SAS Protea
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{{Infobox ship image |Ship image= SAS Protea.jpg |Ship caption=SAS Protea alongside }} {{Infobox ship career |Hide header= |Ship country= South Africa |Ship flag= {{shipboxflag|South Africa|naval}} |Ship name= SAS Protea |Ship namesake= Protea flower |Ship ordered= |Ship builder= |Ship laid down= |Ship launched= 14 July 1971 |Ship acquired= |Ship commissioned= 23 May 1972 |Ship decommissioned= |Ship in service= |Ship out of service= |Ship struck= |Ship reinstated= |Ship homeport=Simonstown |Ship identification=*{{IMO Number|7114707}}
|Ship motto= |Ship nickname= |Ship honours= |Ship status=Active as of 2023 |Ship notes= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= |Ship class={{sclass|Hecla|survey vessel}} |Ship displacement= 2,750 tons |Ship length= {{convert|79.3|m|ft|abbr=on|1}} |Ship beam= {{convert|15|m|ft|abbr=on|1}} |Ship height= |Ship draught={{Convert|16|ft|m|abbr=on|1}} |Ship power= |Ship propulsion=4 x 12-cylinder MTU diesels geared to one shaft and controllable-pitch propeller |Ship speed= {{Convert|16|kn|km/h|lk=in}} |Ship range= {{Convert|17000|nmi|km|abbr=on}} at {{convert|12|kn}} |Ship endurance= |Ship boats= |Ship complement=124, including 10 officers |Ship sensors= |Ship EW= |Ship armament= |Ship armour= |Ship aircraft= |Ship aircraft facilities= |Ship notes= }} |
SAS Protea is a survey vessel of the South African Navy, part of the {{sclass|Hecla|survey vessel|2}}s{{cite journal | url=http://reference.sabinet.co.za/webx/access/electronic_journals/militaria/militaria_v40_n3_a6.pdf | title=Guiding the seafarers : the South African Hydrographic Office and the contribution of the three Proteas | author=Potgieter, Thean | journal=Scientaria Militaria | year=2012 | volume=40 | issue=3 | pages=147–176}} built for the British Royal Navy. Protea was the fifth Hecla-class vessel and was commissioned on 23 May 1972{{cite web | url=http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30332:sas-protea-has-plenty-of-life-until-replacement--navy&catid=111:sa-defence&Itemid=242 | title=SAS Protea has plenty of life until replacement – Navy | publisher=Defenceweb.co.za | date=April 30, 2013 | access-date=July 21, 2014 | author=Helfrich, Kim}}
As of 2023, Protea remains in service.{{cite web|url=http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6653:fact-file-hecla-protea-class-hydrographic-vessel-&catid=79:fact-files&Itemid=159%3C/|title=Fact file: Hecla (Protea)-class hydrographic vessel |publisher=DefenceWeb.za|access-date=2013-12-06}}{{Cite web|url=https://euromaidanpress.com/2023/02/16/south-africas-naval-drills-with-russia-china-tantamount-to-joining-war-against-ukraine/|title=South Africa’s naval drills with Russia, China “tantamount to joining war against Ukraine”|date= 16 February 2023 |last=Ryabchiy |first=Kate |website=Euromaidan Press}}
Role
Protea is a specialist hydrographic survey vessel, although its equipment has been used in search and rescue operations using Protea{{'}}s shallow water route survey system (SWRSS). She is the only ship in the South African Navy that is painted white, denoting that she is not a warship. Her hull is strengthened for navigation in ice and she is fitted with a transverse bow thruster unit, for increased manoeuvrability in harbour.{{cite web | url=http://www.navy.mil.za/vtour/protea/ | title=SAS Protea | publisher=South African Navy | access-date=July 21, 2014}}
History
Protea was commissioned at Scotstoun, Glasgow and arrived in South Africa on 14 June 1972.{{cite journal | url=http://humanities.ufs.ac.za/dl/userfiles/Documents/00001/1095_eng.pdf | title=The SAN during the years of conflict, 1966-1989 | author=Wessels, Andre | journal=Journal for Contemporary History | year=2006 | volume=31 | issue=3 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202233250/http://humanities.ufs.ac.za/dl/userfiles/Documents/00001/1095_eng.pdf | archive-date=2013-12-02 }}
In 1978 Protea took part in an international krill research project, becoming the first South African Navy vessel to round Cape Horn. She also acted as the guardship for the 1976 and 1979 Transatlantic Yacht races.{{cite journal | url=http://humanities.ufs.ac.za/dl/userfiles/Documents/00001/1095_eng.pdf | title=The SAN during the years of conflict, 1966-1989 | author=Wessels, Andre | journal=Journal for Contemporary History | year=2006 | volume=31 | issue=3 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202233250/http://humanities.ufs.ac.za/dl/userfiles/Documents/00001/1095_eng.pdf | archive-date=2013-12-02 }}
In 1981 she was involved in Operation Kerslig, a clandestine operation to attack oil facilities in Luanda, Angola.{{cn|date=December 2020}}
She remained active in the post-apartheid navy and as late as February 2023 was reported to be participating in joint South African-Russian-Chinese exercises which involved the frigate Admiral Gorshkov and tanker Kama from the Russian Navy{{Cite web|url=https://www.plenglish.com/news/2023/02/17/russia-china-and-south-africa-began-naval-maneuvers/|title=Russia, China and South Africa began naval maneuvers |date= 17 February 2023|website=Prensa Latina}} along with the destroyer Huainan, the frigate Rizhao and the support ship Kekexilihu from the Chinese Navy, as well as other units from the South African Navy including the frigate Mendi.{{Cite web|url=https://euromaidanpress.com/2023/02/16/south-africas-naval-drills-with-russia-china-tantamount-to-joining-war-against-ukraine/|title=South Africa’s naval drills with Russia, China “tantamount to joining war against Ukraine”|date= 16 February 2023 |last=Ryabchiy |first=Kate |website=Euromaidan Press}}
See also
References
{{commons category|IMO 7114707}}
{{reflist}}
{{South African Navy}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Protea}}
Category:Hecla-class survey vessels
Category:Ships of the South African Navy