[Download] "Corvette Projects of the South African Navy and the Printed Media: Different Government, Different Debate *." by Strategic Review for Southern Africa * eBook PDF Kindle ePub Free
eBook details
- Title: Corvette Projects of the South African Navy and the Printed Media: Different Government, Different Debate *.
- Author : Strategic Review for Southern Africa
- Release Date : January 01, 2004
- Genre: Engineering,Books,Professional & Technical,
- Pages : * pages
- Size : 253 KB
Description
ABSTRACT Due to South Africa's apartheid policy the country's historically strong maritime links with the United Kingdom were severed during the 1970s. Consequently, South Africa had to explore other avenues to acquire surface patrol vessels. The choice fell on an upgraded version of a Portuguese corvette. The South African media, already subject to restrictions, were generally full of praise and did not debate the issue. However, political changes in Portugal led to the cancellation of this project in 1974, and a project commenced to purchase strike craft from Israel and to build a number of strike craft locally. Due to the classified nature of this project the local media initially reported nothing, but later limited media coverage emerged. At the same time, another corvette project to acquire Aviso A69 corvettes from France, failed as a result of the mandatory United Nations arms embargo instituted by the Security Council in 1977. During the apartheid era media reports on military issues were generally in line with the official government position, and not the subject of an intensive media debate The dawning of the 'new' South Africa, however, did not put an end to the South African Navy's corvette requirements. After its first democratic election in 1994, South Africa went through an open defence review process with defence matters being widely debated, predominantly in the white media. To the extent that the Defence Review emphasised a need for surface patrol vessels to maintain South Africa's maritime security, a new corvette project was initiated. True to the nature of the defence debate in a democracy, it became a widely disputed issue, amongst others in the printed media.