This is a list of active South African Navy ships. As of 2023, there are approximately 49 ships in commission including: 4 frigates, 3 submarines, 2 minesweepers, 1 replenishment vessel, 1 survey vessel, 5 tugboats and 33 patrol vessels.
Class | Image | Type | Ships | No. | Comm. | Displacement | Base | Notes |
Frigates (4 in service) |
Valour class | | Multi-purpose stealth guided-missile frigate | SAS Amatola | F145 | 2005 | 3,759 tonnes | Naval Base Simon's Town | Built by Blohm + Voss in Hamburg. Launched in June 2002. |
SAS Isandlwana | F146 | 2006 | 3,759 tonnes | Naval Base Simon's Town | Built by Howaldtswerke in Kiel. Launched in December 2002. |
SAS Spioenkop | F147 | 2007 | 3,759 tonnes | Naval Base Simon's Town | Built by Blohm + Voss in Hamburg. Launched in August 2003. |
SAS Mendi | F148 | 2007 | 3,759 tonnes | Naval Base Simon's Town | Built by Howaldtswerke in Kiel. Launched in October 2003. |
Patrol vessels (33 in service) |
Warrior class strike craft | | Offshore patrol vessel | SAS Makhanda | P1569 | 1986[7] | 450 tonnes | Naval Base Durban | Built by Sandock-Austral, Durban, South Africa. |
Warrior class | | Multi-role patrol vessel | SAS King Sekhukhune I | P1571 | 2022 | 1,031 tonnes | Naval Base Durban | Built by Damen shipyards in Cape Town.[8] |
SAS King Shaka Zulu | P1572 | 2023 | - |
SAS Adam Kok | P1573 | 2024 | - |
T class | | Inshore patrol vessel | SAS Tobie | P1552 | 1992 | 37 tonnes | - | Built by T-Craft International in Cape Town. |
SAS Tern | P1553 | 1996 | 37 tonnes | - | Built by T-Craft International in Cape Town. |
SAS Tekwane | P1554 | 1996 | 37 tonnes | - | Built by T-Craft International in Cape Town. |
Namacurra class | | Harbour patrol boats | 26 boats | - | 1981-1982 | 4 tonnes | - | Built in South Africa by Tornado Products in 1980–81. |
Mine countermeasures (2 in service) |
River class | | Minesweeper / patrol vessel | SAS Umkomaas | M1499 | 1981 | 390 tonnes | - | Built by Abeking & Rasmussen, Germany. Named after the river Umkomaas, KwaZulu-Natal. |
SAS Umzimkulu | M1142 | 1981 | 390 tonnes | - | Built by Sandock-Austral, Durban, South Africa. Named after Umzimkulu River. |
Class | Image | Type | Ships | No. | Comm. | Displacement | Base | Notes |
Replenishment (1 in service) |
AOR | | Fleet replenishment ship | SAS Drakensberg | A301 | 1987 | 12,500 tonnes | - | Fleet Replenishment Ship (AOR). Built by Sandock Austral, Durban. Is the largest and most sophisticated vessel to be constructed in South Africa. |
Miscellaneous (1 in service) |
Hecla class | | Hydrographic survey vessel | SAS Protea | A324 | 1972 | 2,750 tonnes | - | Specialist Hydrographic Survey Vessel. Built by Yarrow & Co Ltd, Glasgow, Scotland. Launched 1971. Replacement under construction.[9] |
Tugboats (5 in service) |
| | Tug | SAS Umalusi | - | | - | - | Completed in 1995 by Jaya Holding Ltd. Acquired from Taikong Trading Company in January 1997[10] |
Damen Stan Tug 2006 | | Tug | Indlovu | - | 2006 | - | Naval Base Simon's Town | Built by Farocean Marine to a design from Dutch firm Damen Group—the vessels have special bows for handling the Navy's submarines.[11] |
Tug | Tschukundu | - | 2006 | - | Naval Base Simon's Town | Built by Farocean Marine to a design from Dutch firm Damen Group—the vessels have special bows for handling the Navy's submarines.[11] |
Damen ATD 2909 Coastal | | Tug | Imvubu | - | 2015 | - | - | Built by Damen Shipyard Cape Town, based on proven Royal Navy Design - SERCO[12] |
Inyathi | - | 2016 | - | - | Built by Damen Shipyard Cape Town, based on proven Royal Navy Design - SERCO[13] |