A violent jerk wakens you. Then shouted commands. The captain is called to inspect the ship which is already beginning to list. The order is given.
Abandon ship!
There you are, in pitch darkness, fitted with a lifejacket and thrown into a sea being buffeted by a 30 knot south easter in water that is 3000m deep, 144km offshore at 4AM. That far out to sea the swells are the size of multi-storey buildings and you lose sight of any others floating with you.
Being a medic and not even from the navy, you have never been through a drill for what to do in the event of an emergency and you had been fast asleep at the time of the collision.
You look around and all you can see are the lights on what seems like a hundred other lifejackets. At first you panic and try to swim, but then you realise there is nowhere to swim to.
You are alone.
You float past a sailor who tells you not to try swimming, but rather just to stay afloat. “Do breast-stroke” he says.
You float, paddling to keep yourself vertical.
Something brushes past your leg, and reaching down you find you have caught a drogue (a sea anchor, looks like a parachute, designed to prevent lifeboats being blown away by the wind). Pulling yourself along the rope you arrive at a lifeboat but it is upside down. You spend the next three hours hanging onto the side of it, first with this arm, then with that arm, desperate not to let go.
When a rescue ship does arrive you see sailors standing at the sides with rifles. The thoughts pass through your mind – why would they want to shoot you, they’ve come to rescue you! You learn later that they were there to shoot sharks. Sharks! It hasn’t occurred to you once that there might be sharks. It was all you could do to stay afloat.
I decided to start this blog to record all the information I have about the collision and subsequent sinking of the SAS President Kruger on 18th February 1982, at 03:55AM after being hit by the SAS Tafelberg. I was serving as a medic, seconded from the SA Medical Services, on board during what was supposed to have been a simple exercise during which the SAS President Kruger turned incorrectly and then the SAS Tafelberg collided amidships with SAS PK.
I still have the watch I was wearing, with it’s hands forever stopped at that time.
Immediately after the event military intelligence confiscated all photographs and speaking about it was strictly forbidden. Searching the internet even now in July 2008 you will find very little about this tragic event, yet there were 16 lives lost that night.
This blog is an attempt to get more light on the subject. I have a created two full scrapbooks of the newspaper coverage of the event and the inquest that followed which I will scan and upload as I get the time.
I am interested in finding anyone else who may have been on the ship, or has documentation or photographs of the ship.
my grandad was one of the ones that dided on SAS PK. His name was Michael Whiteley. I live in England now but my mum has photos, newspaper cuttings and over things such as the plaque.
By: Wayne Whiteley on July 30, 2008
at 3:28 pm
Hi Wayne I worked with your granddad on the pk and was on the ship when it sank. The one thing I remember well about him he used to sing danny boy very well and was always singing it. He was a communicator with me.
By: Wynne fourie on July 13, 2009
at 7:02 pm
ok
By: saspresidentkruger on November 27, 2009
at 3:05 pm
I witnessed the collision from on top of the bridge of the PK on that fatefull morning. It was my second week on the PK and was recently out of basics, so it was quite an experience
By: Craig on August 7, 2008
at 5:27 pm
I remember this as if it was yesterday being broadcast on the radio while I was still half asleep. I am looking forward to seeing if there were any photos taken at the time which will be published in this blog. I wonder if Captain Roger Green was on board Tafelberg at the time? He was the ships commander for some years
By: Jeremy Swanson on September 29, 2008
at 9:35 am
While not wishing to open old wounds you should be aware that the Tafies did not turn ‘incorrectly’. The PK cut across her bows and there was not much a slow, single prop replenishment tanker could do to avoid the collision. If I remember correctly the Pk’s skipper (De Lange?) was cashiered. I have a copy of the hearing but have not looked at it in years. The incident was symptomatic of the SAN’s lack of sea time experience during the period under discussion. Due to the sensitivity of the issues such as this I suggest that all efforts should be made to check the correctness of one’s facts. After all, the loss of life on the PK affected everyone within the SAN (Tafies crew included).
By: Alan Hutty on December 4, 2008
at 8:44 pm
Further to my earlier comments I do have a number of photographs which I have not seen published elsewhere. Would be prepared to share but, while I can understand the bitternes, your blog needs to be more evenhanded and factually correct to make any meaningful contribution to the incident.
