African Navies--South of the Sahara

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Although the coastline of Africa is ‘tbout 12,000 miles long, only South frica, Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya ^south of the Mediterranean littoral can c ^a|m to have “real navies,” as dis- '^nct from very small coastal defense, shery protection, and river security ^0rces. Even then, only South Africa ^t,nd Nigeria have the capabilities to °Perate in open-ocean waters. No country, except perhaps South Af- !?^Ca’ could put up a worthwhile de- ^ense against a seaborne threat from ^LVen a minor power. Most of the countries attempt to maintain a “non- ,'gned” status, although some, like ⁿgola, Mozambique, and Ethiopia ^are Pro-Soviet. Because Soviet advis­^ers and Cuban troops serve in these gantries, these African countries Quid find it difficult to change sides. ,^er nations, like Kenya, Chad, Ni- ®^e_f^r'^a, and Zaire, are pro-West. South ’rica is anti-Soviet but is not as “pro­, ^est” as it was in the past. This is ^ecause of the continuing U. N. arms ^bargo of South Africa and the al- °^st constant criticisms of the inter- ^a Policies of the government. In re­sponse, the South African Government ^as declared that the Western powers ^ust be responsible for the defense of ,,^e Cape of Good Hope sea route: in j ^e future. South Africa will defend ^s own coastline and interests, j ^°uth Africa: South Africa’s change maritime policy has caused consid- able changes to the size and shape ^{a l}he South African Navy. Once the ; ^r°ud possessor of a squadron of frig- .,^^s’ the navy now only has one ^{1 re}sident”-class frigate left in ser- and she is used as a training ship, he President Kruger sank on 18 Feb­ruary 1982 after a collision with the ^eft replenishment ship Tafelberg and l uot be replaced. Three Daphne- ^ass submarines remain in service and tain the distinction of being the only birtarines owned by a navy south the Sahara. To improve the strike cl-Pability °f the fleet, three Reshef- I ^ass missile boats were purchased in ‘,^rael, 'and four more ships of the ^ass have been built in the Sandock Pstral Yard at Durban. It is expected ^ ^at more than ten Reshefs will be : tt’lt. They are designated the “Min­, ^er ’ class in South Africa and are ^rmed with six Skorpioen missiles, the

South African version of the Israeli Gabriel-II, as well as two 76-mm. guns and a number of machine guns. They have a full electronic fire control fit and are formidable craft. They are small, 220 feet long, and take a severe hammering in the heavy seas off South Africa. For this reason, plans have been drawn up for the construction in Dur­ban of a larger missile ship of corvette size. These would carry a 76-mm. gun, torpedoes, missiles, and a helicopter. Two corvettes were ordered from France in the mid-1970s, but at the last moment, the French Government re­fused to deliver them.

The South African Navy also mans four 1950s-vintage ex-British “Ton”- class minesweepers and two “Ton”- class minehunters, all having been ex­tensively refitted at the Simonstown Dockyard. Four ex-British “Ford"- class patrol boats and four additional “Ton”-class vessels, which have been assigned a patrol role, are elderly and require much maintenance. A fleet of about two dozen five-ton Namacurra fast harbor patrol boats have been purchased by the navy locally; these are manned by the newly organized, 600-man marine force. The marines are to provide harbor protection by land and sea, and for experience, they fight as infantry in rotation on the Angolan border.

The maritime forces of South Africa also include the maritime air squad­rons which operate the Wasp helicop­ters for the navy and the Alouette-Ill helicopters assigned to maritime pa­trol. The air force flies five aged Shackleton MR-3 long-range and 18 Piaggio P-166S Albatross short-range patrol aircraft. These forces are con­trolled from the Joint Maritime Head­quarters in the modern underground headquarters at Silvermine in the Cape Peninsula.

The Simonstown Naval Base and Dockyard has been expanded re­cently, and modern harbors at Cape Town and Durban have repair yards and dry and floating docks which are capable of accommodating the largest ships in the world. They are by far the best-equipped docks south of the Sa­hara. It seems certain that South Af­rica will improve its warship-building

Ld^rs'

ian Navy also has two 110-ton

of f°^ur

patrol boats. These consist

Brooke Marine-built patrol boats'.

Since purchasing three Reshef.v built in Israel, South Africa has been building these missile boats under license. The most recent addition was the SAS Hendrik Mentz, launched in Durban Harbor last year.

capability, and provided the present economic recession improves, it should be able to build corvettes and proba­bly replacement submarines.

