Naval warfare to shake Richards Bay
Naval operation brings ships, aircraft and highly trained forces to Richards Bay's shores.
RICHARDS Bay will be the base for several weeks of riveting naval combat action when the biannual Exercise Oxide kicks off on 21 September.
The event will test elements of the French and South African navies, particularly their search and rescue operations and high profile target extraction.
It will be centred around a distressed passenger liner scenario about 20 kilometres offshore from Richards Bay and will see all Exercise Oxide forces involved, as well as the Richards Bay Port Authority and other government departments and agencies.
The search and rescue component will be co-ordinated by the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Cape Town and the Maritime Rescue Sub-regional Centre on La Reunion.
As host nation, SA will supply the bulk of the platforms and manpower for the exercise.
SA team
The SA Navy will deploy one of its Valour Class frigates (major surface ships) – either ‘SAS Isandlwana’ or ‘SAS Spioenkop’.
Submarine ‘SAS Queen Modjadji’, warrior strike craft ‘Isaac Dyobha’ and the hydrographic vessel ‘SAS Protea’ will also be put to action.
From the SA Air Force, military aircraft will be joined by a multi-purpose helicopter.
Special Forces will include a submarine team, submarine parachute action group and an airborne team, as well as SA Military Health Service task teams.
French team
The French maritime forces will be represented by the light surveillance ship ‘FNS Floreal’ with a maritime helicopter.
The vessel is based at Reunion Island and visited Cape Town in March this year.
There will also be a French commando group, seaborne group and a CASA CN235 plane carrying an infantry section or a C-130 with two to three infantry sections.
