A Commissioning Parade for the second Multi Mission Inshore Patrol Vessel (MMIPV), SAS King Shaka Zulu was held on 24 April at the South African Naval Military Base in Durban.
The patrol vessel has been declared fully operational. Amongst its core functions will be to defend and protect the waters surrounding the Durban coastal line, conduct search and rescue missions, anti-piracy operations, and to enhance the nation’s maritime security capabilities
A day later the official naming ceremony of SAS Adam Kok III was attended by the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Angie Motshekga, Deputy Ministers, Major General (Ret) Bantubonke Holomisa and Richard Mkhungo, the Chief of the SA National Defence Force, General Rudzani Maphwanya, the Chief of the SA Air Force, Lieutenant General Wiseman Mbambo, Chief of the SA Navy, Vice Admiral Monde Lobese, and members of the Military Command Council.
The MMIPVs are based on the Damen Stan Patrol 6211 design adapted to South African requirements. The 6211 indicates a hull length of 62 metres and a beam of 11 metres. Key features of the design include a Sea Axe hull form for superior seakeeping, reduced slamming, and better fuel economy, and modular mission spaces allowing adaptation for a range of roles, from patrol and interdiction to environmental protection and humanitarian assistance.
Although lightly armed compared to larger combatants, the MMIPVs are well-suited for constabulary duties. Their weaponry includes one 20 mm Rheinmetall Denel GI-2 automatic cannon (remotely operated on the bow), two 12.7 mm heavy machine guns (manually operated, typically mounted port and starboard amidships), and provision for small arms and boarding party equipment.
The MMIPVs have a maximum speed of 26 knots, a range of approximately 4 000 nautical miles at 12 knots, and endurance of up to 14 days at sea without resupply. Core crew complement is around 40 personnel, but the vessels can embark additional boarding teams or specialists. The vessels are fitted with a rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB) launch and recovery system from a stern slipway, enabling rapid boarding operations at sea. While not fitted with a hangar, a flight deck can accommodate medium helicopters for short-term operations.