The South African Navy would like to have the close relationships with Western navies that it once had. but this is unlikely to take place in the immediate future. Instead, the navy has been building contacts with the Chilean and Taiwanese navies, while maintaining ties with the Israelis. Co­operation with some South American navies, including Brazil, has led to discussion about the prospect of a South Atlantic defense arrangement.

Nigeria: In terms of powerful sur­face ships, the Nigerian Navy rivals the South African Navy, but the train­ing and competence of the Nigerian naval officers and ratings have not yet reached the high levels of the South African Navy’s. Nigeria’s "Meko- 360”-class frigate Anuln, built by Blohm and Voss, was commissioned on 22 February 1982. The Aradu is armed with eight Otomat SSMs. an octuple Aspide SAM launcher, one Oto-Melara 127-mm. gun. and fourtwin Breda 40-mm. gun mountings, as well as antisubmarine torpedo tubes, and carries a Lynx helicopter. The navy’s other frigate was built by Wilton Fi- jenoord of the Netherlands and was refitted at Schiedam in 1977. She is now used for training.

The four “Hippo"-class corvettes are modern vessels built by Vosper Thornycroft. The two 850-ton Mk-9s were delivered in 1980 and are fitted with Sea Cat SAMs, sonar systems, a 76-mm. Oto-Melara gun, a 40-mm. AA gun, and a Bofors ASW rocket launcher. The two earlier 650-ton Mk-3s are less sophisticated. All the corvettes have diesel engines.

Ihe Nigerian Navy received three

Liirssen “Type-57" fast missile boats, each armed with four Otomat SSMs. in 1981. Three La Combattante-IUn­equipped with two double Exoce launchers each, were completed 1 1982. Other craft added to the inven­tory include four Brooke Marine- an

four Abeking and Rasmussen-built pa

trol boats, two 1,750-ton “Crocodile

LSTs, a Brooke Marine-built survey vessel, and several small auxiliaries- Two tank landing craft and 15 Italia Intermarine Mk-2 fast patrol boats ar being purchased; six have bee delivered.    .

The Nigerian Navy is currently forming a small fleet air arm: the pu°; at first will fly the three Lynx he copters ordered in 1981. The Nige"‘‘ Air Force has ordered two Fokkei 27 maritime patrol aircraft, and * coast guard and marine police fo^rc ' operate more than 100 small craft-

The Nigerian Navy has undeT®⁰^ considerable expansion during the ** decade, but it would seem that j ■ rate of growth will slow. The fa"¹ - price of oil and the world recessie^ have caused a heavy drop in reven coming in from overseas, thus ret ing the amount of money available ¹ formed under the guidance of the R°V Navy in 1959, but has suffered ^ verely as a result of the country s P⁰^ economic performance. The navy. ^w a strength of about 1.200. carries o coastal and protection duties. Its t Kromantse-class corvettes ^vvel|7-^lA_ livered by Vosper in the United Knjf dom in 1964-65 and were refitted Vosper Thornycroft in 1975. They ^ armed with one 4-inch gun. a 40-m gun. and a triple-barrelled depth chaL mortar. Although fitted with ^son‘"-_vC is unlikely that they have an etlec¹¹^ antisubmarine capability. The Uti ^

sen "FPB-57”-class patrol boats- which were commissioned in 1981 ■ ^v smaller “FPB-45s," two British-^ signed "Ford"-class patrol boats. . 160-ton patrol boats built by R^u Werft in Germany, and four Bnt^|S built Fairey Allday “Spear" coas patrol boats. . ,

Kenya: The Kenyan Navy was a s formed with the help of the British a ^ is equipped entirely with British-" ^

thre«- of these are 32.6 meters long and th other is 37.5 meters, and all are bd -

Quipped with Israeli Gabriel-II anti- ^S| P missiles. Three 31-meter Siinba- class Vosper patrol boats were built ^by Vosper in 1966.

Ethiopia: During the reign of Em­Peror Haile Selassie, Ethiopia had a ^lul small navy mainly equipped with "^estern ships; but since the Marxist takeover, the Soviet Union has sup- P"^ed some patrol and landing craft.

ecause of the chaos of the civil wars ^and the lack of spares, many ships may not be operational. These include the ^ex'U. S. Borne gat-class training ship and the ex-Netherlands Wildervank- ^class patrol craft.

