tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23484646175777364542024-03-17T02:52:22.095+08:00Senang DiriA blog on Singapore defence and the SAF that goes Above & Beyond The Obvious -The views expressed on this blog are my personal views and/or opinions. Copyright © 2009-2023. David Boey. All rights reserved.
Follow us on Facebook @senangdiriHQ; Instagram @davidboeypix; Twitter @SenangDiriDavid Boeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401913253357584603noreply@blogger.comBlogger1043125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348464617577736454.post-16876678910005215072023-11-03T18:37:00.001+08:002023-11-03T18:37:43.478+08:00Former Malaysian PM Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad with Pukul Habis<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN5v8l0U6oU-Fz82tTsiG4nsLEpZHkAyr-f9CQmUvFVV257DDWWPr4dlFy_424KmkeNKVAJAhB5gt15N9NU3VaX8BbkwOkJPX0qUyKB14vYQyI-37qohfdh3OJnTnVcTZBSBiegKduo8BwFUckFwYaujCRmrtku94GFGNEeTz1F76RDzVtebYK_YH0L2Q/s2048/Dr%20M%203%20Nov%202023a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN5v8l0U6oU-Fz82tTsiG4nsLEpZHkAyr-f9CQmUvFVV257DDWWPr4dlFy_424KmkeNKVAJAhB5gt15N9NU3VaX8BbkwOkJPX0qUyKB14vYQyI-37qohfdh3OJnTnVcTZBSBiegKduo8BwFUckFwYaujCRmrtku94GFGNEeTz1F76RDzVtebYK_YH0L2Q/w400-h266/Dr%20M%203%20Nov%202023a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><span style="font-family: inherit;">When a friend sent me this picture today, I first thought it was photoshopped. </span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Really really pleased to see <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TunDrMahathir?__cft__[0]=AZV6PK_rH2v3TEBMvlj4D9AmqxEaMUxIYeT8TaQmnM-23bgunz_akcrJBGWAVuyUVT-v811RQQZWK8Q_r9iZl7NGsxRpJdMmbYclAqQ6PiY_IJl3IOdnL7Th7E44Z7wh15w&__tn__=-]K-R">Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad</a>, former Prime Minister of Malaysia and the federation's longest serving PM, with my book, Pukul Habis. Dr M was PM during the real <i>Eksesais Pukul Habis</i> airdrop in August 1991 - an event which inspired the title of my book - so seeing him with the fictional war story made my day. Hope Dr M finds it interesting!</span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div data-block="true" data-editor="b3o83" data-offset-key="1a472-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>PUKUL HABIS</b></span><br />Books Kinokuniya Singapore has stocked Pukul Habis (ISBN 9789811861499). Please visit its main store in Ngee Ann City or Bugis Junction, or check the Kinokuniya online store <a href="https://singapore.kinokuniya.com/bw/9789811861499">here</a>.<br /><br /></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="b3o83" data-offset-key="1a472-0-0">If you are in Malaysia, get the book from Books Kinokuniya's store at Suria KLCC. Kino will also mail it to any location in Malaysia. Please click <a href="https://malaysia.kinokuniya.com/bw/9789811861499">here</a> for details. For readers elsewhere, please check Amazon sites for your location. "Look Inside" function on some sites shows sample pages.<br /><br />Singapore: <a href="https://bit.ly/3XJzInH">https://bit.ly/3XJzInH</a><br /><br />Australia: <a href="https://amzn.to/3ViaX0i">https://amzn.to/3ViaX0i</a><br /><br />United Kingdom: <a href="https://amzn.to/3EZ6clA">https://amzn.to/3EZ6clA</a> Look Inside<br /><br />USA: <a href="https://amzn.to/3Ui3Eo1">https://amzn.to/3Ui3Eo1</a> Look Inside. <b>When ordering from Singapore, click on the "Shipping to Singapore?" button. Ignore the "Temporarily out of stock" notice</b> on the Amazon.com page OR get it from Kino in Singapore/Malaysia while stocks last.</div></div>David Boeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401913253357584603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348464617577736454.post-83529487968534677202023-10-11T19:54:00.001+08:002023-10-11T19:54:28.069+08:00Singapore navy Endurance-class LST shows full load of landing craft<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-S86Hkh0wDmRsz8BNPbjE6J7DCKilsoMJ1NdTolxVQDYVF9KZJyNR0NNVr7FSo6h6hAcHTmd5RnrVkJmYrEJMSNODY3vUlxilWbZRamBnlHh3dv8KuGdqq3vYtUk6VmceVm7hdFY6u9bghHw8tICICsmA_kwrP6EEj00aukhHhGx8aJxbdRqhCTAjZNs/s1169/Resolution%20Ex%20Wallaby%20Oct%202023.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1154" data-original-width="1169" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-S86Hkh0wDmRsz8BNPbjE6J7DCKilsoMJ1NdTolxVQDYVF9KZJyNR0NNVr7FSo6h6hAcHTmd5RnrVkJmYrEJMSNODY3vUlxilWbZRamBnlHh3dv8KuGdqq3vYtUk6VmceVm7hdFY6u9bghHw8tICICsmA_kwrP6EEj00aukhHhGx8aJxbdRqhCTAjZNs/s320/Resolution%20Ex%20Wallaby%20Oct%202023.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Republic of Singapore Navy tank landing ship, RSS Resolution, seen underway off the coast of Queensland, Australia, during Exercise Wallaby 2023. Of interest is the full load of fast landing craft, known as Fast Craft Equipment Personnel (FCEPs) on davits flanking Reso's superstructure. This is believed to be the first official photo showing an Endurance-class LST with its max load of FCEPs (assuming another five on the portside). Had to wait 25 years since the Endurance-class were commissioned in batches from 1998 to see this official photo of an LST with all FCEP davits filled. </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #1c2b33;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space-collapse: preserve;">With 10 FCEPs embarked and four larger Fast Craft Utility (FCU) landing craft in the LST welldock, this class of ship can land an infantry battalion plus support vehicles in a single wave. The large number of landing craft shortens exposure during the critical ship-to-shore phase of amphibious operations, thus reducing the window of vulnerability to enemy action. At time of commissioning, the Endurance-class could carry the most number of landing craft ton-for-ton compared to other LST classes. <i>Senang Diri </i>believes this record still stands.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; white-space-collapse: preserve;">There's something else that can be fitted to the LST that makes her special - a self-propelled pontoon that can be linked to form a floating platform. Maybe we wait another few years for the official photo? LOL</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; white-space-collapse: preserve;">P.S. My book, Pukul Habis, has a fictional account of the LSTs in combat.</span></span></p><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="785et" data-offset-key="2mms8-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2mms8-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="2mms8-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Pix: Ministry of Defence, Singapore</span></span></div></div>David Boeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401913253357584603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348464617577736454.post-17508439164336640062023-10-01T13:25:00.001+08:002023-10-01T13:25:00.143+08:00See RSAF Republic of Singapore Air Force Super Pumas enjoying their retirement<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsK-fX8-ngtMAI2BBo2CLEqAWxYS_pdw1hMMCfeQYekD44-m3NIMAtvC8xzQ82XzsduKtTtPw5txEDsdF3WfouuCvk26UywaXaODWiwjIpZNHzLtUCxhgF_Y82RSu8M7duKRdSashyvX6-DAYaM1Nxfc-hH01GpmE5EZdm2LqzxzXVfIDQqCSw8cxOiY4/s1169/SBAB%20Sep%202023.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="1169" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsK-fX8-ngtMAI2BBo2CLEqAWxYS_pdw1hMMCfeQYekD44-m3NIMAtvC8xzQ82XzsduKtTtPw5txEDsdF3WfouuCvk26UywaXaODWiwjIpZNHzLtUCxhgF_Y82RSu8M7duKRdSashyvX6-DAYaM1Nxfc-hH01GpmE5EZdm2LqzxzXVfIDQqCSw8cxOiY4/w400-h314/SBAB%20Sep%202023.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Super Pumas photo bombed the Singapore Army's Instagram post on Commando parachute training. Now retired, RSAF Super Puma medium-lift tactical transport helicopters appear to have had their main rotors removed and are now stored in a hangar at Sembawang Air Base. Used by the RSAF since 1985 for troop-lift and search and rescue, the Super Ps have been replaced by the more powerful Airbus Helicopters H225M.</span></span></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="b3o83" data-offset-key="86s2r-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="86s2r-0-0" style="position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="86s2r-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="b3o83" data-offset-key="1a472-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="1a472-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; position: relative; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span data-offset-key="1a472-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The old Super Ps are found in a number of fight scenes in the fictional war story <i>Pukul Habis</i> (Total Wipeout), where they are engaged by Malaysian Army GBAD.</span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="1a472-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; position: relative; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span data-offset-key="1a472-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="1a472-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; position: relative; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></div><br /><b>PUKUL HABIS</b><br />Books Kinokuniya Singapore has stocked Pukul Habis (ISBN 9789811861499). Please visit its main store in Ngee Ann City or Bugis Junction, or check the Kinokuniya online store <a href="https://singapore.kinokuniya.com/bw/9789811861499">here</a>.<br /><br /></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="b3o83" data-offset-key="1a472-0-0">If you are in Malaysia, get the book from Books Kinokuniya's store at Suria KLCC. Kino will also mail it to any location in Malaysia. Please click <a href="https://malaysia.kinokuniya.com/bw/9789811861499">here</a> for details. For readers elsewhere, please check Amazon sites for your location. "Look Inside" function on some sites shows sample pages.<br /><br />Singapore: <a href="https://bit.ly/3XJzInH">https://bit.ly/3XJzInH</a><br /><br />Australia: <a href="https://amzn.to/3ViaX0i">https://amzn.to/3ViaX0i</a><br /><br />United Kingdom: <a href="https://amzn.to/3EZ6clA">https://amzn.to/3EZ6clA</a> Look Inside<br /><br />USA: <a href="https://amzn.to/3Ui3Eo1">https://amzn.to/3Ui3Eo1</a> Look Inside. <b>When ordering from Singapore, click on the "Shipping to Singapore?" button. Ignore the "Temporarily out of stock" notice</b> on the Amazon.com page OR get it from Kino in Singapore/Malaysia while stocks last.</div>David Boeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401913253357584603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348464617577736454.post-39778949088461849272023-09-29T20:47:00.002+08:002023-09-29T20:47:54.967+08:00Republic of Singapore Air Force RSAF Gulfstream G550 AEW makes long trip to Davis-Monthan AFB, same base where new USAF EW was showcased<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRYBjvbyW4ri7V5f42kj13jxFgAEnsGSKEdh-62iCHwuG4krW94Ij4KzPySB3KlGlq29litu_wDxXV8Tidjtq21AbNlHH5FS5ibNsO2OnF0qEuPuBXoYfqdZa5VXE5OkNGAmKKcg2b2KRDtK-lLIR7Rwz5fHJwpOxINVpUCyVPj79mD0ieL-JEp7R3rCA/s1600/G550%2028Sep2023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1034" data-original-width="1600" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRYBjvbyW4ri7V5f42kj13jxFgAEnsGSKEdh-62iCHwuG4krW94Ij4KzPySB3KlGlq29litu_wDxXV8Tidjtq21AbNlHH5FS5ibNsO2OnF0qEuPuBXoYfqdZa5VXE5OkNGAmKKcg2b2KRDtK-lLIR7Rwz5fHJwpOxINVpUCyVPj79mD0ieL-JEp7R3rCA/s320/G550%2028Sep2023.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2WQgIyhUW0EzWRRpOpkmiaMpofga0saSoGovZ_VQWJKAjzcJ-WRiUtDfcQ5OjxFNg2arjY9hxDfBl9IGOhbbJRkmBOK9tCWymqhEh2L51nhR6aX7SJ1Dc1eWzuw8cBe8j1n0XkRRg_hdwhvKzWWD2BuPqyyB1Y8pCT8fGySS6l45ccjUU2XJLZ633uhs/s1920/EC-37B-Compass-Call.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2WQgIyhUW0EzWRRpOpkmiaMpofga0saSoGovZ_VQWJKAjzcJ-WRiUtDfcQ5OjxFNg2arjY9hxDfBl9IGOhbbJRkmBOK9tCWymqhEh2L51nhR6aX7SJ1Dc1eWzuw8cBe8j1n0XkRRg_hdwhvKzWWD2BuPqyyB1Y8pCT8fGySS6l45ccjUU2XJLZ633uhs/s320/EC-37B-Compass-Call.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1NbBnvCzXVmk51bAYZU002Tc7l6pKB1peJVCeH3FjH0xjtI22pfEj49wKQi5aQGklF6d5nbvvFicyuQ45UYQ3SjZaVIYuvea9cmmij7NLHpvd6l0mpWplPlDW0KYu-xFszP9T8XxZReS_AcvqMjVvHdW4Fs-H1nz4OOgAIRbClHnOkDyY3oYSarDmQKA/s1600/G550%2028Sep2023b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1018" data-original-width="1600" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1NbBnvCzXVmk51bAYZU002Tc7l6pKB1peJVCeH3FjH0xjtI22pfEj49wKQi5aQGklF6d5nbvvFicyuQ45UYQ3SjZaVIYuvea9cmmij7NLHpvd6l0mpWplPlDW0KYu-xFszP9T8XxZReS_AcvqMjVvHdW4Fs-H1nz4OOgAIRbClHnOkDyY3oYSarDmQKA/s320/G550%2028Sep2023b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The crew of this Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Gulfstream G550 Airborne Early Warning (AEW), tail number 010, from 111 Squadron, landed safely this week at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tuscon, Arizona, USA.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Bearing callsign SINGA72, the RSAF G550 made a direct flight to Tuscon from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Hawaii.</span></span></p><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="544pq" data-offset-key="57pe8-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="57pe8-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="57pe8-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Davis-Monthan is home to the USAF's specialised electronic warfare unit, the 55th Electronic Combat Group. On 17 August, the unit hosted the first visit by a new model of the Compass Call EW aircraft, designated the EC-37B. The new Compass Call is based on the G550 and has conformal sensors on the right and left side of the forward fuselage, similar to the RSAF's configuration.</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="544pq" data-offset-key="ggra-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ggra-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="ggra-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="544pq" data-offset-key="3ibjq-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3ibjq-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="3ibjq-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;">An interesting coincidence... </span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3ibjq-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="3ibjq-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3ibjq-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;">Pictures of RSAF G550 "010" from <span style="color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; white-space: inherit;">DMAviation (</span><span style="color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; white-space: inherit;">@cay89455610 on X, formerly known as Twitter)</span></div></div>David Boeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401913253357584603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348464617577736454.post-1254408040552617402023-09-10T10:00:00.022+08:002023-09-10T10:19:25.817+08:00Special vehicle for mobile satcom at RSAF Paya Lebar Airbase<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNdcl3Q8APCyLxub4T7b139dPAVIvd5Fr5osTnnGEi-LRauqegifh3cuRqsqL1nuXkeQ8qd8RdBr04DsVdc463OSlqvUQdLfoRSgsC4BPNQgU0f2shh5zug-2QnkhbB91rZqe0mRL7kO3cZ-qJrpmr8qavAoUckWtNf4GFvYean8820cOVvxMaTxNazrU/s1280/09092023%20PLAB%20satcom%20blog1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNdcl3Q8APCyLxub4T7b139dPAVIvd5Fr5osTnnGEi-LRauqegifh3cuRqsqL1nuXkeQ8qd8RdBr04DsVdc463OSlqvUQdLfoRSgsC4BPNQgU0f2shh5zug-2QnkhbB91rZqe0mRL7kO3cZ-qJrpmr8qavAoUckWtNf4GFvYean8820cOVvxMaTxNazrU/w400-h300/09092023%20PLAB%20satcom%20blog1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUACbgFsdRc8cV4keco186BE7V0u1PfRiDjjM9R5L7kiZW8Ay3NcZg08oxOE_zfgb7CvWSv5FjV0CfyulZsIR7Z9JiMFgHHvHWDa4J6S9bRluCyAzDqMrVGuW_qVzWQafD2GPYv7OPuk4ovX9VskTy30lAzQqrcqhltaII9UMismEDzq1OjxcY0ltF0mQ/s1600/04092023%20PLAB%20satellite%20vehicle%20blog.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUACbgFsdRc8cV4keco186BE7V0u1PfRiDjjM9R5L7kiZW8Ay3NcZg08oxOE_zfgb7CvWSv5FjV0CfyulZsIR7Z9JiMFgHHvHWDa4J6S9bRluCyAzDqMrVGuW_qVzWQafD2GPYv7OPuk4ovX9VskTy30lAzQqrcqhltaII9UMismEDzq1OjxcY0ltF0mQ/w400-h266/04092023%20PLAB%20satellite%20vehicle%20blog.