Saying goodbye to a sub

2003-11-18 13:28

Cape Town - Heralding the end of an era, the last of the South African Navy's ageing operational submarines will finally rise from the water like a metal leviathan to settle in Simon's Town as part of a naval museum.

"We intend having a museum of submarine technology... with interactive displays and simulators," said director of fleet force preparation, Rear Admiral Arne Söderlund.

Söderlund was speaking on board the SAS Assegaai on Wednesday - one of the few remaining Daphne-class boats in the world, which completed an overnight voyage along with a group of privileged journalists. The submarine will be decommissioned next Friday.

Söderlund said he was "optimistically hopeful" that the envisaged onshore submarine museum would be established by 2005, depending on when the estimated costs of between R1.5m and R4.5m could be raised.

Of the SAS Assegaai's two sister subs, one has been sold for scrap metal and the other is in dry dock awaiting its fate to be determined.

All three will be replaced by a German-built Class 209 Type 1400 MOD diesel-electric submarine as part of the multi-billion rand arms acquisition.

On Tuesday the group of journalists were taken out to sea on board the SAS Assegaai, which is slightly more than 57 metres in length, has 12 torpedoes, a top speed of 16 knots, and a maximum diving depth of 300 metres.

The submarine, which has been in service for 31 years, was showing its age with flaking paintwork, rust and even leaks apparent.

"The valves don't work so lekker... and every so often we spring a leak. Just last week we also had to put out three fires in the engine room," said Able Seaman Denzil Martin.

Another submariner told of how in June this year a "total hydraulic oil failure" occurred among the diving planes, which resulted in the submarine sinking at a perilous rate and angle.

Fortunately quick thinking saved the day, said control centre supervisor, Warrant Officer Michael Joos.

But Admiral Söderlund emphasised that the ship was safe and would not be sent out if the crew's lives were in danger.

The officer in command, Gary Kretschmer, said it was only fitting to say goodbye to the SAS Assegaai in a proper manner.

"Dockyard workers and others who have been involved with her will also be taken out... (as) part of her legacy," he said.

Kretschmer said South Africa would be without submarine capability for about one-and-a-half years, before the new Class 209 types arrived in Simon's Town around mid-October 2005.

- SAPA