# SAS President Steyn > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/SAS_President_Steyn > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/SAS_President_Steyn.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAS_President_Steyn > Source revision: 1327713275 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|President-class Type 12 frigate built in the UK for the South African Navy}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}} {{Use South African English|date=June 2017}} {{good article}} {{Infobox ship |section1={{Infobox ship/image |image= |image_caption= }} |section2={{Infobox ship/career |hide_header= |country=[South Africa](/source/South_Africa) |flag={{shipboxflag|South Africa|naval-1952}} |name=''President Steyn'' |namesake=[Martinus Theunis Steyn](/source/Martinus_Theunis_Steyn) |ordered=18 September 1957 |awarded= |builder=[Alexander Stephens and Sons](/source/Alexander_Stephens_and_Sons), [Linthouse](/source/Linthouse), [Glasgow](/source/Glasgow) |original_cost= |yard_number= |way_number= |laid_down=20 May 1960 |launched=23 November 1961 |sponsor= |christened= |completed= |commissioned=8 April 1963 |recommissioned= |decommissioned= |in_service= |out_of_service= |reclassified= |refit= |struck= |reinstated= |identification=[Pennant number](/source/Pennant_number): F147 |motto= |nickname='PS' |honours= |honors= |fate=Sunk as target, 29 April 1991 |notes= |badge= }} |section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics |hide_header= |header_caption=(as built) |class=[President-class frigate](/source/Rothesay-class_frigate) |displacement=*{{convert|2170|LT|t}} ([standard load](/source/Displacement_(ship))) * {{convert|2605|LT|t}} ([deep load](/source/deep_load)) |length={{Convert|112.78|m|ftin|abbr=on|disp=flip}} |beam={{Convert|12.5|m|ftin|abbr=on|disp=flip}} |draught={{Convert|5.33|m|ftin|abbr=on|disp=flip}} (deep load) |power=*2 [Babcock & Wilcox boiler](/source/Babcock_%26_Wilcox_boiler)s * {{Convert|30000|shp|kW|abbr=on|lk=in}} |propulsion=*2 × shafts * 2 × geared [steam turbines](/source/steam_turbines) |speed={{Convert|30|kn|lk=in}} |range={{Convert|4500|nmi|lk=in|abbr=on}} at {{Convert|12|kn}} |complement=214 |sensors=*Type 162, 170, 177M [sonar](/source/sonar)s * Type 293Q surface-search [radar](/source/radar) * [Type 262](/source/List_of_World_War_II_British_naval_radar) and 275 gunnery radars * Type 277Q [height-finding radar](/source/Height_finder) * Type 978 navigation radar |armament=*2 × triple [Limbo](/source/Limbo_(weapon)) [anti-submarine mortar](/source/anti-submarine_mortar)s * 1 × twin [4.5-inch (114 mm)](/source/QF_4.5_inch_Mk_I_%E2%80%93_V_naval_gun) [dual-purpose gun](/source/dual-purpose_gun) * 1 × twin [{{convert|40|mm|1|abbr=on}} Bofors](/source/Bofors_40_mm_Automatic_Gun_L%2F60) [AA gun](/source/AA_gun) |notes= }} }} '''SAS ''President Steyn''''' was the second of three [President-class](/source/Rothesay-class_frigate) [Type 12 frigate](/source/Type_12_frigate)s built in the [United Kingdom](/source/United_Kingdom) for the [South African Navy](/source/South_African_Navy) (SAN) to use during the 1960s. The ship spent most of her career training and made many visits to foreign ports in Africa, [Western Europe](/source/Western_Europe) and [Australia](/source/Australia). In the late 1960s, she was modernized and equipped to operate a [helicopter](/source/helicopter). In the mid-1970s, ''President Steyn'' played a minor role in the [Angolan Civil War](/source/Angolan_Civil_War) as a part of South African operations against the communists. The ship was withdrawn from service in 1980 and was sunk as a target in 1991. This happened after financial problems prevented her from being reactivated. == Description == The President-class ships displaced {{convert|2170|LT|t}} at [standard load](/source/Displacement_(ship)) and {{convert|2605|LT|t}} at [deep load](/source/deep_load). They had an [overall length](/source/length_overall) of {{Convert|112.78|m|ftin|abbr=on|disp=flip}}, a [beam](/source/beam_(nautical)) of {{Convert|12.5|m|ftin|abbr=on|disp=flip}} and a mean deep [draught](/source/draft_(hull)) of {{Convert|5.33|m|ftin|abbr=on|disp=flip}}.{{rp|238}} The ships were powered by a pair of [English Electric](/source/English_Electric) geared [steam turbine](/source/steam_turbine)s, each driving one [propeller shaft](/source/propeller_shaft), using steam provided by two [Babcock & Wilcox boiler](/source/Babcock_%26_Wilcox_boiler)s. The turbines developed a total of {{convert|30000|shp|lk=in}} which gave a maximum speed of {{convert|30|kn|lk=in}}.{{cite book|last=Marriott |first=Leo |date=1983 |title=Royal Navy Frigates 1945–1983|location=Shepperton, Surrey, UK |publisher=Ian Allan |isbn=0-7110-1322-5}}{{rp|64}} They carried {{convert|309|LT|t}} of [fuel oil](/source/fuel_oil) that gave them a range of {{convert|4500|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|12|kn}}. Their crew numbered 14 officers and 200 [ratings](/source/naval_rating).