No one seems to know how many “I the others are still effective units, hese consist of three ex-Soviet Osa-II” fast patrol boats with “Styx" - ^Ms, three Soviet "MoF’-class tor­^Pedo boats, two "Zhuk"-class patrol ^CJ'^aPt, and one “Polnocny” landing . P- Western-built units still opera- Ponal are four ex-U. S. Coast Guard tape “-class patrol boats and four 105- Qot patrol boats delivered in 1977 by "'iltships. It is almost certain that oviet and possibly Cuban advisers ^Serve with the operational ships and onshore.

Somalia: Somalia was once under ^be sway of the Soviet Union, but after he Marxist takeover of Ethiopia and he war in the Ogaden. these links were ^r°ken. However, the navy of this small country with a long coastline is ^s,|h equipped with mainly ex-Soviet Patrol craft. These must be requiring ^sP^;>res, but at the present time, most 'hem are nominally operational. The ⁿ‘^lvy has two ex-Soviet "Osa-II" fast Patrol boats with "Styx” SSMs. four ' °^viet-built “Mol"-class torpedo boats >w° without the torpedo tubes), five Uchat”-class patrol craft, one ^Polnocny” landing craft, and four LCMs. Assistance is now being Provided by the United States, and it ^ls hkely that some replacement patrol ^tralt may be supplied in return for the ^l|se of Somalian facilities by elements ⁰¹ 'he U. S. Navy.

Sudan: The Sudanese Navy oper- on the Red Sea and on the Nile River. The navy has four 100-ton pa- boats which came from Yugo­slavia, three 80-ton West German pa- ^r°l boats given to Sudan by Iran in ^9 along with four ten-ton U. S.-built Patrol craft, a couple of 400-ton ex­. ^l|goslav landing craft, and three aux- ^l;'ry vessels. Nearly all units are in P°^0r condition. A recent formal alli­ance with Egypt may provide new craft to rebuild the Sudanese Navy.

Djibouti: Now independent, Dji­bouti has three small coastal patrol boats. But the importance of the coun­try is that the French still retain a gar­rison in the country, and the French Navy is able to operate from the harbor.

Tanzania: The Tanzanian Navy is a mixed bag of craft from various sources. China has supplied the ma­jority, these consist of seven "Shang- hai-II” gun-armed patrol boats, four Hitch no n-c\ass torpedo boats, four Yulin-class ten-ton coastal patrol craft on Lake Victoria, and two small land­ing craft. East Germany has supplied three ex-Soviet "P-6” patrol boats and two Scliwalbe-c\ass coastal patrol boats; North Korea has contributed four modified Ncimpo-c\ass patrol craft, and West Germany is the source of two 40-ton patrol craft. The navy must be having spares problems, and the maintenance of such a selection of craft from different countries is doubtless difficult.

Mozambique: As souvenirs of Por­tuguese rule, the Mozambique Navy still operates four aged ex-Portuguese coastal patrol craft and a tank landing craft. There are also six ex-Soviet “Zhuk"-class and one "Poluchat"- class coastal patrol craft. Since gain­ing independence, the country has be­come Soviet oriented and permits Soviet naval vessels to use the naval bases at Maputo, Beira, Nacala, Pemba, and Metangula. Soviet pilots are employed in Maputo, but, inter­estingly, the Railways and Harbor Au­thority of the Republic of South Africa still assists in the operation of the har­bor; Mozambique depends heavily upon the rail link to South Africa from Maputo for foreign exchange.

Madagascar: Once a French col­ony, Madagascar has a navy of about 600, including a marine company of 150. Its inventory consists of one French-built "PR-48”-class large pa­trol boat, one locally built French Edic- class large landing craft, and four ex­North Korean Ntimpo-class landing craft equipped as patrol boats. Mad­agascar has succeeded in remaining reasonably nonaligned, and its fine harbor at Diego Suarez would be a great asset to either the Eastern or Western bloc in time of conflict.

Angola: I'his West African country is now virtually occupied by Soviet- backed Cuban forces, and the Soviet Union and East Germany supply ad­visers to the country’s armed forces. Because of Angola's earlier Portu­guese connection, the Angolan Navy still has five "Argos” large patrol boats. 11 small patrol craft, an LCT. and up to nine LCMs left behind by the Portuguese. Angola's other ships are all from the Soviet Union and in-

The Nigerian Navy’s considerable growth over the last decade includes three recently acquired La Combattantc-IIIB missile boats armed with Exocets.

