The United States Navy Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), USS Freedom (LCS-1), seen here in her new warpaint. The four-colour splinter camouflage harks back to camouflage measure schemes (MS) seen on US Navy combatants during the Second World War.
Now in Guam, Freedom is due to cast off for the final leg of her journey from San Diego to Singapore soon.
Her deployment to Southeast Asian waters, said to stretch about eight months, will be anchored on sorties staged from Singapore.
Stay sharp everyone. If you see her inbound, please ping.
33 comments:
According to Wikipedia, LCS can be "reconfigured for various roles by changing mission modules... including Anti-submarine warfare (ASW), mine hunter (MCM), surface warfare (SUW), and special warfare missions by 2014-2016."
"Module changes were envisioned to allow a single LCS to change roles in a matter of hours at any commercial port."
I assume CNB can potentially be the LCS's "dressing room," some in one module and leave as another module.
basically, the LCS deployment to SG will screw up m'sian navy ops planning.
So the mission modules will be here?
We already know the crew will fly out from the US and rotate in Sg.
This "rotation" is just basing by another name.
a few more LCSs will be coming here in the next few years.
NEXT will be PRC Aircraft Carrier and PLA-N warships 'staging' out of CNB as it's nearer n nearer/faster/easier for them to deploy to Spratley.
Can Singapore says NO to PRC?
THEN PLA-N would wants to have joint exercise with RSAF's American made F15s and F16s when their aircraft carrier is CNB.
Can Singapore says NO to PRC?
AND THEN our ASEAN friends will complain as PLA-N aircraft carrier and warships are operating out of CNB to do show of force at Spratly.
AND THEN PRC wil complain that American stealth warships are operating out of CNB to shadow/harrass PLA-N warships.
AND THEN USA will complain that PLA-N warships are operating out of CNB to do show of force at their allies disputed terrtorities, plus joint air exercise [using American made F16s and F15s] with PLA-N Naval aircrafts.
BIG BIG POLITICAL TIME BOMBS TO COME FOR SINGAPORE.
Wonder if MFA and MINDEF got 20/20 vision to see this, or they will treat above as 'NOISE'.
Hi Anon 3PM, 3:06PM, 3:17PM (one and the same?),
It would be interesting to ponder how Singapore would respond if Beijing said it wanted to sign a Status of Forces Agreement for the PLA with "deployment" access, now that a precedent has been set.
Best regards,
David
If that day ever happens, I hope USA will completely cut off technology to Singapore. Singapore will totally deserve it.
Anon 940 am (24 March),
Move on with the times. This Sg vs My crap is really an outdated scenario peddled by leaders from both countries from a different generation and based on different set of circumstances. At best it is a good navel gazing exercise. In reality a complete waste of time considering the real threat for both countries lies elsewhere.
from now and in the future, the malaysian navy has to station more of its ships in eastern sabah waters so as to prevent more "uninvited visitors" from very nearby philippine islands.
What ugly web are the ministry of defense are weaving
1) distance from S'pore to spratly islands - 1,480 km.
2) distance from hainan island (china) to spratly islands - 1,106 km.
so, there is no logical reason for china to want to have its navy ships in S'pore as hainan island is nearer to spratly islands.
I think greater danger is US Navy has a skirmish with PLA Navy in S. China Sea, and the younger generation PLAN brass (who have not fought Americans in Korean war) decide to attack Changi Naval Base instead of US naval bases in Guam and Okinawa (which are better protected).
the scenario you described is only possible if the m'sian navy allows, with challening, china navy ships, which have to pass near m'sia long coastline facing the south china sea to get anywhere near S'pore. (not unless you're suggesting that the m'sian and china navies are now on very friendly terms).
Anonymous March 25, 2013 , 12:20
..you must be itching for this to happen, right?...
It will not happen just like that!
Assuming the Freedom actually makes it to CNB (see link), there is a long established logistic support base at Sembawang Terminal, COMLOG WESTPAC.
http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/awx_03_22_2013_p0-562016.xml
If you understand chinese, here's a recent episode on LCS's tactical and strategic strengths & weaknesses from chinese TV:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHwWwlx75-U
Later NEWS: A PLA Navy FFG "Open Fire" at a vietnamese "Fishing Boat" in South China Sea.
This is what Singapore should be more closely watched and pay more attention too. NOT just Malaysia.
And this will NOT be the very last time that a PLA Navy "Fired Live Rounds" at a "NON-Military" Ship. We will be hearing more and more of this kind of case coming out and PLA will not give a shit about anyone here including us.
