The little Sub that couldn't

[kingmonty]

http://www.thetimes.co.za/PrintEdition/Article.aspx?id=814268

The first of the three German Type 209 submarines bought in South Africa’s notorious arms deal has spent most of the past six months out of the water.

SAS Manthatisi S101, delivered to Simon’s Town in April 2006, has been plagued by serious defects, including hull valve problems, and the vessel has languished in dry dock for months.

Problems are not new to this vessel. On its maiden journey to South Africa from Germany, its snort-mast (air intake for diesel engine) housing imploded, putting the boat and its crew at risk.

Some weeks ago, on returning to the water, S101’s batteries were flat. Contrary to correct procedure, the boat was connected to an onshore power supply, causing an implosion. As a result, the submarine is back on land again.

It's so sad it's almost funny...

 

[mancombseepgood]

Yep - our daphne class subs are more effective since they are in the water lol... Sounds like these are only good for suicide missions...

 

[bwana]

I have a sinking feeling about this.

 

[mancombseepgood]

I have a sinking feeling about this.

lawl!
Thanks Bwana - made my sunday

 

[Alan]

I have a sinking feeling about this.

Jeez that was poor

 

[MyWorld]

Yup, we are ready for the US to attack us, we can even target their ships from the dry docks!

 

[gpe]

Yes and with the arms deal, the German subs were more expensive than the Italian models yet were paid for - even though Germany didn't even feature originally as a possible candidate. Either these subs are being broken or were broken and bought.

 

[PPC_SouthAfrica]

Yup, we are ready for the US to attack us, we can even target their ships from the dry docks!

Thats really funny!!!!

 

[Alan]

We should have used U.S companies from their mighty military industrial complex instead of these European plonkers

 

[Koos Custodiet]

Some weeks ago, on returning to the water, S101’s batteries were flat. Contrary to correct procedure, the boat was connected to an onshore power supply, causing an implosion. As a result, the submarine is back on land again.

Rumour has it they hooked it up to 440V instead of 115V, taking out everything electrical on board to the level where they'd need to flatbed the thing back to Germany to get it fixed.

But that, of course, is just a rumour.

 

[Flanders]

Amazing that we have all these fancy new toys and yet nobody capable of maintaining or manning them, not to mention the lack of any real threat (from outside our own borders at least). I'd have thought that crewing all these flying and diving wonders of technology would've been in the top 10 steps of 'Deceiving the Public - 101'. I guess the short-sightedness of our fearless leaders really is shorter than previously thought.

 

[Turiko]

Rumour has it they hooked it up to 440V instead of 115V, taking out everything electrical on board to the level where they'd need to flatbed the thing back to Germany to get it fixed.

But that, of course, is just a rumour.

I wouldn't be surprised... seeing that they see fit to wire up the 9 volt radio to the 220v mails with resounding bangs... eeeeeish...!!!

 

[NameOfBeast]

SA submarine breaks depth record after accidental sinking

Hayibo just keeps getting better and better:

One of South Africa's controversial new submarines, the SS Constitution, has broken the record for the deepest dive after its novice crew accidentally sank the vessel and wedged it into a seabed canyon in the South Atlantic. The navy has confirmed that the crew are "elated and will savour the achievement until the batteries and tinned food run out"....

http://www.hayibo.com/articles/view/836

 

[mancombseepgood]

"As soon as we train another crew, and find the immobiliser clicker for the SS Queen Modjadji, we're on our way," he told a media briefing in Pretoria.

 

[Rainy]

this aint gonna be a floater

 

[Albereth]

I have a sinking feeling about this.

It's a submarine - it's supposed to sink.