SAS Spear (pennant number: S97), initially known as the SAS Maria van Riebeeck, was a of the South African Navy (SAN). Built in France during the 1960s, the boat was the SAN's first submarine. It was scrapped in June–July 2003.
The submarine displaced 869t surfaced and 1043t submerged. It measured 57.8m (189.6feet) long, had a beam of 6.8m (22.3feet) and a draft of 4.6m (15.1feet). For surface running, the boat was powered by two SEMT Pielstick 13000NaN0 diesel engines, each driving a single propeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by a 1600bhp electric motor. Spear could reach on the surface and underwater. While snorkelling, the boat had a range of 4500nmi at . It was armed with a dozen 550mm torpedo tubes, eight in the bow and four in the stern. Spear had a complement of 6 officers and 41 ratings.
The boat was laid down at the Nantes shipyard of Dubigeon-Normandie on 14 March 1968, launched on 18 March 1969 and commissioned on 22 June 1970.[1]
On 20 August 1970, Maria van Riebeeck collided with the French submarine (also a member of the Daphné class) off Toulon. Both submarines were badly damaged, with Galatée being forced to run aground to avoid sinking.[2]
The boat received an upgraded sonar and electronics during a mid-life update that was completed in 1992.[3] Spear was scrapped in Simon's Town by SA Metal and Machinery Co. (Pty) Ltd. during June–July 2003.[4]