By: Alan Hutty on December 4, 2008
at 9:03 pm
Hi Alan I for one would be very interested in seeing the pictures you say you have the only ones I have are of the taffies in dry dock after the collision having her bow repaired.
By: Wynne fourie on July 13, 2009
at 7:05 pm
Hi Allan Hutty
My name is Vanessa, my son was 5 months old at the time of the accident and was only 19 years old it was devastating. But I have learned to move on all though it felt like one will never heal. My husband was G.W. De Villiers. Sometimes it is still hard.
If possiable could you send me some photos, the reason for not having any is, through moving all was lost. God bless you.
Kindest regards
Vanessa
By: vanessa on September 12, 2009
at 5:19 pm
I was at the Naval Museum in Simonstown today. Interestingly enough the man at the front desk (out of uniform) said the the officer of the watch (?) on SAS Kruger on the fateful day was his current boss. Seems people are still around that could reveal more.
By: Grant on December 28, 2008
at 5:20 pm
I was serving on Tafies at the time of the collision, as the chief stoker. I was awakened by the impact at 0355. MY cabin was on the funnel deck, by the engineers office. I went on deck & P.K. was coming all the way down the port side of Tafies, scraping the side. I phoned the Engine Room to inform them, & then went to the bridge which was my ,damage control station. I was watching the bridge radar plot, when P.K .sank ,& said to the Capt, Capt Smit , That P.K. had gone from the plot. His comment was , I suppose I will be remembered, as the man who sank the P.K. At the court of enquiry,as i remember it was stated that both Captains Smit TF & De Lange P.K. had arrived on their respective bridges within seconds of each other & on reading the situation both ordered course alterations away from each other, had this not have happened , TF would probably hit P.K. amidships & rolled her right over ,which would have meant a much higher casualty rate.However it also came out in the enquiry, that the O. O.W. on both Ships during the middle watch did not have a bridge watchkeeping certificate between them. I ask you in the middle of the night, doing a anti submarine exercise involving 3 surface ships & a submarine . This was disgraceful. It would NEVER have happened in the ROYAL NAVY.I subsequently bailed out & returned to the U.K. as this was the biggest of many Cockups.There is nothing new here that was,nt reported in The Cape Times, Just thought you would like another insight, of the tragic incident. Les Stokes
By: Les Stokes on January 23, 2009
at 1:18 am
I was one of the national servicemen aboard at the time. I have no material on the incident. I am interested in making contact with others who were aboard to help refresh my memory
By: Lawrence Batchelor on January 27, 2009
at 12:57 pm
A comment, the items you have scanned in are at such low res that I can’t read them, or am I missing something
By: Lawrence Batchelor on January 27, 2009
at 1:40 pm
We are presently writing the study material for the new Emergency Care Technician Military Maritime Elective. This is the new 2-year National program replacing the old OECO program.
I have decided to use you as the character for the case study on rescue and boarding a rescue raft and using the sinking of the PK as the case scenario. New Maritime Medics will now be trained using the case study. Unfortunately we must adapt some of the facts to meet the outcomes, but the basic case study remain medic on PK, in lifeboat, then in water will correct drills and then into lifeboat.
Officer Commanding
School for Military Health Training
By: Col Theo Ligthelm on January 29, 2009
at 7:17 pm
I was Chief of the Watch in the Boiler-Room at the time of the collision.
I heard this dreadful sound which was metal tearing, then we lost all pressure out of the boiler’s which followed by the PK listing heavy to port side , by then we had lost power
supply ( elctricity ). I noticed a 10″ main fuel line that ran thru the boiler room above the evaporator part by it flange’s and sprayed fuel all over. Then I lost comm’s between the bridge , engine-room and boiler-room. We were waiting for order’s but nothing happened …..dead silence .
Then on came the electricity again after Kevin Sumner started and put on line one of the “forward” paxman’s. Just after that CPO Monty Minnaar shouted down the hatch to get out and get prepared for abandon ship .I instructed my watch to clear the boiler-room , as they where cleary I went thru all the emergency shut down procedure’s and by the time I climbed up the ladder to exit the boiler-room the seawater was flooding down thru the hatch .By this time the PK was listing about 45° to port and I made my way forward walking on the ” bulkheads” as if it was the deck.