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Interesting vehicle with what appears to be a satellite dish on its cabin, seen at the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Open House at Paya Lebar Airbase.</div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;">This looks like a 2.4m C or Ku-band antenna for transmitting and receiving voice, video or data to and from a communications satellite. The satellite cabin and generator (blue box at the rear) are mounted on a Hino truck. I guess this is quite a capable antenna. It could pack the capability equivalent to a TV broadcasting studio on that truck.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Nothing says "network centric" better than seeing one of these vehicles. I have so many questions.... LOL</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I guess I am not the only one who has a thing for specialised vehicles?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Today is the last day of the RSAF Open House, held to mark the air force's 55th anniversary! Free entry.<span style="background-color: white; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> For more: https://www.rsaf55oh.sg/</span></div>David Boeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401913253357584603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348464617577736454.post-50194458993524915502023-09-09T13:37:00.001+08:002023-09-09T14:40:06.436+08:00Republic of Singapore Air Force RSAF anti-drone radars and jammers at Paya Lebar Airbase<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbA3pmJ8idnHUk2C1NuJZvqRHaRtByyPrdGYQUphvqf0HS5V3A7fa2_FB-aBLwqLjaEXHKRmBzfn02le1d9hPlYmurO6HZs7Xerc0nQDkloGQAbjYJYUW2BT1r9ZF5dAGMvnvTSqz0EBCmur34wkcd42r3UdmiplahxFDL_03F7xwX_CnyFVaEnDNh6q8/s1557/IMG_6764%20blog.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1439" data-original-width="1557" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbA3pmJ8idnHUk2C1NuJZvqRHaRtByyPrdGYQUphvqf0HS5V3A7fa2_FB-aBLwqLjaEXHKRmBzfn02le1d9hPlYmurO6HZs7Xerc0nQDkloGQAbjYJYUW2BT1r9ZF5dAGMvnvTSqz0EBCmur34wkcd42r3UdmiplahxFDL_03F7xwX_CnyFVaEnDNh6q8/s320/IMG_6764%20blog.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Bz0odAeg1hSW9h-LeVYA2qKh5JcbuFYnpcIQGY6Zd78zLjFH84QuZTJtpvEG9Y0BgE0Dth9gqlIDt40WyBxYxPO-rwLA-DirLd6BMcX7_lcZ8VrDptnjopQNc_sTI2Im1YdgHXZq_PtoT9oYfKrt0DokCGUpSJXiSdlZ0x-5MEM07S2441uM4QcUeO4/s1854/IMG_6766%20blog.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1390" data-original-width="1854" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Bz0odAeg1hSW9h-LeVYA2qKh5JcbuFYnpcIQGY6Zd78zLjFH84QuZTJtpvEG9Y0BgE0Dth9gqlIDt40WyBxYxPO-rwLA-DirLd6BMcX7_lcZ8VrDptnjopQNc_sTI2Im1YdgHXZq_PtoT9oYfKrt0DokCGUpSJXiSdlZ0x-5MEM07S2441uM4QcUeO4/s320/IMG_6766%20blog.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><div data-block="true" data-editor="fp1ef" data-offset-key="crq2-0-0" style="background-color: white; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="crq2-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="crq2-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The 1950s era airport buildings from the former Singapore International Airport at Paya Lebar appear to have been updated to deal with 21st century situations involving Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS).</span></span></div></div><div><div data-block="true" data-editor="fp1ef" data-offset-key="9t5q1-0-0" style="background-color: white; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="9t5q1-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="9t5q1-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="fp1ef" data-offset-key="f1t00-0-0" style="background-color: white; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="f1t00-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="f1t00-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Rooftop anti-drone sensors seem to have been installed on buildings now used by the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) at Paya Lebar Airbase. These sensors are believed to serve as anti-drone radars (sensor closest to the right corner), RF jammer (flat face array with vertical antenna), and a drone detection camera at the left corner. All sensors offer all-around coverage, by day and by night.</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="fp1ef" data-offset-key="3fdbs-0-0" style="background-color: white; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3fdbs-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="3fdbs-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="fp1ef" data-offset-key="949vg-0-0" style="background-color: white; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="949vg-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="949vg-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The anti-drone radar looks similar to RAFAEL's Drone Dome counter-UAS system, which was previously showcased in a 2020 Facebook post by then Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung. The Drone Dome system in that Facebook update was apparently installed at Changi Airport.</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="fp1ef" data-offset-key="3lr15-0-0" style="background-color: white; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3lr15-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="3lr15-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="fp1ef" data-offset-key="dqdte-0-0" style="background-color: white; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dqdte-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="dqdte-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The RSAF Open House, held to mark the Singapore air force's 55th anniversary, is open to the public from today and tomorrow at PLAB. Entry is free. For more: https://www.rsaf55oh.sg/</span></span></div></div></div>David Boeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401913253357584603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348464617577736454.post-10248379350349089072023-09-08T06:25:00.003+08:002023-09-08T07:51:09.726+08:00Republic of Singapore Air Force RSAF reveals Python 5 AAM for first time<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOrVAPAhfbJ2pezj7ifiDsFGOwx1g3TLkYrfps_DIpDUB7K4ga3fJslVCqoO3lN8orww7JX9kPsRls99HL7bWl-PvWaUOh9wMbH6A4q_Wv-EGQaqLi_XaZ-uIarRG0ZxzzGeq5ChgIgd-B8uyUQgZYYXaC7Eaehh2KyQipH9VuzyKKtq9rGaxbP3A1F1c/s4032/IMG_6739%20blog.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOrVAPAhfbJ2pezj7ifiDsFGOwx1g3TLkYrfps_DIpDUB7K4ga3fJslVCqoO3lN8orww7JX9kPsRls99HL7bWl-PvWaUOh9wMbH6A4q_Wv-EGQaqLi_XaZ-uIarRG0ZxzzGeq5ChgIgd-B8uyUQgZYYXaC7Eaehh2KyQipH9VuzyKKtq9rGaxbP3A1F1c/s320/IMG_6739%20blog.png" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Always read the info boards of Singapore Armed Forces assets! Spot anything new?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">RSAF 55 Open House</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Paya Lebar Air Base</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;">Saturday 9 Sep to Sunday 10 Sep 2023</b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;">9am to 6pm (</b><span style="text-align: left;">The event is Free)</span></div>David Boeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401913253357584603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348464617577736454.post-34843871520317203992023-09-05T17:06:00.013+08:002023-09-06T07:15:13.456+08:00RSAF Open House 2023: Four tips to enjoy the Singapore air force's 55th anniversary show<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK0unkXaGlbrCHuvia5c64g6OIPoXr7xxCefXf81Ma_kDRvRKX8drloIKUKzOtbiwyucfNFoRkBfYEiEvEVtaZKTYLVnWwunSmntn6r1hggdhvYJlsPtR5QZncC1TdxYfTC9MPpaPjcVXrfgZLOzDw8IZZ7kTkASKl_uYNp_M2IRAq5oVKYRfpQXdtAPs/s1632/RSAF%20Open%20House%2029%20May%202011%20035%20blog.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="1632" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK0unkXaGlbrCHuvia5c64g6OIPoXr7xxCefXf81Ma_kDRvRKX8drloIKUKzOtbiwyucfNFoRkBfYEiEvEVtaZKTYLVnWwunSmntn6r1hggdhvYJlsPtR5QZncC1TdxYfTC9MPpaPjcVXrfgZLOzDw8IZZ7kTkASKl_uYNp_M2IRAq5oVKYRfpQXdtAPs/w400-h300/RSAF%20Open%20House%2029%20May%202011%20035%20blog.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The last time Paya Lebar Air Base welcomed the public was in 2016. Large crowds attended the Air Force Open House that year. This weekend's event at Paya Lebar Air Base, held to mark the Republic of Singapore Air Force's 55th anniversary, is expected to be a major crowd-puller.</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">RSAF 55 Open House</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Paya Lebar Air Base</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;">Saturday 9 Sep to Sunday 10 Sep 2023</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;">9am to 6pm (</b><span style="text-align: left;">The event is Free)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>TIP 1</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><b>Get your queue number early</b></div><div>Register on the RSAF Open House website, <a href="https://www.rsaf55oh.sg/">https://www.rsaf55oh.sg/</a>, to get in line to sit in the cockpits of various RSAF fighter aircraft.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJH5n1DFD5wKvTZ5I9dG2qp-HuIYcOr7h9iOH4qMOtjlqRE3S5RyBeAtbub4MC7yQhjmG5WWKin-8sFc5Vi3xscAFIhGQuttZ8XIrIj_V1zC4zYkFsXkKrzqwgCkfwMDVV1b0GuCEULdy55RO5nkX3lABDkor1D1B7qlBu4TTs_9EuT2MOqQLvJhxS_k/s4032/04092023%20PLABb.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJH5n1DFD5wKvTZ5I9dG2qp-HuIYcOr7h9iOH4qMOtjlqRE3S5RyBeAtbub4MC7yQhjmG5WWKin-8sFc5Vi3xscAFIhGQuttZ8XIrIj_V1zC4zYkFsXkKrzqwgCkfwMDVV1b0GuCEULdy55RO5nkX3lABDkor1D1B7qlBu4TTs_9EuT2MOqQLvJhxS_k/s320/04092023%20PLABb.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><i>The RSAF 55 Open House Capability Display area. Shutter bugs should note there is no spectator stand, so you may want to position yourself close to the safety barricade before the crowd builds up. Bring ear plugs - you'll need them.</i></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>TIP 2</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Plan your journey so you can catch the flying display. If you're a shutter bug (no, not THAT Shutter), go early as <u>there is no spectator stand this year</u>. You may want to place yourself near the barricade in front of the parked F-15SG aircraft to view the display. <u>Bring ear plugs!</u></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><b>Capability Display (i.e. flying display) show times:</b></div><div>Held twice a day. Among the highlights: You'll see two F-15SG Strike Eagles start up and takeoff, a H.225M helicopter deploy a section of seven heliborne infantry from 3 Guards, and an Airbus A330 multi-role tanker transport play the role of an "aircraft in distress".</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Saturday </b></div><div>Morning 10:30am to 11:45am</div><div>Afternoon 3pm to 4pm</div><div><b>Sunday</b></div><div>Morning 10:30am to 11:30am</div><div>Afternoon 3pm to 4pm</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>TIP 3</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Plan your entry and exit. Note that there is NO provision for you to park at the event. So it's a choice of shuttle bus, public transport, taxi/private hire vehicle, or walking in. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Shuttle Bus locations:</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>18 Tai Seng S539775</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Circle Line Tai Seng CC11, Exit C</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">1st bus: 8am</div><div style="text-align: left;">Last bus: 4:30pm</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Hougang Bus Park S538833</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>North East Line Hougang NE14, Exit A</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">1st bus: 8am</div><div style="text-align: left;">Last bus: 4:30pm</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>By bus:</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Bus 90: Toa Payoh Bus Interchange</div><div style="text-align: left;">Bus 94: Eunos Bus Interchange</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>TIP 4 - What's new?</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">The H.225M helicopter and CH-47F Chinook, the latest model of the heavy-lift helicopter, and the MRTT will go on display for the first time. This unmanned ground vehicle under trial as an airbase patrol asset is something I've not seen before. There's also a weapon loading thingy near the F-15SGs which I think is being shown for the first time.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSc3OUpb2cCW8IbvKeOqxjF_FircrzKV7-mGbsujjSFZ5v616_OGUmtCzjLG5gueJB4ldGnX0yTWAT6jnNfGhB9y_gQhR6GmRZEikU2E2RfIj9bvF4qStk-YzQzv-fZn3nF3kBNGEKZngmis9K-iAAey7t1Rmq9VZFCWzrxk5CFOPB0SKMevLV9mQfuGw/s2016/04092023%20PLABa%20blog.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSc3OUpb2cCW8IbvKeOqxjF_FircrzKV7-mGbsujjSFZ5v616_OGUmtCzjLG5gueJB4ldGnX0yTWAT6jnNfGhB9y_gQhR6GmRZEikU2E2RfIj9bvF4qStk-YzQzv-fZn3nF3kBNGEKZngmis9K-iAAey7t1Rmq9VZFCWzrxk5CFOPB0SKMevLV9mQfuGw/s320/04092023%20PLABa%20blog.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Do note that places for aircraft joyrides have already been allocated by online balloting. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Random thoughts on RSAF55 Open House</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">One observation from my walkabout at Paya Lebar Air Base yesterday, where the RSAF will stage the Air Force Open House this weekend, was the large number of personnel who are first-timers to hosting such an event.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As PLAB last held an open house seven years ago, it's perhaps no surprise that many in the tribe are new to this form of public engagement. Their learning curve will be steep.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Come Saturday, that first contact with a real crowd as the seemingly endless flood of people fill queue lines, testing the patience of RSAF duty personnel and planning assumptions of event logistics, can be an eye-opener. So here are some points they may want to ponder:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">* Unlike previous AFOH, there is no grandstand at show centre. This means that apart from the first few ranks, people behind may find it difficult seeing the fighter aircraft scramble and the mock attack by the heliborne Guardsmen. Some will push their way through with bulky camera equipment. There will be children and elderly. How is your crowd management plan?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">* The roadside and grass verge along Airport Road can become car magnets. At previous open houses, some drivers did try their luck by parking there, thus posing a safety hazard to other road users. Errant motorists must be chased off early. Once the few pull their parking brake, more will inevitably follow. That "bridgehead" cannot be allowed to form. Good news is that the Traffic Police HQ is just down the road. Would be good to consider enlisting their support for the weekend crowd surge. In extreme situations, manual control of traffic lights may be necessary to relieve traffic congestion.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">* Shuttle bus queues can be tricky, as they build up quickly. It can be hard for new arrivals to find the end of the line. Mark this prominently. Have a generous overflow area for the queue - what's the wet wx plan? And watch for the odd queue jumpers. Past open house events, particularly one at Changi Naval Base which attracted some 100,000 visitors over a weekend decades ago, made the news for the wrong reasons.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">* Is there scope to include the CAAS fire engine at this late juncture? Would be nice to see one on show, perhaps alongside some FDS vehicles. Children love to get close to such vehicles. I bet some visitors will even find a display of different aircraft tugs quite interesting and Instagram-worthy. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>David Boeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401913253357584603noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348464617577736454.post-71026567525819149312023-09-01T20:15:00.001+08:002023-09-01T21:00:01.302+08:00I once asked to meet Dr Goh Keng Swee, Singapore's 1st defence minister, and he told me...