Historic African Vessels

TS General Botha was a South African naval cadet training ship (originally the Royal Navy cruiser HMS Thames, launched 1885). She served as a stationa TS General Botha was a South African naval cadet training ship (originally the Royal Navy cruiser HMS Thames, launched 1885). She served as a stationary training vessel at Simon’s Bay near Cape Town starting in 1922, training over 1,200 cadets over two decades. Following World War II she was deemed beyond repair and was scuttled as a wreck in False Bay in 1947. Learn more

SAS Simon van der Stel was a South African Navy warship named after a 17th-century colonial governor. Originally launched in 1943 as the British W-cla SAS Simon van der Stel was a South African Navy warship named after a 17th-century colonial governor. Originally launched in 1943 as the British W-class destroyer HMS Whelp, she served in the Pacific during World War II and was present at Japan’s surrender. In 1953 she was sold to South Africa and renamed SAS Simon van der Stel. Converted to an anti-submarine frigate in the early 1960s, she served as a training and helicopter-carrying ship, and was decommissioned in 1972 and scrapped in 1976. Learn more

SAS Assegaai (S99) was a Daphné-class submarine of the South African Navy, launched in 1970 and commissioned in 1971. Originally named SAS Johanna van SAS Assegaai (S99) was a Daphné-class submarine of the South African Navy, launched in 1970 and commissioned in 1971. Originally named SAS Johanna van der Merwe, it served until being decommissioned in 2003. It is now preserved as a museum ship in Simon’s Town, and is the only one of its class retained for exhibition. Learn more