| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Operators: | South Africa |
| In commission: | 2004- |
| Planned: | 3 |
| Completed: | 3 |
| Active: | 3 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 353 long tons |
| Length: | 46.8 m (154 ft) |
| Beam: | 8.11 m (26.6 ft) |
| Depth: | 2.9 m (9.5 ft) |
| Propulsion: | 2 x 2,770 kilowatts (3,710 shp) 1 x 75 kilowatts (101 shp) bow thruster |
| Speed: | 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) |
| Endurance: | 14 days, 2,500 nautical miles (4,600 km; 2,900 mi) |
South Africa operates three Lillian Ngoyi class environmental patrol vessels, based on the Damen Stan 4708 design.[1] The vessels are the Lillian Ngoyi, Ruth First and Victoria Mxenge.[2][3]
The vessels were constructed in South Africa by Farocean Marine.[3] The United States Coast Guard would later decide to construct several dozen Sentinel Class cutters, also based on the Damen Stan patrol vessel 4708 design, citing the success of the South African vessels.[1] The USCG vessels' crew was to be twice as large as the South African vessels, but their endurance was only five days, as opposed to the 14 days of the South African vessels. The South African vessels mount environmental gear where the USCG vessels mount four heavy machine guns, and a 25mm Bushmaster autocannon. The USCG vessels are 3 knots faster, with engines approximately fifty percent larger.
| vessel | launched | notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lillian Ngoyi | 2004-11 | Named after anti-apartheit activist Lillian Ngoyi.[4][5] |
| Ruth First | 2005-05 | Named after anti-apartheit activist Ruth First.[5] |
| Victoria Mxenge | 2005 | Named after anti-apartheit activist Victoria Mxenge.[5] |