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx61o47P8X9JCTD6epL8pDEK5z93fCtG-Y2x8JFrDN_t0PnBAm7MBf-mUJnhnHx0Cb5Oa0H1P8FNebt7a1obpsht1uLETl82O1vjoSbYlIuLn1qO2TE_OR3fqRdf4FqMQ6GAaDt_sJSFtGekuHa_UwVYARdl8g_rQr0WKNJhRnUgOAsXwcT-KtA7TYqtU/s645/Dr%20Goh%20Keng%20Swee.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="430" data-original-width="645" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx61o47P8X9JCTD6epL8pDEK5z93fCtG-Y2x8JFrDN_t0PnBAm7MBf-mUJnhnHx0Cb5Oa0H1P8FNebt7a1obpsht1uLETl82O1vjoSbYlIuLn1qO2TE_OR3fqRdf4FqMQ6GAaDt_sJSFtGekuHa_UwVYARdl8g_rQr0WKNJhRnUgOAsXwcT-KtA7TYqtU/w400-h266/Dr%20Goh%20Keng%20Swee.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Thanks to my job as a journalist early in my career, I have met or seen in real life every Singaporean who served as defence minister (DM), except Mr Howe Yoon Chong.<div><br /></div><div>The DM whom I wanted to meet for a long time was Dr Goh Keng Swee, one of the Old Guard minsters who helped shape the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) in its embryonic years.</div><div><br /></div><div>I met Dr Goh in 1996. My mother, who thought she saw Dr Goh walking in a park near our home, told me about her chance encounter during one of her strolls. She also knew which house the old gentleman lived in. </div><div><br /></div><div>Curiosity aroused, I dropped a handwritten note into the letter box of the house where "Dr Goh" was thought to live. I asked if the former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior and Defence lived there and, summoning some pluck, expressed my wish to see him if that was indeed his residence.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-zd32E813ZiIFpuDN-dxuqPCFwPgfVcAf8j9zsskJHBBN3qXfAZEAK6relJuG9hhqy8Gni6Fntspkijmh221xd2u4a_v6v-_ScKBDFLYA3jUJs1NYii2iFpU6_Z-uCGjHy1CGZcj2EZnlFCXXJg32hJMj1ZE9TIfyXQ6gVjlRnsAYUb2iXcxUN2kG17Y/s2410/Mrs%20Goh%20note.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2410" data-original-width="1953" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-zd32E813ZiIFpuDN-dxuqPCFwPgfVcAf8j9zsskJHBBN3qXfAZEAK6relJuG9hhqy8Gni6Fntspkijmh221xd2u4a_v6v-_ScKBDFLYA3jUJs1NYii2iFpU6_Z-uCGjHy1CGZcj2EZnlFCXXJg32hJMj1ZE9TIfyXQ6gVjlRnsAYUb2iXcxUN2kG17Y/s320/Mrs%20Goh%20note.jpeg" width="259" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I got a reply from Mrs Goh Keng Swee, who invited me over. The Gohs were kind and gracious to allow me into their home - which minister today would entertain such social calls from random strangers?</div><div><br /></div><div>That meeting with Dr Goh was memorable, and for many good reasons. I have never forgotten that encounter or his parting words that advised how I should view the SAF. [After my meeting with Dr Goh, I had a much longer conversation with Mrs Goh. Many interesting points were shared, which I won't make public here as it was a private conversation.]</div><div><br /></div><div>In my opinion, Dr Goh was the best DM Singapore ever had.</div><div><br /></div><div>My views of those who followed were based on impressions of how they explained or dealt with issues off-script. Speeches, as many of you would know, are mostly written by staff officers. And whether a speech has impact or not depends to a large degree on the competence of the speech writer. So I tend to discount scripted speaking engagements. I also rely on what's shared by individuals who worked with the ministers. Such interactions reveal facets of character and decision making that only the inner circle would know. All of them have quirks - who amongst us doesn't?</div><div><br /></div><div>Rear Admiral Teo Chee Hean's leadership as the SAF made its journey as a Third Generation (3G) fighting force was impressive. But as he came from the navy, his familiarity with military matters was a given. He made good use of that head start.</div><div><br /></div><div>My sense is that after Dr Goh, Singapore's longest serving DM is the next most impressive. Dr Ng Eng Hen has made a successful transition from medicine to defence. He helmed MINDEF through some interesting phases of the SAF's 3G journey. Looking back, it is my view that Dr Ng's training as a cancer surgeon gave him the innate ability for clinical (no pun) analysis of complex issues, including the ability to assimilate bad news and make the most out of difficult situations. It is not easy telling a patient who has Stage 4 cancer about the prognosis and way ahead. It can be painful seeing cancer metastasize and claim a promising life. But this is what oncologists go through. Coming from a family where my late father, my mum and younger sister all were stricken with the Big C at some point in their lives, I know the emotional upheavals that a cancer diagnosis inevitably brings.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you had to imagine a fictional character who made an ideal DM, what would that person be like? I have a good idea what my fictional DM would be like, and what he would do when ballistic missiles start falling.</div>David Boeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401913253357584603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348464617577736454.post-76194856851099155512023-08-18T11:50:00.001+08:002023-08-18T11:50:00.158+08:00Dr Tim Huxley read Pukul Habis and had this to say...<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmj7CskA556-_9dE7VO4V8wNNUWvQh4CDCA_b_tUVWifHZ70lYOY_x4ln7AGeqDLFVj0KvsV2ifI9FXMX_aDbLDxp356iOOpQWt4tVYrFFnPmbKTKWGB_PxXJ8laOWFe7966QVHkB6bicXefPqAZmR_S0T-MvWt4RNHuCTKEsiX9wzYDKsVLwUyctSVNE/s1170/CSEA%204.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="1170" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmj7CskA556-_9dE7VO4V8wNNUWvQh4CDCA_b_tUVWifHZ70lYOY_x4ln7AGeqDLFVj0KvsV2ifI9FXMX_aDbLDxp356iOOpQWt4tVYrFFnPmbKTKWGB_PxXJ8laOWFe7966QVHkB6bicXefPqAZmR_S0T-MvWt4RNHuCTKEsiX9wzYDKsVLwUyctSVNE/w400-h163/CSEA%204.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Kind words for <i>Pukul Habis</i>, my first fictional war story, from Dr Tim Huxley, for which I am deeply appreciative. Singapore Armed Forces watchers would know Dr Huxley for his book, <i>Defending the Lion City: The Armed Forces of Singapore</i>, which set the benchmark for books on the Singapore Armed Forces. He is one of the leading lights in Asia-Pacific security. His discussion of the Mersing Line in the 1991 essay, <i>Singapore and Malaysia: A Precarious Balance</i>, kickstarted my own journey of discovery.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Dr Huxley told me a few months ago he was reviewing the book for an academic journal. Am delighted, humbled and hugely relieved to read Dr Huxley's review in Contemporary Southeast Asia Volume 45 Number 2, just released by the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore.</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7fRnqAgyGxaRHKz9WclVMUWwpxL7mExCr432JCJHQDpwKEIlepMaUCM5K_LwI4rXe272OyFRlaTQcIURb295hgatFgKLcCvBBK1Ia_GQ36cVWQ5SRgkXi63h5NHe1AOvha1MIeRcMDbKSQK9Eo2bRa687gFfbLdeC4QjzrRlEd129pujw8tkZITb_44I/s1362/CSEA%20August%202023%20blog.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1362" data-original-width="1169" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7fRnqAgyGxaRHKz9WclVMUWwpxL7mExCr432JCJHQDpwKEIlepMaUCM5K_LwI4rXe272OyFRlaTQcIURb295hgatFgKLcCvBBK1Ia_GQ36cVWQ5SRgkXi63h5NHe1AOvha1MIeRcMDbKSQK9Eo2bRa687gFfbLdeC4QjzrRlEd129pujw8tkZITb_44I/w344-h400/CSEA%20August%202023%20blog.png" width="344" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0MOsgYOYwNeYU_U5Z7ohh_pULUHQeUTCB-uEGL27R6jh8Hcbw527mZKuKkDJ5B3pbVqDlkoVkePhzxBWNgwkP0QWEtIKVcdZ-ldwO_nDfITLe1Cl7PtCYU4gaP69DV4PaQMHM2k5rbQKnW5UDhF-c0PvZ09S8-mE4YwHjzonrJiImPbc_NTkVSP7AYY/s1829/CSEA%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1829" data-original-width="1169" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0MOsgYOYwNeYU_U5Z7ohh_pULUHQeUTCB-uEGL27R6jh8Hcbw527mZKuKkDJ5B3pbVqDlkoVkePhzxBWNgwkP0QWEtIKVcdZ-ldwO_nDfITLe1Cl7PtCYU4gaP69DV4PaQMHM2k5rbQKnW5UDhF-c0PvZ09S8-mE4YwHjzonrJiImPbc_NTkVSP7AYY/w256-h400/CSEA%201.jpeg" width="256" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkP0F9R0c7nMO0rM8hKoXMWCIk7M_d6KB9uIUhLdT2WipALd7mgJJ0tSlGDHlqO5ez_FDvf8dxd4fjXSUK_FgW9CoAen4AJUdwfqu5TgD7Qodut9jEJdF9_BTW8oY56QkDLeFmCYagMRG_s4JpfF2EhypGZBIMOgJ6GZeqFcgHU7eNqih3UiuPE-F28EM/s1724/CSEA%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1724" data-original-width="1169" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkP0F9R0c7nMO0rM8hKoXMWCIk7M_d6KB9uIUhLdT2WipALd7mgJJ0tSlGDHlqO5ez_FDvf8dxd4fjXSUK_FgW9CoAen4AJUdwfqu5TgD7Qodut9jEJdF9_BTW8oY56QkDLeFmCYagMRG_s4JpfF2EhypGZBIMOgJ6GZeqFcgHU7eNqih3UiuPE-F28EM/w271-h400/CSEA%202.jpeg" width="271" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMa3-USqRH20YTEkVKAChdoSfFhmde9lePzjsjCQkCunuSHSz7eSvM3OZaVSX9GtwKV84gGPIzKqGxdF1T4ssCJNBlOzilqn40bIUTazr0H2lRzeCLmjlgSVmZr_Mzc0YvEeA0tIfQvdH9hST0pFlYlWZ71vUsGD5tohuJc7V_4yOqLVWuM7HfBKOmK1g/s1696/CSEA%203.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1696" data-original-width="1169" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMa3-USqRH20YTEkVKAChdoSfFhmde9lePzjsjCQkCunuSHSz7eSvM3OZaVSX9GtwKV84gGPIzKqGxdF1T4ssCJNBlOzilqn40bIUTazr0H2lRzeCLmjlgSVmZr_Mzc0YvEeA0tIfQvdH9hST0pFlYlWZ71vUsGD5tohuJc7V_4yOqLVWuM7HfBKOmK1g/w276-h400/CSEA%203.jpeg" width="276" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you are in Malaysia, get the book from Books Kinokuniya's store at Suria KLCC. Kino will also mail it to any location in Malaysia. Please click <a href="https://malaysia.kinokuniya.com/bw/9789811861499">here</a> for details.</span></p><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Books Kinokuniya Singapore has stocked Pukul Habis (ISBN 9789811861499). Please visit its main store in Ngee Ann City or Bugis Junction, or check the Kinokuniya online store </span><a href="https://singapore.kinokuniya.com/bw/9789811861499" style="font-family: inherit;">here</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For readers elsewhere, please check the Amazon sites that serve your location. "Look Inside" function on some sites shows sample pages.</span></div><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;">Singapore:</span></b><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;"> </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="https://bit.ly/3XJzInH" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration-line: none;">https://bit.ly/3XJzInH</a></span></span><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;">Australia:</span></b><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;"> </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3ViaX0i" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration-line: none;">https://amzn.to/3ViaX0i</a></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;">United Kingdom:</span></b><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;"> </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3EZ6clA" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration-line: none;">https://amzn.to/3EZ6clA</a></span></span><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;"> Look Inside<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><p style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;">USA:</span></b><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;"> </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3Ui3Eo1" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration-line: none;">https://amzn.to/3Ui3Eo1</a></span></span><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;"> Look Inside. <b>When ordering from Singapore</b>, please click on the "Shipping to Singapore?" button. Ignore the "Temporarily out of stock" notice on the Amazon.com page.</span></span></p></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div><b><span></span>Related posts:</b></div><div>Writing about Malay royalty in <i>Pukul Habis</i>. Click <a href="http://kementah.blogspot.com/2023/06/pukul-habis-backstory-challenges-in.html">here</a></div><div>Special video on the 35th Battalion, Singapore Combat Engineers. Click <a href="http://kementah.blogspot.com/2023/06/meet-singapores-most-powerful-buayas.html">here</a> </div><div>First book signing at Kino Singapore. Click <a href="http://kementah.blogspot.com/2023/05/first-ever-pukul-habis-meet-author.html">here</a></div><div>Why <i>Pukul Habis</i> was not written from a Singaporean perspective. Click <a href="http://kementah.blogspot.com/2022/12/hi-mr-david-in-pukul-habis-why-didnt.html">here</a></div><div><i>Pukul Habis</i>: Author's Note. Click <a href="http://kementah.blogspot.com/2022/12/authors-note-pukul-habis-total-wipeout.html">here</a></div><div><i>Pukul Habis</i>: Full text of Prologue. Click <a href="http://kementah.blogspot.com/2022/12/pukul-habis-total-wipeout-prologue.html">here</a></div><div>Why does the English language novel, <i>Pukul Habis</i>, have a Malay title? Click <a href="http://kementah.blogspot.com/2022/11/pukul-habis-back-story-why-did-you.html">here</a></div></span></div>David Boeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401913253357584603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348464617577736454.post-29199733903227245522023-08-12T12:45:00.005+08:002023-08-12T12:45:00.139+08:00National Day Parade (NDP) not always like clockwork<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgMChuX1_JGgRpxVPili5nnUaVroYUb4ESUipKdBQNPNXV_SsmL6SId5qewUV06cstq6AYhU-fZXc7rJF4y3tC7Lky-m3XbmPFwEJwO_4Ml-JlczZznF8YFXJXvszTyCOMETajFYQ4w33X7HUEJ2lz2CW9XUB5ztJ0EGEzpesRCI2Y7JOpkA7ufJKnP7s/s3982/28082008%20ST%20NDP%202008.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1385" data-original-width="3982" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgMChuX1_JGgRpxVPili5nnUaVroYUb4ESUipKdBQNPNXV_SsmL6SId5qewUV06cstq6AYhU-fZXc7rJF4y3tC7Lky-m3XbmPFwEJwO_4Ml-JlczZznF8YFXJXvszTyCOMETajFYQ4w33X7HUEJ2lz2CW9XUB5ztJ0EGEzpesRCI2Y7JOpkA7ufJKnP7s/w400-h139/28082008%20ST%20NDP%202008.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">By now, many of you would have seen the glitch during the National Day Parade 2023 as Singapore President Halimah Yacob prepared to review the Guard-of-Honour. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here's my commentary on NDP (Straits Times 28 August 2008). Nothing to add and the sense that "No plan survives first contact" should be familiar to readers who finished the war story, <i>Pukul Habis</i>, and reflected on its deeper messages.</span></span></div><p></p>David Boeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401913253357584603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348464617577736454.post-17205095056036822682023-07-30T15:00:00.001+08:002023-07-30T15:11:20.501+08:00Indian PSLVC56 rocket launches yet another Singaporean radar satellite<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2bBkqEveI93CBf35OPmYpppgWrBeSow08QTV-rozuDzX_8E7RxDffoGXxY0E9ANHSSehA8oPIUdpxvpqnCL9vpdUECVKOMUwLxu-s4D5NVDLK0PAe8jtwxmp4Xa9qtQOu64uJQvD2B-pO4qoR8BYaJndnBknm5_-4MVq6mdKNhyA-bTv4FH3NF-qbcus/s1200/IMG_5687.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="799" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2bBkqEveI93CBf35OPmYpppgWrBeSow08QTV-rozuDzX_8E7RxDffoGXxY0E9ANHSSehA8oPIUdpxvpqnCL9vpdUECVKOMUwLxu-s4D5NVDLK0PAe8jtwxmp4Xa9qtQOu64uJQvD2B-pO4qoR8BYaJndnBknm5_-4MVq6mdKNhyA-bTv4FH3NF-qbcus/s320/IMG_5687.jpeg" width="213" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnXL73VP6Rz1JmE2BcQYQByIvn0wKktAQeoxLZ7JoLSp5ca1HnxuyiY_RPFzU9urD4wktPBQxhi6YLoik4K3gPKdk-gwy9KtrRGE1NG8keMIoyZoh8OX0K3YBaaGlxkHKnV7ViKkICYDuI0cz0bmPrNRxuCGBjGiIPgLMjAx9XD6T_gdcA17Amd5HTdVE/s900/IMG_5686.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnXL73VP6Rz1JmE2BcQYQByIvn0wKktAQeoxLZ7JoLSp5ca1HnxuyiY_RPFzU9urD4wktPBQxhi6YLoik4K3gPKdk-gwy9KtrRGE1NG8keMIoyZoh8OX0K3YBaaGlxkHKnV7ViKkICYDuI0cz0bmPrNRxuCGBjGiIPgLMjAx9XD6T_gdcA17Amd5HTdVE/s320/IMG_5686.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="eiitk" data-offset-key="ag1is-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ag1is-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="ag1is-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The satellite imagery business must be doing quite well. A second Singaporean earth observation satellite, DS-SAR, went into orbit this morning aboard an Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) rocket, PSLV-C56.