SAS President Steyn

SAS President Steyn (pennant F147) was one of three President-class (Type 12M) frigates built for the South African Navy. She was ordered in 1957 and constructed in Glasgow by Alexander Stephens & Sons, with her keel laid in May 1960 and launched on 23 November 1961. President Steyn was commissioned on 8 April 1963 under the command of Captain John Fairbairn. At the time of completion, she displaced about 2,170 long tons (approximately 2,200 metric tonnes) standard, with a length of 112.78 m and beam of 12.5 m. During the 1960s, Steyn conducted numerous training exercises and port visits in Africa, Europe and Australia. In 1969–71 she underwent a major refit at Simon’s Town that added a helicopter hangar and flight deck for a Westland Wasp, updated radar and fire-control systems. In the mid-1970s she took part in South African naval operations during the Angolan Civil War (Operation Savannah), including the evacuation of South African military advisors off Angola. The ship was placed in reserve in 1977, briefly reactivated in 1978, and permanently decommissioned on 1 August 1980 as the Navy reduced its fleet to two President-class frigates. After decommissioning she served as a stationary accommodation ship before most equipment was removed. Final plans to reactivate her were canceled due to budget constraints. On 29 April 1991, President Steyn was towed to sea and used as a weapons target, where she was sunk by missile fire and gunfire during an exercise. Her wreck now lies off the South African coast in the Atlantic Ocean.