SOUTH AFRICA: NAVY SINKS MINESWEEPER

(20 Nov 1994) Eng/Nat
She was a grand old lady of the sea. In her heyday she led the Allied invasion of Normandy.
Now 50 years and a change of identity later she was confined to the bottom of the sea off Cape Town.
To the strains of The Last Post played by the South African Naval band, the SAS Pietermaritzburg, formerly the HMS Pelorus sank into the Atlantic Ocean on Saturday.
The World War Two veteran and minesweeper exploded in a cloud of smoke and then disappeared under the water to her next role as tourist attraction.
Bought by South Africa in 1947 she was used by the Navy to train noncommissioned officers and later became a Navy accommodation ship.
Her triumphant voyage across the English Channel leading the Allied minesweepers safely to Normandy was but a distant memory as she was relegated to becoming an artificial reef for divers, tourists and swimmers in False Bay.
A far cry from coming under fire from enemy forces. And it's unlikely that she will ever again help make history. But her demise was sombre all the same.
The company rose and the officers saluted as she embarked on her final voyage.
SOUNDBITE:
"Well, what is one feeling when one says good bye to an old friend - one of great emotion and great sadness. At the same time, I think we are all very proud to have served on that ship."
SUPER CAPTION: Martin Kramer, former crew member HMS Pelorus
Tourists and locals lined the coast to watch her demise and listen to South African Rear Admiral Simpson Anderson sing her praises.
SOUNDBITE:
``She was under the name of HMS Pelorus, the senior ship of the flotilla of minesweepers that led the Armada of ships safely across the English Channel for the Normandy landings 50 years ago. She survived heavy shell fire from shore batteries by day, ceaseless bombings and strafings by the Luftwaffe by night when sweeping for mines for eleven days following the D-Day landings." (English)
SUPER CAPTION: Rear Admiral Simpson Anderson.
Navy officials first thought of sinking her in a private ceremony far off the coast. But they were persuaded that snuffing her out 20 metres off shore would ensure a long-term tourist attraction.
And if her burial watch was anything to go by, they may be right.
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[@scottgenius9189]

There were 2 piles of crockery 1 m high inboard and outboard on the seabed at SAS Chapman were the PMB was bearthed

[@davidblyth5495]

SAS Pietermaritzburg was my home while I was stationed at Minesweeping Base in 1971. Sad to see her go but nice that she's an asset to marine life in Simon's Town

[@johanschreuder5006]

My old ship. I was stationed on her as a chef in Simonstown harbour.

[@6ftS]

that isnt off cape town, it's out past simonstown by froggy pond, and subsequently that is not the atlantic ocean but the false bay between fish hoek and cape point past simonstown and just before miller's point. This must have been in 95...

[@fredpohl1352]

George, False Bay is in the Atlantic Ocean, all they way to Cape Agulhas, so they are correct in that instance, but I agree it wasn't in Cape Town.

[@6ftS]

Fred Pohl aha, thanks for reminding me... Im always prone to regard the warmer water of the bay area with the warmer indian ocean mozambique currents. The indian ocean border of course does stretch from cape agulhas to cape leeuwin in western australia. No mistaking about false bay though.

[@fredpohl1352]

Yes, but when you sail on a yacht (close to the water) around Cape Point, there is a distinct change in the temperature and even the colour of the water, so, in my humble opinion, the meeting point of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans should be at Cape Point! When you sail past Cape Agulhas there is no change in the water conditions!

[@calvenitweleng5638]

Nothing about this video other than my love for naval warfare makes me proud to be South African.I might be wrong but it seems like the sad old days of apartheid if indeed not then it still reminds me due to the overwhelming white attendance.Despite the SADF's,SA Navy etc exceptional military breakthroughs in the 70,80 and early 90's, still it leaves a sour taste in me being it was the worst period ever to be a non white in SA.

[@MrMalimaali]

We hold no grudge against a soldier who served his country as long as that service is with honor and intergrity, it is that slithiring snake politician who is always treacherous their treachery knows no bounds, he will use any means to gain his power , the politicians we have now are the same as the ones that were there in the 90s and the 80s and the 70s for there is nothing new under the sun. Its always the patriots who pays the price. Stand tall all you did was to server you country as it was demanded of you and as it is expected to all of us today...salute!!

[@davidblyth5495]

Unfortunately it was the ANC's People's War doctrine that made conditions bad. The Nats' apartheid policies were failing and they wanted to change. Apartheid was not feasible. After Nats' predictions of violence, etc the ANC's "armed struggle" policies made the Nats seem like visionaries! Were it not for the ANC, the Nats would not have remained in power for so long.

[@juliehaward7270]

Dry ship! Old mans father served on her before his time on the Protea 82-83

[@JeanDar]

My video diving the SAS Pietermaritzburg (and MFV Orotava): kzbin.info/www/bejne/oIPReZesmMx1mNE

[@stevep8574]

Piet poes is daar

[@davidblyth5495]

My kollega. Lekker saam met Piet Potgieter gewerk

[@stevep8574]

Piet Poes was die grootste doos van n suid-afrikaanse offisier.....