Flag Officer Fleet Rear Admiral Philip Schöultz will tomorrow officially open the SA Naval Museum Submarine SAS Assegaai. The SAS Assegaai (formerly SAS Johanna van der Merwe), the third of three Daphne Class submarine built in France for the SA Navy, was commissioned in 1971. She served her country well and with the acquisition of three new Type 209 submarines, decommissioned in November 2003. Unlike her two sisters which were cut up for scrap, she was retained for preservation as a museum exhibit at the SA Naval Museum.
As the first complete naval vessel to be preserved at the Naval Museum “she will continue to serve as a reminder of our rich naval heritage and as a centre of technology for the youth, promoting the sciences,” Naval Base Simon's Town said in a statement.
The formal opening marks the first step in her eventual placing ashore at the museum. She is currently afloat in the East Yard ahead of the Cable Restorer. The ceremony will be attended by the Naval Command Council, Directors of Fleet Command, local dignitaries and retired officers who served in submarines. The guest of honour will be Rear Admiral (JG) Theo Honiball (Ret) who as a Lieutenant Commander was her first officer commanding.
0 comments:
Post a Comment