We continue with our daily spread of Singapore Armed Forces pictures with this selection from the National Day 2000 Maritime Review 20 years ago off Marina South, which some of you asked for. I hope these pictures, shared during the COVID-19 circuit breaker period, will bring you something to look forward to and stave off boredom.
Am following closely Singapore's pandemic public communications and engagement efforts and will write something in due course. Am also concerned about SAF SAVER, particularly the erosion in value following the stock market meltdown, as well as employability issues for post-SAF careers and NSFs and will share some thoughts at the appropriate time. The health and wellbeing of SAF detachments overseas is also something I look at daily.
And yes, of course am concerned about the impact of the coronavirus on the community in Singapore, whatever passport you hold.
After this batch of RSN pictures, we'll swing back to the RSAF and Army. Tomorrow's update: Bloodhound SAMs at Missile Site Alpha. Take care everyone.
RSS Resolution led the National Day 2000 Maritime Review with a Super Puma on deck. The sail past of 36 vessels from the Republic of Singapore Navy and Police Coast Guard stretched more than 5km long.
RSS Perseverance (former casino ship Lowland Lancer, former Royal Fleet Auxiliary Sir Lancelot) took part with a Fennec on her helideck. The Landing Ship Logistics (LSL) was fitted for but not with a heavy anti-aircraft armament of four Simbad SAM launchers, one covering each quarter. Portside Simbad launch stations are visible - the square block aft of the for'ard crane and the slightly raised platform on the helideck in front of the Fennec's nose. Sadly, Percy (as she was fondly known by the Fleet) was sold to defence contractor Glenn Defense Marine Asia in December 2003. This was a year before the December 2004 Boxing Day tsunami saw three Endurance-class LSTs deployed to Meulaboh, Indonesia. One other LST was in the Gulf, which marked the first time 191 SQN sent all four LSTs overseas for concurrent operations.
Victory-class Missile Corvettes appeared for the first time with their full battery of eight Harpoon missiles. The MCVs are usually seen with two to four Harpoons. Vigilance (90, above) and Valour (89, below) seen here. A trio of Republic of Singapore Air Force Fokker 50 Mk2S Enforcers from 121 Squadron reminded spectators of the maritime element in RSAF air ops.
Missile Gunboats RSS Sea Dragon (P78, above) and Sea Lion showing enhancements from a mid-life upgrade. Note that the orientation of Harpoon missiles is the reverse of that on the MCVs: portside then starboard.
Successive classes of Singapore Navy fast craft have grown progressively larger. Compare and contrast the 1970s vintage MGB with the 1990s era PV. The MGBs were, however, faster, more heavily armed and better protected by EW than the PVs. There is little doubt which would have remained afloat in a MGB versus PV shootout.
RSS Fearless (94), name ship of the Fearless-class Patrol Vessels, displayed a prominent bin-shaped sensor on her mast and torpedo tubes, which Freedom (86) did not have.
Mine countermeasure vessels (MCMVs) like RSS Punggol (M108) brought up the rear of the RSN ships which sailed in line astern formation. Interesting placement for the MCMV. During operations, the reverse would be the case as MCMVs would sweep ahead of the Fleet to clear sea mines. Hence their motto: Safe In My Wake.
RSN displayed its submarine for the first time
RSS Conqueror, the first RSN submarine to arrive in Singapore, made her first public appearance at the Maritime Review after the surface ships sailed past. The submarine announced her presence with a smoke flare and what looks like a periscope....
Then her conning tower broke the surface...
There was an audible gasp from spectators and a ripple of excitement among the crowd as the sub appeared.
Sub ahoy!
1 comment:
I was there too! I saw the sub surface after the white smoke signal. I was surprised at the degree of up-angle.
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