South Africa will dispatch frigate SAS Mendi F148 to the Mozambican channel to patrol the waters and help counter piracy. "We remain very concerned about the intrusion of piracy into our space.."
Displacement, tons: 3,590 full load
Dimensions, feet (metres): 397 x 53.8 x 20.3 (121 x 16 x 5.95)
MAIN MACHINERY: CODAG; 1 GE LM 2500 gas turbine 26,820 hp (m) (20 MW); 2 MTU 16V 1163 TB93 diesels 16,102 hp(m) (11.84 MW; 2 shafts; acbLIPS cp props; 1 acbLIPS LJ2 10E waterjet (centreline)
Speed, knots: 28.
Range,miles: 7,700 at 15 kt
Complement: 92 plus 8 aircrew plus 20 spare
Missiles: SSM: 8 Exocet MM40 Block 2; SAM Umkhonto 16 cell VLS
Guns: 1 OTOBreda 76mm/62 compact
2 LIW DPG 35mm (twin). 2 Oerlikon 20mm Mk1.
Torpedoes: 4 (2 twin) 324mm tubes.
Countermeasures: Decoys: 2 Super Barricade chaff launchers; ESM/ECM: intercept and jammer
Combat data systems: Thomson-CSF.
Weapons control: 2 optronic trackers.
Radars: Air/surface search; Thomson-CSF 3D; E/F-band. Fire control 2 sets; I/J-band. Navigation/helicopter control 2 sets; I-band.
Sonars: Thomson Marconi Kingklip; hull mounted, active search; medium frequency.
Helicopters: Lynx.
the German Frigate Consortium (Blohm+Voss, Thyssen Rheinstahl and Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werf)
