SAS Queen Modjadji (S103)

History
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 2016
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
& decoys:

ESM: Grintek Avitronics , intercept + radar warning receiver

ELINT: Saab S/UME-100 tactical electronic support measures
Armament:

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

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

References


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