U.S. Nuclear Sub To Engage South Africans In ‘Historic’ Visit Special

The American nuclear-powered attack submarine, USS San Juan, has arrived in Simon’s Town, South Africa’s main naval facility, for an unprecedented series of joint manoeuvres with South Africa’s submarine force.

A report from U.S. Naval Forces Europe (NAVEUR) said the arrival of the USS San Juan would set the stage for “first-ever at-sea engagements” with the South African Navy (SAN’s) submarine force. The commanding officer of the U.S. nuclear submarine, Commander Oliver Lewis, described the visit as “historic” and said it was:

Another important step in our efforts to work together in addressing maritime issues.

A senior South African Navy (SAN) spokesman, Commander Prince Tshabalala, told Digital Journal the two navies would carry out:

A number of manoeuvres, in which we will test our interoperability. For obvious reasons, we cannot give details of the manoeuvres, but we just want to see how compatible we are in operations with the U.S. Navy.

The U.S. Navy nuclear submarine is considerably larger than South Africa’s three conventional submarines. The USS San Juan is 110 metres (360 feet) long with a ship’s company of 140. It is similar in size to the S.A. Navy’s biggest ships, the Valour Class frigates. The American vessel is an improved Los Angeles class “fast attack” submarine, similar to the type featured in the Tom Clancy techno-fiction book and film, The Hunt for Red October.. The Type 688I (“Improved 688) has been strengthened and has had the horizontal diving planes removed from the conning tower, also called “the sail” for operations under and breaking through ice.The San Juan’s homeport is Groton, Connecticut The submarine collided in 1998 with a nuclear warhead-carrying submarine, USS Kentucky outside Long Island, New York, but both vessels were able to return to port. The South African submarines, by contrast, are much smaller and have a diesel-electric “Main Propulsion Motor” (MTM), according to an official SAN publication. Tshabalala added:

Our submarines are only modest size. We don’t own nuclear submarines. Ours are defensive submarines, which are highly effective though, due to the quality of the crews.

The Type 209 (Modified), Heroine Class submarines are 62 metres (202 feet) long with a maximum ship’s company, according to the SAN publication, of 45. The names of the three submarines, SAS 'Manthatisi, SAS Charlotte Maxeke and SAS Queen Modjadi I, are of women who displayed heroism in the country’s history. Like other new SAN ships, the names of the submarines are the result of a competition held within the navy.

SA Navy

S.A. Navy Submarine SAS 'Manthatisi

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Asked if the increasing number of visits by U.S. Navy ships in the past year indicated a stepping up of contacts with the U.S. military by South Africa, the SAN spokesman said:

No. The S.A. Navy has relations with many other navies around the world. We view (the Americans) as friends of the navy and we wish to enhance existing relations.

He added that the U.S. and other nations saw the SAN as a “respected partner,” a sentiment echoed by Commander Lewis, who said:

We appreciate the opportunity to work with a peer navy and submarine force, and believe both our navy and [South Africa's] will benefit from this exchange.

Unlike in some earlier cases, there were no protests against the arrival of a nuclear-powered ship in South African waters. Independent Online said the SAN had received permission on behalf of the U.S. Navy for a so-called “Nuclear Vessel Licence” from the National Nuclear Regulator, allowing the US submarine to enter Simon’s Town between October 25 and November 15. Tshabalala said:

In terms of our position, we follow the necessary regulations where it is prescribed that we advertise, in various newspapers to allow people to comment for a three-month period. Out take is we have followed the necessary regulations.

IOL reported that environmental samples had been taken from the berth and further sampling would take place after the nuclear submarine had left, to ensure there were “no adverse radiological impacts” on the Cape Town area coast. The Simon’s Town naval base is near Cape Town. Defenceweb said the nuclear-powered US aircraft carrier, USS Theodore Roosevelt, visited Cape Town in October last year, while the Russian battle cruiser Pyotr Veliky (Peter the Great) visited Simon’s Town in January this year. Two U.S. ships taking part in the Africa Partnership Station (APS) operation, the frigate USS Robert G. Bradley and the Aegis Guided Missile Destroyer, USS Arleigh Burke have also visited South Africa and operated with the SA Navy.