</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="eiitk" data-offset-key="a8o31-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="a8o31-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="a8o31-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="eiitk" data-offset-key="cca85-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="cca85-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="cca85-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Indian media reported that PSLV-C56 lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, near Chennai, with six other satellites at 6:31 a.m local time this morning.</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="eiitk" data-offset-key="e520h-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="e520h-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="e520h-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="eiitk" data-offset-key="9fci4-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="9fci4-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="9fci4-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“PSLV-C56 carrying seven satellites including the primary satellite DS-SAR and six co-passengers has been successfully placed in the right orbit. This is a PSLV mission for New Space India Limited (NSIL) and I want to congratulate the customers sponsored by the Government of Singapore for having this mission onboard PSLV and their continued faith in our launch vehicle for deploying their spacecraft,” ISRO Chairman S. Somnath said after the successful launch of the mission.</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="eiitk" data-offset-key="2l99v-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2l99v-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="2l99v-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="eiitk" data-offset-key="ahc64-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ahc64-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="ahc64-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;">DS-SAR joins another SAR bird, TeLEOS-2, which was launched in April also by an ISRO launch vehicle. Expect this constellation to grow in future.</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="eiitk" data-offset-key="87bka-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="87bka-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="87bka-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="eiitk" data-offset-key="f7cn2-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="f7cn2-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span data-offset-key="f7cn2-0-0">Satellite imagery is featured in the book </span><span class="_5zk7" data-offset-key="f7cn2-1-0" spellcheck="false" style="background-color: rgba(88, 144, 255, 0.15); border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(88, 144, 255, 0.3);"><span data-offset-key="f7cn2-1-0">#pukulhabis</span></span><span data-offset-key="f7cn2-2-0">, along with other reconnaissance means. The scenarios of counter satellite surveillance tactics practised by Malaysian forces in the fictional war story were inspired by real SATRAN counter surveillance TTP from Malaysia and other countries.</span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="f7cn2-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span data-offset-key="f7cn2-2-0"><br /></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="f7cn2-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span data-offset-key="f7cn2-2-0"><i>Pukul Habis</i>: Available from Books Kinokuniya in Malaysia and Singapore, and also from Amazon.</span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="f7cn2-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span data-offset-key="f7cn2-2-0"><br /></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="f7cn2-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilzr-vhGt7c1rVTMbcx3W4MIM5uDWGIDUde-TylqrNZK5tfoDRr9l_t4BNZG1oP15syg5p8opaXrN0muvODjrZfApA09kO8RjEFl08LHlseFgoduKPIxR45ZjgoUCvCR1JHPrLr4VFrxJeZJZU4YitLIQnVPGlau0zGt49HfuL42zzRAvZCCVeL3zY_Yk/s3637/IMG_5685.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2405" data-original-width="3637" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilzr-vhGt7c1rVTMbcx3W4MIM5uDWGIDUde-TylqrNZK5tfoDRr9l_t4BNZG1oP15syg5p8opaXrN0muvODjrZfApA09kO8RjEFl08LHlseFgoduKPIxR45ZjgoUCvCR1JHPrLr4VFrxJeZJZU4YitLIQnVPGlau0zGt49HfuL42zzRAvZCCVeL3zY_Yk/s320/IMG_5685.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div></span></div></div></div>David Boeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401913253357584603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348464617577736454.post-26778858667078576462023-07-28T18:30:00.001+08:002023-07-28T18:30:00.188+08:00Pukul Habis restocked at Books Kinokuniya Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_YjHfEXxspbZENdJGyZTgIcydfwjuCxzwP64b0OK4IfXzXupyxOzdsz0lhR-kVdmS8A0nciemBr8K0gt16Kc8twXZGlofRboseZQkwjaUnQ8H1dXZPzFCzrZXvs57C92h1BQ5Enke4h0VQCBnjKKAcqlAQUyWjta9MznHqsPeRFKw3sLAHIGBisGGiTM/s680/KLCC%2027%20Jul%202023a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="680" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_YjHfEXxspbZENdJGyZTgIcydfwjuCxzwP64b0OK4IfXzXupyxOzdsz0lhR-kVdmS8A0nciemBr8K0gt16Kc8twXZGlofRboseZQkwjaUnQ8H1dXZPzFCzrZXvs57C92h1BQ5Enke4h0VQCBnjKKAcqlAQUyWjta9MznHqsPeRFKw3sLAHIGBisGGiTM/s320/KLCC%2027%20Jul%202023a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">A Malaysian reader (or fan? 😄) sent me this image of <i>Pukul Habis</i> after he got it yesterday from Books Kinokuniya Malaysia's store at Suria KLCC.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Am delighted with the warm responses from readers in Malaysia and Singapore, despite the somewhat touchy subject of a fictional war involving <i>Angkatan Tentera Malaysia</i> (Malaysian Armed Forces) and the Singapore Armed Forces.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Am grateful to readers from Australia, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, France, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America who got in touch to share their views on the story.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you're in Malaysia, get the book from Kino's store at Suria KLCC. Kino will also mail it to any location in Malaysia. Please click <a href="https://malaysia.kinokuniya.com/bw/9789811861499">here</a> for details.</span></p><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Books Kinokuniya Singapore has stocked Pukul Habis (ISBN 9789811861499). This book has been a Kino Singapore bestseller for many months since its launch, and has topped its weekly top 10 in fiction several times. Please visit its main store in Ngee Ann City or Bugis Junction, or check the Kinokuniya online store </span><a href="https://singapore.kinokuniya.com/bw/9789811861499" style="font-family: inherit;">here</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For readers elsewhere, please check the Amazon sites that serve your location. "Look Inside" function on some sites shows sample pages.</span></div><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;">Singapore:</span></b><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;"> </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="https://bit.ly/3XJzInH" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration-line: none;">https://bit.ly/3XJzInH</a></span></span><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;">Australia:</span></b><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;"> </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3ViaX0i" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration-line: none;">https://amzn.to/3ViaX0i</a></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;">United Kingdom:</span></b><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;"> </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3EZ6clA" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration-line: none;">https://amzn.to/3EZ6clA</a></span></span><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;"> Look Inside<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><p style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;">USA:</span></b><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;"> </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3Ui3Eo1" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration-line: none;">https://amzn.to/3Ui3Eo1</a></span></span><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;"> Look Inside. <b>When ordering from Singapore</b>, please click on the "Shipping to Singapore?" button. Ignore the "Temporarily out of stock" notice on the Amazon.com page.</span></span></p></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div><b><span></span>Related posts:</b></div><div>Writing about Malay royalty in <i>Pukul Habis</i>. Click <a href="http://kementah.blogspot.com/2023/06/pukul-habis-backstory-challenges-in.html">here</a></div><div>Special video on the 35th Battalion, Singapore Combat Engineers. Click <a href="http://kementah.blogspot.com/2023/06/meet-singapores-most-powerful-buayas.html">here</a> </div><div>First book signing at Kino Singapore. Click <a href="http://kementah.blogspot.com/2023/05/first-ever-pukul-habis-meet-author.html">here</a></div><div>Why <i>Pukul Habis</i> was not written from a Singaporean perspective. Click <a href="http://kementah.blogspot.com/2022/12/hi-mr-david-in-pukul-habis-why-didnt.html">here</a></div><div><i>Pukul Habis</i>: Author's Note. Click <a href="http://kementah.blogspot.com/2022/12/authors-note-pukul-habis-total-wipeout.html">here</a></div><div><i>Pukul Habis</i>: Full text of Prologue. Click <a href="http://kementah.blogspot.com/2022/12/pukul-habis-total-wipeout-prologue.html">here</a></div><div>Why does the English language novel, <i>Pukul Habis</i>, have a Malay title? Click <a href="http://kementah.blogspot.com/2022/11/pukul-habis-back-story-why-did-you.html">here</a></div></span></div>David Boeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401913253357584603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348464617577736454.post-3482723600513308152023-07-27T18:00:00.001+08:002023-07-27T20:06:59.562+08:00ST Engineering: My biggest wish for ST Engineering is...<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMugOGDSkagMcAMaW45Um0UxjqolM7YLvdQjjNI28ymxAJwN07h-6xJt6kBiwbHUGgvOYG8OXoOd5aGi63lQcKx9-a15YtorM4oT3HvFttWtOjhATLdH10xC0PkCMEMXq2WQRpDy1i9s8brAipoMrgx0Ym4ZmSOPmhIvUoxWLvsf3jp8_vmWinNUWxaUk/s1280/BX%20ICV%20ad2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="944" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMugOGDSkagMcAMaW45Um0UxjqolM7YLvdQjjNI28ymxAJwN07h-6xJt6kBiwbHUGgvOYG8OXoOd5aGi63lQcKx9-a15YtorM4oT3HvFttWtOjhATLdH10xC0PkCMEMXq2WQRpDy1i9s8brAipoMrgx0Ym4ZmSOPmhIvUoxWLvsf3jp8_vmWinNUWxaUk/s320/BX%20ICV%20ad2.png" width="236" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some 24 years ago, an armoured vehicle designed and built in Singapore was the only Asian representative in a hard-fought United States Army evaluation for an air-transportable, well-protected yet lethal armoured fighting vehicle (AFV).</span></span></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="8ga7f" data-offset-key="pvo-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="pvo-0-0" style="position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="pvo-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="pvo-0-0" style="position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="pvo-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The US Army's requirements were tough to meet because excelling in one category (say air mobility) could come at the expense of another (e.g. heavy armour protection) or firepower (since turrets or weapon stations are heavy too, or take up space for troops).</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="8ga7f" data-offset-key="c9hgm-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="c9hgm-0-0" style="position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="c9hgm-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="8ga7f" data-offset-key="2v85n-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2v85n-0-0" style="position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="2v85n-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The field of 36 contestants from 11 countries who entered the US Army's search for an Interim Armored Vehicle (IAV) in Nov/Dec 1999 shrank to four contenders a year later. </span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="8ga7f" data-offset-key="6up5j-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6up5j-0-0" style="position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="6up5j-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="8ga7f" data-offset-key="5rmr4-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5rmr4-0-0" style="position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="5rmr4-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Among the four shortlisted platforms, Singapore's Bionix, designed and built by ST Engineering at Portsdown Road, was the only design that did not come from defence companies from America or Europe. It was a major achievement for ST Engineering, which spearheaded the bid. </span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="8ga7f" data-offset-key="6s2kt-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6s2kt-0-0" style="position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="6s2kt-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="8ga7f" data-offset-key="t2a9-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="t2a9-0-0" style="position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="t2a9-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I remember it well, because I covered the evaluation as a Business Times reporter. I spoke to ST Engg's management and engineers involved with the ICV project frequently and could sense their excitement and awareness that this was a major milestone in Singapore's AFV development. Analysts who covered the stock also recognised the significance of ST Engg making inroads in the American AFV market. If successful, it could enhance shareholder value immensely.</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="8ga7f" data-offset-key="2c1p9-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2c1p9-0-0" style="position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="2c1p9-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="8ga7f" data-offset-key="6ee12-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6ee12-0-0" style="position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="6ee12-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;">At the time, the South Koreans were nowhere in sight.</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="8ga7f" data-offset-key="c9ai5-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="c9ai5-0-0" style="position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="c9ai5-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="8ga7f" data-offset-key="6s47u-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6s47u-0-0" style="position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="6s47u-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In November 2000, the US Army named its winner: the wheeled LAV III Stryker from General Motors-General Dynamics Land Systems. The Stryker traces its genesis to the Piranha from a small Swiss company, Mowag, whose designers dared to challenge the ascendancy of the then-powerful and influential US defence industry, which had amassed experience supplying AFVs to the US Army since WW2.</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="8ga7f" data-offset-key="8480q-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8480q-0-0" style="position: relative;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMjRwu2PghSOL86H51y1IdSwX4zxbqubDZsvYophjn9av8GAReyKNjiPaRmsVyyZNwH_39MsSEX8NkiD2UquTxNPConngqYruEYTbepZYIV_ahG93zmiR_4GqwSULXyqLpTAix49lMV-EjfEp5g1wXIP0-0arb2xt5kZLfvMFk4jVxNtbG9MCwAbP1CJI/s1280/ICV%20collaterals.