Naval forces of many African nations are mostly made up of coastal patrol craft. The British “Tracker Mk-ll” class is operated by Sierra Leone and Senegal-Gambia.

elude two "Osa-II” missile boats, six “Shershen”-class torpedo boats, one “Zhuk”- and two "Poluchat”-class coastal patrol boats, three "Pol- noeny" LCTs, and five “T-4” LCMs. The Angolan Air Force flies one Fok- ker F-27 maritime patrol aircraft.

Zaire: Although a country with a very small sea coastline, Zaire’s fron­tiers run along some of the great lakes of Africa, and the vast Congo River traverses the country. Its maritime forces therefore consist of coastal and river patrol boats. They have four Chinese “Shanghai-II” patrol boats and a mixture of small patrol craft originating from China, North Korea, the United States, and France. The force can do little more than attempt to generally enforce the law and pre­vent smuggling and illegal immigration.

Congo: Another ex-French colony, the Congo, has a tiny navy which con­sists of one "Shershen” former tor­pedo boat, three Chinese “Shanghai” patrol boats, and three “Pirana” 32- meter gunboats built in Spain in 1982. There are about four Chinese Ytilin ten-ton river patrol boats. All these craft primarily guard the approaches to the base at Point Noire and patrol the Congo bank of the river.

Gabon: Gabon is a small country with a navy having about 200 person­nel. The navy has one French-built wooden-hulled patrol craft armed with four SS-12 wire-guided SSMs and one 80-ton patrol craft also built in France by Chan tiers Navate de VEstorel. In­termarine of Italy delivered the 88-ton fast patrol boat N'Golo in 1981 to re­place an identical craft lost to fire in 1980. The navy also operates a 118- ton U. S.-built patrol boat and an LCU. In 1981, a 600-ton landing craft was ordered in Spain, and an Embraer Bandeirante maritime patrol aircraft was ordered from Brazil. The coast guard has ten small craft.

Cameroon: The Cameroon Navy op­erates two ex-Chinese "Shanghai-II”- class patrol boats armed with four 37- mm. guns on twin mountings and two twin 25-mm. guns, one “PR-48,” ten coastal patrol boats (four of which were built in France), and six small landing craft. A French “P-48S”-class patrol boat armed with eight MM-40 Exocet missiles has been purchased and is scheduled for delivery in 1983; six light assault boats also have been ordered. One Dornier 128-6 maritime patrol air­craft equipped with MEL Marec radar has been ordered to protect offshore oil fields.

Liberia: Always a protege of the United States, Liberia has relied on U. S. craft for its naval service. The United States has supplied two Swift- ships 38-ton craft and a 12-ton craft, but the most recent acquisitions are three 50-ton Swedish patrol craft which were delivered in 1980.

Sierra Leone: Sierra Leone is con­tent with a coast guard equipped with one British-built Fairey Allday Ma­rine “Tracker Mk-II,” a smaller Fairey “Spear,” and three rarely operational Chinese “Shanghai-IF’-class patrol boats.

Guinea: China and the Soviet Union are the main sources of assistance for the Guinean Navy. It is equipped with six “Shanghai-II” patrol boats and three ex-Soviet "Shershens” with their torpedo tubes removed. The Soviet Union also has supplied two “Polu- chat” craft armed with 14.5-mm. guns. The largest ship is a former Soviet “T- 58"-class minesweeper converted to serve as a corvette and delivered in 1979. There is also one small landing craft. Politically, it appears that Guinea is moving a little toward the West and is attempting to rebuild relations with France.

Guinea-Bissau: There have been signs that Guinea-Bissau may be dis­pleased with its longtime Soviet ally, primarily because the country’s econ­omy is in disarray. The navy has one ex-Soviet “Shershen” without tor­pedo tubes, two “Poluchats,” and two “T-4" landing craft. France and Spain

recently have supplied some small P^a trol craft.    .

