SAS Protea (A324)
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| History | |
|---|---|
 South Africa
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| Name: | SAS Protea |
| Namesake: | Protea flower |
| Operator: | South African Navy |
| Launched: | 14 July 1971 |
| Commissioned: | 23 May 1972 |
| Homeport: | Simonstown |
| Status: | in active service, as of 2016 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | Hecla-class survey vessel |
| Type: | Deep ocean hydrographic survey vessel |
| Displacement: | 2,750 tons |
| Length: | 79.3m |
| Beam: | 15m |
| Draught: | 16 ft (4.9 m) |
| Propulsion: | 4 x 12-cylinder MTU diesels geared to one shaft and controllable-pitch propeller[1] |
| Speed: | 16 knots (30 km/h) |
| Range: | 17,000 nautical miles (31,000 km) |
| Endurance: | 17 000 sea miles at 12 knots[1] |
| Complement: | 124, including 10 officers[2] |
| Notes: | 1 |
The SAS Protea is a survey vessel of the South African Navy, part of the Hecla-class survey vessels[3] built for the Royal Navy. The Protea was the fifth Hecla-class vessel and was commissioned on 23 May 1972[2]
As of 2014, Protea remains in service.[4]
Role
The Protea is a specialist hydrographic survey vessel, although its equipment has been used in search and rescue operations using the Protea’s shallow water route survey system (SWRSS).[2] She is the only ship in the South African Navy that is painted white, denoting that she is not a warship.[2] Her hull is strengthened for navigation in ice. and he is fitted with a transverse bow thruster unit, for increased manoeuvrability in harbour.[1]
History
The Protea was commissioned at Scoutstoun, Glasgow and arrived in South Africa on 14 June 1972.[5]
In 1978 the Protea took part in an international krill research project, becoming the first South African Navy vessel to round Cape Horn. She also acted as the guardship for the 1976 and 1979 Transatlantic Yacht races.[5]
In 1981 she was involved in Operation Kerslig, a clandestine operation to attack oil facilities in Luanda, Angola.
See also
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Protea (ship, 1972). |
References
- 1 2 3 "SAS Protea". South African Navy. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 Helfrich, Kim (April 30, 2013). "SAS Protea has plenty of life until replacement – Navy". Defenceweb.co.za. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
- ↑ Potgieter, Thean (2012). "Guiding the seafarers : the South African Hydrographic Office and the contribution of the three Proteas" (PDF). Scientaria Militaria 40 (3): 147–176.
- ↑ "Fact file: Hecla (Protea)-class hydrographic vessel". DefenceWeb.za. Retrieved 2013-12-06.
- 1 2 Wessels, Andre (2006). "The SAN during the years of conflict, 1966-1989" (PDF). Journal for Contemporary History 31 (3).
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