The following represents an overview of the modern naval fighting capabilities of the South African Navy (2023). The service currently counts 11 total units in its active naval inventory. This total includes frontline commissioned vessels but excludes smaller patrol vessels, auxiliary / survey ships, replenishment, and historical ceremonial types. The WDMMW review takes into account specific categories of warships covering attack, defense, and general support designs. Inventory numbers and related unit types are provided as-is and derived from publically-available information / sources. "On Order" totals found at the bottom of this article are related to any future hulls currently under procurement/construction though said hulls may not be delivered for service in the current year for various reasons.
Submarines (3)
Hulls developed for undersea/submersible operation; nuclear-powered or conventionally-powered.
NOTES: All Heroine-class boats built by Germany.
Frigates (4)
Hulls defined as dimensionally smaller than Destroyers, though larger than corvettes, having Blue Water capabilities.
NOTES: All Valour-class vessels built by Germany.
Mine Warfare (2)
Hulls outfitted for the purpose of mine countermeasures/countermine warfare.
Offshore Patrol Vessels (2)
Hulls defined as OPVs and outfitted for the purpose of close-to-shore defense / deterrence.
