Valor class
 Blohm + Voss MEKO-A-200 SAN class South Africa Valor class
 |
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|---|---|
 SAS Spioenkop (F 147) in Rota |
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| Overview | |
| Type | frigate |
| units |
SAS Amatola (F145) SAS Isandlwana (F146) SAS Spioenkop (F147) SAS Mendi (F148) |
| Shipyard |
Planning: Blohm + Voss , Hamburg |
| Order | April 28, 2000 |
| delivery | 2004-2005 |
| period of service |
since 2004 |
| Technical specifications | |
| displacement |
3,700 ts |
| length |
121 m |
| width |
16.34 m |
| Draft |
5.95 m |
| crew |
124 (with helicopter crew) |
| drive |
CODAG :
|
| speed |
27 knots (50 km / h) |
| Range |
8,000 nmi (15,000 km) at 18 kn (30 km / h) |
| Armament |
|
| helicopter |
2 × Westland Lynx |
| electronics |
|
The South African frigates of the Valor class have been part of the South African Navy since 2004 . The manufacturer Blohm + Voss calls them the MEKO A-200SAN , a further development of the MEKO 200 class of ships supplied to many naval forces .
history
The ships of the Sitron project are part of the strategic defense package of South Africa and the European-South African Corvette Consortium (ESACC) of December 3, 1999. The ESACC consists of today's ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems AG , Thales and South African companies ; On April 28, 2000, they received the order to build the four MEKO A-200SAN frigates. "Valor" means something like courage or bravery . The Amatola was named after the entrenchment of a well-known Xhosa chief (Sandile) who fought against the British in the region of the same name ; the Sandhlwana and the Spioenkop bear the names of places where battles of the Zulu and Boer War were staged , and the Mendi was named after the British ship of the same name that ran into a mine in 1917 . Its sinking and the death of 700 South African soldiers is considered the largest South African shipping disaster.
The frigates are the first major new acquisitions by the South African Navy in 20 years and the end of apartheid . The uses of the ships are said to encompass a wide range of tasks that the Navy could not fulfill until then. This includes:
- Patrols in the territorial waters against fish poaching
- Operations against pirates and smugglers
- SAR missions to the Prince Edward Islands
- Evacuation missions
- Fire support for land units and limited transportation of them
- War missions
- Combat patrol
- Defensive maritime surveillance
- Combat SAR
- Laying mines and sea blockade
A procurement of additional ships of this class is planned.
Technical specifications
The frigates are built in stealth design . This means that they throw back the smallest possible radar echo. One measure for this is the use of the "X-shape" for the hull cross-section, which on the one hand minimizes reflections back in the direction of a transmitter, but on the other hand allows sufficient construction volume for the ship. In addition, techniques to reduce the infrared signature were used; For example, the exhaust system is located in the waterline - a measure that serves to cool the exhaust gases to ambient temperature before they exit. Blohm + Voss, the developer and manufacturer of the class, specifies a halving of the radar reflecting area , a 75% smaller infrared signature than in previous ship designs, also 20% lower maintenance costs, 25% less displacement and a 30% smaller crew as key figures.
drive
The ships have two diesel engines with an output of 5,920 kW each and a gas turbine with an output of 20,000 kW. The two diesel engines drive the two propellers via two shafts, the gas turbine can be connected to both shafts via two gears in order to be able to reach the maximum speed of up to 27 knots. In addition, the ships have a water jet propulsion system, which is rather unusual for such a ship class. This is driven by the gas turbine alone. In principle, the following modes can be used:
- I - Economical (fuel-saving): One diesel on both shafts, max. Propeller speed: 150 min −1
- II - Maneuver: Both diesels on both shafts, max. Propeller speed: 200 min −1
- III - CODAG-WARP: Both diesel and gas turbine, max. Propeller speed: 215 min −1
- IV - Gas turbine only: water jet propulsion
At a cruising speed of around 16 knots, the ships can cover a distance of over 8,000 nautical miles without having to bunker new fuel.
Armament
Each ship of the class is equipped with a 76 mm gun from Oto-Breda on the bow . This can be used against both sea and air and land targets. In addition, a 35 mm gun from Denel is installed above the hangar to protect the close range. To defend against small surface vehicles, two 20 mm cannons and up to two 12.7 mm machine guns are still installed on board.
The missile armament includes two quadruple launchers for anti-ship missiles of the type Exocet MM-40 Block II with a range of up to 72 kilometers. The starters are mounted between the superstructures. To defend against aircraft and missiles , the ships have two 8-cell vertical launching systems (VLS for short), with which anti-aircraft missiles of the Umkhonto type can be deployed. Depending on the version, the range varies between 12 and up to 20 kilometers.
To combat underwater targets there are four discharge tubes for lightweight torpedoes. Also for fighting submarines, up to two Westland Super Lynx or an Atlas Oryx can be carried in a hangar at the stern. It is also possible to replace a helicopter with a drone .
Ship list
| Ship name | shipyard | Keel laying | Launch | Delivered | Put into service |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAS Amatola (F145) | Blohm + Voss | August 2, 2001 | June 6, 2002 | 2003 | 2005 |
| SAS Isandlwana (F146) | HDW | October 26, 2001 | December 5, 2002 | 2004 | 2005 |
| SAS Spioenkop (F147) | Blohm + Voss | February 28, 2002 | August 2, 2003 | 2004 | 2005 |
| SAS Mendi (F148) | HDW | June 28, 2002 | October 2003 | 2004 | 2005 |
Individual evidence
- ↑ Leon Engelbrecht (defenceWeb): Fact File: Valor small-class guided missile frigates: Comment. News from February 8, 2010 on www.defenceweb.co.za (English)
