Valour class frigate
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 SAS Mendi |
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Valour class |
| Builders: | Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft, Kiel |
| Operators: |  South African Navy |
| In service: | 2006 |
| In commission: | 2006 |
| Completed: | 4 |
| Active: | 4 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Frigate |
| Displacement: | 3700 tons |
| Length: | 121 metres (400 ft) |
| Beam: | 16.34 metres (53.6 ft) |
| Draught: | 5.95 metres (19.5 ft) |
| Propulsion: |
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| Speed: | 27 knots (50 km/h) |
| Range: | 8,000 nautical miles (15,000 km) at 16 knots (30 km/h) |
| Endurance: | 28 days |
| Complement: | 124 (incl aircrew) |
| Armament: |
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| Aircraft carried: | 2x SuperLynx 300 |
The South African Valour class frigates are the major surface ships of the South African Navy. The German manufacturer designates them as the MEKO A-200SAN class, member of its MEKO family of naval ships. They were designed and built using principles of stealthy design, including the extensive use of "X-form" structure design in which right angles and vertical surfaces are avoided and techniques to reduce the infrared signature, such as exiting the exhaust below the waterline. Blohm + Voss, the designers, claim the class has the radar signature of a vessel half its size, 75% less infrared signature than previous designs as well as a 20% lower life cycle cost, 25% less displacement and 30% fewer crew.[citation needed]
Contents |
[edit] Ships of the class
| ship name | Builder | laid down | launched | delivered | in service |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAS Amatola (F145) | Blohm + Voss, Hamburg | 2 August 2001 | 6 June 2002 | 2003 | 2006 |
| SAS Isandlwana (F146) | Howaldtswerke, Kiel | 26 October 2001 | 5 December 2002 | 2004 | 2006 |
| SAS Spioenkop (F147) | Blohm + Voss, Hamburg | 28 February 2002 | 2 August 2003 | 2004 | 2007 |
| SAS Mendi (F148) | Howaldtswerke, Kiel | 28 June 2002 | Oct 2003 | 2004 | 2007 |
[edit] History
The four Valour class frigates are a German design by the firm Blohm + Voss, designated as MEKO A-200SAN by the shipbuilders, and are part of Blohm + Voss's MEKO series of frigates. Similar ships are being built in Poland for the Polish Navy.
They are/were built by Blohm + Voss shipyards in Germany, two in Hamburg and the other two in Kiel.
[edit] Aircraft
The flexibility of the hangar and flight-deck design enables a wide range of helicopter options to fit requirements such as: 2 Westland Super Lynx helicopters (sea state 6 day and night operation); or 1 Westland Super Lynx plus 2 UAVs; or 1 Atlas Oryx (sea state 5 day and night operation); or 1 Rooivalk (sea state 5 day and night operation).
[edit] See also
- D'Estienne d'Orves class (purchase canceled in 1977)
