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The impact tore a hole in her side killing 13 of the 25 men sleeping near the point of collision.

The ship took on a large list and the captain ordered Abandon Ship at 04h32. A navy Board of
Enquiry determined that the cause of the collision was lack of seamanship by the captain and

officers on the ship. (Figs. 1.55 & 1.56).

SAS President Steyn

She was the second of the Type 12 frigates to arrive in South Africa and was commissioned on
8 April 1963. She spent most of her career in training and made many visits to foreign ports in

Africa, western Europe and Australia. She also played a minor role in the Angolan Civil War.

The ship was withdrawn from service in August 1980 and, due to lack of funds, the Navy
decided to keep only two of the active frigates. She served briefly as a barrack ship before the

navy decided to use her as a target ship for Skerpioen missiles in 1982. However, the loss of
SAS President Kruger in February 1982 gave the ship a reprieve and the Navy decided to

restore her to operational service. Plans were made in the late 1980s, but shortage of funds

prevented the restoration.

On 29 April 1991 she was towed from Simon’s Town and sunk by a combination of missile

hits and gunfire from five Minister Class fast attack strike-craft, which were involved in the
exercise off Cape Point. (Fig. 1.57).

SAS President Pretorius

She was the third of the Type 12 frigates to be received by the SAN and was commissioned on
18 March 1964. (Fig. 1.58). She spent most of her career in training and visiting foreign ports

in Africa and Australia. She was refitted in the early 1980s to lay mines and operate assault
boats but, due to manpower shortages and lack of funds, she was decommissioned on 26 July

1985. On 9 December 1982, she was sold for scrap and subsequently broken up.

SAS Tafelberg

SAS Tafelberg was launched on 2 June 1958 and began her career as the Danish tanker Annan

before undergoing conversions. She had a displacement of 18,980 tons and was 559 feet 5
inches in length (170.5 meters), with a beam of 71 feet 10 inches (21.9 meters) and a draught

of 27 feet 3 inches (8.3 meters). (Figs. 1.59 & 1.60).