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By Lieutenant Commander A. K. du Toit, Royal Australian Navy
Severe financial constraints, ongoing local conflicts and ethnic disputes, the fluctuating situation in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union, and significant developments in South Africa all affected the navies south of the Sahara during 1990.
In most cases, pressing economic problems mean that funds have been simply not available either for new acquisitions or, indeed, for maintaining current naval assets. For that reason, few new acquisitions have been made within the region over the past year, and the operational status of many vessels is doubtful. The situation is further exacerbated by a lack of suitably qualified personnel and the unrelenting equatorial climate that greatly increases maintenance requirements.
With the continuing need for coastal surveillance, fishery and resource protection, and the fight against piracy and smuggling, almost all new acquisitions in the region during 1990 were coastal and exclusive economic zone patrol vessels.
Although the Soviet Union has contributed to the development and maintenance of several sub-Saharan African navies in the past, indications are that, as a result of its own economic and political difficulties, it is now placing less emphasis on strengthening relations with Third World states. This will impact on those countries that rely upon Soviet aid for their naval forces.
Angola: The Angolan Navy—which consists mainly of a number of ex-Soviet craft supplemented by a few former Portuguese naval vessels left behind at independence in 1975—currently hopes to acquire new vessels from Spain. Angola has contracted with Bazan’s Lacaraca, Cadiz, shipyard for four 26.5-meter patrol craft for fisheries protection duties. Benin: Status remains unchanged since May 1988 when Benin’s small naval force took delivery of the 125-foot PR- 362T-class patrol boat Patriote from France to patrol Benin’s 75-mile-long coastline. The ship, however, experienced damage during the delivery pro- 1979-80, and the two P-4-type patrol boats transferred from North Korea in 1979 are believed to be in poor condition and are probably nonoperational.
Cameroon: The planned program to acquire three new 180-foot patrol boats from Swiftships in the United States was cancelled for lack of U.S. foreign aid financing. Instead, a 50-foot patrol boat was included in the U.S. Foreign Military Sales budget request for Fiscal Year 1990, but it has not yet been ordered. In addition, Cameroon remains keen to acquire as many as 30 additional 23-foot Raider-class craft from the United States for inland-waterway patrols and antismuggling operations. During June 1990, it was disclosed that shipyards in Britain, France, and Italy were competing for the contract to overhaul the 308-ton guided missile patrol boat Bakassi, built in France during the early 1980s.
Cape Verde: Reports indicate that the Cape Verde Government is looking into the acquisition of an unspecified number of new patrol craft from Brazil, with whom the former Portuguese colony enjoys good relations.
Comoro Islands: Status remains unchanged.
Congo: Although reports for the last five years have indicated that the People’s Republic of the Congo plans to acquire three Spanish 357-ton Cormorant- class patrol craft, nothing has materialized, probably because of a lack of funds. The Soviet Union, China, and Spain supplied patrol craft in the present inventory, including the three Spanish Piraha-c\ass vessels delivered in 1983, which are reported to be in a poor state of repair and in urgent need of being refitted.
Djibouti: Reports in 1989 showed that Djibouti was to acquire five 36-foot fiberglass patrol craft from Iraq to supplement its small coastal force. The French Navy continues to make use of Djibouti, and in addition to helping secure its borders and supporting French interests in the region, France also helps train and support the tiny nation’s armed forces.
Equatorial Guinea: Status remains unchanged since delivery of the 68-foot patrol boat Isla de Bioko in 1988 by Lan- tana Boatyard under the U.S. Military Assistance Program.
Ethiopia: The Ethiopian Navy, with its largely Soviet-supplied fleet, continues to face major serviceability problems, mainly as a result of the country’s 20- year-old civil war, which has substan-
tially drained its resources. Its operational effectiveness is also questionable, and a number of unidentified naval units reportedly either were lost or badly damaged while attempting to escape from the Principal naval base of Massawa, which fell into rebel hands during March 1990.
Gabon: The second of two 179-foot French-built P-400-class patrol boats built by CMN at Cherbourg—the Colonel Djoue Dabanay (P02)—was commissioned in Gabon on 24 October 1990. The unit differs from her sister—the General D’armee Ba Oumar—in that the 57-mm. Bofors gun forward has been replaced by a single 20-mm. mounting, and the Naja optronic director has not been fitted. The wooden-hulled craft of the same name has been retired.
