Built as a research vessel under yard No 6373 by Abeking & Rasmussen, Lemwerder near Bremen for the South African government.
1978 Ordered.
Launched as the RV NAVORS I (M7001).
Displacement 300 ton standard and 350 ton full load.
Powered by 2 MTU- 12V 652 TB81 diesels, 4,515 hp., twin shafts, speed 16 knots.
Armament: 1 Oerlikon 20mm Gam-BO1. 2 – 12.7 MGs.
Crew 40.
13 January 1981 commissioned.
After completing operated by the South African Navy for the South African Department of Transport.
June 1980 was she shipped from Germany in the heavy lift ship UHENFELS to South Africa, where she was fitted out by the Sandok Austral yard.
After commissioned placed in the First Research Squadron.
1982 Renamed in RV UMKOMAAS (M1499) named after the small town Umkomaas in South Africa.
03 February 1988 she was formally accepted in the South African Navy and the prefix RV was changed to SAS.
Then used as a River Class coastal minehunting vessel.
She carried a RIB and fitted out with a decompression chamber.
2011 In service.
South Africa 1997 70c sg956, scott966.
Source: http://www.navy.mil.za/equipment/mine_warfare.htm http://www.miramarshipindex.org.nz