Seven crew members were swept into sea from South African Navy diesel submarine SAS MANTHATISI on Sep 20, off Kommetjie, Cape Town area, during “vertical transfer” exercise. 4 were rescued, 3 unfortunatly, died, among them Lieutenant Commander Gillian Elizabeth Hector (Executive Officer), the first woman to navigate a submarine on the African continent. There was swell up to three meters height during exercise. The tragic accident could be partially attributed to lack of proper training – the result of insufficient funding.
South African Navy diesel submarine SAS MANTHATISI, displacement 1454, complement 30, armament torpedoes, commissioned 2005.
