SAS President Kruger (F150)

The SAS "President Kruger" was a frigate of the South African Navy. She sank in 1982 with the loss of 16 lives after colliding with her replenishment ship, the SAS "Tafelberg", in the South Atlantic.

History

SAS "President Kruger" was one of three "President"-class type 12 frigates obtained by the South African Navy following the Simonstown Agreement with the Royal Navy. Her home port was Simonstown, near Cape Town.

On 5 August 1969, she was recommissioned after an extensive refit and modernization.cite web|publisher=South African Navy|author= André Wessels|url=http://www.navy.mil.za/aboutus/history/ambassadors.htm|title=Flag-Showing Cruises By South African Warships, 1922-2002]

She participated in various operations during the South African Border War, including the Ambrizete Incident. [cite book
title=Borderstrike! South Africa into Angola 1975 - 1980
first=Willem
last=Steenkamp
author=Major Willem Steenkamp
publisher=Just Done Productions
date=1983
pages=p107
isbn=1-920169-00-8
url=http://books.google.com/books?id=xJZkoEf_gh4C&pg=PA205&dq=cassinga&sig=MuEu-ujDyrLxdjUaeyCuHs6TbNo
accessdate=2007-10-15]

USA visit

In 1976, this flagship of the South African Navy participated in an International Naval Review in New York as part of the bicentennial independence celebrations of the United States. In the process, she became the first South African naval vessel to visit the USA. She departed Simonstown on 3 June 1976, sailing via Walvis Bay, Abidjan and Las Palmas to Norfolk, Virginia. From there, she sailed in a fleet of 53 warships from 22 countries to New York for the Naval Review on 4 July. On 6 July, members of the ship's company paraded through the streets of New York, after which the "President Kruger" sailed home to Simonstown via Charleston, South Carolina and Las Palmas. Politician Tony Leon was the official photographer for this journey. [cite news|url=http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=289608&area=/insight/insight__national/|title=New Book Spooks Leon|publisher=Mail & Guardian|date=9 November 2006]

Accident and sinking

location map+|Africa|float=left|width=200|caption=SAS "President Kruger" collision site|places=On 18 February 1982, while under the command of Captain de Lange, the "President Kruger" sank convert|78|nmi|km south west of Cape Point [cite journal|url=http://search.sabinet.co.za/images/ejour/contemp/contemp_v31_n3_a15.pdf|title=The South African Navy During The Years of Conflict In Southern Africa, 1966-1989|date=20 April 2007|author=Andre Wessels|accessdate=2008-05-12|publisher= [http://sabinet.co.za Sabinet Online Ltd] ] after colliding with SAS "Tafelberg" in the early hours of the morning. The ship was involved in an anti-submarine exercise with another frigate, the "President Pretorius" that involved intricate manoeuvres around the "Tafelberg". The bows of the "Tafelberg" impacted on the SAS "President Kruger" on her port side at the senior ratings' mess, resulting in the loss of sixteen lives. [cite book|title=Three Frigates - The South African Navy comes of Age|publisher=Just Done Productions|author=Rear Admiral Chris Bennett|date=June 2006|isbn=1-920169-02-4] A Westland Wasp helicopter, operated by 22 Squadron SAAF from the other frigate, rescued crew members from the water. [cite web|url=http://www.af.mil.za/bases/afb_ysterplaat/22sqn.htm|title=22 Squadron|date=October 30, 2007|accessdate=2007-12-06]

As a result of an international arms embargo against apartheid South Africa, the ship could not be replaced, and was therefore a great loss to the capability and morale of the navy at the time.

The Navy's prestigious 'Cock of the Fleet' trophy, which had been won by her ship's crew in the annual rowing regatta, was lost with the ship. [cite book
title=Borderstrike! South Africa into Angola 1975 - 1980
first=Willem
last=Steenkamp
author=Major Willem Steenkamp
publisher=Just Done Productions
date=1983
pages=p115
isbn=1-920169-00-8
url=http://books.google.com/books?id=xJZkoEf_gh4C&pg=PA205&dq=cassinga&sig=MuEu-ujDyrLxdjUaeyCuHs6TbNo
accessdate=2007-10-14]

ee also

*22 Squadron SAAF

References

External links

* [http://graymonk.mu.nu/archives/2006/01/painting_for_pl.html Paintings of SAS President Kruger]
* [http://www.sa-transport.co.za/military/navy/navy_1.html Photographs of the SAS President Kruger]