South African naval exercises a success

The seventh series of naval exercises between South Africa, Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay, called Atlasur VII, took place over two weeks ending in June.

Since 1993, the bi-annual series of exercises has existed between these countries, and this year it was South Africa’s turn to play host. According to Lieutenant Commander Greyling van den Berg, Media Liaison Officer at the Naval Base Simon’s Town, some twelve ships took part in the exercises, and the aim of which was to improve relations between the different countries and also to improve the professionalism and competency of all the sailors involved. Some of the exercises that were conducted include live weapons firings (at both air and ground targets), helicopter exercises, anti-submarine exercises, communications exercises and Officer of the Watch maneuvering. The exercises were held off the Cape of Good Hope and saw see nearly 900 foreign sailors visiting Cape Town. Although they had a very busy time during the exercises, the sailors still had the opportunity to see the sights and sounds of the host city while the ships were in Cape Town Harbour. The Argentinean Navy deployed two MEKO 140 corvettes, the ‘ARA Rosale’s and ‘ARA Robinson’, both with helicopters. The Brazilian Navy had two NITEROI Class frigates, the ‘BNS Independencia’ and the ‘BNS Defensora’, with one Lynx and one general purpose helicopter. The two Uruguayan Navy frigates were the ‘ROU Uruguay’ and the ‘ROU Commandante Pedro Campbell’.
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