The fourth and final MEKO A-200SAN frigate, the Menai, was delivered to the South African Navy on 15 june 2004. The Menai and three sisters, known as the Valour class, are based on a Blohm + Voss design and were ordered by South Africa in late 1999, with work beginning in August 2001. The ships had a staggered construction program, so the first and third units, the Amatola and the Spioenkop, were built by Blohm + Voss in Hamburg, Germany, and the second and forth, the Isandlwana and the Menai, were built by HDW in Kiel. The Menai began sea trials on 18 june, but her journey home to South Africa will begin this month. She will join her three older sisters while undergoing outfitting and weapons integration.
As with her sisters, the Mendi's primary weapons fit eventually will consist of 8 MM 40 Exocet Block 2 antiship missiles, 16 Denel Umkhonto infrared guided, vertically launched, surface-to-air missiles, and a 76-mm OTO Melara dual purpose gun, along with smaller caliber guns and torpedo tubes. In addition, the class has a helicopter hangar, which can accommodate up to two small helicopters.
On 15 June, HDW hosted the christening ceremony for the first of the new German Type 209/1400 submarines, scheduled to enter service with the South African Navy in 2005. Christened by South African political leader Dr. Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, who is world renowned for her efforts in protecting the rights of black women, the submarine was given the hull number S 101. The vessel will remain unnamed until delivered late next year. As was the case with the Valour-class frigates, construction of these boats is staggered-HDW in Kiel, Germany, is building the first and third submarines, and Blohm + Voss in Hamburg will build the second of the class. all three are expected to be in service by the end of 2007. There currently are 60 Type 29 09 submarines in use or under construction, serving with 12 nations around the globe.
Tenix of Australia also had reason to celebrate in june. On 26 june, the sixth Australian MEKO 200 ANZ-class frigate, HMAS Ballarat, was commissioned into service in the Australian Navy. She is pictured arriving in Sidney. Ten ANZAC MEKO 200 ANZ frigates will have been built by the end of the decade-eight for Australia (of which six have been delivered) and two serving New Zealand. The final two units, the Toowomba and Perth, are expected to enter Australian service in 2005 and 2006, respectively. The design of this class was based on the earlier German-built MEKO 200 class in Portuguese naval service. The ANZAC frigates are 117.7 meters long and displace 3,600 tons full load. Top speed is in excess of 27 knots, and the vessels are powered by a combined diesel or gas (CODOG) system that features two diesels and one gas turbine. Crew consists of 22 officers, 41 petty officers, and roughly 100 additional enlisted sailors.