Naval Station Durban

Naval Station Durban in Durban harbour is a naval station of the South African Navy, situated on Salisbury Island, which is now joined to the mainland through land reclamation. It was formerly a full naval base until it was downgraded to a naval station in 2002. With the reduction in naval activities much of the island was taken over by the Army as a general support base, but they left after a few years resulting in the abandoned section becoming derelict.[1] In 2012 a decision was made to renovate and expand the facilities back up to a full naval base to accommodate the South African Navy's offshore patrol flotilla.[2][3] As of April 2014 the process was still underway.[4]

As of October 2014 three Warrior-class offshore patrol vessels; SAS Isaac Dyobha, SAS Galeshewe and SAS Makhanda are detached to NS Durban on a rotating basis, pending the completion of sufficient permanent accommodation for the crews and other facilities, when the flotilla will make Durban their home port. These ships are engaged in anti-piracy patrols in the Mozambique Channel.[5]

History

Second World War

The entry of Japan into the Second World War on the side of the Axis Powers and their ability to threaten the east coast of Africa prompted the construction of a new naval base on Salisbury Island. In the process of this construction the island was linked to the mainland by a causeway and the level of the land was raised three metres. Besides wharves the base facilities included barracks, workshops, a hospital as well as training facilities. A floating dry dock and crane were also installed. The construction was however only completed after the war had ended.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Wingrin, Dean (16 March 2012). "Plans for Salisbury Island elaborated". DefenceWeb.co.za. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  2. ↑ Engelbrecht, Leon (27 February 2012). "Navy may upgrade Naval Station Durban". DefenceWeb.co.za. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  3. ↑ Helfrich, Kim (23 September 2013). "Naval Base Durban still a way off". DefenceWeb.co.za. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  4. ↑ Helfrich, Kim (23 April 2014). "New Navy Chief upbeat on OPVs, NS Durban and hydrographic survey". DefenceWeb.co.za. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  5. ↑ Helfrich, Kim (3 July 2013). "Navy OPVs will be based in Durban". DefenceWeb.co.za. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  6. ↑ Wessels, Andre (June 1996). "South Africa and the War against Japan 1941-1945". Military History Journal (The South African Military History Society) 10 (3). ISSN 0026-4016. OCLC 2512522.