This is a list of active South African Navy ships. As of 2023, there are approximately 49 ships in commission including: 4 frigates, 3 submarines, 2 minesweepers, 1 replenishment vessel, 1 survey vessel, 5 tugboats and 33 patrol vessels.
Submarine fleet
Surface fleet
Class
|
Image
|
Type
|
Ships
|
No.
|
Comm.
|
Displacement
|
Base
|
Notes
|
Frigates (4 in service)
|
Valour class
|
|
Multi-purpose stealth guided-missile frigate
|
SAS Amatola
|
F145
|
2005
|
3,759 tonnes
|
Naval Base Simon's Town
|
Built by Blohm + Voss in Hamburg. Launched in June 2002.
|
SAS Isandlwana
|
F146
|
2006
|
3,759 tonnes
|
Naval Base Simon's Town
|
Built by Howaldtswerke in Kiel. Launched in December 2002.
|
SAS Spioenkop
|
F147
|
2007
|
3,759 tonnes
|
Naval Base Simon's Town
|
Built by Blohm + Voss in Hamburg. Launched in August 2003.
|
SAS Mendi
|
F148
|
2007
|
3,759 tonnes
|
Naval Base Simon's Town
|
Built by Howaldtswerke in Kiel. Launched in October 2003.
|
Patrol vessels (33 in service)
|
Warrior class strike craft
|
|
Offshore patrol vessel
|
SAS Makhanda
|
P1569
|
1986[7]
|
450 tonnes
|
Naval Base Durban
|
Built by Sandock-Austral, Durban, South Africa.
|
Warrior class
|
|
Multi-role patrol vessel
|
SAS King Sekhukhune I
|
P1571
|
2022
|
1,031 tonnes
|
Naval Base Durban
|
Built by Damen shipyards in Cape Town.[8]
|
SAS King Shaka Zulu
|
P1572
|
2023
|
-
|
SAS Adam Kok
|
P1573
|
2024
|
-
|
T class
|
|
Inshore patrol vessel
|
SAS Tobie
|
P1552
|
1992
|
37 tonnes
|
-
|
Built by T-Craft International in Cape Town.
|
SAS Tern
|
P1553
|
1996
|
37 tonnes
|
-
|
Built by T-Craft International in Cape Town.
|
SAS Tekwane
|
P1554
|
1996
|
37 tonnes
|
-
|
Built by T-Craft International in Cape Town.
|
Namacurra class
|
|
Harbour patrol boats
|
26 boats
|
-
|
1981-1982
|
4 tonnes
|
-
|
Built in South Africa by Tornado Products in 1980–81.
|
Mine countermeasures (2 in service)
|
River class
|
|
Minesweeper / patrol vessel
|
SAS Umkomaas
|
M1499
|
1981
|
390 tonnes
|
-
|
Built by Abeking & Rasmussen, Germany. Named after the river Umkomaas, KwaZulu-Natal.
|
SAS Umzimkulu
|
M1142
|
1981
|
390 tonnes
|
-
|
Built by Sandock-Austral, Durban, South Africa. Named after Umzimkulu River.
|
Auxiliary fleet
Class
|
Image
|
Type
|
Ships
|
No.
|
Comm.
|
Displacement
|
Base
|
Notes
|
Replenishment (1 in service)
|
AOR
|
|
Fleet replenishment ship
|
SAS Drakensberg
|
A301
|
1987
|
12,500 tonnes
|
-
|
Fleet Replenishment Ship (AOR). Built by Sandock Austral, Durban. Is the largest and most sophisticated vessel to be constructed in South Africa.
|
Miscellaneous (1 in service)
|
Hecla class
|
|
Hydrographic survey vessel
|
SAS Protea
|
A324
|
1972
|
2,750 tonnes
|
-
|
Specialist Hydrographic Survey Vessel. Built by Yarrow & Co Ltd, Glasgow, Scotland. Launched 1971. Replacement under construction.[9]
|
Tugboats (5 in service)
|
|
|
Tug
|
SAS Umalusi
|
-
|
|
-
|
-
|
Completed in 1995 by Jaya Holding Ltd. Acquired from Taikong Trading Company in January 1997[10]
|
Damen Stan Tug 2006
|
|
Tug
|
Indlovu
|
-
|
2006
|
-
|
Naval Base Simon's Town
|
Built by Farocean Marine to a design from Dutch firm Damen Group—the vessels have special bows for handling the Navy's submarines.[11]
|
Tug
|
Tschukundu
|
-
|
2006
|
-
|
Naval Base Simon's Town
|
Built by Farocean Marine to a design from Dutch firm Damen Group—the vessels have special bows for handling the Navy's submarines.[11]
|
Damen ATD 2909 Coastal
|
|
Tug
|
Imvubu
|
-
|
2015
|
-
|
-
|
Built by Damen Shipyard Cape Town, based on proven Royal Navy Design - SERCO[12]
|
Inyathi
|
-
|
2016
|
-
|
-
|
Built by Damen Shipyard Cape Town, based on proven Royal Navy Design - SERCO[13]
|
See also
References
External links