Join the Fish Hoek Valley Historical Association for a rare inside look at SAS Assegaai—Africa’s only submarine museum—presented by the man who helped save her. 11 September 2025
Speaker: Arne Söderlund
Date: Thursday, 11 September 2025
Time: 17:00 to begin at 17:30
Venue: Fish Hoek Library *side hall - enter through the library doors and the side hall is on the left (* not to be confused with the Minor hall)
Introduction Bio – Rear Admiral (JG) Arne Söderlund
Rear Admiral Arne Söderlund (Ret.) enjoyed a 40-year career in the South African Navy, serving at sea, in intelligence, and later as Naval and Military Attaché in London before retiring in 2006. He is co-author of two authoritative naval histories, South Africa’s Navy and Iron Fist From the Sea. Since retirement, he has dedicated himself to preserving naval heritage, most notably spearheading the project to save SAS Assegaai, Africa’s only submarine museum. Arne is also well-known as a passionate collector and curator of his private museum, The Den of Antiquity – Junk and Disorderly, and for his philanthropic support of the Sunflower Fund and bone marrow registry.
Talk Precís – SAS Assegaai: Africa’s Only Submarine Museum
In this illustrated presentation, Rear Admiral Söderlund will take us inside the story of SAS Assegaai, a Daphné-class submarine now permanently preserved as a museum in Simon’s Town. He will trace the vessel’s operational service, its decommissioning, and the extraordinary volunteer-driven campaign to rescue it from the scrapyard. He will reveal the challenges of relocating a 55-metre submarine onto dry land and the vision to make it a world-class educational attraction. This talk offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at South Africa’s naval heritage and the determined effort to keep it alive for future generations.
Cost:
Members: R20.00 payable at the door
Visitors: R30.00 payable at the door
FHVHA Membership fees for 2025: R50.00 per person. Payable at the FHV Museum or at the meeting.
Please note that fees are cash only
(picture from SAS Assegaai submarine museum)
Also check out other Workshops in Mitchell's Plain, Meetups in Mitchell's Plain, Arts events in Mitchell's Plain.
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