The SAAF Forum

Well the marine growth is quite heavy so it seems this could be the first time she has been slipped in a while.

And the cutting up has started

I wonder if they were worthwhile purchasing as they didn't seem to out live the Ton class by much. But hey if they were purchased for a song then why not.

I think they were donated by the Germans to SA.

Any updates?

The Lindau class and our Ton class were much of the same vintage all being built in the late 1950s. However the German hulls were in far better shape than the Tons because they had been sheathed in glass fibre. We had a constant battle with toredo worm on the Ton class. The acquisition was one of those reckoned to give a few years extended training in the field of minesweeping - almost a dead art these days. The Napier Deltics on the Tons were also long out of production, difficult to maintain and very complex and costly engines even when new. The Maybachs on the Lindaus had better back-up. The exercise was not to increase fleet strength by any significant amount but merely to provide continuation training. It was reckoned to be cheaper than complete refurbishment of two of the Tons - which was the alternate option.

Update taken a few days ago. Ruth First is now in the bay

update taken today

Hi all!

Driving home from work yesterday...having a look into Table Bay Harbour...i noticed a minesweeper tied up at the container terminal...abreast of the SA Agulhas.
Can anyone confirm which it is?
Perhaps i was seeing things...funny thing is...on the side of the Agulhas, reads: seeing is believing.

_________________
Roshan Bachan

A photo would help - and failing that a general description. AFAIK there are no minesweepers in the SA Navy anymore. At least none active. The Vessels in Port does not show anything that leaps out as a minesweeper. Here's the list:

V&A Waterfront

SA Agulhas II, Leon Thevenin, Danah Explorer

Cape Town Harbour

Kamanga
Baltic Heather
Bela
Nagato Reefer
SVS Guardsman
Red Cedar
Titan
Matsuei Maru 28
Jungwoo 1
Sabando Tide
Hermes Arrow
Sakawe Explorer
Fairmount Glacier
Zhongji 2
Fairmount Glacier
Royal Harmony
Smit Amandla
SA Agulhas
Ya Toivo
OMS Heidelburg
Rio Alster
Northern Practise
DAL Kalahari

However they are sometimes lax about naval vessels.

thanks...almost certain it was a minesweeper...fully grey in colour.
Saw it from De Waal Drive, starboard side to.

_________________
Roshan Bachan

Just been to the container depot and at 11.15 the only vessel close to Agulhas is Smit Amandla with Toivo close by and Algoa either arriving or departing,

I stand to be corrected, but i think it was at berth 500...

_________________
Roshan Bachan

What Cape Town harbour really needs is a decent webcam ....

Just confirmed that the vessel name is the Grey Fox.
Currently no crew and just taking up space at the moment.

Check for pics on the net

_________________
Roshan Bachan