SAS Tafelberg SAS " Tafelberg was a replenishment ship ( AOR ) of the South African Navy . The ship started life as the Danish tanker Annam " before undergoing various conversions into her final configuration . Early history . SAS " Tafelberg " started life in 1958 as the Danish tanker " Annam " in the service of the East Asiatic Company in Copenhagen . She was one of four similar ships commissioned at the time , and was named by the local Thai ambassador ' s daughter Vasna Virajakar . British Petroleum leased her for 5 years . South African Navy . She was purchased in 1965 by Safmarine before being reconfigured in Durban as the replenishment ship SAS Tafelberg and sold to the South African Navy ( SAN ) . At this time , she had two refuelling points and two solid stores transfer stations , as well as refuelling equipment astern and an aft light helicopter flight deck . In 1967 , in the company of SAS " President Kruger " and SAS " President Steyn " , she visited Argentina , while in 1968 she visited Australia along with SAS " President Steyn " and SAS " President Pretorius " . In 1973 the SAS Tafelberg acted as official guardship for the Cape - to - Rio yacht race . Because of apartheid South Africa ' s political isolation at the time , the ship could not enter Rio de Janeiro and instead travelled up the River Plate to Buenos Aires . In November 1975 at the end of Operation Savannah , she provided logistical support to the SAS " President Kruger " and " SAS President Steyn " during the Ambrizete Incident , and also subsequently went to Zaire to retrieve the guns that the army left behind in Angola . In 1980 , " Tafelberg " had a small flight deck that was fitted to the stern of the ship behind the funnel deck for use of the Wasp helicopter , but had no hangar or refueling points and was used solely for transporting persons from " Tafelberg " to the frigates and vice versa SAS " Tafelberg " was involved in a collision in the South Atlantic with the frigate SAS " President Kruger " on 18 February 1982 , during which the " President Kruger " sank with the of loss 16 lives . In 1983 - 1984 , " Tafelberg " underwent significant changes . The rear refuelling points were removed and an additional landing deck with two hangars was fitted aft . The vessel was configured to carry two Puma or Atlas Oryx helicopters , although the larger Super Frelon helicopter was also used until they were removed from service . Helicopter operations were particularly risky , for these helicopters , not being designed for marine use , were unable to apply negative pitch to their main rotors , therefore making them vulnerable to rolling off the flight deck in heavy seas . The 1983 changes also included accommodation and mess ing facilities for 300 marines under the flight deck , a hospital and davits for six Delta fast landing craft . Each of these craft was able to carry and put ashore a short wheel - base Land Rover and an infantry section with all equipment . In 1987 , she went to Mauritius along with the Warrior class strike craft SAS " Jim Fouche " to assist in the recovery of debris and bodies following the crash of the " Helderberg " Boeing 747 . She participated in numerous exercises and operations during her lifespan , earning her the affectionate nickname " " Mama Tafies " " ( Afrikaans for " Mother Tafies " ) . SAS " Tafelberg " was sold for scrap in 1993 . SAS " Outeniqua " , and later SAS " Drakensberg " , took over her role in the fleet .