SAS Spear


SAS Spear, initially known as the SAS Maria van Riebeeck, was a of the South African Navy. Built in France during the 1960s, the boat was the SAN's first submarine. It was scrapped in June–July 2003.

Description

The submarine displaced surfaced and submerged. It measured long, had a beam of and a draft of. For surface running, the boat was powered by two SEMT Pielstick diesel engines, each driving a single propeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by a electric motor. Spear could reach on the surface and underwater. While snorkelling, the boat had a range of at. It was armed with a dozen torpedo tubes, eight in the bow and four in the stern. Spear had a complement of 6 officers and 41 ratings.

Construction and career

The boat was laid down at the Nantes shipyard of Dubigeon-Normandie on 14 March 1968, launched on 18 March 1969 and commissioned on 22 June 1970.
On 20 August 1970, Maria van Riebeeck collided with the French submarine off Toulon. Both submarines were badly damaged, with Galatée being forced to run aground to avoid sinking.
The boat received an upgraded sonar and electronics during a mid-life update that was completed in 1992. Spear was scrapped in Simon's Town by SA Metal and Machinery Co. Ltd. during June–July 2003.

Citations