River-class mine hunter
{{For|other naval ship classes of the same name|River class (disambiguation)}}
| {{Infobox ship begin |sclass=2}}
{{Infobox ship image | Ship image =SAS Umzimkulu.jpg | Ship caption =SAS Umzimkulu }} {{Infobox ship class overview | Name=River class | Builders =Abeking & Rasmussen and Sandock-Austral | Operators =South African Navy | Class before ={{sclass2|Ton|minesweeper|1}} | Class after = | Subclasses = | Built range =4 | In commission range = | Total ships building = | Total ships planned = | Total ships completed =4 | Total ships cancelled = | Total ships active =4 | Total ships laid up = | Total ships lost = | Total ships retired = | Total ships preserved = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption=Saunders 2002, p. 639. |Ship type=Minehunter |Ship displacement={{convert|380|LT|t|abbr=on|lk=on|disp=flip}} |Ship length={{convert|157.5|ft|m|abbr=on|disp=flip}} |Ship beam={{convert|27.9|ft|m|abbr=on|disp=flip}} |Ship draught={{convert|8.2|ft|m|abbr=on|disp=flip}} |Ship draft= |Ship propulsion=*2 × MTU 12V TB81 diesels, 2 shaft
|Ship speed={{convert|16|kn|abbr=on}} |Ship range={{convert|2000|nmi|abbr=on}} at {{convert|13|kn|abbr=on}} |Ship complement=40 |Ship sensors= |Ship EW= |Ship armament=*1 × Oerlikon 20 mm cannon
|Ship armour= |Ship armor= |Ship aircraft= |Ship aircraft facilities= |Ship notes= }} |
The River class is a class of four minehunters built for the South African Navy. They have a secondary role as inshore patrol vessels.
Development
In order to circumvent United Nations military sanctions during the apartheid-era, the minehunters were originally ordered and operated by the Department of Transport and designated as research vessels.{{cite web | url=http://humanities.ufs.ac.za/dl/userfiles/Documents/00001/1095_eng.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202233250/http://humanities.ufs.ac.za/dl/userfiles/Documents/00001/1095_eng.pdf | url-status=dead | archive-date=December 2, 2013 | title=The South African Navy during the years of conflict in Southern Africa 1966-1989 | access-date=August 14, 2014 | author=Wessels, Andre}} The initial names of the vessels were Navors (Afrikaans for 'research'), and numbered 1 to 4.
Ordered in 1978, the first vessel, Navors I, was shipped to Durban from Germany in June 1980 for fitting out, shortly followed by the Navors II.{{cite web | url=http://www.navy.mil.za/equipment/mine_warfare.htm | title=Mine Warfare Forces | access-date=August 14, 2014 | archive-date=June 8, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100608191514/http://www.navy.mil.za/equipment/mine_warfare.htm | url-status=dead }} The second pair were constructed in Durban. The vessels were painted blue with white upper works and formed the First Research Squadron.
In 1982, the four vessels were renamed after South African rivers but continued to fly the national flag rather than the naval ensign.
Only in February 1988 was the prefix RV changed to SAS when they were formally accepted as naval ships.
Current status
As of 2022, two River-class vessels are still in service with the South African Navy, however, they are believed to have lost their mine-hunting capabilities due to the retirement of the antiquated PAP104 autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs).
Whilst still maintaining a decompression chamber for operational diving, the River class are now deployed on general coastal defence duties, and are equipped with a single Oerlikon 20 mm cannon, two 12.7 mm machine guns, and a RHIB for boarding operations.
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| style="text-align:center; background:#acc; width:150px;"|Name
! style="text-align:center; background:#acc; width:150px;"|Previous Names ! style="text-align:center; background:#acc; width:50px;"|Pennant ! style="text-align:center; background:#acc; width:25px;"|Commissioned ! style="text-align:center; background:#acc; width:475px;"|Notes |
|---|
| SAS Umkomaas
| RV Navors I | M1499 | 13 January 1981 | Named after the Umkomaas River |
| SAS Umgeni
| RV Navors II | M1213 | 1 March 1981 | Named after Umgeni River |
| SAS Umzimkulu
| RV Navors III | M1142 | 30 October 1981 | Named after Umzimkulu River |
| SAS Umhloti
| RV Navors IV | M1212 | 15 December 1981 | Named after Umhloti River close to Durban, South Africa |
See also
Citations
{{Reflist}}
References
- {{cite book|last=Saunders|first=Stephen|title=Jane's Fighting Ships 2002–2003|year=2002|publisher=Jane's Information Group|location=Coulsdon, UK|isbn=0-7106-24328}}
{{South African Navy}}