SAAF provides support to Exercise Atlasur
Date: 2 June 2008
By Dean Wingrin
Cape Town, on the southern most tip of Africa, played host to three South American navies in the seventh of a series of biannual, joint and combined, maritime exercise between South Africa, Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. Exercise Atlasur VII was held during the period 16 May to 2 June 2008 in an exercise area off Cape Point, South Africa. The South African Air Force (SAAF) provided support services to the South African Navy (SAN) and the exercise.
The first Exercise Atlasur (Atlantic South/South Atlantic) was held in 1993 in Argentinean waters. Subsequent exercises have been held in Brazilan and South African waters, with South Africa hosting the exercises three times. Uruguay hosted the exercise in 2006. The objectives of the exercise was to build and develop on a common understanding of interoperability and foster mutual trust, respect and co-ordination between all participating Navies, develop and improve tactics, doctrine and operating procedures for Conventional and Asymmetrical Warfare and to exchange Observers. The later included Southern African Development Community (SADC) Sea Riders.
The Commander of the Task Force 19 as well as Commander Task Group 19.2 for the South African forces was Captain Douglas Faure (SAN). No less than twelve ships, three foreign and a South African helicopter took part. The participants in the exercise included the following:
South Africa:
· 2 x MEKO A200 frigates (SAS Amatola and SAS Isandlwana)
· 1 x Combat Support Vessel (SAS Drakensburg
· 1 x Strike Craft (SAS Isaac Dyobha
· 1 X Minehunter (SAS Umkomaas)
· 1 x Type 209 Submarine (SAS Charlotte Maxeke)
· 1 x Oryx (for SAR and VIP duties)
Argentina
· 2 x MEKO 140 corvettes (ARA Robinson and ARA Rosales
· 1 x Alouette III
Brazil
· 2 x NITEROI frigates (BNS Defensora and BNS Indepenencia)
· 1 x Super Lynx
· 1 x Esquilo
Uruguay
2 x frigates (ROU Commandante Pedro Campbell and ROU Uruguay)
The task force also made use of SAAF assets. These included various Oryx helicopters, a C-47TP maritime patrol Dakota and two PC-7 Mk II Astra trainers.
The Brazilians also participated in Exercise Ibsamer I, the multilateral exercise between India, Brazil and South Africa (IBSA) which was held in early May 2008.
Wargames
The Conventional and Asymmetrical Warfare exercises involved live firings and simulated offensive and defensive Anti-Air, Surface and Sub Surface operations. It was during this phase that the Astra was used to simulate anti-ship missiles by using a profile of low-level flight followed by a pitch-up and dive onto the ships. In this way, the ships sensors would track the incoming ‘missile' and respond accordingly.
Live gunnery exercises included a surface shoot at the ‘Killer Tomato' target and an anti-aircraft shoot at 1 000 ft flares. The ‘Killer Tomato' is a radar enhanced Naval Gunnery Target balloon, measuring 3 m³, designed to be set adrift.
The Argentinean Alouette III (serial 3-H-102), was flown from the corvette ARA Robinson (P45). The call sign for the Alouette III was ‘Latino'. Both the Brazilian Niteroi-class frigates had a helicopter on board. BNS Defensora (F41) was sailing with an AH-11A (Super Lynx Mk21A) serial N-4006, while BNS Indepenencia (F44) was equipped with an UH-13 Esquilo (AS 355F Ecurueil) serial N-7063. The call signs for the AH-11A and UH-13 was ‘Rodeo' and ‘Eagle' respectively.
The exercise was conducted in three Stages. Stage One included the preparation, arrival and briefings. This stage also included a three at-sea phase where helicopter operations, Replenishment at Sea (RAS), submarine and gunnery exercises were conducted.
The first night of Exercise Atlasur, Wednesday 21 May, coincided with the arrival of SAS Queen Modjadji I, the third and final Type 209 submarine ordered by South Africa under the Strategic Defence Package. Thus two submarines were present for a brief time.
Stage Two comprised five days, during which various scenarios were practiced, such as lead through a simulated mine field, defence against fast attack craft, helicopter operations, boarding exercises, anti-submarine and air defence exercises. The Task Force was also split into two for a simulated battle exercise.
The final Stage Three involved de-briefings and demobilisation with the visiting ships departing on 2 June.
Results
The participating nations were very happy with the participation and results of the exercise. The only negative aspects was a collision between the two Uruguayen frigates (ROU Commandante Pedro Campbell and ROU Uruguay) which occurred on the first day during in adverse weather conditions. Fortunately, no serious injuries were incurred and ROU Uruguay quickly returning to the exercise. However, ROU Commandante Pedro Campbell required more repairs to be undertaken in Simon's Town.
Many helicopter operations were undertaken and while the South African Super Lynx was not formally part of the exercise, the opportunity was taken to clear the Super Lynx for night flying.
The SA Navy has hosted many international maritime exercises lately, providing local maritime and aviation enthusiasts with some unique photographic opportunities.
The Unofficial SAAF Website would like to give special thanks to Lt. Cdr. Greyling van den Berg, Media Liaison Officer SA Navy, for arranging the visit.