After I had located my life-jacket I exited out the forward hatch and once on deck I noticed the 4.5″ bofor was pointing toward’s the list and also the jupitor was half submerged. I took one look at that sea and went into a panick as the seas were huge and the wind was howling .
By: Nick De Villiers on January 30, 2009
at 12:09 am
My father was CPO Piet Botha on board that night. I was 4 years old when it happened. I remember my mother rushing out the house as soon as she had hear, crying her eyes out.
My dad suffered terribly from PTSD, often waking up in the middle of the night, screaming – They’ve come to get me!! – referring to his shipmates.
I’ve often wanted to get in contact with any of the crew that served with him, I didnt really get to know him as he took his own life a year after the PK sank…
By: Daniel Botha on March 17, 2009
at 2:35 pm
Hay Danie I was on board with your dad
By: Wynne fourie on July 13, 2009
at 7:10 pm
my father was on the president Kruger. unfortunately he died on the ship, hes was Evert Koen.
So now im doing a bit of research on the whole incident for my own personal reasons. i was only 2 years old at that stage so couldnt remember much of what happend.
if any body has some extra info they can pass over to me ill be greatfull for it.
werner@basearchitects.co.za
By: Werner van der Poll on June 22, 2009
at 4:39 pm
THE LAST VOYAGE
One daybreak the dignified grey lady set sail
Proud and with many promised tomorrows of hope.
The water was mirror quiet of calmness
While the fresh breeze tickles her hair.
The sunset for the last time for the lady
as the night gleams with cold hopes.
The clouds crowded around the horizon
filled with furious howling winds.
Unaware of danger lifting it’s hand.
They slept in the warmth of the lady.
The storm begins curling her up in fear.
The waves are furiously bigger with each breath.
From no where a penetrating cracking sound
tear through her feminine body.
Fear and horror cries filled the dark.
Then she disappeared into her deep dark grave.
Today she’s still wandering the seabed
With emptiness and horror I’m longing for her.
I was also one time part of the lady
and now the lovely graceful lady will never return.
Melt de Kock22/7/84
# A tribute to the SAS PRESIDENT KRUGER which sank in the early morning of 18 Feb ’82
and lost 16 men. I knew 13 of the 16 lost in the tragedy. I served on her from Aug ’80 until Aug ’81.
By: Melt de Kock on August 12, 2009
at 7:58 pm
Hi Melt
What a beautiful tribute to the PK. Thanks. If you knew 13 of the men lost you must have known my brother, Coenraad Wium. It was and still is a great sadness but I remember him love and pride. Today the sea has a very special place in my hart.
Regards, Cherylynn Wium
By: Cherylynn Wium on February 14, 2012
at 9:24 pm
I was conscripted from Windhoek, South West Africa (now Namibia) to Simonstown to start my National Service in in the Navy, in January 1972. My Service number is 69 22 57 46. I spent the last six months of 1972 on the PK as a chef, although my main tasks were devoted to washing dishes and peeling potatoes! The head chef was WO second class Bender who ran a tight ship. There was a Cief Chef called “Pa” and a PO Chef called PO Botes; also an able Chef Steve Dickens. Us three “CF” chefs were Joe Bornman from Kimberley, Zacharias le Roux from Port Elizabeth and myself. The GI was GI Bosse, a very engaging person but a strickler for hair being kept accoding to Navy regulations. I think our captain was Captain Green, who, I think, succeeded captain MacNorton (?). I took my last leave from the PK on 14 Dec. 1972. Then in February 1982 I did a camp in Walvisbaai and while there, the news came through that the PK sank. Us PK old boys were shocked and saddened by the news. In 2009 I chanced to meet the owner of the Norvalspont Hotel, Rod Mann. Interested in sailing, he told me he was working on a project boat he recently aquired. IT TURNED OUT IT WAS THE PK’S LIFEBOAT, A WHALER CUTTER, WHICH SURVIVED THE DISASTER. IT WAS PROBABLY THE SAME BOAT YOU CLUNG ONTO. Captain Bligh did his epic open boat voyage with 6 ” freeboard on an identical boat after he lost his ship the Bounty, to mutineers led by Fletcher Christian. My tel no is 00 33 562 700 168. I have a home in France but am planning to reurn to SA in Dec. this year
By: Pierre Massyn on August 31, 2009
at 7:04 pm
Sorry to disillusion you but no “whaler cutter” or any other boat was recovered or salvaged from the PK. No boats were even launched during the sinking only the “self inflatable” life rafts and these were deliberately sunk after all survivors were rescued from each to prevent confusion during the rescue with life rafts that still had people in them and those that did not.
