SAS Tafelberg
Encyclopedia
SAS Tafelberg was a replenishment ship
(AOR) of the South African Navy
. The ship started life as the Danish tanker
Annam before undergoing various conversions into her final configuration.
in Copenhagen
. She was one of four similar ships commissioned at the time, and was named by the local Thai
ambassador's daughter Vasna Virajakar. British Petroleum leased her for 5 years.
before being reconfigured in Durban as the replenishment ship
SAS Tafelberg
and sold to the South African Navy
(SAN). At this time, she had two refuelling points and two solid stores transfer stations, as well as refuelling equipment astern and an aft light helicopter flight deck
.
In 1967, in the company of SAS President Kruger and SAS President Steyn, she visited Argentina
, while in 1968 she visited Australia along with SAS President Steyn and SAS President Pretorius.
In 1973 the SAS Tafelberg acted as official guardship for the Cape-to-Rio yacht race
. Because of apartheid South Africa's political isolation at the time, the ship could not enter Rio de Janeiro
and instead travelled up the River Plate to Buenos Aires
.
In November 1975 at the end of Operation Savannah
, she provided logistical support to the SAS President Kruger and SAS President Steyn during the Ambrizete Incident, and also subsequently went to Zaire
to retrieve the guns
that the army left behind in Angola.
In 1980, Tafelberg had a small flight deck that was fitted to the stern of the ship behind the funnel deck for use of the Wasp
helicopter, but had no hangar or refueling points and was used solely for transporting persons from Tafelberg to the frigates and vice versa
SAS Tafelberg was involved in a collision in the South Atlantic with the frigate
SAS President Kruger on 18 February 1982, during which the President Kruger sank with the of loss 16 lives..
In 1983-1984, Tafelberg underwent significant changes. The rear refuelling points were removed and an additional landing deck with two hangars was fitted aft. The vessel was configured to carry two Puma
or Atlas Oryx
helicopters, although the larger Super Frelon helicopter was also used until they were removed from service. Helicopter operations were particularly risky, for these helicopters, not being designed for marine use, were unable to apply negative pitch
to their main rotors
, therefore making them vulnerable to rolling off the flight deck in heavy seas.
The 1983 changes also included accommodation and mess
ing facilities for 300 marines under the flight deck, a hospital and davit
s for six Delta fast landing craft
. Each of these craft was able to carry and put ashore a short wheel-base Land Rover
and an infantry section with all equipment.
In 1987, she went to Mauritius
along with the Warrior class strike craft SAS Jim Fouche to assist in the recovery of debris and bodies following the crash of the Helderberg
Boeing 747
.
She participated in numerous exercises and operations during her lifespan, earning her the affectionate nickname "Mama Tafies" (Afrikaans
for "Mother Tafies").
SAS Tafelberg was sold for scrap in 1993. SAS Outeniqua, and later SAS Drakensberg
, took over her role in the fleet.
Replenishment Oiler
A replenishment oiler or fleet tanker is a naval auxiliary ship with fuel tanks and dry cargo holds, which can replenish other ships while underway in the high seas. Such ships are used by several countries around the world....
(AOR) of the South African Navy
South African Navy
The South African Navy is the navy of the Republic of South Africa.-Formation:The South African Navy can trace its official origins back to the SA Naval Service, which was established on 1 April 1922....
. The ship started life as the Danish tanker
Tanker (ship)
A tanker is a ship designed to transport liquids in bulk. Major types of tankship include the oil tanker, the chemical tanker, and the liquefied natural gas carrier.-Background:...
Annam before undergoing various conversions into her final configuration.
Early history
SAS Tafelberg started life in 1958 as the Danish tanker Annam in the service of the East Asiatic CompanyEast Asiatic Company
The East Asiatic Company was founded by Hans Niels Andersen in Copenhagen in 1897. Service which would eventually include both passenger and freight lines between the Danish capital, Bangkok and the far east was the initial objective. Routes to include the Baltic and Black Seas were...
in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
. She was one of four similar ships commissioned at the time, and was named by the local Thai
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
ambassador's daughter Vasna Virajakar. British Petroleum leased her for 5 years.
South African Navy
She was purchased in 1965 by SafmarineSafmarine
Safmarine is an international shipping business offering container and break-bulk shipping services worldwide....
before being reconfigured in Durban as the replenishment ship
Replenishment Oiler
A replenishment oiler or fleet tanker is a naval auxiliary ship with fuel tanks and dry cargo holds, which can replenish other ships while underway in the high seas. Such ships are used by several countries around the world....
SAS Tafelberg
Table Mountain
Table Mountain is a flat-topped mountain forming a prominent landmark overlooking the city of Cape Town in South Africa, and is featured in the flag of Cape Town and other local government insignia. It is a significant tourist attraction, with many visitors using the cableway or hiking to the top...
and sold to the South African Navy
South African Navy
The South African Navy is the navy of the Republic of South Africa.-Formation:The South African Navy can trace its official origins back to the SA Naval Service, which was established on 1 April 1922....
(SAN). At this time, she had two refuelling points and two solid stores transfer stations, as well as refuelling equipment astern and an aft light helicopter flight deck
Flight deck
The flight deck of an aircraft carrier is the surface from which its aircraft take off and land, essentially a miniature airfield at sea. On smaller naval ships which do not have aviation as a primary mission, the landing area for helicopters and other VTOL aircraft is also referred to as the...
.
In 1967, in the company of SAS President Kruger and SAS President Steyn, she visited Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, while in 1968 she visited Australia along with SAS President Steyn and SAS President Pretorius.
