The South African Navy was the envy of many African navy representatives invited onto the SAS Isandlwana yesterday, with some saying it was the most stable ship they had ever boarded.

She is one of the navy's four new German-built corvettes - the others are the SAS Amatola, SAS Mendi and SAS Spioenkop - that are still undergoing sea acceptance trials.

The corvettes have been hailed as the best warships on African seas *1 by delegates attending this week's African Seapower Symposium being held in Cape Town.

The more than 40 delegates, representing 20 African countries, witnessed the SAS Isandlwana doing some 28 knots on a four-hour trip from Table Bay to Simon's Town yesterday.

Named after the historic battle between the British and the Zulus in 1879, in the war that sealed the fate of Zululand, her shield is emblazoned with a lion and a spear.

SAS Isandlwana executive officer Commander Chris Manig said the corvette, which is fitted with stabalisers, is armed with a 76 millimetre gun on the foredeck, 45mm *1 dual purpose guns, Umkhonto missiles, surface to surface missiles and 20mm guns.

But unlike many modern fighting ships, the new corvettes can be fully operated by a crew of only 150 *3.

Manig added that naval experts had said that this was a small number for ships that boast eight decks, are 121 metres long and weigh 6 550 tons *4.

One of the tour guides aboard the SAS Isandlwana said: "The corvette can carry two super-length *5 helicopters. She can also run for 28 days without being refurbished."

The commander of the Kenyan Navy, Major General Pastor Awitta, told the Cape Argus: "To work on board would be the envy of any navy officer, particularly for a commanding officer."

And Brigadier General Justin Itayi Mujaji of Zimbabwe remarked: "We would not have a ship this big. We only have air boats on Lake Kariba because we don't have the sea. We wouldn't buy ships this big. These are meant for the sea."*6

With acknowledgements to Mzolisi Witbooi and the Cape Argus.