Page 282 - Il Mediterraneo quale elemento del Potere Marittimo - Atti 16-18 settembre 1996

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THEAN D. POTGIETER

These then were the importane local developments regarding che creation of
wartime navy far South Africa. But, how did vessels from a small and young South
African naval establishment, which was responsible "for certain services in con-
nection with the defence ofUnion ports and coastline" became involved in che Me-
diterranean? The answer to this question lies in an urgent request from che British
Admiralty handed to the South African Government by the Senior Naval Officer
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in Simon's Town on 20 November 1940 0 >. The Commander in Chief (C-in-C)
of the Mediterranean Fleet, Admiral A.B. Cunningham, was urgendy in need of
AS patrol vessels. The Admiralty also specified ships rhat were currently in use
in South Africa. Rear Admiral G. W. Hallifax, the Director of che SDF, however,
suggested that four newer and larger vessels than those specified by che Admiralcy,
be sent. These vessels (the Southerns) were at the rime being converted and would
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soon be ready for commissioning 0 >. Jan Smuts, the South Africa n Prime Mini-
ster, granted approvai and the Admiralcy was notified on 22 November that che
Union Government would instead sent four Southerns, as they were both superior
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in speed and seaworthiness 0 >. This che C-in-C Mediterranean appreciated and,
as they were a welcome addition, requested that they sail for Alexandria as soon
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as possible 0 >.
But first, something about these ships. Just after their arrivai in South Africa
in 19 36, che "Southerns" had been surveyed and i t was established that in an emer-
gency, they could be used as AS vessels. These ships, build by Bremen Vulkan,
Vegesack, Germany, were described as the "most modern type of whaling vessels
afloat". They were fine sea boats with a very high low (which was sai d to be ideai
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as a gun position) and of fine workmanship 0 > .
. Probably because of their appearance, after their arrivai in Alexandria Trew
was at pains to explain that the ships were·not trawlers, that the men were not traw-
lermen, and that the ships were organised and disciplined along the lines of service
costoms and tradition. The Southerns had a maximum speed of 14 knots, burned
oil (not coal) and had an endurance of 4300 miles at 10 knots 09>. They were re-
garded as excellent ships, reckoned to be far better fitted and armed and better
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steaming shi ps than other shi ps in their class in che Mediterranea n < >. The most
importane shortcoming of che Southerns was their lack of AA armamene but, this
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was fitted to them in Alexandria < >.
The Sor1therns were small ships and since they had quite a low freeboard, they
were constantly under water in rough wearher; and che Southern Sea even once recei-
ved a signa! from a larger RN vessel "If you constandy hide yourself in spray, we
shall come an d depth charge you'' < >.
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This small florilla consisting of four converted ~halers (che HMSAS Southern
F/oe, HMSAS Southern fs/es, HMSAS Southern Maid, and HMSAS Southern Sea) was cal-
led the 22nd South African Anti-Submarine Group, with Lieutenant Commander
(Lt Cdr) A.F. Trew being appointed che Senior Officer South African Ships in the
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Mediterranean < 3>. Trew was informed that his vessels were to sail for the Medi-
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terranean < 4>, but the officers and crews, who were ali volunteers, were not to know