6886 SA Navy Submariner patrol patch for SAS Charlotte Maxeke S102 Atlasure 2008 (Ref. AD2251)

6886 : SA Navy Submariner patrol patch for SAS Charlotte Maxeke S102, Atlasure 2008

2008 –

South African Navy Submariner patrol patch for SAS Charlotte Maxeke S102 for Exercise Atlasur, 2008, scarce.

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 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)

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 m?, designed to be set adrift.

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.

PRICE: $95

Reference:AD2251