South African submarine outwits NATO

[playtym]

2007-9-4 21:12
Atlantic Ocean - A lone South African submarine has left some North Atlantic Treaty Organisation commanders with red faces on Tuesday as it "sank" all the ships of the Nato Maritime Group engaged in exercises with the SA Navy off the Cape Coast. The S101 - or the SAS Manthatisi - not only evaded detection by a joint NATO and SA Navy search party, comprising several ships combing the search area with radar and sonar; it also sank all the ships in the fleet taking part.
Several times during the exercise that lasted throughout Monday night and Tuesday morning a red square lit up the screens where the surface ships thought the submarine was, but it remained elusive.
This gave Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota something to brag about when he landed on the SAS Amatola to speak to the media on Tuesday.
"To be able to frustrate detection by NATO nations is no mean achievement; it speaks of the excellence of the equipment we required for this purpose."
And while this left one of the world's strongest military alliances frustrated, it was also a sign that the group had a capable partner in Africa, Lekota said.
"With sustained co-operation with foreign forces such as NATO, we are well positioned to respond to any unforeseen circumstances that may confront either ourselves or other regions," he said.
Lekota was quite clear that a working relationship with NATO was desired.
"They have a partner of reliable capability because we are forging working relations, we are building mutual confidence for what can be done and what we can do together as NATO and SA or as NATO and Southern African nations," Lekota said.
These sentiments were echoed by the commander of the NATO maritime group. Rear Admiral Mahon, who said the deployment would see the group sailing right around Africa.
"I can't speak for what the future will hold but certainly this was valuable. Africa is a strategic continent. The freedom of the seas, energy, security, they are all critical issue to NATO countries," he said.
The exercises would continue till the end of the week and would include live fire exercises, ship to ship refuelling, search and seizure exercises.http://www.24.com/news/?p=tsa&i=661045

[JoaMei]

Class 209 is still pretty good it seems:

http://www.navy.mil.za/equipment/submarines.htm

http://www.navy.mil.za/archive/0708/070830_MANTHATISI/pic01.JPG

[Largomateratops]

Zee german U-Boot!

[Weasel]

The grey wolfes.

[sp2c]

you can write an article like this everyday and the NATO commanders would have red faces 24/7 ... it's what diesel subs do, hell it's what they are supposed to do and what they've been designed for. They kill stuff attacking some naval feature. Next they are going to write articles about NATO commanders being ashamed and frustrated and red faced because of their tanks getting shot up by somebody's attack helicopters

though I wasn't expecting it to come from South Africa, good job :)

[Eggy]

Best defense against a submarine is another submarine.

[sp2c]

I was told that the best defence against a submarine was 2 submarines ... one is bait ;)

[Laworkerbee]

Sneaky Saffies.....well done

[Ordie]

The SA Navy has the latest Type 209 models and I think they were trained by the Indian and German Navies. (They have a similar model).

One thing the South Africans have in their favor is local turf. Like the South Americans, the South Africans probably know the local undersea terrain, water temperatures, wreaks, and currents and use it to their advantage.

A question I have is what platforms did NATO use in hunting the sub? If its just ships and helos, then you are limited in area coverage. Had there been P-3C Orions or Atlantiques, it may have even the odds.

Even a C-47 Turbo-Dak with a crew hand throwing sonobouys out the door would have improved the situation.

[sinophile]

Reminds me of this (http://www.sinodaily.com/reports/Chinese_Sub_Approached_US_Aircraft_Carrier_Undetected_999.html)article where a Chinese sub performed a similar feat.

Of course, if I could detect the sub I may not want to announce it. All the easier to sink it in wartime.

[josh21x]

Though Indians have the U-209, this going to further scare the **** out of them since Pakistan is acquiring U-214.
Though Indians have started New lines for the French Scorpene's, 6 on order and 6 options. New Line of other subs mostly the VLS capable Amur of Russian orgin, 12. Along with 4 209 and 10 Improvised Kilo's.
Apart from the still under-development nuclear SSN, Lease of 2 Russian Akula's.

Good Job South Africa

[SineJustitia]

Good job for the Mantathisi.

But they do need just a few days more to break the Swedes' record (http://www.thelocal.se/3574/20060418/?tl)p-)

[Lancero]

http://www.navy.mil.za/archive/0709/070905_Amazolo2/navy_badge.jpgDay two of exercise AMAZOLO.

Article by Lt Cdr P.G. van den Berg
Photos by Lt Cdr P.G. van den Berg and PO Street (US Navy Staff Photographer).


