JOHANNESBURG, March 14 (Xinhuanet) -- South African and German forces launched a military exercise around the Cape of Good Hope from February 20 to March 10, involving some 1,300 sailors and airmen, according to a report here on Tuesday.

    South African Press Association reported that a Tornado fighter jet refueling a Cheetah fighter in mid-air, and the SAS Amatola replenishing at sea were some of the high points noted by task group commanders in a military exercise.

    Exercise Good Hope II took place as the navies and air forces of the two countries conducted operations using "live" firepower, weapons systems and electronic warfare.

    Commander Eckhard Bodeker, of the German navy said on Tuesday the exercise was not a friend or foe operation, but rather one which sort to enhance "military interoperability."

    As such, two of the world's most advanced warships, South Africa's SAS Amatola and Germany's FGS Hamburg, together with the fighter aircraft were protecting a virtual Berlin from attack.

    "Berlin was successfully defended," said Bodeker, adding that the combined forces reached a standard of cooperation not expected at the planning stages of the exercise.

    Addressing the media at a debriefing on board the FGS Hamburg, Captain Alan Claydon-Fink, said it was important to balance as sets so that the two sides were worthy of each other.

    Among the main challenges faced was the fact that the two countries used separate data links, with a paper messaging system used instead.

    He said the recently commissioned SAS Amatola for the first time had a helicopter operating from the vessel, and even conducted a replenishment scene which the South African navy had not done for some 20 years.

    Claydon-Fink said a mail bag was passed along a distance line strung about 62 meters between the SAS Amatola and a German warship.

    He expressed satisfaction with the German-built SAS Amatola and its crew, saying the navy had achieved "a lot more than we set out to do."

    According to Bodeker, the German forces also had "excellent training" particularly because the sea-going conditions experienced around the Cape coast were unlike those in the North Sea and Baltic Sea. Enditem