SAS Manthatisi (S101) is a Heroine-class submarine currently in service with the South African Navy. SAS Manthatisi is named after the female warrior chief of the Batlokwa tribe. The Executive Mayor of Naledi Local Municipality and the godmother of the S101, Dr. Ruth Segomotso Mompati, announced the name of the submarine in 2006 at a ceremony in Simon's Town.[2]
 SAS Manthatisi in June 2023
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 South Africa | |
| Name | SAS Manthatisi |
| Namesake | An 18th Century Batlokwa chieftainess |
| Operator | South African Navy |
| Builder | Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft, Kiel[1] |
| Launched | 15 June 2004 |
| Commissioned | 3 November 2005 |
| Homeport | Simon's Town |
| Status | in active service |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Heroine-class submarine |
| Displacement | 1,454 t, submerged |
| Length | 62 m |
| Beam | 7.6 m |
| Draft | 5.8 m |
| Propulsion | Diesel-electric, 4 diesels, 1 shaft, 6100 shp |
| Speed |
|
| Range |
|
| Test depth | 500 m |
| Complement | 30 |
| Sensors & processing systems | Sonar: STN Atlas CSU-90; hull mounted and flank arrays
Radar: Surface search I-band Optics: Zeiss non-hull penetrating optronic mast |
| Electronic warfare & decoys | ESM: Grintek Avitronics, intercept + radar warning receiver ELINT: Saab S/UME-100 tactical electronic support measures |
| Armament |
|
Background
editSouth Africa placed a contract for three Type 209/1400 submarines in July 2000 on Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) and Thyssen Nordseewerke. The Type 209/1400 submarines replace the French-built Daphné-class submarines, SAS Spear, SAS Assegaai and SAS Umkhonto which were decommissioned in 2003. The Heroine class are sometimes considered to be South Africa's first "true" submarines, as they were more suited to being underwater than the Daphné models.[3][disputed – discuss]
Manthatisi arrived in Simon's Town on 8 April 2006, accompanied by the Valour-class frigate SAS Amatola (F145).[4]
Operational history
editExercise Amazolo, the first multi-navy exercise to involve ships of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and the South African Navy took place in September 2007. The NATO ships included the USS Normandy, German tanker Spessart, HNLMS Evertsen, HMCS Toronto, HDMS Olfert Fischer and NRP Álvares Cabral. The Manthatisi managed to penetrate an anti-submarine screen of seven ships, including the two South African Valour-class frigates SAS Amatola (F145) and SAS Isandlwana (F146) and the USS Normandy. After having ‘sunk’ the target being protected by the surface screen, the submarine turned on the surface warships and ‘sank’ each of them as well.[5]
Manthatisi was withdrawn from service in 2007 and placed in reserve as part of the SAN's plan to maintain only two out of its three submarines in service. She began a refit in 2010, and re-entered service in October 2014.[6] As of April 2023, Manthatisi had completed a Docking and Essential Defect (DED) maintenance period and was undergoing post-maintenance trials.[7] However, according to a presentation made to the Joint Standing Committee on Defence by Rear Admiral B.K. Mhlana, Deputy Chief of the Navy in May 2023, the mid-life update for the submarine, that was due to start in 2022, had not yet commenced.[8]
On 20 September 2023, Manthatisi was involved in a fatal accident en route to Table Bay from Simon's Town for the South African Navy Festival. All seven swept off board were recovered by the NSRI near Slangkop Lighthouse with 3 fatalities.[9][10]
In August 2025, the Indian Navy undertook the Rescue Seat Certification of SAS Manthatisi. This follows the "rescue cooperation pact" singed between Indian Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi and South African Navy Chief Vice Admiral Monde Lobese on 3 September 2024 which allows India to deploy its Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV) for assistance in case a South African Navy Submarine experiences an emergency. An Indian Navy team visited Simon's Town and held talks with multiple talks South African stakeholders before the certification.[11][12]
References
edit- ^ "Fact file: Heroine-class diesel-electric submarine | DefenceWeb". Archived from the original on 18 February 2012. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
- ^ Letaoana, Lebohang (May 2006). "The arrival of our first submarine" (PDF). SA Soldier: 17.
- ^ Engelbrecht, Leon (5 February 2008). "SA gets third submarine". ITweb. Retrieved 23 October 2008.
- ^ "Warrior queen arrives in Simon's Town - South Africa - IOL | Breaking News | South Africa News | World News | Sport | Business | Entertainment | IOL.co.za". Archived from the original on 2 February 2011.
- ^ "SA sub causes red faces in Nato exercise".
- ^ Heitman, Helmoed-Römer (23 October 2014). "South Africa's first Type 209 sub returns to service after seven years". IHS Jane's 360. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
- ^ Lesedi, Sarah (13 April 2023). "South African Navy allocated R1.4 billion to refit fleet". Military Africa. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
- ^ "SA Navy's repair and maintenance of Frigates and Submarines; Status Update on Projects BIRO and HOTEL; with Deputy Minister". Parliamentary Monitoring Group. 18 May 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
- ^ Luvhengo, Phathu. "SAS Manthatisi submarine tragedy off Cape coast to be investigated". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
- ^ Martin, Guy (20 September 2023). "Three SA Navy submariners dead after fatal incident at sea". defenceWeb. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
- ^ "Indian Navy completes first-ever Rescue Seat Certification for South African submarine Manthatisi". The Economic Times. 12 August 2025. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
- ^ Singh, Mayank (12 August 2025). "Indian Navy successfully undertakes Submarine Rescue Seat Certification for South African Navy". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
External links
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