{{rp|238}} The Presidents were armed with one twin-gun mount for [QF 4.5-inch (114 mm) Mk V](/source/QF_4.5_inch_Mk_I_%E2%80%93_V_naval_gun) [dual-purpose gun](/source/dual-purpose_gun)s forward and one twin mount for [{{convert|40|mm|1|adj=on}} Bofors](/source/Bofors_40_mm_Automatic_Gun_L%2F60) [anti-aircraft gun](/source/anti-aircraft_gun)s. For [anti-submarine work](/source/anti-submarine_warfare), the ships were fitted with Type 162, 170, and 177M [sonar](/source/sonar)s for the pair of triple-barrelled [Mk 10 Limbo](/source/Limbo_(weapon)) [anti-submarine mortar](/source/anti-submarine_mortar)s. They were equipped with a [Type 293Q](/source/Type_293_radar) surface-search [radar](/source/radar), [Type 262](/source/List_of_World_War_II_British_naval_radar) and 275 gunnery radars, [Type 277Q](/source/Type_277_radar) [height-finding radar](/source/Height_finder) and a Type 978 navigation radar.{{rp|220–22, 238}} By the mid-1960s, it was obvious that the sonars of the President class were capable of detecting submarines well outside the range of the Limbo anti-submarine mortars and the South Africans decided to follow the lead of the [Royal Navy](/source/Royal_Navy) (RN) in giving them the ability to operate [helicopter](/source/helicopter)s that could carry anti-submarine [torpedo](/source/torpedo)es or [depth charge](/source/depth_charge)s to a considerable distance from the ships. Therefore, the forward Limbo mortar was removed and its space was plated over to form a small [flight deck](/source/flight_deck). The Bofors mount, its [director](/source/director_(military)) and the aft superstructure was replaced by a [hangar](/source/hangar) for a [Westland Wasp](/source/Westland_Wasp) helicopter. Two single Bofors guns were positioned on the hangar roof and provisions were made for four [{{convert|0.5|in|mm|1|adj=on}} Browning machine guns](/source/M2_Browning). A pair of American [{{convert|12.75|in|mm|0|adj=on}} Mk 32 triple-barrelled anti-submarine torpedo tubes](/source/Mark_32_Surface_Vessel_Torpedo_Tubes) were added amidships and their electronics were upgraded, including the addition of a [Thomson-CSF](/source/Thomson-CSF) Jupiter [early-warning radar](/source/early-warning_radar) atop a new [mainmast](/source/mainmast) and a [Selenia](/source/Selenia_(company)) Orion [fire-control system](/source/Ship_gun_fire-control_system).{{rp|227}} ==Construction and career== Three President-class frigates were ordered by the South African Navy in the late 1950s following the [Simonstown Agreement](/source/Simonstown_Agreement) with the RN. ''President Steyn'' was the second ship of the three [sister ship](/source/sister_ship)s and was ordered from [Alexander Stephens and Sons](/source/Alexander_Stephens_and_Sons) on 18 September 1957 with the name ''[President Kruger](/source/SAS_President_Kruger)''. The government wanted the first ship to be completed to receive the name of the first president of South Africa and a strike at the Alexander Stephens shipyard delayed the [laying of the ship's keel](/source/Laid_down). So she exchanged names with the first ship built by [Yarrow](/source/Yarrow_Shipbuilders) which had already been laid down and became ''President Steyn'', named after [Martinus Theunis Steyn](/source/Martinus_Theunis_Steyn), last president of the [Orange Free State](/source/Orange_Free_State).{{cite book|last1=Bennett|first1=Chris|title=Three Frigates: The South African Navy Comes of Age|date=2006|publisher=Just Done Productions|location=Durban, South Africa|authorlink=Chris Bennett (admiral)|isbn=1-920169-02-4}}{{rp|18–21}} She was laid down at their [shipyard](/source/shipyard) in [Linthouse](/source/Linthouse), [Glasgow](/source/Glasgow) on 20 May 1960. The ship was [launched](/source/Ceremonial_ship_launching) on 23 November 1961 and [commissioned](/source/Ship_commissioning) on 8 April 1963,{{rp|239}} with [Captain](/source/Captain_(naval)) [John Fairbairn](/source/John_Fairbairn_(naval_officer)) in command. Completion was slightly delayed by a fire aboard the ship on 3 July 1962 that required holes to be cut in the hull and decks to rescue the workmen trapped aboard.