Navy Patrol Corvette Launched

South Africa's first commissioned patrol corvette, first lady Zanele Mbeki, attended the official handover of the SAS Amatola , four years after christening and launching it in Germany. In a combined ceremony, the SAS Amatola was handed over from the European South Africa Corvette Consortium to the South African government and commissioned into the South African Navy. The Meko A-200 frigate, as the corvette is properly known, is one of four delivered as part of government's multibillion-rand arms package. The patrol corvettes would be complemented by two German-built submarines, the first of which was scheduled to arrive in April, strike craft and inshore patrol vessels as part of a comprehensive strategic defense capability. installation of inadequate cables in Germany had led to a nine-month delay. (Source: http://www.iol.co.za/)