Posted on 09/21/2023 9:19:08 AM PDT by george76
CAPE TOWN, South Africa — Three South African navy personnel died and a senior officer was in critical condition after seven crew members of a submarine were swept off its deck by big waves as a helicopter attempted a "vertical transfer" of supplies, the Department of Defence said Thursday.
Wednesday's accident happened as an Air Force Lynx helicopter was attempting what's known as a “vertrep” — or vertical replenishment — of supplies to the SAS Manthatisi submarine on the ocean surface off the coast of Cape Town, the department said.
The operation was immediately called off and a rescue effort was launched.
All seven submariners were recovered, but three were pronounced dead. A crew member from the helicopter who was dispatched as a “surface swimmer” to assist in the rescue operation was also recovered and is in the hospital alongside the four surviving submariners.
...
The South African National Defence Force, which comprises all of the armed forces, said a female officer with the rank of lieutenant commander was among those who died. The victims were named after their families were informed.
...
The SAS Manthatisi is one of three German-built Type 209/1400 Heroine-class submarines in the South African navy fleet and had returned to the water earlier this year after undergoing maintenance work.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsday.com ...
Never been on a submarine. Don’t sailors doing this have to have harnesses or tie-off on something? No life-jackets used? Water too cold?
Will be interesting to hear perspectives.
Competence might not be a factor for government employment.
The waters off South Africa are noted for rogue waves.
Not positive that sailors on the outside of a sub would have safety straps. If the sub needed to dive suddenly ...
Perhaps it was one of those “rogue waves” that you sometimes read about. Agreed: wonder if they were or weren’t secured to the deck?
The cape is pretty rough.
Whose Line - The Tarzan Comment | 1:28
WhoseLineNation | 25.4K subscribers | 4,504,495 views | July 27, 2016
Oold submariner here, regardless of the Cape’s reputation for rogue waves this screams inexperience and incompetence.
Not wearing life jackets?
I assume the water is cold - nothing between South Africa and Antarctica except water and ice, and today is just the first day of Spring in the Southern Hemisphere.
When humans are suddenly immersed in cold water, your body instinctively gasps for air.
If you gasp water into your lungs, your life is over.
Even a small amount of water can collapse both your lungs.
After lung collapse, loss of consciousness in seconds.
Bottom Line...
Hello, fish food!
Underway Replenishment in rough seas is a miserable and dangerous rotation; the US and UK are probably the best at it and both of our navies lose people every year to accidents doing it.
I always avoided this idiotic show myself so if this does have anything to do the subject at hand please just tell me.
Who would want to serve in their military? Nothing to fight for. If the sailors are black that’s worse. Blacks can’t swim.
“off the coast of Cape Town”
Maybe pick a less notoriously dangerous part of the ocean for the next resupply?
Air and water temp currently about 60 degrees off the coast of Cape Town. Professional sailors should have had no problem treading water in any seas where they were attempting at VertRep.
No.
50 years ago I delivered mail to several subs in open water between Korea and Japan (on several different occasions). We were in a Mike boat (WWII converted landing craft). A Japanese man operated the boat.
Sea’s were probably 4-5’, light wind, and in the middle of the night.
Because I was delivering Registered Mail I had to go on board the sub and get signatures. I recall that there were a number of people outside receiving and sending large quantities of mail and freight. I did not see anybody wearing a tether. EVERYBODY, including myself, was wearing a life jacket.
I’m sure one thing has not changed much in the Navy. The Navy gives people HUGE responsibilities that are dangerous at times and expects them, even if they are only 18 years old, to do their job.
South Africa has a submarine? Why?
“ South Africa has a submarine? Why?”
A couple of thousand miles of coastline might have something to do with it.
Just saying.
L
Your dirty secret isn’t very secret. /sigh
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