The Gambia: Following the cancellation of the seven-year-old Confederation °f Gambia and Senegal on 30 September 1989, the armed forces of both countries have once again become totally independent of each other. The Banjul-based Marine Unit of the Gambian National Army now operates two refurbished Shanghai II-class patrol boats, Gunjura and Brufut, modified for fishery protection duties and presented as gifts from China on 2 February 1989. Also used for Patrol is the 34-ton Fairey Marine Tracker Mk-2 patrol craft Jato, acquired from the United Kingdom during the mid-1970s. The former Lance-class patrol boat Sea Dog has been disarmed and ls now used as a training vessel.
Ghana: Status remains unchanged. The pending refit of the two West German-built fisheries patrol vessels Sebo and Achimota has not yet material- lzed, most probably because of lack of funds. This leaves the Ghanaian Navy 'mth only two operational vessels, the Togaga and Dzata, which were refitted as fisheries protection vessels by Swan blunter Shipbuilders in the United Kingdom during 1988-89.
Guinea: A second Soviet-supplied fiogomol-class patrol boat was delivered 'U April 1990 to supplement a unit that arrived exactly one year earlier. The 245- ton craft are built on Osa-class missile boat hulls and are armed with a 76-mm. gun, a 30-mm. Gatling gun, and point- defense surface-to-air missiles.
Guinea-Bissau: It appears that Guinea-Bissau received only two Bogomol-class patrol boats from the Soviet Union, one in February 1988 and the other a year later. In October 1990, a 1,600-ton capacity floating dry dock was received from the United States.
Ivory Coast: No new craft have been added to this relatively sizeable force, which is primarily concerned with offshore, riverine and, coastal protection. The acquisition of two new guided- missile patrol boats is still believed to be planned, however, should funds become available.
Kenya: The two new British-built Vos- per-Thornycroft Province-class guided- missile patrol boats are reportedly performing well in Kenyan service, and the first live Otomat missile firing in local waters has already taken place. The two Brooke Marine-built patrol craft, Madaraka and Mamba, which together with their two sisters were fitted with Gabriel Mk II surface-to-surface missiles during the early 1980s, completed a long refit at Vosper Thorny croft’s Porchester yard in the United Kingdom at the end of September 1990.
Liberia: The long-awaited new U.S.- built 110-foot patrol boat Farandugu was delivered to the small Liberian National Coast Guard by Swiftships during January 1990, shortly before the outbreak of the bitter civil war in that country that saw on 20 July the destruction of two of the three CG-27-class patrol craft previously operated by the Coast Guard.
As a result of the rapidly deteriorating internal situation in Liberia, the United States carried out an operation during August 1990 to evacuate U.S. citizens and foreign nationals from the strife-torn country. The operation, code-named “Sharp Edge,” was mounted from a four-ship amphibious task force led by
The Nigerian ship Ambe (left) landed part of a 3,000-man peacekeeping force in Monrovia, Liberia, in August 1990, after U.S. Marines had evacuated civilians and secured the American embassy there (below) during Operation Sharp Edge.
the 39,000-ton multipurpose assault ship USS Saipan (LHA-2), which had been operating in international waters off Liberia since June.
Shortly after the U.S. operation, a 3,000-man West African peacekeeping force was assembled by the Economic Community of West African States to enforce a cease-fire that followed the demise of former Liberian President Samuel Doe. The troops from Nigeria, Ghana, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and the Gambia were transported by sea from Freetown to Monrovia in five Nigerian and Ghanaian ships.
Madagascar: Status remains unchanged.
Mauritania: Mauritania has recently bolstered its small maritime force, which has been experiencing serviceability problems, so it may better patrol its rich fishing grounds, which are continually being exploited by foreign vessels. Additions include the 1,285-ton former Scottish Fishery Protection vessel Jura, which has been leased from the British company J. MarrLtd. of Hull, for fishery patrol duties, and the 117-foot former West German sea border patrol vessel Uelzen (BG-13), which was transferred to Mauritania in March 1990 and renamed Z’bar. Now named Criscilla, the former Jura was, incidentally, the prototype of the Royal Navy’s Island class of offshore patrol vessels extensively used for fishery protection in the North Sea.
Mauritius: There were no additions or deletions to the small Mauritian National Coastguard Organization, which is responsible for fishery protection duties, antismuggling operations, search-and- rescue missions, and patrolling territorial waters and the exclusive economic zone.
