Projects
Trust projects

The Trust is constantly busy with a number of projects.  The main projects are as follows:

1.    The publication of the Naval Digest at least once a year.
2.    The "Submarine Project".  This involves getting the SAS Assegai - the last remaining of the Daphne class submarines - in the hard in front of the Naval Museum.  This will then be part of the museum and open to the public.
3.    There are constantly books being written about the Navy, service in the Navy, wartime experiences, the history of the Navy and any other Naval subject of interest.
4.    The Oral History Program which involves recording the memoirs of those that have served in the SA Navy, the wars and any other service of interest which in turn are transcribed to make up a hard copy for research and future publication.
5.    The Trust is also involved in getting memorials erected and the design of these.
6.    The Trust is the Heritage Western Cape representative for the naval buildings and installations of the SA Navy.
7.    The Trust supports the Naval Museum with financial and manpower support as and when required.

THE SA NAVY MUSEUM
Project ASSEGAAI - The Submarine Museum
The SA Navy acquired its first submarines in the early seventies - three Daphne Class boats built in France.
These were operated with great success until the late nineties when their maintenance became more difficult
due to age. With the acquisition of the Type 209s, the Daphnes were withdrawn from service and disposed of
by scrapping. The last to decommission was SAS Assegaai on 23 November 2003.
SAS Assegaai was commissioned as SAS Johanna van der Merwe in 1972 under the command of then
Lt Cdr Theo Honiball. She is 57.8m long with a beam of 6.8m and a surface displacement of 870t and 1045t
when dived. She carried a complement of 6 officers and 45 crew members. With 12 x 550mm torpedo tubes,
she could also carry sea mines. She was renamed SAS Assegaai in the late nineties
Through the efforts of a small group of serving and retired members, the SA Navy agreed to keep her as a
museum exhibit on condition that these enthusiasts funded her preservation and display as an exhibit ashore.
In order to achieve this Assegaai has been converted into a floating museum in Simon's Town harbour for a
period not exceeding two years in order to raise the necessary funds from public donations. The ultimate aim
is to promote technology and the sciences amongst the youth through visits and projects aboard.
The boat is well preserved and open to visitors for guided tours on a daily basis (closed Christmas and Boxing
Day) from 1000 to 1500. Due to security and safety, only three groups of ten can normally be accommodated
at a time with booking done through the Simon's Town Boat Company (Tel 021 786 2136, Cell 083 257 7760,
Fax 021 786 3216). Tours take approximately one hour. As entry into the boat is by a vertical steel ladder, basic
fitness is necessary. The ferry departs from the Town Quay in Simon's Town, weather depending. The cost of
the ferry and a guided tour through the boat is R40 (R20 for under 12 yrs).
Press enquiries can be addressed to Arne Söderlund at angel45@iafrica.com or 082 807 8073
SAS Assegaai on-board enquiries - 021 787 5267