The vessels were painted blue with white upper works and formed the First Research Squadron.

In 1982, the four vessels were renamed after South African rivers but continued to fly the national flag rather than the naval ensign.

Only in February 1988 was the prefix RV changed to SAS when they were formally accepted as naval ships.

[2] As of 2022, two River-class vessels are still in service with the South African Navy, however, they are believed to have lost their mine-hunting capabilities due to the retirement of the antiquated PAP104 autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs).

Whilst still maintaining a decompression chamber for operational diving, the River class are now deployed on general coastal defence duties, and are equipped with a single Oerlikon 20 mm cannon, two 12.7 mm machine guns, and a RHIB for boarding operations.