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SAS Charlotte Maxeke (S102)

2007 MODERN NAVY

History

The South African Navy has procured a fleet of three German Type 209 submarines (classes discussed elsewhere on this site) as successors to the aging series of French-built Cold War-era Daphne-class attack submarines. Known locally as the Herione class, the group was led by SAS Manthatisi (S101) accompanied by her sister ships SAS Charlotte Maxeke (S102) and SAS Queen Modjadji I (S103).

The ships were commissioned on April 1, 2006, March 14, 2007 and May 2008, and were in active service as of today (2016). The construction of the first ship was carried out by the German company Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (Kiele) and the remaining two were completed by Thyssen Nordseewerke (Emden).

SAS Charlotte Maxeke delivered to Simon Town on April 27, 2007. She displaces 1,455 tons underwater, has a barrel length of 203 feet, a beam of 25 feet, and a draft of 19 feet. Her propulsion system consists of a diesel-electric unit producing 6,100 hp on 1 x axle. Generators are used for underwater travel.

It has a range of up to 13,000 miles and can accelerate 10 knots on the surface and 21.5 knots underwater. Her crew replenished thirty.

Airborne systems include the STN Atlas CSU-90 kit, hull and side mounted sonar arrays, electro-optical masts, service search I-band radar and Saab tactical electronic countermeasures suite S/UME-100 series. Grintek Avitronics offers Intercept/Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) accessories.

As an attack submarine, the SAS Charlotte Maxeke is fully equipped with 8 x 21" (533 mm) torpedo tubes and carries 14 AEG SUT 264 series torpedoes. These tubes also support the UGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile (ASM).

Since serving, SAS Charlotte Maxeke has participated in standard patrols, training and joint exercises with troops from Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil. The three ships in the class represent underwater power throughout South Africa, but represent a significant improvement over the outgoing Daphne class due to their improved seaworthiness and underwater capabilities.