New SA sub hits training snag

2006-01-25 18:28

Johannesburg - A defence force submarine experienced a malfunction during training in Norwegian waters on Tuesday, said the SANDF.

Submarine S101 was conducting sea training in Norwegian waters with a German navy team aboard in preparation for its trip to South Africa when a technical malfunction took place, said Rear Admiral Rusty Higgs on Wednesday.

Nobody was injured and the S101 - known by its serial number until it is named - was travelling to Kiel in Germany for further information to be gathered.

"At this stage we do not have the picture yet... it's a little bit too early," said Higgs.

"We were told there was a technical malfunction and in the spirit of the people's navy we are keeping people in the picture," he said.

It is not know whether the boat's mid-February voyage to South Africa still will take place.

The submarine - one of three type-209 submarines commissioned from Germany - was symbolically handed over to Defence Minister Mosioua Lekota in November and had been in training in the deep Norwegian waters.

The three vessels replace the obsolete Daphne-class submarines, the last of which was taken out of service in November 2003.

- SAPA