All at sea in Mosi II
War games off east coast show up SA’s seagoing shortcomings
In Berlin, a Russian tank destroyed in Ukraine was parked in front of the Russian embassy. In Warsaw, the sound of an air-raid siren and explosions woke Russian diplomats in their embassy compound at 6am. In The Hague, a barrel organ belted out the Ukrainian national anthem at the Russian embassy. In London, the road in front of Russia’s embassy was painted yellow and blue in the colours of the Ukrainian flag.
On South Africa’s coast between Durban and Richards Bay, the navy was playing war games with its counterparts from Russia and China, the significance of the first anniversary of the war in Ukraine apparently lost on the participants.
Russia used the war games, Mosi II, to show off its most advanced frigate, the Admiral Gorshkov. It is fitted with the Zircon hypersonic cruise missile, which it claims can travel at about 10,000km/h. It remained unfired, like the star of the show failing to turn up.
South Africa says it holds regular military exercises with Western countries, and that Mosi II was in line with its commitment to Brics.
All true, except there could be blowback.
A resolution in the US
House of Representatives to oppose Mosi II is under consideration. It wants the US to review parts of its relationship with South Africa. Indications are that the resolution will not pass in the Senate, but the US Congress is likely to declare Russia a state sponsor of terrorism, which would be awkward for South Africa.
When Mosi II ended on Monday, the exercise was described as passex, an exercise on the improvement of communication and co-operation between navies.
Military analysts say South Africa would have gained more by focusing on exercises with fellow African countries. US Naval Forces Europe-Africa recently concluded Exercise Obangame Express in Nigeria. Cutlass Express, a similar exercise presented by the US Africa Command, will take place next week off Djibouti. Its aim is to counter malign influences, aggression and activities among countries in the western Indian Ocean.
Rear Admiral Chase Patrick of US Naval Forces EuropeAfrica recently said South Africa is always invited to take part in the regional exercises but has declined, despite being the leading nation in fighting the extremist insurgency in the Cabo Delgado province of Mozambique, which could benefit from help in the region.
The more important and lasting consequences of Mosi II are that it showed the true state of the South African navy, despite the brave bells and whistles it displayed when the Russian and Chinese vessels docked in Richards Bay.
The SAS Mendi represented the “sharp edge” of the navy. The SAS Protea, in all its 50year-old glory, was also included, even though it is a survey vessel that could contribute little to the simulated war exercise.
The navy has no capacity to deploy any vessel on the high seas. That is despite the purchase of four frigates, three submarines and four Lynx maritime helicopters during the controversial multibillionrand arms deal of the late 1990s.
Year after year, the defence force and navy have had to absorb the shrinking defence budget, while the government still expects it to perform when it decides to deploy forces.
The navy was tasked with
patrolling the Mozambique Channel against pirates and insurgents. But in the process the vessels were pushed beyond their limits, without the necessary upgrades and maintenance.
None of the submarines is seaworthy, with one being cannibalised for spares. None of the Lynx crews is qualified to serve on a vessel on open seas, and the helicopters are mostly unserviceable.
Of the four frigates, only the SAS Amatola has received a refit, but not of its combat system.
Others have undergone repairs and base-level maintenance, but have not been refitted. The frigates, in service for more than 15 years, are due a second refit.
Only one has a working main-mission radar, and from available images of Mosi II it was clear that the SAS Mendi was not the one. Radars on the rest have reportedly died of old age and lack of spares.
When the ships and submarines were bought, they were expected to provide at least 40 years of service if they were maintained. South Africa, with its coastline of more than 3,000km, needs protection against a maritime aggressor, drug smugglers and fish poachers.
The government is supposedly supporting a blue economy, which would require even greater maritime protection protection which only the navy can supply.
Unfortunately, after Mosi II Russia and China will sail home and continue to operate on seas far from South Africa, while the home navy will limp back to Simon’s Town and gather rust.
None of South Africa’s submarines is seaworthy, with one being cannibalised for spares