SAS being all demure about their achievements!

"SAS Amatola undergoing a midlife refit at Sandock Austral Shipyards (SAS) in Durban. SAS received the contract for the complete refit of the vessel (excluding armament) – one of the largest projects tackled by a South African company for the South African Navy (SAN).

Amatola spent 3 months in dry dock, where part of the refit programme involved the removal of the Amatola’s two MTU 1163 TB93 diesel engines, each delivering 5920 kW and driving propellers, and a single General Electric LM 2500 gas turbine delivering 20 000 kW and driving a waterjet propulsion system to give a speed of 30 knots.

By getting a South African company to carry out work on the SAS Amatola, the Navy is paying a half to a tenth of the price that foreign suppliers would charge, and local refurbishment work results in quicker turnaround times.

SAS Amatola is the first of the Navy’s four Valour class frigates. She was launched in June 2002 and commissioned into service in February 2006. She is 121 metres long and displaces 3 700 tons."

GreenandGold:


Now we know who to call to make our vehicle possible once it passes through the "look at me" Nairaland stage ...

We don't play in the SA space. When the 7 of us partners walked out of a multi-national shop to set up on our own, it caused quite a media stink and restraint of trade agreements limited our playground. The emerging markets of Africa, Middle East, S.America (excl Brasil, Argentina, Chile & Mexico) and south east Asia (excl Singapore, Malaysia -too developed - and other unmentionable too primitive ) were future markets, we thought. HQ didn't agree, so we walked, on condition that for 15 years we wouldn't compete in specific markets.

So as much as I'd like to get into the defence space, have to extend that barge-pole cos if there's any SA sniff, can't but recoil and mask up.

So in the security sector in general, I'll stick with the Angolans, Gabonese, Ghanaians, Ivorians, Kenyans etc, who utilise sophisticated corporate finance mechanisms for such things.

Lurker4Long:

SAS being all demure about their achievements!

"SAS Amatola undergoing a midlife refit at Sandock Austral Shipyards (SAS) in Durban. SAS received the contract for the complete refit of the vessel (excluding armament) – one of the largest projects tackled by a South African company for the South African Navy (SAN).

Finally, let's hope the other 3 frigates get the same treatment..

Lurker4Long:



We don't play in the SA space

That's a sophisticated way of saying "no funding for your project bro"

GreenandGold:


That's a sophisticated way of saying "no funding for your project bro"

Nah! Restraint of trade and such nonsense. A few clients walked with us and our industry is so incestuous, we had to honour that garbage even though it's not legally enforceable under SA law.

GreenandGold:


Finally, let's hope the other 3 frigates get the same treatment..

SAS did 1 frigate and 1 submarine. That was half a billion ZAR, when the Mbeki Administration budget surplus was still available for Zuma to squander. Goodness knows how much the midlife refits will cost for the other 3 frigates and 2 subs.

Lurker4Long:

SAS being all demure about their achievements!

"SAS Amatola undergoing a midlife refit at Sandock Austral Shipyards (SAS) in Durban. SAS received the contract for the complete refit of the vessel (excluding armament) – one of the largest projects tackled by a South African company for the South African Navy (SAN).

Amatola spent 3 months in dry dock, where part of the refit programme involved the removal of the Amatola’s two MTU 1163 TB93 diesel engines, each delivering 5920 kW and driving propellers, and a single General Electric LM 2500 gas turbine delivering 20 000 kW and driving a waterjet propulsion system to give a speed of 30 knots.

By getting a South African company to carry out work on the SAS Amatola, the Navy is paying a half to a tenth of the price that foreign suppliers would charge, and local refurbishment work results in quicker turnaround times.

SAS Amatola is the first of the Navy’s four Valour class frigates. She was launched in June 2002 and commissioned into service in February 2006. She is 121 metres long and displaces 3 700 tons."

Such a beautiful ship, it's a shame the weapons will not be fully upgraded to it's max potential like Algerian Navy's MEKO A-200

Exnavyboy62:


Such a beautiful ship, it's a shame the weapons will not be fully upgraded to it's max potential like Algerian Navy's MEKO A-200

Please elaborate, I don't understand what the Algerian MEKO-200 has the Valour Class Frigs don't have?

The Britishers hunted India's cheetahs to extinction. We have too many; so to aid in their re-introduction, we'll be sending 12 every year for ten years.
And they sent an IAF C17 to pick them up!

GreenandGold:


Please elaborate, I don't understand what the Algerian MEKO-200 has the Valour Class Frigs don't have?

The most obvious one is torpedoes. There's a list of things that ours are fitted for, but not equipped.

Speaking of SAS Amatola, the smallest target ever engaged by an Exocet missile anywhere, the decommissioned SAS Shaka was sunk by a MBDA Exocet MM40 Block III anti-ship missile fired by Amatola.

School kids being introduced to the Air Force at AFD2023...

...last.

Powerful Image:

An Administration Police officer parked his vehicle in the distance, walked over with a bottled water in hand in a bid to satisfy a seemingly desperate monkey's quench for water amid biting drought in Northern Kenya.

Under normal circumstances, these wild monkeys/baboons will never let you get anywhere near them.

Lurker4Long:

The most obvious one is torpedoes. There's a list of things that ours are fitted for, but not equipped.

Ok fair... the torpedoes...

GreenandGold:


Please elaborate, I don't understand what the Algerian MEKO-200 has the Valour Class Frigs don't have?

