South Africa's naval forces, 1922 - 2012
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Date
2012
Authors
Wessels, Andre
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Faculty of Humanities, University of the Free State
Abstract
This study analyses and evaluates ninety years of naval activity in South Africa. Although the Union
Defence Forces of South Africa were established in 1912, the country’s first permanent navy, namely the
South African Naval Service (SANS) was only established in 1922. This article shows how in practice
the SANS continued only in name from 1934 until 1939, and that when the Second World War broke out,
South Africa had no warships. It then follows the establishment of the Seaward Defence Force (SDF) in
1939, how it was built up, became the South African Naval Forces (SANF) in 1942, and made a small
but nevertheless significant contribution to the Allied war effort. It is shown how the post-war navy
was drastically scaled down, but then gradually built up again to serve as guardian of the Cape sea
route. The SANF became the South African Navy (SAN) in 1951, and acquired Simon’s Town as its main
naval base in 1957. The study indicates how political developments in the Republic of South Africa in
due course impacted on the country’s navy, leading to increasing isolation and eventually a mandatory
United Nations arms embargo. The SAN’s role in the post-apartheid South Africa is also discussed, with
special reference to flag-showing cruises, and it is indicated how, after many years as a small-ship navy,
the SAN regained its blue-water capability.
Description
Keywords
South African Navy, South African Naval Service, Seaward Defence Force, South African Naval Forces, First World War, Second World War, Cape sea route
Citation
Wessels, A. (2012). South Africa's Naval Forces, 1922 - 2012. Journal for Contemporary History, 37(2), 268-287.