Insights of SAS Assegaai from Rear Admiral Arne Söderlund

The Fish Hoek Valley Association (FHVA) will host a special presentation on the SAS Assegaai—Africa’s only submarine museum—at the Fish Hoek Library on Thursday, September 11.

The talk will be presented by guest speaker Rear Admiral Arne Söderlund, who served in the South African Navy for 40 years at sea, in intelligence, and later as Naval and Military Attaché in London before retiring in 2006.

His talk will trace the operational service of SAS Assegaai, a Daphné-class submarine now permanently preserved in Simon’s Town, as well as the volunteer-driven campaign to rescue it from the scrapyard. He will also describe the formidable task of relocating the 55-metre vessel onto dry land and the vision to develop it into a world-class educational attraction.

He is co-author of two naval histories, South Africa’s Navy and Iron Fist From the Sea. Since retirement, he has dedicated himself to preserving naval heritage,  and has spearheaded the project to save SAS Assegaai - Africa’s only submarine museum.

The cost is R20  for members and R30 for visitors, which can be paid at the Fish Hoek Valley Museum or at the meeting.

To become a member, you can pay the membership fee of R50. All payments are cash only.

Guests can visit the talk at Fish Hoek Library, Central Circle, Fish Hoek, on the side hall, on Thursday, September 11, from 5pm. For more information email fhvhistoricalassociation@gmail.com