Future plans for the force are believed to include the acquisition of offshore patrol vessels, additional small fast patrol craft, and maritime surveillance aircraft, as well as the establishment of coast guard stations on Agalega, Rodrigues, and St. Brandon Islands.
Mozambique: Status remains unchanged.
Namibia: Having officially gained its independence from South Africa on 20 March 1990, the new state of Namibia can be expected to establish some form of coast guard or naval force to patrol its hazardous territorial waters and carry out fishery protection duties in its exceptionally rich offshore fishing grounds, which are rapidly being depleted by scores of foreign trawlers. As Britain is now assisting with the training of the army and the organization of a defense ministry, it is possible that maritime assistance may also be forthcoming from the United Kingdom.
One of the most sensitive political problems facing the newly independent state is the question of the strategically placed enclave of Walvis Bay, the only deep-water port on Namibia’s lengthy coastline. While Namibia firmly believes that the enclave is an integral part of its territory, South Africa maintains that Walvis Bay is traditionally and legally part of South Africa. Although it has no objection to the port being used by an independent Namibia, Pretoria is not prepared to concede sovereignty of Walvis Bay, which handles most of Namibia’s imports and exports. Obviously, any agreement on the future status of the enclave would need to serve both Namibian and South African interests.
Nigeria: Following an abortive 22 April coup, the Nigerian president announced that the country’s armed forces are to be restructured to keep pace with global developments. There were also reports during 1990 that Nigeria was being forced to cut military spending as a precondition for increased economic aid from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. Both of these developments will undoubtedly impact Upon the Nigerian Navy, which ultimately aims to become a credible regional maritime power.
While much emphasis has been placed on facility upgrades and ship acquisitions during the past decade, serious maintenance deficiencies continue to plague the Nigerian Navy, and the operational status °f many ships is doubtful.
Although the Nigerian chief of naval staff made an announcement during May 1988 that Nigeria was negotiating the Purchase of a submarine—and more recently, that a Nigerian team visited Brazil to discuss submarine training—it is unlikely that this project will come to fruition in the near future because of the serious lack of funds. It has also been reported that the extensive refit and conversion in Italy of the badly deteriorated Vosper Mk-3 corvette Otobo into an offshore patrol vessel by Fincantieri, Genoa, has been delayed by difficulties over payments.
Several basic naval exercises have been held in recent years, including occasional combined exercises with other navies, while regional cruises have also been attempted. Although the Nigerians were invited to attend the Royal Malaysian Navy’s 55th Anniversary International Royal Fleet Review in Penang during May 1990, this was obviously beyond the Nigerian Navy’s present capabilities. During August 1990, however, the Nigerian amphibious landing ship Ambe, together with the patrol boat Oguta, helped transport the West African peace-keeping force to Liberia.
Senegal: Status remains unchanged since the delivery of the very successful 500-ton Danish improved Osprey-55- class exclusive economic zone patrol vessel Fouta during late 1987. Because of ongoing illegal fishing operations within Senegal’s 200-mile exclusive economic zone, the acquisition of additional coastal patrol craft can be expected soon.
Seychelles: Status remains unchanged. Reports that an additional Type FPB 42 large patrol craft—similar to the 138-foot Andromache currently in service—had been ordered from the Italian yard, C. N. Picchiotti, Viareggio, appear to have been unfounded.
Sierra Leone: Status remains unchanged. Plans to acquire an FMS- funded 105-foot large patrol craft from Swiftships in the United States, have apparently been cancelled or delayed.
Somalia: Because of severe financial restraints and an ongoing war in the Ogaden region that places great strain on the country’s meager resources, no new vessels have been acquired by Somalia in recent years. While the small force consists entirely of former Soviet vessels supplied during the mid-1970s, when Somalia enjoyed cordial relations with the Soviet Union, the lack of spare parts and support casts serious doubt on the operational availability of most Somali naval units.
South Africa: The withdrawal of South African forces from Namibia during November 1989 and the rapidly changing political situation within South Africa itself had a dramatic effect on the South African Defence Force during 1990. As a result of much reduced commitments, the defense budget has been scaled down, and the force and the state- owned armaments industry is being rationalized and streamlined to meet the new challenges that lie ahead.
