Drakensberg-class Replenishment Oiler

The Drakensberg-class Replenishment Oilers are a class of three oilers in the South African Navy. They entered entered service in the late 1980s through the early 1990s.

The design and shortcomings of the Tafelberg heavily influenced the designers of the Drakensberg-class. The Drakensberg-class is able to carry 5 500 tons of diesel fuel, 210 tons of fresh water, 100 tons of dry provisions, over 30 tons of frozen food, 230 tons of containerized cargo or 1 000 tons of palletized and general cargo. The loading and offloading of this cargo is made possible with one 20-ton crane, four 2-ton cranes and a 5-ton hoist, assisted by two lifts of 2.5 and 7.5 tons respectively. Replenishment at sea (RAS) is from two abeam positions or from the RAS deck astern, with the ability to pump 40 tons of fuel per hour and 15 tons of fresh water per hour. In addition, an on-board plant enables the ship to produce 50 000 litres of fresh water from sea water daily.

Each of the ships carry two rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIB) called 'Stingrays' for small-craft duties, as well as two Delta-80 LCUs for limited amphibious use.

Specifications

 * Type: Replenishment Oiler
 * Service Period: 1987-Present
 * Characteristics
 * Length: 482 feet (146.91 meters)
 * Beam: 64 feet (19.51 meters)
 * Draft: 25.9 feet (7.9 meters)
 * Displacement: 6,000 tons (Standard); 12,500 tons (Full Load)
 * Crew: 115 (14 officers and 101 enlisted)
 * Propulsion: 2 x 6600 kW B&W V12 engines driving a single variable pitch propeller. Bow thruster
 * Range: 8,000 nautical miles (14,816 kilometers) at 15 knots (27.78 km/hr)
 * Speed: 21 knots (38.9 km/hr)
 * Armament
 * 4 x Oerlikon 20mm cannons
 * 6 x M2 Browning 12.7mm machine guns
 * Aircraft Carried: 2x Atlas Oryx helicopters
 * Aviation Facilites: 2 hangars
 * Boats Carried: 2 x Stingray-class RHIBs, 2 x Delta-80 LCUs

Unit Run

 * SAS Drakensberg (A301)
 * SAS Roggeveld (A302)
 * SAS Kalahari (A303)