SAS President Pretorius

History
South Africa
Name	President Pretorius
Namesake	Marthinus Wessel Pretorius
Builder	Yarrow Shipbuilders, Scotstoun
Laid down	21 November 1961
Launched	28 September 1962
Commissioned	18 March 1964
Identification	Pennant number: F145
Nickname(s)	'PP'
General characteristics (as built)
Class and type	President-class frigate
Displacement	2,170 long tons (2,200 t) (standard load); 2,605 long tons (2,647 t) (deep load);
Length	370 ft 0 in (112.78 m)
Beam	41 ft 0 in (12.5 m)
Draught	17 ft 6 in (5.33 m) (deep load)
Installed power	2 Babcock & Wilcox boilers; 30,000 shp (22,000 kW);
Propulsion	2 × shafts; 2 × geared steam turbines;
Speed	30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Range	4,500 nmi (8,300 km; 5,200 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement	214
Sensors and ; processing systems	Type 162, 170, 177M sonars; Type 293Q surface-search radar; Type 262 and 275 gunnery radars; Type 277Q height-finding radar; Type 978 navigation radar;
Armament	2 × triple Limbo anti-submarine mortars; 1 × twin 4.5-inch (114 mm) dual-purpose gun; 1 × twin 40 mm (1.6 in) Bofors AA gun;

SAS President Pretorius was the third of three President-class Type 12 frigates built in the UK for the South African Navy during the 1960s. The ship spent most of her career training and made many visits to foreign ports in Africa, Western Europe and Australia.

Description

The President-class ships displaced 2,170 long tons (2,200 t) at standard load and 2,605 long tons (2,647 t) at deep load. They had an overall length of 370 feet (112.8 m), a beam of 41 feet (12.5 m) and a mean deep draught of 17 feet 6 inches (5.3 m).^[1]^: 238 The ships were powered by a pair of English Electric geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft, using steam provided by two Babcock & Wilcox boilers. The turbines developed a total of 30,000 shaft horsepower (22,000 kW) which gave a maximum speed of 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph).^[2]^: 64 They carried 309 long tons (314 t) of fuel oil that gave them a range of 4,500 nautical miles (8,300 km; 5,200 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph). Their crew numbered 14 officers and 200 ratings.^[1]^: 238

The Presidents were armed with one twin-gun mount for QF 4.5-inch (114 mm) Mk V dual-purpose guns forward and one twin mount for 40-millimetre (1.6 in) Bofors anti-aircraft guns. For anti-submarine work, the ships were fitted with Type 162, 170, and 177M sonars for the pair of triple-barrelled Mk 10 Limbo anti-submarine mortars. They were equipped with a Type 293Q surface-search radar, Type 262 and 275 gunnery radars, Type 277Q height-finding radar and a Type 978 navigation radar.^[1]^{: 220–22, 238}

History

SAS President Pretorius was one of three President-class type 12 frigates obtained by the South African Navy in the 1960s following the Simonstown Agreement with the Royal Navy. She was launched on 28 September 1962 by Mrs. Mientjie Grobelaar, wife of General Pieter Grobbelaar.^[1]^: 223 Her first captain was Captain James Johnson, later Chief of the Navy.

She was decommissioned in 1985 due to manpower shortages and lack of funds.^[1]^: 237

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Du Toit, Allan (1992). South Africa's Fighting Ships: Past and Present. Rivonia, South Africa: Ashanti Publishing. ISBN 1-874800-50-2.
^ Marriott, Leo (1983). Royal Navy Frigates 1945-1983. Shepperton, Surrey, UK: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-1322-5.

[DuToit-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Du Toit, Allan (1992). South Africa's Fighting Ships: Past and Present. Rivonia, South Africa: Ashanti Publishing. ISBN 1-874800-50-2.

[2] Marriott, Leo (1983). Royal Navy Frigates 1945-1983. Shepperton, Surrey, UK: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-1322-5.

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