Weapons brother... they have weapons that the Valour class frigates don't have
16x anti ship missiles not 8
1x OTO Melara rapid fire gun not a compact gun
32x air to air missiles(umkhonto missiles for that matter) not 13 out of 16
2x double torpedo tubes, not built to be fitted for but not with

Lurker4Long:
The Britishers hunted India's cheetahs to extinction. We have too many; so to aid in their re-introduction, we'll be sending 12 every year for ten years.
And they sent an IAF C17 to pick them up!

SoBs than and forever

Few years back anti poaching unit shot dead few rhinoceros poachers and imagine their galls fuking BBC presstitudes was clamoring for poachers human rights , got their ass deported

Stargate254:
Powerful Image:

Under normal circumstances, these wild monkeys/baboons will never let you get anywhere near them.

Nice

Quite a few Nigerian and SA visitors to AI this time

Exnavyboy62:


Weapons brother... they have weapons that the Valour class frigates don't have
16x anti ship missiles not 8
1x OTO Melara rapid fire gun not a compact gun
32x air to air missiles(umkhonto missiles for that matter) not 13 out of 16
2x double torpedo tubes, not built to be fitted for but not with

ok, you have a fair point..they are well armed

When you shift careers to the Military Police BUT refuse to let go of your Parabat uniform and boots

Career Day came early in Richards Bay

GreenandGold:


Please elaborate, I don't understand what the Algerian MEKO-200 has the Valour Class Frigs don't have?

16 asm vs 8

Exnavyboy62:


Weapons brother... they have weapons that the Valour class frigates don't have
16x anti ship missiles not 8
1x OTO Melara rapid fire gun not a compact gun
32x air to air missiles(umkhonto missiles for that matter) not 13 out of 16
2x double torpedo tubes, not built to be fitted for but not with

well to be fair it's as easy as purchasing additional missiles and torpedoes, it does have the same torpedo tubes and it also has 32 cells for the umkhonto SAMs

jl115:
well to be fair it's as easy as purchasing additional missiles and torpedoes, it does have the same torpedo tubes and it also has 32 cells for the umkhonto SAMs

....and of course, you have to replace missiles every few years, the more the missiles, the more you need to pay for replacements...and missiles don't come in cheap.

Exnavyboy62:


Weapons brother... they have weapons that the Valour class frigates don't have
16x anti ship missiles not 8
1x OTO Melara rapid fire gun not a compact gun
32x air to air missiles(umkhonto missiles for that matter) not 13 out of 16
2x double torpedo tubes, not built to be fitted for but not with

The Algerian Mekos are better armed than ours. No debate about that.
You're correct about the 76 vs 127mm gun, the 8 Exocets vs 16 SAAB anti-ship missile launchers, the MU90 torpedoes.
You're wrong however, about the Umkhonto VLS. The SAN started with 12 of the Block1, and went up to 16 when Denel completed the Block2. It will go up to 32 for all the frigates when Denel Dynamics completes the extended range Umkhonto ER-IR. Currently only SAS Amatola has 32 cells for the Block2 IR. See pic below.

The other thing the Algerians have which we don't:
- 2 AgustaWestland Super Lynx 300 helicopters per frigate versus 1 per frigate in the SAN;
- their Lynx helicopters carry MU90 torpedoes and 8 Denel Mokopa surface-to-air missiles for Anti-surface warfare operations, whilst ours are fitted for but not with.

More important, the threat assessment in Algeria informed their decisions, as did ours for the SAN's decisions. As a taxpayer, I applaud the SAN decision to outfit the frigates accordingly, with an eye on future upgrades should the conditions demand it. I would be mightily pissed off if they had disregarded assessments and simply bought more "toys" just for penile measurement and comparison.

And, because sanctions are in vogue at the moment, a plus for the SAN is that the combat management system, the computer-based Naval Logistic Management System, and 3 of the 4 radar systems are locally-produced products.
In addition, the SAN vessels now have locally-produced Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV) for minehunting purposes, obviating the need for specialist vessels.

To repeat the obvious, each country has assessed what each needs, and outfitted accordingly. Dick-measurement is for internet warriors.
My Uber is here: must run. My favourite jazz club is hosting one of the great Cuban pianists of the young generation. My woman and I have a table reserved.

GreenandGold:


....and of course, you have to replace missiles every few years, the more the missiles, the more you need to pay for replacements...and missiles don't come in cheap.

precisely

Lurker4Long:

The Algerian Mekos are better armed than ours. No debate about that.

More importantly, the threat assessment in Algeria informed their decisions, as did ours for the SAN's decisions. As a taxpayer, I applaud the SAN decision to outfit the frigates accordingly, with an eye on future upgrades should the conditions demand it. I would be mightily pissed off if they had disregarded assessments and simply bought more "toys" just for penile measurement and comparison.

Chances are, none of the Umkhonto SAMs would ever be fired in combat.

Stargate254:
Powerful Image:

Under normal circumstances, these wild monkeys/baboons will never let you get anywhere near them.

I guess it all depends on where you are in the world... down here, they like coming to people, some of them even wear sui.... or wait, that's Putin

Somewhere in KwaZulu-Natal

GreenandGold:


I guess it all depends on where you are in the world... down here, they like coming to people, some of them even wear sui.... or wait, that's Putin

Nice joke, KGB astronauts are on their way to deliver your very much well deserved "Zelensky of the year award" at your doorstep

GreenandGold:


I guess it all depends on where you are in the world... down here, they like coming to people, some of them even wear sui.... or wait, that's Putin

Comrade, stop insulting baboons with spurious comparisons!