Chief Yeoman
By: Steve Johns on January 11, 2010
at 10:08 pm
To all who have contributed to this forum
We are a Cape Town based production company who have been commissioned by kykNET to at last produce a project that has been very close to our hearts for some years. The theme of the 13 part series is South African disasters and we are beginning the series which goes on air in January with the sinking of the SAS President Kruger. This project is very close to our hearts and we are treating all the disasters with the utmost respect and dignity. We are currently speaking to the Navy as well as any one else with stories from that night. Our aim is not to lay blame, open old wounds or make anyone look bad, but rather to tell the story from the mouths of those who experienced it and were forever affected by it as well as those who are no longer here and cannot tell their story. If anyone on this forum would be interested in talking to us, being interviewed, has any articles, memorabilia, pictures or the like it would be greatly appreciated. I can be contacted on gen@plan-c.co.za
By: Genevieve Bow on October 2, 2009
at 1:38 pm
Well now, Isak… look what this blog has done… aren’t you glad we did this…?
So how about we put the rest of that scrap book on, and get the Cape Argus to hi-res scan the news paper stuff…???
dennis
By: dennis bartlett on October 22, 2009
at 11:41 am
My Father was PO Graham AF Brind . I was 5 years old at the time and my mother was 7 months pregnant with my sister.
I have been researching and following most of the information (not that there is much) on the PK for some time now (mainly to find some sort of closure) and I am still suprised how tight lipped poeple and how much conflicting stories there are about that fateful night.
I have a few news paper clippings regarding the incident as well as the clipping of the Tafelberg’s damage, A report on a survivor in 2mil and interviews with family.
If anyone’s intrested I have a picture of the Plaque that used to hang at Simonstown’s memorial site.
I would really appriciate it if anyone who knew Graham could contact me with any information and possibly and pictures of my father, friends and crew.
Michele
By: Michele on November 22, 2009
at 8:38 pm
I had just uploaded a website about the PK when I stumbled across your site. Well done! I was able to take many many images on-board the PK the last year of her service, and somehow remembered to save the photographs when she went down (leaving my car keys behind, what a hassle that was!)
I would like to make contact with, among others Lawrence Batchelor (Hey Batch!) Boonzaaier, Avron, and many others of whiom I have images. I also have all the newspapers articles, as well as many other items from the ship. Please contact me via the website at http://www.saspresidentkruger.com.
I would also like permission from the blog owner to link?
regards
Cameron
By: Cameron Kirk Kinnear on November 24, 2009
at 9:58 pm
Hey Kirk
There’s a blast from the past. Where you these days? I’m in Cape town.
I’d love to see some of those old photo’s. I’m in touch with Deon, that’s about all, would love to know where Avron is as well
My email is batch@global.co.za, give me a shout
Batch
By: Lawrence Batchelor on November 25, 2009
at 12:00 pm
To all those who were on the ship or closely connected at the time of the incident
Recently I have been paying a lot of attention to this incident in my life, and found the writing and telling of my story a very powerful and emotional experience. If there are any others who would like to get together to swap stories, that night, the incidents around that time, how this has impacted on life since then, feel free to contact me and we’ll see what we can arrange
email: batch@global.co.za
By: Lawrence Batchelor on November 25, 2009
at 12:05 pm
I the chief tel onboard at the time of the sinking
and still have the crypto office keys. I offered them to the navel museum but never received any
reply.
I can still remember leaving the bwo with most of the comms ratings, our potel was lost as he was inmess 12. The ship was listing heavily and we had to climb out by pushing your back against the opposite side of the stairwell. We must have been some of the last to leave below decks. The cyeo called down and said the captain says leave now. cheers
By: Geoff Neil on December 23, 2009
at 7:12 pm