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1116" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMjRwu2PghSOL86H51y1IdSwX4zxbqubDZsvYophjn9av8GAReyKNjiPaRmsVyyZNwH_39MsSEX8NkiD2UquTxNPConngqYruEYTbepZYIV_ahG93zmiR_4GqwSULXyqLpTAix49lMV-EjfEp5g1wXIP0-0arb2xt5kZLfvMFk4jVxNtbG9MCwAbP1CJI/s320/ICV%20collaterals.png" width="279" /></a></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8480q-0-0" style="position: relative;"><br /></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="8ga7f" data-offset-key="bpfkl-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bpfkl-0-0" style="position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="bpfkl-0-0"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcwOi-IXWrNFMwVOycmgA-3zj7a4HuawbFVQhBS5mDRmUyRsz6a7iupMrSSUO14X08GM-Cr8gcy6Mrym1NzEQVKvsMd_ZI3e856NrDI33XJhsk9KoXWULo8WhGTrwVlHtEGtV7yoL379rZne28rZHQDgYxD6StDrf4Yhv_pUKpbvNmUoG0_sMX6y3MW9A/s640/ICV%20PPT%20conclusion.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcwOi-IXWrNFMwVOycmgA-3zj7a4HuawbFVQhBS5mDRmUyRsz6a7iupMrSSUO14X08GM-Cr8gcy6Mrym1NzEQVKvsMd_ZI3e856NrDI33XJhsk9KoXWULo8WhGTrwVlHtEGtV7yoL379rZne28rZHQDgYxD6StDrf4Yhv_pUKpbvNmUoG0_sMX6y3MW9A/s320/ICV%20PPT%20conclusion.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bpfkl-0-0" style="position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="bpfkl-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Those 20+ years since the ICV bidding have flown by in a blink of an eye. {I kept ST Engineering's Bionix press releases and ads, which you see here) </span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="8ga7f" data-offset-key="au97h-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="au97h-0-0" style="position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="au97h-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="8ga7f" data-offset-key="4p9r-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4p9r-0-0" style="position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="4p9r-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Today, we see South Korea's defence industry winning contracts in markets that Asian companies found tough penetrating. Poland has ordered tanks and self-propelled guns from South Korea. And just yesterday, South Korean conglomerate Hanwha, became the first Asian company to win an Australian Army contract for AFVs. Hanwha's Redback design beat Rheinmetall's Lynx from Germany for a massive contract worth billions of dollars. Also noteworthy: South Korea is co-developing a fighter plane with Indonesia. Korean warship designs have also earned international stature.</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="8ga7f" data-offset-key="felop-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="felop-0-0" style="position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="felop-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="8ga7f" data-offset-key="3qtfl-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3qtfl-0-0" style="position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="3qtfl-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;">At its current tempo, South Korea's ambitious defence industry looks set to make its mark on the world's defence market. As more international orders are won, the South Koreans will gain critical mass that would in turn generate global awareness, respect and recognition that they are a new force to be reckoned with. </span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3qtfl-0-0" style="position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="3qtfl-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3qtfl-0-0" style="position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="3qtfl-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, what happened to ST Engg's early and promising run in overseas markets like the US?</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="8ga7f" data-offset-key="fu5nr-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="fu5nr-0-0" style="position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="fu5nr-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="8ga7f" data-offset-key="8g15p-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8g15p-0-0" style="position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="8g15p-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One would hope ST Engg never loses its innovative streak that saw it become a first Asian player in the US - way ahead of its Asian peers at the turn of the century. But that was 24 years ago. And the cut-throat environment of the defence industry isn't given to sentimentality or philosophical musings. </span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8g15p-0-0" style="position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="8g15p-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8g15p-0-0" style="position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="8g15p-0-0"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhdJHMgaM4gJq1KoiVqiq-tKDmvNeFCHBDPsjuVTe86u1TXYqBfqSvWjWS0ylWQ1_Znb6rJl4uECM0gFyCz03MlVyBqWXaUTaZG48zzWoVDxjn9XmG5LX4YbvAmA1tUwxPav8XXW3mhYvXNCMW666DHXUrG8lpWRsfC5TqxRLad5zwzNgT4I5BlBeA4lI/s3000/Warthog_All_Terrain_Protected_Vehicle_in_Afghanistan_MOD_45152744.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1978" data-original-width="3000" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhdJHMgaM4gJq1KoiVqiq-tKDmvNeFCHBDPsjuVTe86u1TXYqBfqSvWjWS0ylWQ1_Znb6rJl4uECM0gFyCz03MlVyBqWXaUTaZG48zzWoVDxjn9XmG5LX4YbvAmA1tUwxPav8XXW3mhYvXNCMW666DHXUrG8lpWRsfC5TqxRLad5zwzNgT4I5BlBeA4lI/s320/Warthog_All_Terrain_Protected_Vehicle_in_Afghanistan_MOD_45152744.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8g15p-0-0" style="position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="8g15p-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There are bright spots: 100 Bronco all-terrain tracked carriers served the British Army with distinction as "Warthogs" after these tracked vehicles were purchased to serve in Afghanistan under an urgent operational requirement. This contract is proof</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> that platforms designed for the Singapore Armed Forces' specific operational requirements can be adapted for overseas customers who value properties like platform survivability, superior mobility and ease of maintenance plus low lifecycle costs.</span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="8ga7f" data-offset-key="f9591-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="f9591-0-0" style="position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="f9591-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="8ga7f" data-offset-key="afc89-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="afc89-0-0" style="position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="afc89-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The next quarter century will flash by quickly. To stay relevant to its shareholders and major client(s), ST Engg needs to power up, or risk being left to eat the dust of faster moving rivals who made the leap from unknowns to major players on the world's defence market.</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="8ga7f" data-offset-key="baf9s-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="baf9s-0-0" style="position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="baf9s-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="baf9s-0-0" style="position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="baf9s-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div data-block="true" data-editor="6h3ot" data-offset-key="3u5af-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3u5af-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="3u5af-0-0"><span data-text="true">I am confident ST Engg can do better. It has done much to enhance Singapore Army war machines - way more than what is reported from open literature. Land platforms like Bionix, Bronco, Terrex and Hunter have all been lauded at Singapore's annual Defence Technology Prize (our highest award for excellence in defence engineering). What it needs is to nail that big, elusive international win with one of its award-winning platforms. That's my biggest wish for the company. Go for it!</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="6h3ot" data-offset-key="5ae76-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5ae76-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="5ae76-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="6h3ot" data-offset-key="ofd8-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ofd8-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="ofd8-0-0"><span data-text="true">Note: The author does not own any ST Engg shares.</span></span></div></div></span></span></div></div>David Boeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401913253357584603noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348464617577736454.post-92189325826407161032023-07-08T21:00:00.001+08:002023-07-08T21:00:00.142+08:00First Republic of Singapore Navy Type 218SG submarine arrives in Singapore waters aboard Rolldock Storm<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikqG-Ug5_GyiPtYtaT1rgGv3kRR1sLDcOMw8_oXWn6L_1Yfen4ahEJCkiH7sxpz-j5gm0XtG6DvqARDmBOe6x7D0wtFD-Gqj1-n7dbdMfe_YAGWRHECa3ut_0ZTObgYijVJz4wrBaFxJ4k5GsfgHInYO8Qp_k9_v93rgGlBEjAoCqC5CW8ccLPaxFwWwI/s4000/IMG_5108.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2667" data-original-width="4000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikqG-Ug5_GyiPtYtaT1rgGv3kRR1sLDcOMw8_oXWn6L_1Yfen4ahEJCkiH7sxpz-j5gm0XtG6DvqARDmBOe6x7D0wtFD-Gqj1-n7dbdMfe_YAGWRHECa3ut_0ZTObgYijVJz4wrBaFxJ4k5GsfgHInYO8Qp_k9_v93rgGlBEjAoCqC5CW8ccLPaxFwWwI/s320/IMG_5108.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9YS0U-4xy4IfeWweMaokWfsoo9vDu0qW0vxIheDWt_bkH3_iqjnepMXFzDaWnHcnZs7neI5gwqH-XN_vZHGO5SynDLCPzCtnMDEHL3XIQRdGg9R5s8kUXHeA6hMTxervUuBUdZyqqAD9YYL8LwHAcWKOBLBVJx0BQlmW1iAzvBZO5tUOyl3DghBtlQk/s894/611FE60D-E64E-454D-A5D2-AEF7B518AB70.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="468" data-original-width="894" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9YS0U-4xy4IfeWweMaokWfsoo9vDu0qW0vxIheDWt_bkH3_iqjnepMXFzDaWnHcnZs7neI5gwqH-XN_vZHGO5SynDLCPzCtnMDEHL3XIQRdGg9R5s8kUXHeA6hMTxervUuBUdZyqqAD9YYL8LwHAcWKOBLBVJx0BQlmW1iAzvBZO5tUOyl3DghBtlQk/s320/611FE60D-E64E-454D-A5D2-AEF7B518AB70.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">More images of <i>Rolldock Storm’s</i> transit through the Singapore Strait this morning, carrying the Singapore navy’s Type 218SG <i>Invincible</i>-class submarine to home waters for the first time. The submarine, <i>Impeccable</i>, arrived here from Germany after slightly more than a month at sea. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">RSS <i>Unity</i>, a Littoral Mission Vessel, escorted the heavy-lift ship. <i>Rolldock Storm’s</i> previous cargo, the submarine, <i>Impeccable</i>, was not visible to onlookers. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The Singapore Armed Forces appears to have implemented extensive protective security measures to screen the new submarine. Steel modules and containers were used to cover the hull and conning tower of the 70-metre long submarine.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyo7ru-xDsmtojqX2Hqx56McFA6KlUWBxCI4qS2ZKh6-ucZsYX7we1EL3jSMVHAo7SmjuIVQo8Kbda4j_pEor81NkUTWv06tbBTd2Cmva7TxLYoLs0MbRm3-8VwtRRvFA7XXJ8uviUNQ3KZomMBQEXr_ofPJGSyi8X_hlo1VZsi73PkqwLtixFHMWjkzQ/s4000/IMG_5111.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2667" data-original-width="4000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyo7ru-xDsmtojqX2Hqx56McFA6KlUWBxCI4qS2ZKh6-ucZsYX7we1EL3jSMVHAo7SmjuIVQo8Kbda4j_pEor81NkUTWv06tbBTd2Cmva7TxLYoLs0MbRm3-8VwtRRvFA7XXJ8uviUNQ3KZomMBQEXr_ofPJGSyi8X_hlo1VZsi73PkqwLtixFHMWjkzQ/s320/IMG_5111.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7JErNXI3pCe0Yar-qSLrVoZ-6djeODkc4ph5vDc4R9pOsQ-isZKa0F3JzPmjGOOPq_wsazOqMJL2E59ceW4i-0PkYdB9PnwEGlYOz600CgKJ_mOs3c_dsKW4LEfG2_YPBjUqaRmcuPHBw9ayTSXBj53kXPoBD1u7Lz6gw6f_dZmPW0mdoJ4BXco6fLMs/s4000/IMG_5110.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2667" data-original-width="4000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7JErNXI3pCe0Yar-qSLrVoZ-6djeODkc4ph5vDc4R9pOsQ-isZKa0F3JzPmjGOOPq_wsazOqMJL2E59ceW4i-0PkYdB9PnwEGlYOz600CgKJ_mOs3c_dsKW4LEfG2_YPBjUqaRmcuPHBw9ayTSXBj53kXPoBD1u7Lz6gw6f_dZmPW0mdoJ4BXco6fLMs/s320/IMG_5110.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhzaEzwHvbR-qAUGlyWAwhQNwdqQ5L1C46wjTsikftqw4M_ISmQWNt-V1eJ7kk9B2Jq-bXF6lTIo-3QO4ZSPT4ePccRIvIRdYkxItdaV7HIczSWsSH33zz7oydrKszavmqxgDfH24yqDhHaYL2-HCR_NUcB5AP8FBZ1EGaBQIf4YoR3P_I79SJ1jV5urg/s4000/IMG_5109.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2667" data-original-width="4000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhzaEzwHvbR-qAUGlyWAwhQNwdqQ5L1C46wjTsikftqw4M_ISmQWNt-V1eJ7kk9B2Jq-bXF6lTIo-3QO4ZSPT4ePccRIvIRdYkxItdaV7HIczSWsSH33zz7oydrKszavmqxgDfH24yqDhHaYL2-HCR_NUcB5AP8FBZ1EGaBQIf4YoR3P_I79SJ1jV5urg/s320/IMG_5109.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Senang Diri</i> believes these measures are unprecedented for a RSN submarine repatriation. They were not done some 20 years ago when the author wrote about the repatriation of the RSN’s last two <i>Challenger</i>-class boats.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOygvO54EWzqmfXCZ5RCNVu6Wq19S25LDb8okXcrl_E0hjOeEx_esiXXZL9FOVCe5n3rK1yK0BkLrz5ui9-va1iKHn-DII2W_FM8C3Ah8ve7zlJSBu-NG_Z_ttwBhUGV3YeM5O_X4KTQ0zFJYAOQ4JOZtyfZflHbd-0CJfb9jJNCMl8BswCheVPNWLh7I/s640/IMG_5068.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="640" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOygvO54EWzqmfXCZ5RCNVu6Wq19S25LDb8okXcrl_E0hjOeEx_esiXXZL9FOVCe5n3rK1yK0BkLrz5ui9-va1iKHn-DII2W_FM8C3Ah8ve7zlJSBu-NG_Z_ttwBhUGV3YeM5O_X4KTQ0zFJYAOQ4JOZtyfZflHbd-0CJfb9jJNCMl8BswCheVPNWLh7I/s320/IMG_5068.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTI1t8VPBoCROxn6USgtVGgcFHoyWXLx5yWTZz-UySp6zdDGIhx6rpCBnXzjXUcOVyKSyxmJSYdqJmUEAmpEHQ-BaSAYkiE714wsDn3kEC4Q0vcGJD1RrcFxUkrCYxwZvNVk-edsmMHpgiPjRZoa2_epzmElvgYBzI8RL6cWN9ce6BGMC6GIVGxWcMBjY/s2188/IMG_5113.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="2188" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTI1t8VPBoCROxn6USgtVGgcFHoyWXLx5yWTZz-UySp6zdDGIhx6rpCBnXzjXUcOVyKSyxmJSYdqJmUEAmpEHQ-BaSAYkiE714wsDn3kEC4Q0vcGJD1RrcFxUkrCYxwZvNVk-edsmMHpgiPjRZoa2_epzmElvgYBzI8RL6cWN9ce6BGMC6GIVGxWcMBjY/s320/IMG_5113.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In addition, the submarine transporter and her Singapore navy escort were noted to have deviated from the Eastbound lane of the Singapore Strait traffic separation scheme. This lane lies at the southern end of the strait. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;">H/T Timothy Liu for braving the hot weather this morning while on coast watch. The results, as you can tell, are worth the effort. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And here are images of <i>Rolldock Storm</i> in Kiel, Germany, in May this year as the ship was prepared for her voyage to Singapore. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVvC-SHqECr5COYyFmZz82atN4px7FFoiAdGtm2pnpirjaE1PEla9mkzp0IcTx-vgm8RF5fAltx1y0hXwuDJa4m8YmWHrpU0NH3RmCLk7Mg3aXRi2i3WhlwzovyLqXAJToMtrOeiOUIUhxDZxO_WhNEWmTpEQI_gkN7CN5OQ2iwv4cOrcDEOHarICllXw/s2048/IMG_5126.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVvC-SHqECr5COYyFmZz82atN4px7FFoiAdGtm2pnpirjaE1PEla9mkzp0IcTx-vgm8RF5fAltx1y0hXwuDJa4m8YmWHrpU0NH3RmCLk7Mg3aXRi2i3WhlwzovyLqXAJToMtrOeiOUIUhxDZxO_WhNEWmTpEQI_gkN7CN5OQ2iwv4cOrcDEOHarICllXw/s320/IMG_5126.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4gpC9q4CuC-RvWbbqzP3fuxEzyH_S-OiIFF_MLzKyJWWS1VdCSOyNFwdInmF7OdIxM5bWErhssor8x_7HCF2zg78o0oxi6UafF7zfciHhtme2FXxfk-G1yrs6EXUKtRwuvbERXfw6lF-waH1hfzytpPtxhtcuD50MmqrB4DttK1zaYVyPDWNbBBmgTBk/s1080/IMG_3033.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1080" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4gpC9q4CuC-RvWbbqzP3fuxEzyH_S-OiIFF_MLzKyJWWS1VdCSOyNFwdInmF7OdIxM5bWErhssor8x_7HCF2zg78o0oxi6UafF7zfciHhtme2FXxfk-G1yrs6EXUKtRwuvbERXfw6lF-waH1hfzytpPtxhtcuD50MmqrB4DttK1zaYVyPDWNbBBmgTBk/s320/IMG_3033.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpTF6wg2RF40D40TdpKX-F8utIZ8UM2GGlcCJ9qnznWY3Sud7hqVmhM0FDl3c48ZA4dRHhdXzLALQPzvVpbEs6CXOswvNQeJenDhCpoljbswaQpQjnNCBryR0SumyW2wVGufMcrkCQ81Yh5FsEfQBlxhzPDndZGJ2lURo7y_djkJDPNPBUZF18dkbffiM/s1080/IMG_3034.