ATLASUR IX Article and photos by CPO Doreen Oosthuizen Enquiries: 012 339 4222

The South African, Argentinean, Brazilian and Uruguayan Naval vessels sailed on 28 September 2012 for the first sea phase of the 9th multi-national maritime Exercise ATLASUR, despite scattered rain showers and chilly weather conditions. SAS UMZIMKULU led the Task Group (TG) safely out of Simon’s Town harbour with Capt de Wet, Commander Task Group and his team on board the South African frigate, SAS AMATOLA. The participating ships from South Africa (SAS AMATOLA), Argentina (ARA ESPORA), Brazil (BNS BARROSO) and Uruguay (R.O.U.URUGUAY) had an opportunity to showcase their capabilities in keeping and maintaining various formations. They successfully completed the first day’s Officer of the Watch manoeuvres prior to a formation anchorage in False Bay.

ATLASUR IX

Exercise ATLASUR IX aims to improve the co-operation between countries’ maritime forces as well as re-affirm tactics and procedures for maritime interdiction operations. The exercise is taking place in False Bay, Hermanus, Simon’s Town and Hout Bay. The name ATLASUR originated from the realizations between countries to the south that the South Atlantic with a coast line of approximately 9 000km and a shared area of approximately 40 million square miles can be used to promote a naval presence and for collaborations and co-ordination of maritime safety during peacetime.

Gallery Day 1

A member of the Seamanship Party pulling the ropes as SAS Amatola slipped from Simon's Town harbour	ARA Espora	Argentinean, Brazilian and Uruguayan Naval vessels during Officer Of the Watch manoevres	Argentinean,-Brazilian-and-Uruguayan-Naval-vessels-during-Officer-Of-the-Watch-manoevres	BNS Barroso followed by R.O.U. Uruguay stationed astern of SAS Amatola
BNS Barroso	CTG-staff-keeps-a-careful-watch-during-manoevres	Foul weather did not keep the ships from completing their Officer Of the Watch manoevres	PO Thabo Nyakale using a 5inch flashing light lantern to communicate with SAS Umzimkulu during the lead through exercise	R.O.U. Uruguay
SAS Umzimkulu leading the formation through the channel	Slt Gurshwin Herwels taking a bearing of the guide ship	The De Mist is ready to take SAS Amatola out for the start of Ex Atlasur IX	The Task Group in Formation One

A partly cloudy second day at sea loomed over False Bay as the TG weighed anchor to commence the second day of Ex ATLASUR IX. An early morning pipe to life raft stations set the pace for the day. Soon after, the flight deck was prepared for the SAN Super LYNX to allow Air Force personnel to disembark, whilst the Tactical Telecommunications Operators conducted flashing light exercises from the bridge wings to the Task Group Elements. Closed up in flying stations, the TG slowly flocked together in Formation Geese as the Brazilian LYNX, South African LYNX and ORYX helicopters rendezvous at sea with the TG for the Photo Exercise (PHOTOEX). The TG then changed formation on completion of the PHOTOEX and prepared themselves for the next serials. The Brazilian Lynx helicopter airlifted a drum filled with coolant liquid from SAS AMATOLA’S flight deck and transferred the cargo safely on board the BNS BARROSO during the Vertical Replenishment (VERTREP) serial. Later that evening BNS BARROSO lit up the moonless skies with STAR BURST flares followed by loud gun firing, which concluded the day serials.

Gallery Day 2

ARA Espora and R.O.U. Uruguay in Formation Geese	LS Anban Pillay and AB Salvin Adams load the 20mm for the close range firing at night	LS Sandile Gumede and AB Pulene Possa transmit a message using flashing light	PO Sandile Gumede hoisting flags from the bridge wing	SAS Umzimkulu and BNS Barroso in Formation Geese
Slt Ndlondlo, the Flight Deck Controller on board SAS Amatola signal a safe depature to the SAN Lynx	The Brazilian Lynx fly pass SAS Amatola during the PHOTOEX	The SAN Lynx fly pass SAS Amatola during the PHOTOEX	The Task Group

The TG steamed through the night and had an early morning preparing for flying stations on the third day at sea. SAS AMATOLA’S flight deck crew received and refuelled the SAN Super Lynx helicopter in preparation for the cross deck landings serial. The first cross deck landing was conducted between the SAN and Brazilian Lynxs landing respectively on SAS AMATOLA and BNS BARROSO’S flight decks. The Brazilian Lynx also touched down on board the ARA ESPORA. The command aim was piped over the main broadcast and the ship assumed Combat State 1 for the Air Defence Exercise (ADEX). The bridge team closed up with anti-flash as the contact was classified as hostile (a HAWK aircraft). Soon after the aircraft was spotted in the bridge and the brace command was given as the crew prepared for impact. Outside on the bridge wings the guns crew tracked the HAWK with the 20 mm guns, swinging and elevating the barrels toward the incoming HAWK, simulating an air defence against an air attack and low reconnaissance. In conjunction with the 20mm guns, the 76mm and 35mm guns were being directed by the ship’s weapons system from the Operations Centre down below. Within a second the HAWK disappeared off the horizon after completing another serial successfully. The late afternoon was used to do light line transfers between the SAS AMATOLA, ARA ESPORA, BNS BARROSO and R.O.U. URUGUAY. The wind and swells increased making transfers difficult but the determined seamanship team of all the vessels got their parcel transfer across.

Gallery Day 3

R.O.U. Uruguay also caught some swells in the passing by	Seamanship personnel are getting the gear ready for the light line transfer on the SAS Amatola	The air threat being tracked with the 20 mm during the ADEX	The ARA Espora during the first light line transfer	The BNS Barroso during the second light line transfer
The Brazilian Lynx conducting a cross deck landing on board SAS Amatola	The bridge team closed up during the ADEX	The first light transfer commence from the focsle of SAS Amatola	The flight deck crew securing the Brazilian Lynx on board SAS Amatola	The flight deck crew waiting to retrieve after securing the Brazilian Lynx
The heavy swells did not prevent the BNS Barroso during the second light line transfer to get her parcel across	The R.O.U. Uruguay approach for the third light line transfer