{{rp|39–41, 44}} ''President Steyn'' arrived in [Simon's Town](/source/Simon's_Town) on 13 September and all three of the Presidents were assigned to the 10th Frigate Flotilla. They participated in Capex 63 training exercise with British and French warships{{rp|226}} in July–August 1963, but only ''President Steyn'' and her sister {{SAS|President Pretorius|F145|2}} participated in Capex 64 the following year. In 1965 the Royal Navy decided to reduce Capex to a weapons training period with only RN and SAN units participating, presumably to reduce the profile of cooperating with the [apartheid](/source/apartheid) government of South Africa. On 7 October 1968, the 10th Frigate Flotilla, now consisting of ''President Steyn'', ''President Pretorius'' and the [replenishment oiler](/source/replenishment_oiler) {{SAS|Tafelberg||2}}, departed Simon's Town for Australia and arrived in [Fremantle](/source/Fremantle) on the 23rd. They continued onwards to [Sydney](/source/Sydney) and then participated in the [Remembrance Day](/source/Remembrance_Day) ceremony in [Melbourne](/source/Melbourne) on 11 November. The flotilla departed three days later, bound for home, but they were forced to put into Freemantle when a pump in ''President Pretorius'' burnt out en route. The ships finally reached home on 3 December.{{rp|109, 114, 120–22}} ''President Steyn'' began her modernisation the following year on 5 August 1969 and was recommissioned in May 1971.{{rp|227}} Several months later, the ship departed Simon's Town on 1 September to escort the newly completed, French-built submarine {{SAS|Emily Hobhouse}} to South Africa. En route, she visited ports in Portugal, West Germany, England, and Spain.{{rp|128–31}} While visiting [Luanda](/source/Luanda), [Portuguese Angola](/source/Portuguese_Angola), the ship's helicopter needed to make a test flight after replacing the main [rotorhead](/source/rotorhead) and was lost with all hands on 25 November. ''President Steyn'' and ''Emily Hobhouse'' arrived on 10 December and the frigate made another voyage to [Toulon](/source/Toulon) the following year to escort the submarine {{SAS|Johanna van der Merwe||2}} home from France. This time, the trip was much more direct and the two ships arrived on 19 June 1972. Shortly afterwards, ''President Steyn'' sailed to [Gough Island](/source/Gough_Island) to pick up a seriously ill weatherman for treatment. In 1973, the ship, together with ''President Kruger'' and ''Johanna van der Merwe'', visited [Lourenco Marques](/source/Lourenco_Marques) (now Maputo) in [Portuguese Mozambique](/source/Portuguese_Mozambique) from 29 March to 7 April. Despite downplaying the exercises with the South Africans, the Royal Navy continued to do so until the British government abrogated the Simonstown Agreement on 16 June 1975.{{rp|228–30}} ''President Steyn'' played a minor role in [Operation Savannah](/source/Operation_Savannah), the South African covert intervention in the Angolan Civil War, most notably when [she rescued 26 advisors](/source/Operation_Savannah_(Angola)) to the [National Liberation Front of Angola](/source/National_Liberation_Front_of_Angola) who had been cut off after a failed attack on Luanda on 28 November. To provide manpower for the French [corvette](/source/corvette)s under construction, the ship was placed in reserve in early 1977. The United Nations arms embargo imposed later that year put paid to that plan and she was recommissioned the following year. Shortly before ''President Kruger'' was recommissioned on 15 August 1980, ''President Steyn'' was permanently decommissioned on 1 August, after the navy decided to only keep two of the sisters active.{{rp|231–33}} She briefly served as a barracks ship before all of the useful equipment and machinery was stripped from her and the navy planned to use her as a target for [Skerpioen missiles](/source/Gabriel_(missile)) in 1982. However, the accidental sinking of her sister {{SAS|President Kruger|F150|2}} in February 1982 gave the ship a reprieve as she was placed in reserve in case the navy decided to restore her to operational service. Plans to do so were made later in the 1980s, but shortages of money prevent them from being realized. ''President Steyn'' was towed from Simon's Town on 29 April 1991 and sunk by a combination of missile hits and gunfire from the five {{sclass2|Minister|fast attack craft}} involved in the exercise.{{cite book|last1=Du Toit|first1=Allan|title=South Africa's Fighting Ships: Past and Present|date=1992|authorlink=Allan du Toit|publisher=Ashanti Publishing|location=Rivonia, South Africa|isbn=1-874800-50-2}}{{rp|223, 234, 236–39}} ==References== {{reflist|30em}} ==External links== * [https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Diving_the_Cape_Peninsula_and_False_Bay/SAS_Bloemfontein Guide to the wreck site on Wikivoyage] {{Rothesay class frigate}} {{1991 shipwrecks}} {{DEFAULTSORT:President Steyn}} Category:1961 ships Category:Ships built on the River Clyde Category:Ships sunk as targets President Steyn, SAS Category:Cold War frigates of South Africa Category:Maritime incidents in 1991 Category:Shipwrecks of South Africa Category:Shipwrecks in the Atlantic Ocean --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [SAS President Steyn](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAS_President_Steyn) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAS_President_Steyn?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.