History of the South African Naval Museum

Article and photos by AB Jason Warren Bland
Enquiries: 012 339 4222

The Mast House and Sail Loft

When Great Britain occupied the Cape of Good Hope for the second time in January 1806, the Royal Navy’s Principal base was established in Cape Town. The ships anchored in Table Bay but almost always followed the Dutch practice of seeking shelter in Simon’s Bay during the stormy winter months. It was also possible to careen ships in safety on the beach there and these advantages led to the removal of the naval shore establishment from Cape Town to Simon’s Town in 1814. The Buildings used by the British at the time were:

  • The Dutch storehouse (currently housing the Bulk Rations Store and the PR Buildings)

  • A Mast House (36.5 meters long and 7.5 meters broad)

  • One house for a boat house with sail lofts and a sail store which was completed in 1815

The South African Naval Museum

The South African Naval Museum collection was formed in 1965 and was formerly displayed in the Castle of Good Hope in Cape Town, later in Fort Wynyard, then at Martello Tower and finally in Simon’s Town. The museum was opened by the then Chief of the Navy, V Adm R.C. Simpson-Anderson, SD, on 1 April 1993.

 

Layout Of The South African Naval Museum

The South African Naval Museum as it is now on completion of the much needed renovations

A Guide to the Exhibits

The Entrance Hall contains ship models and other reminders that the South African Navy is the heir to the proud naval traditions of Portugal, Holland, Great Britain, Germany and the Scandinavian countries. The other exhibitions on display and a short history on them include:

1. Reception

Some interesting items are on display. From here you enter the Sail Loft.  Historical displays are on the right and left hand sides of the walkway.

2. The Sail Loft

  • SAS President Kruger, tragically lost in a collision on 18 February 1982

  • Mine Countermeasures Branch

  • Models of SA Navy ships and Simon’s Town harbour

  • Communications Branch

  • Hydrographic Surveying and Navigation

  • South Africans seconded to the Royal Navy 1939-1945

  • South African Naval Forces 1939-1945 and medal display

  • Our Maritime Heritage

  • First World War 1914-1918

  • HMS Victory and Lord Nelson

  • The Sail makers Workshop

  • East Dockyard display

  • The Clock Tower

25 Foot Motor Cutter

Model ships of the SA Navy since 1943
   


A display of uniforms in the museum

A diving-suit display

3. St George’s Dockyard Church

The Sail Loft was first used as a temporary Church in 1819. It became St George’s Dockyard Church in1875 and is now used only on special occasions. The striking murals are by Joy Collier.

The mast house and sail loft

The SA Museum as it used to be
   


The St. George's church being used for a wedding ceremony

The St. George's church

 

4. The Boat House

A replica of the figurehead of HMS Flora (1844) and two other figureheads are mounted in the foyer. A Large variety of weapons are on display.

5. The Mast House

Displays a Westland Wasp Maritime Helicopter, the Fire Brigade and a number of small craft.

6. The Rigging House

The Submarine, Diving and Mine Counter-measure displays including the Operations Room and Control Room of a Daphne Class Submarine, a Diving exhibit and a full sized replica of the bridge of a Ton Class Minesweeper.

7. The Storehouse

  • SATS General Botha exhibit

  • This restored Ship served as a nautical training school from 1922 to 1942. Many renowned members of the SA Navy were “Botha Boys”

  • Portraits of the Chiefs of the SA Navy

  • The Present SA Navy

    • This display is still under construction. It will show the development of the SA Navy from 1994 to the present time.

One of the historic photos on display in the museum

The Chiefs of the Navy portraits display
   


The SAS President Kruger display

The submarine display area

8. Outside Exhibits

Several guns, radar masts, directors, etc. are on display. The lower station and pylons of the Aerial Ropeway, which ran to the top of the mountain, can also be seen.

Some Details on a few of the Exhibits

  • Sail Loft Workshop

    • This room was originally the RN sail loft in which sails were made or repaired. The work shop is the only surviving remnant of this area.