Beside of PLA, 2 more country that we should pay more attention too is Indonesia. They are building up their Armed force and they having a plain to equip up to 300+ Leo2 with another 100~200+ MBT which their going to build together with the help from Germany. Their also going to build more then 300+ IFV(wheel) and 300+ IFV(track).
For now their have equipped 4 LPD and also builded and equipped wit a New Class of LST. New FFG, 4 New Fast Missle Craft(16~24). getting and building New Sub(3) with the help from south Korea. Together wit 2 just Upgraded Sub Type-206. A New oil Tanker..ect.
Philippine is the other country we should watch out. Don't laugh 1st, Cos the past history did happened buring 70's ~ 80's, when their Fighters intruded East malaysia air space. So when their Air Force "Really Get" to have New Fighter and Navy getting New FFG we will also be seeing them going around provoking esp East Malaysia "Sabah" and South China sea due to their so cal "pinoy pride".
Another BIG NEWS: four PLA Navy ship flotilla headed by the a landing ship Jing-Gang-Shan(LPD)with others few PLA Navy(FFG) visited James Shoal -
Some 80km from "Malaysia"!!! About100km from Natuna "Indonesia" And less than 200km from "Brunei" !!! and 1,800 kilometres from the mainland coast !! Just 80Km from Malaysia territorial !! that is way too close to another Country. This is really getting out of hand.
If this happen to Russia, U.S, Japan, South Korea or any other EU country, Their will have sended out their DDG, FFG, AEWC, Fighters, MPA armed with live rounds to intercept all this during the 80's and even untill now their still do the so. Yet, all this 3 Country did NOTHING and till now NOT even a single words coming out either from Malaysia non Indonesia !!
While this two so cal BIG Country did acted differently when faced with Singapore. Is this the act of coward or what !!
Hey, relax.
Singapore does not have any territorial claims. This is for the claimants to sort out. If the US wishes to use Singapore as a base for presence patrols, Singapore will tell them to get out. A single LCS is not sufficient for this substantial task.
Singapore will defer to China. Half their citizens are already here extracting a good deal from us. The government thinks its so smart. They too will pay the price when they realize that these huge numbers of PRC PRs and NCs reduce the range of political options available to them.
Yes why not everyone just relax...just like during WWII when the Old Germany told Soviet they will not attack them and those who stand Natural ya. And lucky, Soviet did Not buy that. Beside of WWII, there are other few big and small war that were told the same thing.
So yes, those who think this is just a few country sea/rock/island territorial claims and singapore can just relax and carryon drink coffee, thinking there is nothning going to happen to us ya.....sweet Dreamssssss.
Ooo ya since there are more then ONE Millions PRC here with another ONE Million +++ of other foreigners here. Guess we are very very save.
Dont worry about spy and other things, cos we are all save here. There is nothing here to be worry. NO spy, Nothing..Dream On.
Keep calm and migrate.
to run and hide in perth, wa ?
LOL, keep claim and migrate. Cant believe there is still people think of this way, esp in this military Blogs. Totally no idea about the past history and didnt learn from the past lesson.
If those who don't like it migrated, there would be no opposition in Singapore. You can run Singapore as you like, as the world's most united country.
Would you not be happy?
I thought you only have harsh words for those who criticise mindlessly, and convenient explanations for those who criticise constructively.
Back to the point, wouldn't you be happy with such a Singapore?
Anything happen in SCS would and will impact Singapore as well. Singapore will not be left out even if we dont want to get involved. As for migrated? dont think this well help. And yes, i too agreed China is somehow trying hard to instigates someone in Asia to fired the first shoot.
migrating is for cowards only.
Last year china managed to 'buy' off cambodia as ASEAN chair. This year, Brunei is taking the chair and the PLA-N came within 200nm of Brunei's exclusive economic zone (EEZ). This action showed two things. China is sending a warning to Brunei to better tow the line in China's favour. Second, China send the message to hell with the UN convention on the law of the seas and the so called global commons. They don't recognise your 200nm EEZ, only the barrel of their guns talk the loudest.
At this juncture, we have to remain calm but our defensive posture keep a watchful alert. So long their song and dance remain just that, we keep the peace. In time to come the world will see China and the communist party for what they really are. There is a chinese saying, paper cannot keep wrapped fire.
Anonymous March 31, 2013 at 9:15 AM said...
migrating is for cowards only.
When the leadership risks its sons in war and peacetime, then we will talk.
I am also planning to migrate from this jammed packed place with 2nd rate PR.
nobody lives forever, including all the readers and posters of this website.
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