South African Navy receives first inshore patrol vessel

South Africa's first Multi-Mission Inshore Patrol Vessel SAS Sekhukhune . (South African National Defence Force)

The South African Navy took delivery of the first of three multi-mission inshore patrol vessels (MMIPVs) on 18 May, on order from Damen Shipyard in Cape Town under Project Biro.

SAS Sekhukhune was delivered to the Simon's Town naval base and will now work up before being formally commissioned and moving to Naval Base Durban, which will be the home base for the patrol squadron.

The MMIPVs are based on Damen's Stan Patrol 6211 axe bow design and have a maximum speed of 26 kt and a range of 4,000 n miles. They have accommodation for 62, including an embarked boarding or landing party.

Their primary sensor is the Reutech Radar Systems RTS 3200: a frequency-modulated continuous-wave radar/optronics tracker (FORT) that was previously trialled aboard the frigate SAS Spioenkop. The MMIPVs' main armament is the Reutech 20 mm Super Rogue remotely controlled gun with machine guns in the bridge wings. Reutech is also providing the communications system, which will be LINK-ZA compatible.

The ships will carry one 7 m and one 9 m rigid-hull inflatable boat for boarding.

The three IPVs – there is an option for a fourth – will be used to patrol South Africa's coastal waters as mine-countermeasure vessels using offboard systems, and for diving support. The total project cost is estimated at ZAR3.6 billion (USD228 million), with the contract price having been ZAR2.4 billion.

The MMIPVs are replacing the remaining Warrior-class patrol vessels that have been in service since the late 1970s and early 1980s. The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) released a video on 18 May showing one of the two remaining Warriors, SAS Isaac Dyobha