The following is a list of decommissioned ships of the South African Navy. Pennant numbers

South African Navy used the below pennant number prefix designations: A — auxiliaries C — cruisers D — destroyers F — frigates H — shore signal stations (military); survey vessels K — miscellaneous vessels L — amphibious warfare ships M — minesweepers N — minelayers P — patrol boats R — aircraft carriers S — submarines T — trawler (converted: WWII) Y — yard vessels

1944 change to pennant numbers

South African Navy vessels pennant numbers T01-T62 used numbers that were duplicated with the Royal Navy. In 1944, South African Navy vessel pennant numbers were changed to eliminate this duplication. 500 was added to pennant numbers T01-21, 440 was added to pennant numbers T22-39 and 400 was added to numbers T40-61. Thus as an example, T40 became T440 and T05 became T505. In the below tables, pennant numbers in parentheses indicate the revised number applicable after 1944.

Battle Honours

The Battle Honours listed in the below tables makes use of an abbreviated form. The full description for each category is below: South Africa Waters 1939-1945: For operations within a radius of 1000 nautical miles of the South African coast, including South West Africa Indian Ocean 1939-1945: For operations in the Indian Ocean, excluding an area within a radius of 1000 nautical miles of the South African coast. Atlantic 1939-1945: For operations in the north Atlantic from the Equator to the Arctic Circle North Sea 1939-1945: For operations in the North Sea and all waters to the eastward between Southend and the Shetland Islands. English Channel 1939-1945: For operations in the English Channel and all waters of the south coast between Southend and Bristol, the western limit being a line drawn from Ushant to the Scilly Islands and thence to the north coast of Cornwall. Libya 1940-1942: For operations in-shore between Port Said and Benghazi Mediterranean 1940-1945: For operations in the whole of the Mediterranean, the western limit being a line joining Cape Spartel and Cape Trafalgar. Sicily 1943: For operations in support of the Allied invasion of Sicily. Aegean 1943-1944: For operations in all waters of the Aegean Archipelago between 35 and 42 degrees north and 22-32 degrees east. Italy 1943-1945: For operations in support of the Italian campaign. South France 1944: For operations in support of the invasion of the South of France. Pacific 1942-1945: For operations in the Pacific Ocean.

Pre-Union of South Africa

These vessels were operated by the pre-Union entities before the formation of the Union of South Africa in 1910.

ClassNamePrevious namesPennantCommissionedDecommissionedFateNotesPaddle tugForerunnerJuly 18931905Wrecked, Durban in May 1905Forerunner was a shallow draft steam-powered paddle-tug used to tow vessels over the sandbar at the entrance to Durban bay. It was decommissioned by the Natal Government in 1885 and transferred to the Natal Naval Volunteers as a store- and headquarters ship in July 1893.

Mine laying and anti-mine vessels

Mine layers

ClassNamePrevious namesPennantCommissionedDecommissionedBattle HonoursFateNotes Controlled minelayer German trawler Polaris (1940) (1943) (1951) 5 July 1943S Afr Waters: 1944–45Sank at her berth at Salisbury Island on 22 July 1953 during a NE gale. Although considerable efforts were made to raise her, the ship never went back to sea again and was eventually sold for scrap in May 1957. Originally German trawler Polaris, captured by HMS Arrow off Norway on 26 April 1940. Displacement 926 tons. Length 160' with Compound Uniflow Lentz valve motors. Broken up in Durban in 1957.

Minesweeping whalers