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1080" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpTF6wg2RF40D40TdpKX-F8utIZ8UM2GGlcCJ9qnznWY3Sud7hqVmhM0FDl3c48ZA4dRHhdXzLALQPzvVpbEs6CXOswvNQeJenDhCpoljbswaQpQjnNCBryR0SumyW2wVGufMcrkCQ81Yh5FsEfQBlxhzPDndZGJ2lURo7y_djkJDPNPBUZF18dkbffiM/s320/IMG_3034.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_raGJKiCQM6XLX-QdLkAcntvx9zPB6Cyd1Za08WCtU1f2uJjEHNC8CLjtl76pWOyEyeMdAAfn9LvPb7O4sBRGfonuY674yuhDlWYalYpbn4XNLNjZP0WXUrE5AUN7IKhKPsPLJzFt8A_5iLh9ILGGBs2ncVFAGfMVkk-C3UvMhTMs1YWAa_Aaew_ZGXY/s1300/IMG_5105.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="956" data-original-width="1300" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_raGJKiCQM6XLX-QdLkAcntvx9zPB6Cyd1Za08WCtU1f2uJjEHNC8CLjtl76pWOyEyeMdAAfn9LvPb7O4sBRGfonuY674yuhDlWYalYpbn4XNLNjZP0WXUrE5AUN7IKhKPsPLJzFt8A_5iLh9ILGGBs2ncVFAGfMVkk-C3UvMhTMs1YWAa_Aaew_ZGXY/s320/IMG_5105.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>David Boeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401913253357584603noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348464617577736454.post-66170346913859946542023-07-08T13:18:00.002+08:002023-07-08T13:28:06.391+08:00Republic of Singapore Navy’s newest submarine arrives in Singapore <div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGcQCFBCHkwIIA_WXmYpFHdpUL-6GnTtA7T8e92PDERabUHcIYsRYvfKShGOvQIslhozRYtWBqISMkg2rT0GioUj3EvffESVG6PWKuY70WuL43Mp7pZM4oEqxs0SuyMdkHqra6FpQJFn_Jt7V0zIiWV2hrsA1UnrQvBRyo-lfyi0UbqxsWBWVJDBM0wuI/s1170/IMG_5088.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="906" data-original-width="1170" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGcQCFBCHkwIIA_WXmYpFHdpUL-6GnTtA7T8e92PDERabUHcIYsRYvfKShGOvQIslhozRYtWBqISMkg2rT0GioUj3EvffESVG6PWKuY70WuL43Mp7pZM4oEqxs0SuyMdkHqra6FpQJFn_Jt7V0zIiWV2hrsA1UnrQvBRyo-lfyi0UbqxsWBWVJDBM0wuI/s320/IMG_5088.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Republic of Singapore Navy’s latest submarine, <i>Impeccable</i>, arrived in Singapore this morning (8 July 2023). </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The German-built Type 218SG submarine was transported to Singapore aboard a heavy-lift vessel, <i>Rolldock Storm</i>. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Impeccable</i> is the second of the RSN’s four <i>Invincible</i>-class submarines. <i>Impeccable</i> was launched on 13 December 2022 with <i>Illustrious</i> in Kiel, Germany, by Madam Ho Ching, wife of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6Tna4QfGIcgCpPCESH8UzB_QqOqm5b7F8UPBZNOBKaRqxX-Z2EdV_yngS35C1DdKP84cmF-nfd2NUO1XuRLM6IJAsWp_WuPWlrGauj29giR_2w-hwTLgwy91Sw_QFE0hNZXWoOQTzQOeUbBTUb8dE2ZWUIKOdGOBCDCepSiAGFOmqQPTKMT3uVL8l0E/s1300/IMG_5103.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="956" data-original-width="1300" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6Tna4QfGIcgCpPCESH8UzB_QqOqm5b7F8UPBZNOBKaRqxX-Z2EdV_yngS35C1DdKP84cmF-nfd2NUO1XuRLM6IJAsWp_WuPWlrGauj29giR_2w-hwTLgwy91Sw_QFE0hNZXWoOQTzQOeUbBTUb8dE2ZWUIKOdGOBCDCepSiAGFOmqQPTKMT3uVL8l0E/s320/IMG_5103.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiigUzv1Hxmnh9lpyUiTlk7UeORGQHH6uUt3y9qqInA84rmR2z5_U9B9CwzVmWnwle90WwWWFL9H_hMbM1lCAVLdQOgA1llxaj2y8Cku3bdakEVd-_aGq7FaoeyqpScDt_AFhdn_aN0h5yxp4DKGGOMPcnjsT9N5XfNXhGJtfzqU_KfI4UQ8_47ngfO1OQ/s1300/IMG_5105.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="956" data-original-width="1300" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiigUzv1Hxmnh9lpyUiTlk7UeORGQHH6uUt3y9qqInA84rmR2z5_U9B9CwzVmWnwle90WwWWFL9H_hMbM1lCAVLdQOgA1llxaj2y8Cku3bdakEVd-_aGq7FaoeyqpScDt_AFhdn_aN0h5yxp4DKGGOMPcnjsT9N5XfNXhGJtfzqU_KfI4UQ8_47ngfO1OQ/s320/IMG_5105.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To prepare for her voyage to Singapore, <i>Impeccable</i> was shielded from view by an assortment of metal containers placed over <i>Rolldock Storm’s</i> cargo deck. These containers covered the submarine’s deck and blocked off most of her conning tower, which would otherwise have been visible above the transport vessel’s hull. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is a developing story. More updates to follow. </span></div>David Boeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401913253357584603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348464617577736454.post-84924766210869972492023-07-07T12:38:00.002+08:002023-07-07T12:38:39.088+08:00Flashback: Delivery of Republic of Singapore Navy submarines <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMc0rELixLHKSSy0NzSC8ANXcyKAZb-Vk9-rcO3WUECOEEbDO0Ev54xBBsf9fNWm5S8j5CyncowCc5B03YTUG0cbRHDBDwYNusAhKawvVzoOBtjysOX7CuOGgVKPsi4j9TEAYUumHGuR5EbOoBPsb7v_-pDL7H5BeyRKaXCNwNw2rYllDSJv605h6q04M/s640/IMG_5068.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="640" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMc0rELixLHKSSy0NzSC8ANXcyKAZb-Vk9-rcO3WUECOEEbDO0Ev54xBBsf9fNWm5S8j5CyncowCc5B03YTUG0cbRHDBDwYNusAhKawvVzoOBtjysOX7CuOGgVKPsi4j9TEAYUumHGuR5EbOoBPsb7v_-pDL7H5BeyRKaXCNwNw2rYllDSJv605h6q04M/s320/IMG_5068.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Word that the Singapore navy’s latest submarine, <i>Impeccable</i>, is due to arrive this weekend triggered memories of this article I wrote in January 2004 on a similar delivery. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The Straits Times story, published on 26 Jan 2004, reported that three Sjoormen-class submarines were en route from Sweden to Singapore. Noteworthy is the presence of an additional boat - the Republic of Singapore Navy had reportedly bought just four secondhand boats from the Royal Swedish Navy. Two were already in Singapore.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I recall that when I asked the Singapore Ministry of Defence about the fifth submarine, it described it as “a reserve vessel”. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">That Jan 2004 pix predated Instagram, Facebook and all of today’s conveniences that the ship spotting community enjoys. So I was quite happy to see it nearly 20 years ago. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Quite looking forward to updates on <i>Rolldock Storm</i> as she approaches Singapore with <i>Impeccable</i>. I bet it won’t take long before ship spotters in Singapore get pictures of this special delivery. [You know what to do]</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">P.S. If you like subs, do take a look at <i>Pukul Habis</i>. It’s a fictional story (in English!) on war in Malaysia and Singapore. Here’s a preview on KD <i>Tunku Abdul Rahman</i>, the Malaysian navy sub that is featured in the story. Click <a href="https://kementah.blogspot.com/2022/11/book-preview-subtics-astra.html?m=1">here</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>David Boeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401913253357584603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348464617577736454.post-10615379890445288912023-07-06T17:06:00.003+08:002023-07-06T17:06:39.602+08:00Singapore navy Type 218SG submarine, Impeccable, expected to arrive this weekend <div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8XfUBYXa4NG9GTvHAdqKGpHM6Apl68bfk0YhXnFJW0IQw68bhbVFV1ZG4eIWKs6BjGQk3uK8li99UCb3icPxI_9NxOKir9Nhuyn9eASB5T1aLZQszJBpRveqhRc876jU1UTpKlLSnTXm4ntmqjJDVxqi_nt6izcICeaSeze4p8_ff4Ogi20n0IUs9F6w/s2230/IMG_5055.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2230" data-original-width="1170" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8XfUBYXa4NG9GTvHAdqKGpHM6Apl68bfk0YhXnFJW0IQw68bhbVFV1ZG4eIWKs6BjGQk3uK8li99UCb3icPxI_9NxOKir9Nhuyn9eASB5T1aLZQszJBpRveqhRc876jU1UTpKlLSnTXm4ntmqjJDVxqi_nt6izcICeaSeze4p8_ff4Ogi20n0IUs9F6w/s320/IMG_5055.jpeg" width="168" /></a></div><br />Rolldock Storm, the transport ship carrying a Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) submarine, could arrive in Singapore waters as soon as this weekend. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Rolldock Storm’s whereabouts, which had not been updated on ship tracking platforms for weeks, appear to have gone online again this afternoon. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Her position was indicated at the northern entrance to the Strait of Malacca. At her present course and speed, she could reach the Singapore Strait in coming days. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The transport vessel has a deck which can be weighed down with water ballast to allow oversized cargo to float into her “dock”. Once secured in position, water is pumped out and the ship will gain more freeboard, with the deck cargo high and dry after the now-lightened ship’s waterline is raised. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Impeccable is the RSN’s second Type 218SG submarine. The first boat, Invincible, which has had more time to install, check out, integrate and test all her onboard systems, is expected to remain in Germany to train future Type 218SG crew. </div>David Boeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401913253357584603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348464617577736454.post-88105478449437754852023-06-30T11:30:00.001+08:002023-06-30T11:30:00.147+08:00Update on Pukul Habis at Books Kinokuniya<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwYZ09nKAfRtUSlh5ZNWdJCFD2zPI_iYC-iEp8KSXSXd5yrEjRF3HwHIiD22-0retX07c8j4FtIW4zzE6H4sw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p></p><div data-block="true" data-editor="2e0tt" data-offset-key="8ahoa-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8ahoa-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="8ahoa-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Great to see <i>Pukul Habis</i> top the fiction bestseller list yet again at Kinokuniya, Singapore's biggest bookstore, in the lead-up to Singapore Armed Forces Day on 1 July. And this title is sold out in Kino Malaysia! (PH</span></span> has topped Kino Singapore's list several times since it was stocked in March 2023. <span style="font-family: inherit;">Malaysian readers: You can put your name on the Kino KLCC waiting list).</span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="2e0tt" data-offset-key="19m6l-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="19m6l-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="19m6l-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="2e0tt" data-offset-key="eei8b-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="eei8b-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="eei8b-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I didn't ask for or expect this video from Kenny Chan, ex-Singapore MFA diplomat, ex-Senior Director, Kinokuniya, Asia Pacific Publishing and book industry veteran. Wonky subtitles aside (!), I love Kenny's take on a book that has become a breakout bestseller. Am delighted to see it alongside titles from seasoned writers backed by established publishing houses.</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="2e0tt" data-offset-key="fkhfo-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="fkhfo-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="fkhfo-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="2e0tt" data-offset-key="c7atp-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="c7atp-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="c7atp-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thank you dear readers, fans 🙂and my informal network of advisors out there who helped Pukul Habis navigate new and potentially touchy areas. Your expert advice means a lot to me. The book's success is your's too. I am deeply appreciative to you all. </span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="c7atp-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="c7atp-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="c7atp-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="c7atp-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="color: black; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div><b>Related posts:</b></div><div>Writing about Malay royalty in <i>Pukul Habis</i>. Click <a href="http://kementah.blogspot.com/2023/06/pukul-habis-backstory-challenges-in.html">here</a></div><div>Special video on the 35th Battalion, Singapore Combat Engineers. Click <a href="http://kementah.blogspot.com/2023/06/meet-singapores-most-powerful-buayas.html">here</a> </div><div>First book signing at Kino Singapore. Click <a href="http://kementah.blogspot.com/2023/05/first-ever-pukul-habis-meet-author.html">here</a></div><div>Why <i>Pukul Habis</i> was not written from a Singaporean perspective. Click <a href="http://kementah.blogspot.com/2022/12/hi-mr-david-in-pukul-habis-why-didnt.html">here</a></div><div><i>Pukul Habis</i>: Author's Note. Click <a href="http://kementah.blogspot.com/2022/12/authors-note-pukul-habis-total-wipeout.html">here</a></div><div><i>Pukul Habis</i>: Full text of Prologue. Click <a href="http://kementah.blogspot.com/2022/12/pukul-habis-total-wipeout-prologue.html">here</a></div><div>Why does the English language novel, <i>Pukul Habis</i>, have a Malay title? Click <a href="http://kementah.blogspot.com/2022/11/pukul-habis-back-story-why-did-you.html">here</a></div></span></div><div style="color: black; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div><span><b>Please note:</b><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Books Kinokuniya in Singapore has stocked Pukul Habis (ISBN 9789811861499). Please visit its main store in Ngee Ann City or Bugis Junction, or check the Kinokuniya online store </span><a href="https://singapore.kinokuniya.com/bw/9789811861499" style="font-family: inherit;">here</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">. The title is also available from Kinokuniya Malaysia. Please enquire with the KLCC store. First few shipments sold out quickly - but you can leave you name with Kino Malaysia KLCC's waiting list. Thanks much!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">For readers elsewhere, please check the Amazon sites that serve your location. "Look Inside" function on some sites shows sample pages.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;">Singapore:</span></b><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;"> </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="https://bit.ly/3XJzInH" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration-line: none;">https://bit.ly/3XJzInH</a></span></span><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;">Australia:</span></b><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;"> </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3ViaX0i" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration-line: none;">https://amzn.to/3ViaX0i</a></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;">United Kingdom:</span></b><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;"> </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3EZ6clA" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration-line: none;">https://amzn.to/3EZ6clA</a></span></span><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;"> Look Inside<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><p style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;">USA:</span></b><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;"> </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3Ui3Eo1" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration-line: none;">https://amzn.to/3Ui3Eo1</a></span></span><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;"> Look Inside. When ordering from Singapore, please click on the "Shipping to Singapore?" button. Ignore the "Temporarily out of stock" notice on the Amazon.com page.</span></span></p></span></div></span></div></span></span></div></div>David Boeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401913253357584603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348464617577736454.post-29257761713758710692023-06-29T17:24:00.010+08:002023-06-29T17:24:00.137+08:00Pukul Habis backstory: Challenges in writing about Malay royalty<p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbx3UNBqYieefuTu826ookCg5gbdkcYUXVWc3C0MFgsuWF7NERSI6rgJM-ibMDoTBZ7NIDYyIbntxYtVPWDD3kHF0jupZJBOUbrYdhnKRCsKSpFCRVUAlBtI8SDfb6peLONsVPuafwOr5w_QS0V67K_CyJQDWEjlkw4wDOHG3tH7dpouP7ARaumdrfzkU/s2048/The%20Sultan%20extract.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1354" data-original-width="2048" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbx3UNBqYieefuTu826ookCg5gbdkcYUXVWc3C0MFgsuWF7NERSI6rgJM-ibMDoTBZ7NIDYyIbntxYtVPWDD3kHF0jupZJBOUbrYdhnKRCsKSpFCRVUAlBtI8SDfb6peLONsVPuafwOr5w_QS0V67K_CyJQDWEjlkw4wDOHG3tH7dpouP7ARaumdrfzkU/w400-h265/The%20Sultan%20extract.