German Navy arrives for air and naval exercises
Date: 15 February 2010
By Dean Wingrin
A German naval Task Force Group arrived in Simon's Town naval base this morning to partake in Exercise Good Hope IV, a series of naval and air exercises between Germany and South Africa.
The current exercise will take place from 15 February to 15 March 2010 in the seas and skies surrounding Cape Town.
The German Defence Force is represented by two Frigates (FGS Brandenburg and FGS Niedersachen) and two Combat Support Vessels (FGS Frankfurt Am Main and FGS Westerwald), six Tornado strike aircraft, one Antonov AN124 and two Learjets. FGS Westerwald arrived in Simon's Town a week ago, while the Antonov transport aircraft was hired to bring in two German Navy Lynx helicopters. The two Learjets are operated by the German airforce and are used for tracking missiles and electronic warfare training. The aircraft will be based at AFB Overberg in the southern Cape.
The SANDF will send two Frigates (SAS Amatola, and SAS Spioenkop), one Submarine (SAS Queen Modjadji I) one Strike Craft (SAS Isaac Dyobha), two Mine Counter Measures (SAS Umzimkulu and SAS Umkomaas) and two Inshore Patrol Vessels (SAS Tern and SAS Tobie). In addition, the SAAF is providing two Hawks, two Astra, one C208 Caravan, two C47 TP (MPA), two Super Lynx and three Oryx helicopters.
Exercise Good Hope IV is a large-scale bi-national and joint exercise of the South African Air Force (SAAF), South African Navy (SAN) and the German Task Force Group. This series of exercises, the fourth military exercises to be conducted in South African waters between the two countries, is also the largest undertaken by the German Task Force Group outside of its NATO obligations.
The "theatre of operations" will be around Cape Town and some exercises will be conducted at the Overberg Military Test Area near Bredasdorp and Arniston/Waenhuiskrans. Some of the types of exercises will include live missile and gun firings, anti-submarine warfare with mock torpedo attacks, anti-aircraft drills, fleetwork and maneuvering and more.
The objectives that both countries want to achieve with these exercises are:
- To enhance and maintain the comprehensive defence capabilities of the two armed forces.
- To develop a common understanding of military interoperability and foster mutual trust, respect and co-operation between the German Task Force Group and the SANDF.
- To upgrade operational means and methods of multi-national conventional forces by employing different types of equipment whilst conducting and exercising according to a common set of guiding principles.
Both the SAAF and SAN will gain a lot of value and experience from this exercise.
The German Task Force Group had just visited Namibia and Oryx helicopters from 22 Squadron SAAF practised deck landings when the vessels neared Cape Town.
The public will be invited to view the German vessels at the V&A Waterfront on Saturday 27 February to Sunday 28 February 2010. Thereafter the public can view most of the SA Navy and German vessels during the annual Navy Festival from 5 March to 7 March 2010 in Simon's Town.
