The SAAF Forum

OK, I thought it best to submit my video to the SA Navy for approval and I've just been informaed that I can distribute it!

Inside SAS Queen Modjadji 1, a Type 209 submarine of the SA Navy, whilst submerging in Naval Base Simon's Town, Cape, Town, South Africa. Video by Dean Wingrin.

http://youtu.be/s8aa4g6pBm4


First time I've ever shot and edited a video! It is over 8 minutes long, so may take up 43 mb of download.

25.6 Mb actually

Then YouTube reduced my upload, good to know, thanks.

It converted it to an mp4 - which is the standard. Always a lot smaller, bytewise, than most other formats. Should always convert it before uploading which makes for less upload bandwidth too!

I actually thought it converted to flv, so uploaded in that format. First time I've ever uplaoded to UT.

You uploaded it as a flv yes - but Youtube, I think, automagically converts everything to mp4.
If I may venture a little criticism - a leetle softer on the music next time round!

BTW the dive is of course not the normal way a sub dives - even ignoring the depth. A sub is usually driven under by her planes and forward motion rather than the blowing and flooding of tanks - where there is a tendency, in a non-emergency dive, to attempt to maintain a neutral buoyancy. Same when surfacing.

Fantastic video Dean

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Brent Best

Was interesting to see the array of valves and stuff that needed to be opened and closed. And how awesome to be on a sub!

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A plan is simply a basis for change.

Another one

Very nice videos about Q Mujaji.

What happened to the other two subs; are they fully operational? How many sets of fully trained sub crews do we have? Can we field 3 subs on operational duty at the same time?

Rarely and only for show. Planning, as with the Daphnes of yore. was always: one ready for operations, one undergoing maintenance and one in the hangar undergoing major overhaul. Problem with high tech ships is you spend inordinate amounts of time working on them. The Yanks. for instance have 11 nuclear powered carriers - but rarely are more than 4 available for operations and then only usually because one is sailing out to relieve another. Way back in the seventies when we purchased two Agostas the idea was that with 5 submarines we would have two operational at any given time. (Twee op die bas, twee in die was en een in die kas).

Given the number of familiar old faces (group obsolescence coming up?) I see in the video still having to go to sea and the slow rate of new badge wearers appearing on the scene, I do not think that you will have any enough qualified submariners to get more than one boat to sea at any one time in the very near future.............

I realise that the dive in the basin was not a standard evolution but I was surprised by the apparent lack of certainty in the way some of the orders were given. The term "wishy washy" comes to mind.

As for the boat itself - too much bling! Everything looks finicky and fragile! Give me a Daphne any day!

I must be becoming an old fart.............

They have had 2 out to sea before but has said it not planned. But if need be we could deploy 2 with in short notice. The biggest problem is crew it Takes a long time to train up a crew member and there is a high fail rate. I guess that is a good thing though better to have fewer good submariners than a bunch of guys than a large number of poor quality crew members