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Chapter 17, titled “The Sultan”, was a challenging yet rewarding chapter to write for <i>Pukul Habis</i>. I learned so much about Johor royalty and their palaces. I felt I had to include Johor royalty for the war story to be complete and more realistic.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The book by Imperial Japanese Army Colonel Tsuji on the conquest of Singapore was an early source of inspiration. Tsuji wrote about <i>Istana Hijau</i> (Green Palace) and when I looked it up, I really wanted to weave this picturesque and historical palace into the story.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ZjQe8DAx5Aov3dqfwTgnG5gbY2AmgrNq2GcYAiXq-1eBkD3Mx67JPQuPPx3LRC6Ilw7PpsbwJS3OgNnRIU-fgDk4yI8WKnarPYkI0fkCTpkJCCeQXo3Xqh90Dxg7KocFEIY2ZDkI3O0JDGryLm1AyVqnL8qgXRjteY8m1WW3EMCg8ePSKcnkwTlSTg0/s640/Tsuji%20book.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ZjQe8DAx5Aov3dqfwTgnG5gbY2AmgrNq2GcYAiXq-1eBkD3Mx67JPQuPPx3LRC6Ilw7PpsbwJS3OgNnRIU-fgDk4yI8WKnarPYkI0fkCTpkJCCeQXo3Xqh90Dxg7KocFEIY2ZDkI3O0JDGryLm1AyVqnL8qgXRjteY8m1WW3EMCg8ePSKcnkwTlSTg0/s320/Tsuji%20book.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNZN6U1nf_Fs4NXrb9U8KR3hhRL4VAb7HotWuQaKAqOz_a8C0ufHiBjE2nmEIr_I0tlP0_ZYdOxPCTsUCFETNY8sY8iu6dXO7wTJucXwzSZkJm4hePyygJUTOuQjyhK3loXdyY1sgkmLIKMLAzh_7kCaT4c7Ax1hRVLmS-mPBFIUIPaLWr2ixkZWjE86g/s2048/Tsuji%20book%20extract.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1530" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNZN6U1nf_Fs4NXrb9U8KR3hhRL4VAb7HotWuQaKAqOz_a8C0ufHiBjE2nmEIr_I0tlP0_ZYdOxPCTsUCFETNY8sY8iu6dXO7wTJucXwzSZkJm4hePyygJUTOuQjyhK3loXdyY1sgkmLIKMLAzh_7kCaT4c7Ax1hRVLmS-mPBFIUIPaLWr2ixkZWjE86g/s320/Tsuji%20book%20extract.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">During WW2, Japanese commanders used <i>Istana Hijau</i> as an observation post when they launched their assault on Singapore.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">While I knew I wanted to feature the palace, I had never been there. So I searched the internet for more information on the Istana, especially pictures of its interior. To get a better feel of what's inside, I spoke to people who had been there for official visits.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">And even after I learned enough to write about the Istana, I faced a major challenge: Malaysian friends advised against dialogue involving HRH the Sultan. To bring readers to the Istana without quoting HRH the Sultan in fictional conversation, I tried a different way to describe the tense talks. Malaysian test readers gave positive feedback. They loved the draft chapter as it accorded respect to Johor royalty, while bringing readers to the heart of the action in the royal court.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Malaysian test readers also suggested I mention <i>Majlis Raja-Raja</i> (Conference of Rulers). And so I did.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mentioning the Conference of Rulers placed the due consideration from Malay sultans right up there with political decision makers in various imaginary scenarios. These included the request by the Malaysian Army to use rocket artillery against targets on Malaysian soil, and discussions at conflict termination.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Many places in Johor are mentioned. Do visit when you can!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div><b>Related posts:</b></div><div>Special video on the 35th Battalion, Singapore Combat Engineers. Click <a href="http://kementah.blogspot.com/2023/06/meet-singapores-most-powerful-buayas.html">here</a> </div><div>First book signing at Kino Singapore. Click <a href="http://kementah.blogspot.com/2023/05/first-ever-pukul-habis-meet-author.html">here</a></div><div>Why <i>Pukul Habis</i> was not written from a Singaporean perspective. Click <a href="http://kementah.blogspot.com/2022/12/hi-mr-david-in-pukul-habis-why-didnt.html">here</a></div><div><i>Pukul Habis</i>: Author's Note. Click <a href="http://kementah.blogspot.com/2022/12/authors-note-pukul-habis-total-wipeout.html">here</a></div><div><i>Pukul Habis</i>: Full text of Prologue. Click <a href="http://kementah.blogspot.com/2022/12/pukul-habis-total-wipeout-prologue.html">here</a></div><div>Why does the English language novel, <i>Pukul Habis</i>, have a Malay title? Click <a href="http://kementah.blogspot.com/2022/11/pukul-habis-back-story-why-did-you.html">here</a></div></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="background-color: white;"><span><b>Please note:</b><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Books Kinokuniya in Singapore has stocked Pukul Habis (ISBN 9789811861499). Please visit its main store in Ngee Ann City or Bugis Junction, or check the Kinokuniya online store </span><a href="https://singapore.kinokuniya.com/bw/9789811861499" style="font-family: inherit;">here</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">. The title is also available from Kinokuniya Malaysia. Please enquire with the KLCC store. First few shipments sold out quickly - but you can leave you name with Kino Malaysia KLCC's waiting list. Thanks much!</span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For readers elsewhere, please check the Amazon sites that serve your location. "Look Inside" function on some sites shows sample pages.</span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;">Singapore:</span></b><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;"> </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="https://bit.ly/3XJzInH" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration-line: none;">https://bit.ly/3XJzInH</a></span></span><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;">Australia:</span></b><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;"> </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3ViaX0i" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration-line: none;">https://amzn.to/3ViaX0i</a></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;">United Kingdom:</span></b><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;"> </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3EZ6clA" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration-line: none;">https://amzn.to/3EZ6clA</a></span></span><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;"> Look Inside<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><p style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;">USA:</span></b><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;"> </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3Ui3Eo1" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration-line: none;">https://amzn.to/3Ui3Eo1</a></span></span><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;"> Look Inside. When ordering from Singapore, please click on the "Shipping to Singapore?" button. Ignore the "Temporarily out of stock" notice on the Amazon.com page.</span></span></p></span></div></span></div>David Boeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401913253357584603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348464617577736454.post-23295186034897569082023-06-21T13:26:00.002+08:002023-06-21T13:26:22.539+08:00The special relationship between Singapore's, Indonesia's armed forces<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLYCRbhi5-p6JJjWrGP_9JgvtG3eVSLdPhQ5jkEgUuXLqpJWw9nYaDUY9_wdWs7eBwwGvKsEHkaK38wmErQlSnyXrO61KQtD95dRuOr1bvf3TbWN8aByW0aC4-QT6JrT1zEsCxDaTXvFauY8S5id8FHmpDe4zmaZfzV7IdaPcEKmhheUUahOBAEkQcfOc/s1961/Today%2015%20Jan%202015%20op%20ed.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1961" data-original-width="1170" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLYCRbhi5-p6JJjWrGP_9JgvtG3eVSLdPhQ5jkEgUuXLqpJWw9nYaDUY9_wdWs7eBwwGvKsEHkaK38wmErQlSnyXrO61KQtD95dRuOr1bvf3TbWN8aByW0aC4-QT6JrT1zEsCxDaTXvFauY8S5id8FHmpDe4zmaZfzV7IdaPcEKmhheUUahOBAEkQcfOc/w239-h400/Today%2015%20Jan%202015%20op%20ed.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Wrote this <a href="https://www.todayonline.com/commentary/special-relationship-between-singapores-indonesias-armed-forces">commentary on Indonesia-Singapore relations</a> eight years ago for Today Online.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">My views on special Indonesia-Singapore ties are still valid, despite that viral slide from MENHAN Pak Prabowo on ballistic missiles that put Singapore within range. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here's the commentary in full. I think it deserves an update and will think of something when I have a slot in my writing time:</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdT7Ody60jCCeRwHVUo0EF7KaP_4b478ovgJBmRU7iGTaWj-pdEKIkUbAA4wInRqDv_jqx3-bXFa5aOJAirc0ZX9T1sNNa3b_Xhcl9RArS-QWUiAy1XLKhVchsZESst_rBmFu-tRc7xPA/s1600/IMG_9486.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdT7Ody60jCCeRwHVUo0EF7KaP_4b478ovgJBmRU7iGTaWj-pdEKIkUbAA4wInRqDv_jqx3-bXFa5aOJAirc0ZX9T1sNNa3b_Xhcl9RArS-QWUiAy1XLKhVchsZESst_rBmFu-tRc7xPA/s1600/IMG_9486.JPG" width="400" /></a></p><p>Among the many badges that adorn the uniform of the chief of Indonesia's search and rescue (SAR) agency is the Pilot Wing from the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF).<br /><br />Those who wonder how it got there should look at the distinguished career trajectory for Marsekal Madya Henry Bambang Soelistyo, head of BASARNAS (<u>Ba</u>dan <u>SAR Nas</u>ional, the Indonesian SAR agency).<br /><br />Go back in time to 2010 when Soelistyo then had one-star on his TNI air force general's uniform. As co-chair of the Joint Air Force Training Working Group (JAFTWG) between the Indonesian air force and the RSAF, which alternated their meetings between Indonesia and Singapore, Soelistyo gained firsthand experience planning, discussing, refining and implementing a host of programmes between the TNI-AU and RSAF.<br /><br />The JAFTWG talks led to joint air force war games, courses, exchanges of personnel and visits that forged closer and more meaningful defence relations between our respective air forces.<br /><br /><b>Special friendship</b><br />These paved the way for the continued advancement of TNI-AU-RSAF air warfare manoeuvres codenamed Elang Indopura, maritime surveillance exercises in the CAMAR Indopura series and the SAR exercise codenamed MANYAR Indopura. Our air exercises have grown in size, scale and complexity, thanks to the efforts of planners from both sides keen on constantly expanding the envelope and building on past successes.<br /><br />In addition, Singapore hosted simulator training for Indonesian air force pilots in Singapore (Super Puma, F-5 Tiger II, G-FET and EC-120 Colibri) while Indonesia conducted simulator training for RSAF C-130 Hercules aircrew.<br /><br />It is safe to guess that a good number of pilots from both countries now involved in the multi-national search for AirAsia Flight QZ8501 honed their flying skills from these exercises.<br /><br />But it was not all work.<br /><br />The task of directing and coordinating large fighter aircraft formations from both nations, flying at high speed, at low level and on many occasions with live ordnance, demands a high level of trust and confidence from all ranks involved in such war games. Along the way, friendships are forged as our people spend face time with one another, talk things through and weigh various options for tackling complex war game scenarios.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWAyX-8BfY9RNWX2JQbfs6YJ0P_3FaSHEuyhZCqgji1lAhow8DCsL43HmYQ0dRYQPNi_wTRlv8GBm6ikpgBT9srhtVXGlGvcqsrBG-_U5RKlDBcNR4cfdW5fCKQCJFsbVoNhh3wMEoYzs/s1600/JAFTWG+2010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWAyX-8BfY9RNWX2JQbfs6YJ0P_3FaSHEuyhZCqgji1lAhow8DCsL43HmYQ0dRYQPNi_wTRlv8GBm6ikpgBT9srhtVXGlGvcqsrBG-_U5RKlDBcNR4cfdW5fCKQCJFsbVoNhh3wMEoYzs/s1600/JAFTWG+2010.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><b>Rising star: </b><i>The future chief of BASARNAS, then a one-star TNI air force general (seated, centre) with TNI and RSAF colleagues who formed the Joint Air Force Training Group in 2010. </i><br /><br />Such interactions contribute valuable yet intangible credits to Indonesia-Singapore defence ties. Indeed, the personal ties have done much to foster a special friendship between the TNI and Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).<br /><br />And so, when TNI-SAF come together for joint operations, many personnel draw upon that special friendship which serves as a catalyst for the ability of our two armed forces to group together quickly and execute missions safely.<br /><br />Benefits flow two ways.<br /><br />In December 1997, it was the TNI-led search effort and TNI-AL divers who recovered the flight data recorder and voice recorder of Singapore's SilkAir Flight MI185 from the Musi river in Palembang.<br /><br />The period from 2004 to 2006 recorded three SAF HADR operations in Indonesia. These were:<br /><br /><b>December 2004:</b> The SAF deployed three Republic of Singapore Navy Endurance-class tank landing ships, six RSAF C-130 Hercules aircraft, six Chinook heavy-lift helicopters, two Super Pumas and more than 1,200 SAF personnel to Aceh as part of the tsunami relief mission. This was codenamed Operation Flying Eagle. The main deployment stretched almost four weeks.<br /><br /><b>March 2005: </b>Nias earthquake assistance. The RSAF deployed three Chinook heavy-lift helicopters. These airlifted 70 stretcher cases to Medan and ferried some 870 rescue workers to affected areas over two weeks. The SAF medical team treated about 800 patients in one week in the Gunung Sitoli area.<br /><br /><b>May 2006:</b> Central Java earthquake relief mission. The SAF sent a 35-person medical team to join a TNI field hospital. Emergency supplies and a surgical team were also attached to Indonesia's Bantul District Hospital. The SAF medical teams treated over 1,400 people and performed 32 emergency surgeries over eight days.<br /><br />In January 2007, we once again worked alongside the TNI in the search for Adam Air Flight 574 which crashed in Sulawesi. One RSAF Fokker 50 aircraft conducted 20 air search sorties between 3 and 17 January 2007. The RSN deployed four sets of underwater locator beacon detectors and six personnel as BASARNAS scoured the sea for the aircraft's flight data recorder, which might unlock clues as to how the plane crashed.<br /><br />There is another joint TNI-SAF mission involving an RSAF drone, which was deployed to scan dense, ancient jungle on a hostage rescue mission in the 1990s. This was executed at a faraway place called Timika. It was hush-hush during its time. But if you happen to see UAV Command's colours, look at the streamer carried by the Colours party (see below) and ask yourself how it got there. Yes, Team 525, you did well and those who know are proud of your achievement.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93mSptWxk-VWXcP9ZMmQs8AP63aGc8o1HWqby1EEPA5JVYTR2faAPUdJ4QA2Ns8oHdZBONqynYvnHhXzza5ZsLPtU87Ll5XJ0N10r_ON-2bBb6voY81sWVFsG-YvkJasM_kCCCwnU5_g/s1600/NDP+2011+NE3+23+Jul+2011+126+blog.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93mSptWxk-VWXcP9ZMmQs8AP63aGc8o1HWqby1EEPA5JVYTR2faAPUdJ4QA2Ns8oHdZBONqynYvnHhXzza5ZsLPtU87Ll5XJ0N10r_ON-2bBb6voY81sWVFsG-YvkJasM_kCCCwnU5_g/s1600/NDP+2011+NE3+23+Jul+2011+126+blog.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p>The TNI and SAF have achieved much together over the past four decades, ever since our first joint naval exercise codenamed Eagle.<br /><br />Such friendships do not happen by chance.<br /><br />Credit for this special friendship - a bond between ASEAN's largest and smallest member - goes to armed forces personnel from both sides have worked hard to build and sustain such ties.<br /><br />And despite occasional hiccups in our bilateral relations, it is heartwarming to see senior officers continue to cherish our longstanding camaraderie at a personal level - whether spoken out loud or demonstrated by the simple, low key gesture of having a badge on one's honours row.