Thyssen Krupp Marine Systems, HAMBURG / KIEL, Germany: Today, the South African Navy commissioned “S101,” a state-of-the art Class 209/1400 mod submarine built at the Kiel shipyard of Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft GmbH, a company of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems.
“S101” is the first of three vessels which South Africa ordered in 2000 from the German Submarine Consortium, formed from Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft, Nordseewerke Emden (NSWE) and MAN Ferrostaal AG.
The fact that the South African Defence Minister, Mosioua Lekota, the head of the South African defence forces, General Godfrey Ngwenya, the head of the South African Navy, Vice-Admiral Johannes Mudimu and the head of the South African procurement agency ARMSCOR, Dr. Popo Molefe, were all present underscored the importance of this day for South Africa and its navy.
The delivery of the three vessels by the German Submarine Consortium is part of a comprehensive programme of modernisation of the South African Navy. These submarines are the most up-to-date version of the conventional Class 209 Type 1400 mod vessel, which has been successfully exported by the German delivery consortium for many years.
Currently, 63 of these vessels are in operational service throughout the world. This class of vessel thus represents the most successful diesel-electric submarine in the world. In addition to construction and delivery, the consortium's scope of delivery also includes training, logistical support and simulation technology.
The vessel, with a displacement of 1,450 tons, is 62 metres long, is operated by a core crew of 30, and has a diesel-electric propulsion system. It is equipped with state-of-the-art sensor technology, an integrated weapons deployment and command system which ideally fits it for its future reconnaissance and surveillance tasks.
ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems
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