In 1973 the SAS Tafelberg acted as official guardship for the Cape-to-Rio yacht race
South Atlantic Race
The South Atlantic Race is a yacht race from Cape Town to various destinations in South America. This has been primarily Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, although Punta del Este, Uruguay, and Salvador, Brazil, have all been chosen....
. Because of apartheid South Africa's political isolation at the time, the ship could not enter Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
and instead travelled up the River Plate to Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
.
In November 1975 at the end of Operation Savannah
Operation Savannah (Angola)
Operation Savannah was the name given to the South African Defence Force's 1975–1976 covert intervention in the Angolan Civil War.-Background:...
, she provided logistical support to the SAS President Kruger and SAS President Steyn during the Ambrizete Incident, and also subsequently went to Zaire
Zaire
The Republic of Zaire was the name of the present Democratic Republic of the Congo between 27 October 1971 and 17 May 1997. The name of Zaire derives from the , itself an adaptation of the Kongo word nzere or nzadi, or "the river that swallows all rivers".-Self-proclaimed Father of the Nation:In...
to retrieve the guns
Ordnance QF 25 pounder
The Ordnance QF 25 pounder, or more simply, 25-pounder or 25-pdr, was introduced into service just before World War II, during which it served as the major British field gun/howitzer. It was considered by many to be the best field artillery piece of the war, combining high rates of fire with a...
that the army left behind in Angola.
In 1980, Tafelberg had a small flight deck that was fitted to the stern of the ship behind the funnel deck for use of the Wasp
Westland Wasp
The Westland Wasp was a British small first-generation, gas-turbine powered, shipboard anti-submarine helicopter. Produced by Westland Helicopters, it came from the same P.531 programme as the British Army Westland Scout, and was based on the earlier piston-engined Saunders-Roe Skeeter...
helicopter, but had no hangar or refueling points and was used solely for transporting persons from Tafelberg to the frigates and vice versa
SAS Tafelberg was involved in a collision in the South Atlantic with the frigate
Rothesay class frigate
The Rothesay class, or Type 12M frigates were a class of frigates serving with the Royal Navy, South African Navy and the New Zealand Navy....
SAS President Kruger on 18 February 1982, during which the President Kruger sank with the of loss 16 lives..
In 1983-1984, Tafelberg underwent significant changes. The rear refuelling points were removed and an additional landing deck with two hangars was fitted aft. The vessel was configured to carry two Puma
Aérospatiale Puma
The Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma is a four-bladed, twin-engined medium transport/utility helicopter. The Puma was originally manufactured by Sud Aviation of France.-Development:...
or Atlas Oryx
Atlas Oryx
The Atlas Oryx is a medium-sized utility helicopter manufactured by the Atlas Aircraft Corporation of South Africa.-Design and development:...
helicopters, although the larger Super Frelon helicopter was also used until they were removed from service. Helicopter operations were particularly risky, for these helicopters, not being designed for marine use, were unable to apply negative pitch
Blade pitch
Blade pitch or simply pitch refers to turning the angle of attack of the blades of a propeller or helicopter rotor into or out of the wind to control the production or absorption of power. Wind turbines use this to adjust the rotation speed and the generated power...
to their main rotors
Helicopter rotor
A helicopter main rotor or rotor system is a type of fan that is used to generate both the aerodynamic lift force that supports the weight of the helicopter, and thrust which counteracts aerodynamic drag in forward flight...
, therefore making them vulnerable to rolling off the flight deck in heavy seas.
The 1983 changes also included accommodation and mess
Mess
A mess is the place where military personnel socialise, eat, and live. In some societies this military usage has extended to other disciplined services eateries such as civilian fire fighting and police forces. The root of mess is the Old French mes, "portion of food" A mess (also called a...
ing facilities for 300 marines under the flight deck, a hospital and davit
Davit
A davit is a structure, usually made of steel, which is used to lower things over an edge of a long drop off such as lowering a maintenance trapeze down a building or launching a lifeboat over the side of a ship....
s for six Delta fast landing craft
Landing craft
Landing craft are boats and seagoing vessels used to convey a landing force from the sea to the shore during an amphibious assault. Most renowned are those used to storm the beaches of Normandy, the Mediterranean, and many Pacific islands during WWII...
. Each of these craft was able to carry and put ashore a short wheel-base Land Rover
Land Rover
Land Rover is a British car manufacturer with its headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire, United Kingdom which specialises in four-wheel-drive vehicles. It is owned by the Indian company Tata Motors, forming part of their Jaguar Land Rover group...
and an infantry section with all equipment.
In 1987, she went to Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
along with the Warrior class strike craft SAS Jim Fouche to assist in the recovery of debris and bodies following the crash of the Helderberg
South African Airways Flight 295
South African Airways Flight 295 was a commercial flight that suffered a catastrophic in-flight fire in the cargo area and crashed into the Indian Ocean east of Mauritius on 28 November 1987, killing everyone on board...
Boeing 747
Boeing 747
The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first wide-body ever produced...
.
She participated in numerous exercises and operations during her lifespan, earning her the affectionate nickname "Mama Tafies" (Afrikaans
Afrikaans
Afrikaans is a West Germanic language, spoken natively in South Africa and Namibia. It is a daughter language of Dutch, originating in its 17th century dialects, collectively referred to as Cape Dutch .Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch; see , , , , , .Afrikaans was historically called Cape...
for "Mother Tafies").
SAS Tafelberg was sold for scrap in 1993. SAS Outeniqua, and later SAS Drakensberg
SAS Drakensberg (A301)
The SAS Drakensberg is a fleet replenishment ship of the South African Navy, with the primary role of assisting and supporting the SAN's combat vessels at sea...
, took over her role in the fleet.