Day 2 of Exercise AMAZOLO (04 Sep 07) was the day on which the South African Navy (SAN) measured itself against the best in the world – and won!
The SAN submarine, SAS ‘MANTHATISI managed to penetrate an anti-submarine screen of 7 ships (which included the VALOUR CLASS frigates SAS AMATOLA and SAS ISANDLWANA) undetected and “sank” the high value target that the screen was trying to protect. After this she turned on the protecting screen and managed to “sink” the balance of the remaining surface ships.

http://www.navy.mil.za/archive/0709/070905_Amazolo2/pic01.JPG
An aerial view of all the ships that took part in Exercise Amazolo.



The South African media, and indeed the public at large, are celebrating the fact that the SA Navy has proven to be equal – and in some instances superior – to some of the best Navy vessels afloat. The new vessels acquired by the South African government are proving their worth and the SA Navy are using them to reaffirm its ability to effectively protect South Africa’s maritime interests off the Cape of Storms.
The significance of this for the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), and the SAN in particular is profound. The force-multiplying effect of a submarine was clearly demonstrated during this exercise. This proves that the area off Cape Point is an ideal submarine hunting area – and our submarines crews are good hunters indeed!
http://www.navy.mil.za/archive/0709/070905_Amazolo2/pic02_small.JPG (http://www.navy.mil.za/archive/0709/070905_Amazolo2/pic02.JPG)
http://www.navy.mil.za/archive/0709/070905_Amazolo2/enlarge2.gif
An SA Air Force Dakota aircraft flies quite low over the FGS SPESSART.
http://www.navy.mil.za/archive/0709/070905_Amazolo2/pic04_small.JPG (http://www.navy.mil.za/archive/0709/070905_Amazolo2/pic04.JPG)
http://www.navy.mil.za/archive/0709/070905_Amazolo2/enlarge2.gif
http://www.navy.mil.za/archive/0709/070905_Amazolo2/pic03_small.JPG (http://www.navy.mil.za/archive/0709/070905_Amazolo2/pic03.JPG)
http://www.navy.mil.za/archive/0709/070905_Amazolo2/enlarge2.gif

FGS SPESSART was the high value target that the surface screen was trying to protect - to no avail!


Boarding party members from NRP ALVARES CABRAL are winched to the flightdeck of SAS AMATOLA.



In addition to the successes achieved by the submarine, there were also other serials where both the frigates and the WARRIOR CLASS Strike Craft, SAS GALESHEWE performed very well indeed. Both frigates participated in a number of complex anti-surface evolutions. There were also a simulated attack by the SAS GALESHEWE, boarding exercises between various ships (SAS AMATOLA was “boarded” by marines from NRP ALVARES CABRAL) and helicopter exercises.
The Minister of Defence, Mr M. Lekota, flew to SAS AMATOLA and hosted a media conference for the various media members embedded on the NATO ships. During the media conference he reaffirmed that the SA Navy is a force to reckoned with. Speaking about the feats of SAS ‘MANTHATISI, Mr Lekota said: “To be able to frustrate detection by NATO nations is no mean achievement, it speaks of the excellence of the equipment we acquired for this purpose”.
http://www.navy.mil.za/archive/0709/070905_Amazolo2/pic05_small.JPG (http://www.navy.mil.za/archive/0709/070905_Amazolo2/pic05.JPG)
http://www.navy.mil.za/archive/0709/070905_Amazolo2/enlarge2.gifhttp://www.navy.mil.za/archive/0709/070905_Amazolo2/pic06_small.JPG (http://www.navy.mil.za/archive/0709/070905_Amazolo2/pic06.JPG)
http://www.navy.mil.za/archive/0709/070905_Amazolo2/enlarge2.gif

HDMS OLFERT FISCHER experiences some heavy seas off Cape Point.


SAS 'MANTHATISI really proved herself against the NATO vessels.
http://www.navy.mil.za/archive/0709/070905_Amazolo2/pic08_small.JPG (http://www.navy.mil.za/archive/0709/070905_Amazolo2/pic08.JPG)
http://www.navy.mil.za/archive/0709/070905_Amazolo2/enlarge2.gif
http://www.navy.mil.za/archive/0709/070905_Amazolo2/pic07_small.JPG (http://www.navy.mil.za/archive/0709/070905_Amazolo2/pic07.JPG)
http://www.navy.mil.za/archive/0709/070905_Amazolo2/enlarge2.gif

The Oryx helicopter to transport the media from HNLMS EVERTSEN is secured by the flight deck handlers.


The Lynx helicopter from NRP ALVARES CABRAL takes off from the flight deck of SAS AMATOLA.



