Built as a type 12M frigate under yard No 669 by Alexander Stephen & Son Ltd., Linthouse, Scotland for the South African Navy.
20 May 1960 keel laid down.
23 November 1961 launched as the SAS PRESIDENT STEYN (F-147) one of the President class. She was named after the last Boer President of Orange Free State Martinus Theunis Steyn (1857-1916).
Displacement 2,286 tons standard, 2,849 tons full load. Dim. 112.8 x 12.5 x 5.2m. (draught)
Powered by two English Electric double reduction geared turbines, 30,300 shp., twin shafts, speed 30 knots.
Range by a speed of 12 knots, 4,500 miles.
Armament: 2 – 4.5 inch, 2 – 40mm Bofors guns. 1 Limbo 3-barrel mortars and 2 triple 12.75 inch Mark 32 tubes.
Crew 60 officers and 190 enlisted.
04 April 1963 commissioned.
25 April 1963 completed.
When commissioned she were the most powerful warships on the African continent.
1967 She visited Puerto Belgrano and Buenos Aires in Argentina.
1968 She visited Australia.
1969 – 1971 refitted with a hangar and flight deck, the removing of the Limbo mortars
1971 She made a goodwill voyage to Northern Europe visiting Lisbon, Hamburg, Kiel and Portsmouth and Portland before returning to South Africa via Cadiz, Porto Granda, Luanda and Walvis Bay.
November 1975 together with her sister the PRESIDENT KRUGER she took part in the Operation Savannah the invasion of Angola and Zaire. She provided cover for a seaborne evacuation of several dozen South African troops stranded near the Angolan capital Luanda. The operation was successful.
At that time the PRESIDENT STEYN operated a Puma air-fore helicopter from her flight deck.
She were difficult to maintain due to the arms embargo for South Africa and on 01 August 1980 the PRESIDENT STEYN was taken out of service to provide spare parts for the other two ships of her class, while she was used as a accommodation ship
22 June 1981 decommissioned.
29 April 1991 sunk as a target by missiles.
South Africa 1997 70c sg957, scott967, the other vessel is the submarine EMILY HOBHOUSE.)
Source: The World Navies. http://www.harpoondatabases.com/encyclo ... y1886.aspx and various other web-sites.