South African Navy (SAN): Warrior-class Multi-Mission Inshore Patrol Vessels (MMIPV)
SOUTH AFRICAN NAVY (SAN): WARRIOR-CLASS MULTI-MISSION INSHORE PATROL VESSELS (MMIPV)
Compiled by Wolfgang Witschas
SA Navy Warrior-class MLIPV SAS King Shaka Zulu: Photo by Boitumelo Choene
Abstract
The South African Navy’s (SAN) Warrior-class Multi-Mission Inshore Patrol Vessels (MMIPV) are a class of modern, versatile warships designed to enhance maritime security within South Africa’s Exclusive Economic Zone. These are a new class of patrol vessels designed to operate in both shallow inshore waters and the high seas, with a wide range of capabilities including border protection, search and rescue, mine countermeasures, diving, and disaster relief. The first three vessels, the SAS King Sekhukhune I, SAS King Shaka Zulu, and SAS Adam Kok III, have been delivered and named.
Keywords
South African Navy. (SAN) Warrior-class Multi-Mission Inshore Patrol Vessels (MMIPV):
SAS King Sekhukhune I
SAS King Shaka Zulu
SAS Adam Kok III
Damen Group
Introduction
Since the Strategic Defence Package of 1999, the South African Navy (SAN) had always envisaged replacing the nine ageing Warrior-class strike crafts (former Minister class strike crafts, infact Israeli Saar4/Reshef class) which date back to the mid/late 1970s. The three Damen Shipyards Cape Town (DSCT) platforms were built in terms of Project Biro,
Background
The Warrior-class inshore patrol vessel is a class of multi-mission inshore patrol vessels (MMIPVs) built for the SAN and are intended to replace the aging Warrior-class
Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) between 2022 and 2025. All three vessels are named after historical South African ‘warriors’ who had a significant impact on the development of the country.
The MMIPVs are a class of modern, versatile warships designed to enhance maritime security within South Africa’s Exclusive Economic Zone. These vessels, built by Damen Shipyards Cape Town, feature a modular design optimized for patrol, interdiction, and low-intensity operations in littoral waters.
The first three vessels have been delivered and named:
SAS King Sekhukhune I (P1571) 15/06/2022
SAS King Shaka Zulu (P1572) 25/03/2025
SAS Adam Kok III (P1573) 25/04/2025
Specifications and characteristics
The Warrior-class is based upon the highly successful Dutch shipbuilding firm The Damen Group’s Damen Stan Patrol 6211 and is designed with the patented Sea Axe Hull – the first to operate in South Africa. The straight-edged bow will improve safety and comfort when operating in the rough seas found off South Africa, as well as significantly reducing fuel consumption and emissions. The design of the vessel ensures low sea resistance, high sustained speed in waves and superior sea keeping characteristics. Vertical accelerations are reduced significantly, and bow slamming is almost eliminated, thus notably increasing the safety of the vessel and of the crew.
All three the MMIPVs were built and fitted at Damen Shipyards Cape Town (DSCT) under the Armscor managed Project Biro. The multi-mission inshore patrol vessels are based on the Damen Stan Patrol 6211 design adapted to South African requirements.
Specifications
Propulsion:
2 × Caterpillar 3512C HD/B diesel engines, 5,700 kW (7,600 hp)
4 × fixed-pitch propellers
2 x stabilisers
2 x bow thrusters
Speed
Cruising: 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) Maximum: 26.5 knots (49.1 km/h; 30.5 mph)Range4,000 nmi (7,400 km; 4,600 mi)
Troops:
14
Complement:
49 Officers and Crew men (capacity for 62)
Sensors & processing systems
• Reutech Radar Systems RTS 3200: a frequency-modulated continuous-wave radar/optronics tracker (FORT)
• Kelvin Hughes Ltd SharpEye navigation radar
• X-band and S-band radars, W-AIS, Inertial Navigation System, GPS, Optical Bearing Devices and various other navigation sensors.
• OSI Maritime Systems (OSI) Integrated Mission Management System (IMMS
Capabilities and Features
Key Characteristics:
• Versatile: Designed for multiple roles, including patrol, interdiction, and humanitarian assistance
• Endurance: Capable of extended deployments in offshore waters
• Modular: Often feature adaptable designs for various mission requirements
The Warrior-class IPVs are multi-role designed and will be employed in a wide range of missions, such as mine counter measures, deep diving training, search and rescue, submarine torpedo recovery, humanitarian assistance and anti-pollution tasks – particularly key constabulary roles such as intercepting illegal trafficking, fishing and counter-piracy.
Their ability to accommodate at short notice containerised mission modules gives them a true multi-mission capability. Container fittings on the aft deck will be available for fastening on mission equipment. Various layouts are accommodated, including one 20-foot and four 10-foot containers. The vessels will carry one 7m and one 9m rigid-hull inflatable boat for boarding operations.
Armaments:
Main Armaments:
The Reutech 20mm Super Rogue Remote Controlled Weapon Station (RCWS)
https://defenceweb.co.za/featured/south-african-navy-commissions-secon-mmipv-and-names-third-as-sas-adam-kok-iii/
The Reutech (Rheinmetall Denel GI-2 automatic cannon) 20 mm Super Rogue Remote Controlled Weapon Station (RCWS) is a remotely controlled and operated weapon system designed for enhanced firepower and range. It is used in both land and naval applications for defence and patrol missions, and it features advanced stabilization, electro-optical sights with thermal imaging, and an automatic target tracker. The system is capable of mounting different 20 mm cannons, such as the
20×12820 cross 128
20×128 mm
20×13920 cross 139
20×139 mm
Secondary Armaments
2 x General-purpose 12.7×99mm NATO heavy machine guns; manually operated. They are typically mounted port and starboard amidships.
Other Features
The vessels are fitted with a rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB) launch and recovery system from a stern slipway, enabling rapid boarding operations at sea and provision for small arms and boarding party equipment.
• Ability to accommodate on short notice containerised mission modules gives them a true multi-mission capability
• Various layouts include one 20-foot and four 10-foot containers. Container fittings on the aft deck will be available for fastening on mission equipment. Various layouts are accommodated, including one 20 foot and four 10-foot containers.
• Deck layout includes a knuckle boom crane; single point lifting davit rated at 5.7 tons and a single-point lifting davit rated at 2 tons.
• The vessels will carry one 7m and one 9m rigid-hull inflatable boat for boarding operation0
Boosting maritime security along the strategic coastline of South Africa
All three SA Navy Multi-Mission Inshore Patrol Vessels (MMIPVs) in the Navy’s patrol squadron are based in Durban. These vessels were purpose-built to safeguard South Africa’s 2,700-kilometre coastline – an economic lifeline that carries more than 90% of the country’s trade by volume and borders the increasingly critical Cape Sea Route.
Epilogue
The SAN’s MMIPVs can now relieve the navies’ four Valour class frigates of all the “inshore patrol duties” they had to perform and concentrate on the tasks these vessels were acquired for under the strategic acquisition program of 1999.
The SAN’ Frigates:
SAS Amatola (F145)
SAS Isandlwana (F146)
SAS Spioenkop (F147)
SAS Mendi (F148)
References:
https://en.wikepedia.org/wiki/Warrior-class_onshore_patrol_vessel
https://defenceweb.co.za/featured/south-african-navy-commissions-secon-mmipv-and-names-third-as-sas-adam-kok-iii/