  • The SA Naval Dockyard

    • The open doors, through which sails were lowered over a roller which can still be seen, provide a view of the old West Dockyard below and the present SA Naval Dockyard or East Yard beyond, which was opened on 3 November 1910.

  • South African Naval Volunteers

    • This display contains items relating to the Natal Naval Volunteer Reserve (Now SAS Inkonkoni) and Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (SA Division)

  • First World War 1914-1918

    • In August 1914 South African RNVR officers and ratings were housed in this building (the officers in the church and the ratings in the sail loft) prior to serving in German South-West Africa, the Mediterranean and European Waters

  • South African Naval Forces 1939-1945

    • On 1 August 1942 the Seaward Defence Force and the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (South African Division) merged to form the South African Naval Forces, in which 10 332 officers and ratings had served by the end of the War. At the peak period of World War 2, in 1944, the South African Fleet consisted of 87 vessels. A total of 329 members of the SANF were killed in Action, or died on service, and 224 awards for gallantry or distinguished service were bestowed on South African sailors

  • South Africans seconded to the Royal Navy 1939-1945

    • Some 3 000 South African Naval officers and ratings were seconded to the British Royal Navy during the Second World War. They served in some of the best known actions of the war and established a splendid fighting tradition. Items on display recall the Russian convoys, sinking of the BISMARCK and TIRPITZ, The Special Boat Squadron, D-Day landings and other memorable actions. The waterline models on display depict some of the ships in which they served. They were built as training aids

The SAS Tafelberg display

The SWANS display
   


The Wall in The St. George's Church

Westland Wasp Maritime Helicopter

  • Hydrography and Navigation

    • In the centre of the displays is the chart table from SAS NATAL which was the South African Navy’s third hydrographic survey ship (1957-1972). Other exhibits include a model of our first survey ship HMSAS PROTEA (1922-1933) and hydrographic surveying instruments

  • Communications Branch

    • South African sailors have served as signalmen for over a century. This display includes some of their equipment and training aids

  • The Marines Branch 1980-1990

    • The Marines Branch was established in 1980 to provide harbour protection ashore and afloat in South Africa’s ports. Later they served on the Border in South-West Africa and manned boats on the Zambezi

  • Mine Countermeasures Flotilla

    • The display includes pictures and models of some of the minesweepers manned by the South African Navy since 1922

  • Chiefs of the Navy

    • Photographs and paintings depict Chiefs of the South African Navy since 1922

 

Renovations of the South African Naval Museum during November 2011

The Clock Tower Display

Renovations to the South African Naval Museum

The Renovation and Maintenance Project reached the historic Mast House and Sail Loft in East Yard in October 2011. Renovation and maintenance of the old buildings roof and gutters started in October 2011 and was followed by work on cleaning and painting of the walls and window frames. The museum remained open during the renovations and with the newly renovated building; the SA Naval Museum is hoping to attract more visitors to the museum, especially during the holiday seasons. The new appearance of the museum will also go a long way in that it will help boost the image of the SA Navy in a positive manner.

 

The entrance to the museum

The first section of the museum

Additions to the South African Naval Museum

The transformation and integration display is receiving some much needed attention, it will illustrate the history of the SA Indian Corp Training Battalion (SAS JALSENA), the SA Coloured Corps (Navy), the re-establishment of the SWANS in the Navy and role of women in today’s Navy, and the history of Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) and the Azanian People Liberation Army (APLA) and the successful integration of just over 500 ex-MK and APLA members to the SA Navy. Amongst others, the story of Gilford (“Umalusi”) Maraseni and his African Pioneer berthing team will be uncovered. Another addition to the museum is the installation of the big Klimsch Super Auto vertical Camera; this display will illustrate the proud history of the SA Navy Printing Unit and its activities throughout the years.

 

The Welcoming sign when entering the museum

The South African Museum as it used to be