SAS OUTENIQUA - SOUTH AFRICAN NAVY - EXERCISE SEALIFT

Описание: To test the capabilities of the South African Navy logistical support vessel SAS OUTENIQUA (Captain Glen Knox), Exercise SEALIFT was conducted under the direction of the Chief of Joint Operations from 6 to 21 March 2000 in the harbour of Port Elizabeth. The combined forces were under the command of the 46 South African Brigade, and it was significant enough that the Minister of Defence, the Chief of the National Defence Force, and the Chief of the Navy were all in attendance. It was conceded at the time that if South Africa was to supply a Peacekeeping Force and required to move (transport) heavy vehicles, this would have to be by sea. The lack of Air Force heavy-lift capability was an important consideration. The aims of Exercise SEALIFT were to:
• Load and unload combat support vessels and equipment, which would represent a typical motorised combat team.
• Set up a marshalling area and test its functionality.
• Test Command and Control communication between Army, Airforce, Medical Services and Naval forces.
• Test vehicle stowage on board SAS OUTENIQUA, particularly whilst experiencing heavy seas.
• Test new accommodation containers that had recently been fitted on board.
A total of 76 vehicles and a variety of support equipment were loaded. This included a bridge-laying vehicle (with bridge), Mfezi ambulances, a combat tractor, Casspir vehicles, Samil 20, 50 and 100 trucks, field kitchens, electricity generators, diesel and water bowsers. The accommodation containers were tried by the 69 non-Naval personnel who joined the vessel for the sea-going stage of the exercise.
Loading all the vehicles and equipment onto the three deck levels took almost two days, but sped up as the crew became more proficient with the procedure. SAS OUTENIQUA then sailed from Port Elizabeth to Plettenberg Bay and Mossel Bay, encountered moderate weather with strong winds before returning to Algoa Bay, where the ship was successfully unloaded.
From: K Stone, ‘Exercise SEALIFT’, Navy News, XIX, 3 (2000), 16-17.