The Indian Navy and South African Navy conclude their maiden Submarine Operational Sea Training
The South African Navy (SAN) and the Indian Navy (IN) concluded their maiden Submarine Operational Sea Training (SOST) when a closing ceremony was held at the Lucas Makwapa Mojela Building (formerly known as ORCA Building) on 20 May 2025. The ceremony was the culmination of joint teams from the IN and SAN Operational Sea Training (OST) teams sharing expertise and solutions in the submarine training.
For over two weeks Indian Navy and the SA Navy Submarine Operational Sea Training teams collaborated to create a block training programme to test and evaluate operational readiness of the various submarine platforms.
To highlight the significance of the OST programme between the IN and SAN, Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) Rear Admiral Srinivas Maddula visited Naval Base Simon’s Town to assess firsthand what training had been conducted between IN and SAN.
His historic visit began with a courtesy call to Flag Officer Fleet (FOF), Rear Admiral Handsome Matsane at the Fleet Command Headquarters, where the two Admirals engaged on pertinent matters affecting the two navies. This was followed by an orientation of the naval environment with visits to various SAN facilities such as the Institute of Maritime Technology, ARMSCOR Dockyard, and a tour of the various SA Navy ships.
The following day, during the closing ceremony of Flag Officer Sea Training, Rear Admiral Maddula highlighted the significance of cooperation in his address by saying, “The collaboration between Indian and SA Navy for Work Up of ships and submariners has shown immense progress in the last two years. The enthusiasm, determination, and willingness of the crew to adapt have been truly commendable. During this training period, we have not only reinforced your operational skills but have also strengthened the work culture and camaraderie between our two navies.”
Remarking on his own reflection of the interaction between the Indian Navy and SA Navy, Flag Officer Fleet Rear Admiral Matsane said, “The South African Navy appreciates the time and effort as well as the resources you have invested in sharing your knowledge and skills with us. Your contributions will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on our naval operations and our ability to serve our country. This is a true testament to the continuous fortification of the two nations’ relations.”
Article and photographs by Chief Petty Officer Nkululeko Zulu ǁ SA Navy Public Relations Department ǁ Naval Base Simon’s Town