The regard that the crews of the NATO vessels have for the SAN has also increased tremendously during the past few days. The successes achieved by the SAN clearly demonstrates the high level of training and the proficiency of our crews the properly handle the advanced ships and weapon systems that we can boast with in the SAN.
The rest of today (05 Sep 07) will comprise of more exercise serials such as gunnery exercises where the ships will shoot at a simulated air and surface target, as well as other fleet work evolutions.

http://www.navy.mil.za/archive/0709/070905_Amazolo2/pic09.JPG
The ships in the Task Force during the Starburst formation.


http://www.navy.mil.za/archive/0709/070905_Amazolo2/article.htm

[Thor]

Good job, shows that you can do well with old equipment under the right circumstances.

[JoaMei]

Good job, shows that you can do well with old equipment under the right circumstances.

They arent old, the Sub was built in 2005 so it is new. Class 209 is a proven design even if there are newer constructions. The Sensors and combat systems are up to date.

[Kingswat]

What NATO countries took part in the exercise?


Good job SA.

[sp2c]

from the names of the ships in the provided link I get at least the Netherlands, Portugal, Denmark and Germany

[wilhelm]

The Submarine is commanded by Gary Kretschmer .......

.... which is an absolutely fantastic name to have as a submariner!p-)

[SBL]

The Submarine is commanded by Gary Kretschmer .......

.... which is an absolutely fantastic name to have as a submariner!p-)

Meaning?

Good for the Saffies.

[Kitsune]

Meaning?

Probably because of German WWII submarine legend Otto Kretschmer. This guy sunk somewhere between 40 and 50 ships.

[He219]

http://uboat.net/men/kretschmer.htm

Otto Kretschmer, 1912 – 1998 (Fregattenkapitan) Sank 44 ships, 262,203 grt
Commanded: U23, U-99

Highest scoring ace, Otto Kretschmer, or the “tonnage king” caused more destruction on the high seas than any other submarine commander to this date. An aggressive commander, his strategy was to attack at night, on the surface and under cover of darkness. His last patrol scored him ten ships, before he was captured. After the war, Kretschmer became a rear admiral in the Federal German Navy and Chief of Staff of the NATO command.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v101/He219/dailypix/militarypix/fresh/more/more/even%20more/more/will%20it%20ever%20end/more/more/more/fresh/sitrep1.jpg

CDR Brian Stockton, SO1 NPR, and OC S101 Cdr Gary Kretschmer discussing the communications plan for the commissioning of S101.
http://www.navy.mil.za/newnavy/submarines/i051026_S101_MediaRelease/article.htm
http://www.navy.mil.za/equipment/S101_impressions/article.htm

They arent old, the Sub was built in 2005 so it is new. Class 209 is a proven design even if there are newer constructions. The Sensors and combat systems are up to date.
I remembered posting the launch ..
p-)


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v101/He219/newest/21407c4d.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v101/He219/newest/24692bf6.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v101/He219/newest/562ee771.jpg

Crew members board the submarine "S 101" class 209/1400-mod as the South Africa Navy commissions the warship during a ceremony at the shipyard of Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) in Kiel, northern Germany, on Thursday, Nov 3, 2005. It is the first of three submarines that the South Africa Navy has ordered in 2000. (AP Photo/Heribert Proepper)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v101/He219/newest/85c92299.jpg

South Africa's Minister of Defence Mosiuoa Lekota, second from left, signs the guest book onboard the submarine "S 101" class 209/1400-mod as the South Africa Navy commissions the warship during a ceremony at the shipyard of Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) in Kiel, northern Germany, on Thursday, Nov 3, 2005. It is the first of three submarines that the South Africa Navy has ordered in 2000. Others are members of the South African military delegation. (AP Photo/Heribert Proepper)

[SBL]

You learn something new everyday. Thanks for the info, fellas.

[wilhelm]

You learn something new everyday. Thanks for the info, fellas.

He219 and Kitsune have answered better than I could ... but the reference was to Otto Kretschmer. Doubt they're family though...p-). Still, good name to have in that business. Wonder if , as a child, he read of the "Tonnage King's" exploits and decided that the Navy was for him?

[siberian tiger]

from the names of the ships in the provided link I get at least the Netherlands, Portugal, Denmark and Germany

The ships were from SNMG1:

USS NORMANDY (CG 60) SNMG1 Flagship (USA)
Ticonderoga Class Guided Missile Cruiser

HNLMS EVERTSEN (F805) (Netherlands)
Zeven Provincien Class Defence and Command Frigate

FGS SPESSART (A1442) (Germany)
Rhone Class Replenishment Tanker

HMCS TORONTO (FFH 333) (Canada)
Halifax Class Multi-role Patrol Frigate

NRP ALVARES CABRAL (F331) (Portugal)
Vasco de Gama Class Frigate

HDMS OLFERT FISCHER (F355) (Denmark)
Niels Juel Class Corvette