Naval Base Simon's Town
Naval Base Simon's Town | |
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Near Simon's Town in South Africa | |
Coordinates | 34°10′59″S 18°25′59″E / 34.18306°S 18.43306°E |
Type | Naval base |
Site information | |
Owner | Department of Defence (South Africa) |
Operator | South African Navy |
Controlled by | South African National Defence Force |
Condition | Active |
Website | South African Naval Museum, Simon's Town |
Site history | |
Built | 1743 |
Naval Base Simon's Town is the South African Navy's largest naval base, situated at Simon's Town, near Cape Town. The base provides support functions to Fleet Command.[1]
History
A small dockyard facility was first established in Simon's Town by the Dutch East India Company in 1743. This was taken over by the British Royal Navy (RN) in the 1790s, under whom the facility was further developed over the following century and a half. A pair of handsome stone storehouses dating from the 1740s stand on the seafront where they were built by the Dutch East India Company, marking the initial location of the Yard. Immediately adjacent is the earliest Royal Naval building on the site: a combined mast-house, boathouse and sail loft; dating from 1815, it now serves as the South African Naval Museum.[2]
Over the next few decades, the site was developed gradually, with steam engineering and coaling facilities being added mid-century. In 1885, the government of the
Construction began in 1900. The new harbour encompassed an area of 11 hectares, with a
The naval base was handed over to South Africa in 1957 under the Simonstown Agreement.[4]
The Dockyard was expanded in 1975, a large area of land was reclaimed and the harbour walls were extended to form a new Tidal Basin.[5]
Current status
As of December 2015[update], it is the main base of the South African Navy, and home port of the frigate and submarine
Gallery
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Naval Base Simon's Town from the sea.
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Site of the 18th-century dockyard.
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Mast House & Sail Loft, West Yard, 1815.
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Main Factory, East Yard, completed 1910.
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Selborne Graving dock in use, 2013.
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South African naval tugs welcoming a new tug in 2016.
References
- ISBN 978-0-620-41446-3.
- ^ Coad, Jonathan (2013). Support for the Fleet. Swindon: English Heritage.
- ^ ISBN 0-949989-02-9.
- ^ Lawrie, G C (1968). "Simonstown Agreement: South Africa, Britain and the Commonwealth". South African Law Journal. 85: 162.
- ^ "Simon's Town Map". Simonstown.com. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
- ^ Kim Helfrich (23 April 2014). "New Navy Chief upbeat on OPVs, NS Durban and hydrographic survey". Retrieved 31 December 2014.
- ^ Helfrich, Kim (2015-12-09). "Minister says it's Naval Base Durban, not Station". DefenceWeb.co.za. Retrieved 2015-12-09.