, Chumbley & Budzbon, p. 335
  4. "SAS Assegaai to be preserved as museum". DefenseWeb. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
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References
  • 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, Captain RN, ed. (1981). Jane's Fighting Ships 1981–82. London: Jane's Pub. Co. ISBN 0-7106-0728-8.

Further reading
  • Du Toit, Allan (1992). South Africa's Fighting Ships: Past and Present. Rivonia, South Africa: Ashanti Publishing. ISBN 1-874800-50-2.
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