Senegal and Gambia: These Africa¹¹ neighbors signed a Pact of Confeder ation in December 1981 after the Sen egal Army came to the assistance o the Gambian Government when it ^was threatened by a coup d’etat. The com bined navy of both countries now has a mix of French- and British-supphc craft. There are the 1981 -delivere 451-ton, French-built “PR-72”-cla?s Njambttr, three 250-ton French-bm “P-48s,” three 62-ton Canadian-bm fishery patrol boats, a 670-ton Frenc Edit-class armed with two 40-mm- guns, landing craft, and two LCM ( landing craft. These units were a P^a'^ of the 700-man Senegal Navy and arc probably still based at Dakar. Gambia provided 50 men and one 40-ton “K^el Nelson,” three 32-ton “Trackers, ^an ^ one 17-ton “Lance” coastal P^atr0 boat. In addition, the Senegalese Coast Guard operates 23 coastal P^a trol craft.

Cape Verde Islands: When this group of islands became an independent n^a tion, it turned to the Soviet Union Jo assistance. The Soviets have suppl^,e . three “Shershen” gun-armed P^aIr0 boats, two “Zhuk”-class coastal P^aJ trol boats, and a Polish-built ‘ *|^d menka”-class survey ship. It is ^als understood that the Soviet Union h^J!j. been assisting in the improvement ° the islands’ harbor facilities, which ^arC strategically located for a major p°'^v er’s naval operations.

Events in Africa during 1983 '^vl continue to be influenced by f°^rce* outside the continent. Although mam African countries may wish to ^1,11 prove their abilities to defend fisheries and possible offshore riches by ^ta purchase of maritime patrol aircra and oceangoing naval vessels, ^ta economic recession and the low P^T'^cC of oil in some cases will mean tn^a even the comparatively rich countries like South Africa and Nigeria will be

unable to increase the size of their na- ^Va.l ^torces to an appreciable extent. In ^sPite ot the continued strong feelings ugainst South Africa and the motions Passed at meetings of the Organiza- '°n of African Unity, no country, or combination of countries in Africa, can take effective naval action against °uth Africa. South Africa may com­mence the building of corvettes, but much of its available defense spending ^W|H be on its army and air force, both ^{0 w}hich are engaged against the guer- nllas in Namibia and Angola and Against the infiltration of terrorists from

Mozambique.

Internal upheaval caused by a failed coup d’etat by the Kenyan Air Force WiH require expenditures to rebuild that °^rce, and few funds will be available °^r the previously expected improve­ments to the navy. Elsewhere, it is unlikely that there will be any serious derations to the strengths of the al- ^rea<Iy small maritime forces of most other African navies. On the contrary, ¹¹ '^s probable that some of the older ^Vessels left over from colonial days or Provided in the early years of inde­pendence will shortly come to the end of their useful lives. In some cases, the Soviet Union will provide replace­ments on the cheap, but even that country is becoming less generous in this respect. However, the Soviet Union will continue to do everything possible to retain its hold upon An­gola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, and Ethiopia and to extend its influence elsewhere by naval and political visits.

The chances of a peaceful settle­ment of the dispute over the indepen­dence of Namibia seem to be reced­ing, and this running sore will continue into 1984. Even if it is settled, the po­sition of the South African enclave of Walvis Bay, used as a minor naval base, will remain a bone of conten­tion. It would be a useful harbor for Western ships in the time of war.

The U. S. Government seems to be showing increased interest in the Af­rican continent, especially in Kenya and Somalia, both of which can pro­vide useful facilities for the Rapid De­ployment Force. The South African Government would like the United States and other Western powers to use Simonstown again. Certainly, this is a vital base for the defense of the

Cape Sea route and the sea-lane to the U. S. base at Diego Garcia, but the political barriers blocking such a move are formidable.

It is interesting, and perhaps in­structive, that the British were able to operate in the South Atlantic to re­cover the Falkland Islands without making use of any South African fa­cilities. The success of the enterprise was partly the result of being able to use the large airfield, base areas, and anchorage at Ascension Island—for­tunately, for Britain, the island is still a British territory.

Colonel Dodd was commissioned into the British Royal Artillery in 1937. He served in India and then, in World War II. in Egypt. Nigeria, and in Burma. After the war, he held staff and command appointments in the United Kingdom, Germany, Nigeria. France, and Scotland. He served as Head of the British Defence Intelligence Liaison Staff in Washington. His last appointment was Chief of Public Relations, Allied Forces Central Eu­rope in Holland. He left the British Army in 1970 to become a defense correspondent. He is the British or European correspondent for maga­zines in Australia. Malaysia. Germany, and Spain, and he writes for military magazines in 12 countries.

The Far Eastern Navies

^uy Lieutenant P. D. Jones, Royal Australian Navy, and Lieutenant J. V. P. Goldrick. Royal Australian Navy