SAS Queen Modjadji (S103)

Career (South Africa)
Name:	SAS Queen Modjadji
Namesake:	A South African Rain Queen
Operator:	South African Navy
Builder:	Nordsee Werke, Emden[1]
Launched:	18 March 2006
Commissioned:	22 May 2008
Status:	in active service, as of 2015
General characteristics
Type:	Heroine class submarine
Displacement:	1,454 t, submerged
Length:	62 m
Beam:	7.6 m
Draft:	5.8 m
Propulsion:	Diesel-electric, 4 diesels, 1 shaft, 6100 shp
Speed:	10 knots (19 km/h), surfaced; 21.5 knots (40 km/h), submerged
Range:	11,000 nmi. at 10 knots, surfaced, (20,000 km at 20 km/h); 8,000 nmi. at 10 knots, snorkeling, (15,000 km at 20 km/h); 400 nmi. at 4 knots, submerged (740 km at 7 km/h)
Test depth:	500 m
Complement:	30
Sensors and processing systems:	Sonar: STN Atlas CSU-90; hull mounted and flank arrays Radar: Surface search I-band Optics: Zeiss non-hull penetrating optronic mast
Electronic warfare and decoys:	ESM: Grintek Avitronics , intercept + radar warning receiver ELINT: Saab S/UME-100 tactical electronic support measures
Armament:	8 x 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes, 14 AEG SUT 264 torpedoes; optional UGM-84 Harpoon integration

SAS Queen Modjadji (S103) is a variant of the Type 209 diesel-electric attack submarine developed by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) of Germany, currently in service with the South African Navy. She is named after the South African Rain Queen. She was named on 14 March 2007^[2] She was named by the ships sponsor, Mrs. Rita Ndzanga, at a ceremony in Emden, Germany on 14 March 2007.^[3]

Background

South Africa placed a contract for three Type 209/1400 submarines in July 2000 on Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) and Thyssen Nordseewerke. The Type 209/1400 submarines replace the French-built Daphné-class submarines, SAS Spear, SAS Assegaai and SAS Umkhonto which were decommissioned in 2003. The Heroine class are sometimes considered to be South Africa's first "true" submarines, as they were more suited to being underwater than the Daphné models.^[4]

History

Queen Modjadji arrived in Simonstown on 22 May 2008.^[5]

Commander Handsome Thamsanqa Matsane became the first black officer to command a South African submarine when he took command of Charlotte Maxeke in April 2012^[6]

Deployments

• Joint exercise GOOD HOPE V between the SA Navy and the German Navy, which included the SA Air Force in March 2012^[7]
• Exercise IBSAMAR III between 10 and 26 October 2012. She took part in a trilateral naval exercise between Brazil, India and South Africa.
• Exercise Atlasur IX between 24 September to 10 October 2012. She took part in the multinational maritime exercise between the navies of South Africa, Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay.

Accident

The SAS Queen Modjadji was involved in an accident on the 17 July 2012 when it hit the seabed during training. A 1.5m x 1.5m dent was made in the outer protective plating.^[8]

External links

• Global Security

References