SAS President Kruger

President Kruger leaving New York City in July 1976 after the United States Bicentennial celebrations
History
South Africa
Name:	President Kruger
Namesake:	Paul Kruger
Ordered:	18 September 1957
Builder:	Yarrow Shipbuilders, Scotstoun, Glasgow
Launched:	20 October 1960
Commissioned:	3 October 1962
Identification:	Pennant number: F150
Nickname(s):	'PK'
Fate:	Sunk after a collision with Tafelberg, 18 February 1982
General characteristics (as built)
Class and type:	President-class frigate
Displacement:	2,170 long tons (2,200 t) (standard load) 2,605 long tons (2,647 t) (deep load)
Length:	370 ft 0 in (112.78 m)
Beam:	41 ft 0 in (12.5 m)
Draught:	17 ft 6 in (5.33 m) (deep load)
Installed power:	2 Babcock & Wilcox boilers 30,000 shp (22,000 kW)
Propulsion:	2 × shafts 2 × geared steam turbines
Speed:	30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Range:	4,500 nmi (8,300 km; 5,200 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement:	214
Sensors and processing systems:	Type 162, 170, 177M sonars Type 293Q surface-search radar Type 262 and 275 gunnery radars Type 277Q height-finding radar Type 978 navigation radar
Armament:	2 × triple Limbo anti-submarine mortars 1 × twin 4.5-inch (114 mm) dual-purpose gun 1 × twin 40 mm (1.6 in) Bofors AA gun

External images

Paintings of SAS President Kruger

Photographs of the SAS President Kruger

SAS President Kruger was the first of three President-class Type 12 frigates built in the UK for the South African Navy (SAN) during the 1960s. The ship spent most of her career training and made visits to foreign ports in Africa, Western Europe and the United States. In the late 1960s, she was modernized and equipped to operate a helicopter. In the mid-1970s, President Kruger played a minor role in the Angolan Civil War as a part of South African operations against the communists. The ship was placed in reserve in 1977, but was recommissioned in 1980. She sank in 1982 with the loss of 16 lives after colliding with her replenishment oiler, SAS Tafelberg, in the South Atlantic.

The President-class ships displaced 2,170 long tons (2,200 t) at standard load and 2,605 long tons (2,647 t) at deep load. They had an overall length of 370 ft 0 in (112.78 m), a beam of 41 ft 0 in (12.5 m) and a mean deep draught of 17 ft 6 in (5.33 m). The ships were powered by a pair of English Electric geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft, using steam provided by two Babcock & Wilcox boilers. The turbines developed a total of 30,000 shaft horsepower (22,000 kW) which gave a maximum speed of 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph). They carried 309 long tons (314 t) of fuel oil that gave them a range of 4,500 nautical miles (8,300 km; 5,200 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph). Their crew numbered 14 officers and 200 ratings.