| Naval Base Simonstown | |
|---|---|
NearSimon's Town in  South Africa | |
 A view of Simonstown and the naval base | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Naval base |
| Owner | Department of Defence (South Africa) |
| Operator | South African Navy |
| Controlled by | South African National Defence Force |
| Condition | Active |
| Website | South African Naval Museum, Simon's Town |
| Location | |
  Location within the South African Western Cape | |
| Coordinates | 34°10′59″S18°25′59″E / 34.18306°S 18.43306°E /-34.18306; 18.43306 |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1743 (1743) |
Naval Base Simonstown is theSouth African Navy's largestnaval base, situated in theCity of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality,Western Cape. The base provides support functions toFleet Command.[1]
A smalldockyard facility was first established in Simon's Town by theDutch East India Company in 1743. This was taken over by the BritishRoyal Navy (RN) in the 1790s, under whom the facility was further developed over the following century and a half. A pair of handsome stone storehouses dating from the 1740s stand on the seafront where they were built by the Dutch East India Company, marking the initial location of the Yard. Immediately adjacent is the earliest Royal Naval building on the site: a combined mast-house, boathouse and sail loft; dating from 1815, it now serves as theSouth African Naval Museum.[2]
Over the next few decades, the site was developed gradually, with steam engineering and coaling facilities being added mid-century. In 1885, the government of theCape Colony transferred the assets of the Simon's Bay Dock and Patent Slip Company to theBritish Admiralty.[3] By the close of the century, however, it became clear that more space would be needed to accommodate the requirements of a modern Navy. In 1898, a large site was acquired to the east of the original Yard for a dockyard extension. Sir John Jackson and Co Ltd. were chosen to do the work.[3]
Construction began in 1900. The new harbour encompassed an area of 11 hectares, with abreakwater of 914metres (3,000 ft) in length. It also contained adrydock 240 metres (790 ft) long and 29 metres (95 ft) wide, with a sizeable steam factory constructed alongside.[clarification needed] The drydock was named theSelborne Graving Dock after theEarl of Selborne, theHigh Commissioner of the Cape.[3] Work on the Simon's Town dockyard was completed in 1910.[3]
The naval base was handed over to South Africa in 1957 under theSimonstown Agreement.[4]
The Dockyard was expanded in 1975, a large area of land was reclaimed and the harbour walls were extended to form a new Tidal Basin.[5]
In December 2022Lady R, aRussian cargo ship, docked at Simon's Town Naval Base. It was alleged by theUnited States ambassador to South Africa that South African military supplies were loaded onto the ship for use inRussia's invasion of Ukraine.[6] This situation became known as theLady R incident. It has been reported theUkrainian GUR discovered what was going on and passed the information to the United States.[7]
As of December 2015[update], it is the main base of the South African Navy, and home port of the frigate and submarineflotillas. The base also houses training facilities for the frigates and submarines. In December 2015,Naval Base Durban inDurban harbour was redesignated back to a fully fledged naval base and home port of theoffshore patrol flotilla.[8][9]City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality
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| Frigates | |
| Submarines | |
| Patrol vessels | |
| Support vessels | |
| Mine hunters | |
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| History | |
| Operations and exercises | |
 Royal Navy shore establishments | |||||||||||||
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