As part of the overall rationalization program, the navy has disbanded the small marine corps reestablished during the early 1980s and has retrenched 2,000 servicemen and civilians. The small naval base at Walvis Bay has been closed down, and naval facilities at Durban will gradually be scaled down. In addition to this, the two geographical naval commands that replaced the three functional commands in 1988 have been disbanded, and command and control of the navy has been centralized in Pretoria. The primary aim of this rationalization program is to reduce the tooth-to-tail ratio of the small but well-balanced South African Navy and not to affect its operational capability. Misleading reports in various journals that the South African Navy is to run down its seagoing forces are therefore largely unfounded.
Following rationalization, plans are now well under way further to upgrade and modernize the South African Navy. During late 1990, the new Chief of the Navy, Vice Admiral Lambert J. Wood-
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burne, officially announced that planning had begun to design and build 1,500 to 2,000-ton corvette/frigate-type vessels in South Africa, as replacements for the early Minister-class guided missile patrol boats that are beginning to show wear and tear. In addition, the multi-million-dollar half-life modernization and upgrading of South Africa’s Daphne-class submarines is continuing, and the construction of further mine countermeasures vessels in South Africa, as replacements for the four remaining Ton-class minesweepers, is being considered.
Following three foreign deployments
The largest ship ever built in South Africa, the replenishment ship Drakensburg (top), and guided-missile patrol boats Hendrik Mentz (middle) and Jan Smuts (bottom) deployed together to the Far East in 1990 to strengthen relations between South Africa and Taiwan.
that occurred during the late 1980s, the South African Navy once again deployed warships overseas during 1990. The first of these was a successful six-week deployment to the Far East at the invitation of Taiwan. The aim of the deployment was to stimulate relations with Taiwan and to exercise the navy’s ability to undertake long, uninterrupted voyages. It involved the replenishment oiler Drakensberg and the Minister-class guided missile patrol boats Hendrik Mentz and Jan Smuts, which called at Kaoshiung and Keelung during late May. The second foreign deployment occurred during September 1990 when the coastal minehunters Umhloti and Umzimkulu deployed to Zaire for a month at the invitation of the Zairean Government. The two ships were tasked with clearing berths at the main naval base at Banana, where at least two naval patrol craft had sunk alongside and were partly blocking the base, as well as at Boma some 50 miles up the Congo River.
Although relatively small, the streamlined South African Navy undoubtedly remains the most professional, competent, and well-balanced naval force south of the Sahara, and as recent deployments have demonstrated, it retains the capability to operate effectively away from its own shores.
Sudan: Sudan’s small maritime force, which operates both in the Red Sea and on the River Nile, has long suffered from the lack of spare parts and adequate maintenance. A number of patrol craft have either been deleted in recent years or are no longer operable, and it is reported that all auxiliaries are in a state of total disrepair. Although Yugoslavia donated four 55-foot patrol craft to Sudan in May
- the republic remains interested in acquiring new coastal and riverine patrol boats. Funding, however, remains a major problem, with the war-torn and famine-wrecked country still owing some $12 billion in foreign debt.
Tanzania: There were no additions or deletions to Tanzania’s naval forces during 1990.
Togo: There have been no additions or deletions to Togo’s small naval force, which operates two 80-ton woodenhulled French-built coastal patrol craft delivered in 1976.
Zaire: It has been reported that 20 new-contruction North Korean TB-11PA class high speed patrol craft were ordered during 1989 for delivery by the end of
- With a displacement of eight tons, these 37-foot craft have a glass-reinforced plastic hull, and are capable of speeds up to 35 knots. They will be armed with a single 7.62-mm. machine gun forward and will be used for controlling illegal entry and antismuggling activities along the Congo River and on Lake Tanganyika. Further unconfirmed reports indicate that Zaire is also interested in acquiring six larger North Korean TB-40A class patrol craft.
Zimbabwe: The Lake Kariba patrol craft fleet is now known to contain eight Type B-79 11.5-meter boats delivered in 1986 by S. K. B. Yard, Antwerp, Belgium. Capable of 22 to 25 knots, five of the craft are based at Kariba and the others at Binga. They operate under the auspices of the “District Development Fund for the Administration and Development of the South Bank of Lake Kariba.”
Lieutenant Commander Du Toit is a mine warfare specialist and is currently serving as executive officer of the amphibious heavy lift ship HMAS Tobruk (LSH-50). His first book on warships, written at age 15, was published in 1976 while he was serving as a midshipman in the South African Navy, and he has subsequently published a number of articles of current and historical naval interest.