</p>David Boeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401913253357584603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348464617577736454.post-56726450699888369872023-06-19T22:44:00.002+08:002023-06-29T15:11:24.210+08:00Meet Singapore’s most powerful Buayas (crocodiles)<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> My first video aided by AI. Enjoy! </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwV89su1ZTVOl4e2UYbwBgucdK4UPsI-WwcxvVE6d6eMo157FvoeLE4R7DD3Cs8x0A-xfMniRcRPWf7BpBtmQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p></p><div><br /></div><div><div style="background-color: white;"><span><b>Please note:</b><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Books Kinokuniya in Singapore has stocked Pukul Habis (ISBN 9789811861499). Please visit its main store in Ngee Ann City or Bugis Junction, or check the Kinokuniya online store </span><a href="https://singapore.kinokuniya.com/bw/9789811861499" style="font-family: inherit;">here</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">. The title is also available from Kinokuniya Malaysia. Please enquire with the KLCC store. First few shipments sold out quickly - but you can leave you name with Kino Malaysia KLCC's waiting list. Thanks much!</span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For readers elsewhere, please check the Amazon sites that serve your location. "Look Inside" function on some sites shows sample pages.</span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;">Singapore:</span></b><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;"> </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="https://bit.ly/3XJzInH" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration-line: none;">https://bit.ly/3XJzInH</a></span></span><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;">Australia:</span></b><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;"> </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3ViaX0i" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration-line: none;">https://amzn.to/3ViaX0i</a></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;">United Kingdom:</span></b><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;"> </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3EZ6clA" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration-line: none;">https://amzn.to/3EZ6clA</a></span></span><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;"> Look Inside<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><p style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;">USA:</span></b><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;"> </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3Ui3Eo1" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration-line: none;">https://amzn.to/3Ui3Eo1</a></span></span><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;"> Look Inside. When ordering from Singapore, please click on the "Shipping to Singapore?" button. Ignore the "Temporarily out of stock" notice on the Amazon.com page.</span></span></p></span></div></div>David Boeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401913253357584603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348464617577736454.post-90272501682766121932023-06-18T14:45:00.001+08:002023-06-18T14:45:20.140+08:00Pukul Habis added to Singapore National Library's collection<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjsusiy800wzmnw2znDzPDE7UZmhKobPiMMzgiERSl4S8Ktbt3SKebVU13lo-W9TdF8HJ-Q7W4q96bfJ14gLreNFxhbION3NrXZzWBVnWZJLIfYpLj9zZlG2qADiHRbEEaqekNW1tdcres8897E36hRPt3e5VtG_ooRPxQo6DoxfEzjL_FOfF6Z1rL/s1280/18062023%20NLB%20loan%201350H.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="694" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjsusiy800wzmnw2znDzPDE7UZmhKobPiMMzgiERSl4S8Ktbt3SKebVU13lo-W9TdF8HJ-Q7W4q96bfJ14gLreNFxhbION3NrXZzWBVnWZJLIfYpLj9zZlG2qADiHRbEEaqekNW1tdcres8897E36hRPt3e5VtG_ooRPxQo6DoxfEzjL_FOfF6Z1rL/s320/18062023%20NLB%20loan%201350H.jpeg" width="174" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGHWlASAbnWS8u7m1c2wv9sHLcR2gryjY4JeYp12sLE2ucMJbp48Z_FbFQLMXAH3Umj7Ixwnj0JB8G99pDK98P0Msp8x97_6c_aNPAtGagNkslT3zlHLfcsov8JrFYRKqUmHK41YylYgVWTsRYXBtKIwsNgTgAcXz9jB0Qz8EfA2gMkkhw95rakqD/s1280/18062023%20Suntimes%20ranking.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1259" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGHWlASAbnWS8u7m1c2wv9sHLcR2gryjY4JeYp12sLE2ucMJbp48Z_FbFQLMXAH3Umj7Ixwnj0JB8G99pDK98P0Msp8x97_6c_aNPAtGagNkslT3zlHLfcsov8JrFYRKqUmHK41YylYgVWTsRYXBtKIwsNgTgAcXz9jB0Qz8EfA2gMkkhw95rakqD/s320/18062023%20Suntimes%20ranking.jpeg" width="315" /></a></div></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Delighted to see my first novel, <i>Pukul Habis</i>, added to Singapore's National Library Board collection. </span></span></p><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I see the book has 38 reservations as of today (18 June 2023), more than 6 months since its launch. There are 4 copies available for loan of up to 3 weeks from libraries in Jurong, Punggol, Tampines and Woodlands - this means waiting quite a few months, assuming all 38 readers want to borrow the book? There are also 2 copies at the Lee Kong Chian Reference Library. <a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="-1"></a>Look for call number S823 BOE.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Pukul Habis</i> has made it to The Sunday Times' weekly ranking for top 10 bestsellers in fiction yet again. Thanks everyone for your continued interest in this war story.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Copies available at Books Kinokuniya in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. And via Amazon. ISBN: 9789811861499</span></div></div>David Boeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401913253357584603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348464617577736454.post-14914441674478850142023-06-17T22:38:00.006+08:002023-06-29T15:18:51.209+08:00How I wrote a war story watching 35 SCE M3G military float bridges at National Day Parade NDP rehearsals<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv2IpzX2WFx-qt-0ZMwSyiuoyeP2BAldQTZcD1YWTQKU_iOrHOe0PcJcwqwhvSNdHsEuQRlwcNhIa7LxKLfmYVEjVatlgwiibH4ddI09pvR6So6Z6tXREheaE3XMtBtCNY6ZD7EdMzsNgm3Z8NS1qjF2p-9wVTsu9OjRfTWJ6GS1lSDOWOUarZbFxL/s640/17062023%20CR2a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv2IpzX2WFx-qt-0ZMwSyiuoyeP2BAldQTZcD1YWTQKU_iOrHOe0PcJcwqwhvSNdHsEuQRlwcNhIa7LxKLfmYVEjVatlgwiibH4ddI09pvR6So6Z6tXREheaE3XMtBtCNY6ZD7EdMzsNgm3Z8NS1qjF2p-9wVTsu9OjRfTWJ6GS1lSDOWOUarZbFxL/s320/17062023%20CR2a.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="4ib6o" data-offset-key="bnhsa-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bnhsa-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="bnhsa-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bnhsa-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="bnhsa-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Was at Kallang River this morning (17 Jun 2023) before dawn to catch combat engineers from the 35th Battalion, Singapore Combat Engineers (35 SCE) launch their M3G military float bridges into the river. </span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="4ib6o" data-offset-key="2dq10-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2dq10-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="2dq10-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="4ib6o" data-offset-key="2rju4-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2rju4-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="2rju4-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Men and women from 35 SCE worked overnight to bring the M3Gs from their camp in Seletar, crossing the width of Singapore literally from our island's north shore to the south, to take part in today's National Day Parade (NDP) Combined Rehearsal 2.</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="4ib6o" data-offset-key="1qtka-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="1qtka-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="1qtka-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="4ib6o" data-offset-key="df3eq-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="df3eq-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="df3eq-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As many of you may know, preparations for NDP 2023 will take place every Saturday from now till 9 August (Singapore's National Day). Five M3Gs join up in the water to form a self-propelled raft that ferries the 25-pounder guns that will execute the Presidential Gun Salute. It's a vitally important "supporting role" that gives the combat engineers yet another training opportunity to hone their bridge building expertise.</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="4ib6o" data-offset-key="ro5g-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ro5g-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="ro5g-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="4ib6o" data-offset-key="7lb8f-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7lb8f-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="7lb8f-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This morning's walkabout marked the first time I had seen the M3G crews up close since Pukul Habis, a fictional stoy of war in Malaysia and Singapore, was published. The last time I saw 35 SCE's M3Gs go into the water was in 2019 - before COVID upended our lives and saw NDP scaled down tremendously.</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="4ib6o" data-offset-key="7qhtr-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7qhtr-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="7qhtr-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7qhtr-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="7qhtr-0-0"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEickRRtwzCJH8xaoVQynw_wgcTS-1x-NtFRScsHBL548rfpzKKiEekoiXzivwfDvWEi690eP3ixM-dt-ZhKFWwuHCtB0y3Dxb3FIFGx9qQENZ7QK0s3x5Ww0H3kRpwz7Am-NQyFXTLQgw6a_VejIlUOsfCSjZ5RZPVAZJRuG07C8QtrLa1rlIlaxoN7/s4032/17062023%20CR2b.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEickRRtwzCJH8xaoVQynw_wgcTS-1x-NtFRScsHBL548rfpzKKiEekoiXzivwfDvWEi690eP3ixM-dt-ZhKFWwuHCtB0y3Dxb3FIFGx9qQENZ7QK0s3x5Ww0H3kRpwz7Am-NQyFXTLQgw6a_VejIlUOsfCSjZ5RZPVAZJRuG07C8QtrLa1rlIlaxoN7/s320/17062023%20CR2b.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="4ib6o" data-offset-key="otlb-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="otlb-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="otlb-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It was quite special for me, walking down the same riverbank where years ago, I had spent many Saturday mornings observing how the combat engineers deployed their rigs. As I watched the combat engineers do their thing, I tried to imagine them doing it at night, under pressure and possibly under fire. Those observations helped me write the battle scenes where M3Gs are mentioned in the book. I hope I got it mostly right!</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="4ib6o" data-offset-key="anbrs-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="anbrs-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="anbrs-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="4ib6o" data-offset-key="1nk0v-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="1nk0v-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="1nk0v-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This morning, two officers who heard about the book came over to chat. Was heartened by their interest. </span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="4ib6o" data-offset-key="10ifr-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="10ifr-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="10ifr-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="4ib6o" data-offset-key="9hk09-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="9hk09-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="9hk09-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Big thanks to many cohorts of 35 SCE combat engineers for their hardwork, for never giving up and for their dedication during past year NDPs, which helped sow the seeds for parts of my book.</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="4ib6o" data-offset-key="7948l-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7948l-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="7948l-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="4ib6o" data-offset-key="3ld3r-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3ld3r-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="3ld3r-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;">POWER PROJECTION!</span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3ld3r-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="3ld3r-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3ld3r-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="3ld3r-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Click <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CtkpfjSvkYN/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==">here</a> for the Instagram post</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="4ib6o" data-offset-key="3r9g6-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3r9g6-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="3r9g6-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3r9g6-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="3r9g6-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="color: black; text-align: left; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span><b>Please note:</b><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Books Kinokuniya in Singapore has stocked Pukul Habis (ISBN 9789811861499). Please visit its main store in Ngee Ann City or Bugis Junction, or check the Kinokuniya online store </span><a href="https://singapore.kinokuniya.com/bw/9789811861499" style="font-family: inherit;">here</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">. The title is also available from Kinokuniya Malaysia. Please enquire with the KLCC store. First few shipments sold out quickly - but you can leave you name with Kino Malaysia KLCC's waiting list. Thanks much!</span></div><div style="color: black; text-align: left; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: black; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For readers elsewhere, please check the Amazon sites that serve your location. "Look Inside" function on some sites shows sample pages.</span></div><div style="color: black; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;">Singapore:</span></b><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;"> </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="https://bit.ly/3XJzInH" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration-line: none;">https://bit.ly/3XJzInH</a></span></span><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;">Australia:</span></b><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;"> </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3ViaX0i" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration-line: none;">https://amzn.to/3ViaX0i</a></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;">United Kingdom:</span></b><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;"> </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3EZ6clA" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration-line: none;">https://amzn.to/3EZ6clA</a></span></span><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;"> Look Inside<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><p style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;">USA:</span></b><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;"> </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3Ui3Eo1" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration-line: none;">https://amzn.to/3Ui3Eo1</a></span></span><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;"> Look Inside. When ordering from Singapore, please click on the "Shipping to Singapore?" button. Ignore the "Temporarily out of stock" notice on the Amazon.com page.</span></span></p></span></div></span></span></div></div>David Boeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401913253357584603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348464617577736454.post-46087463006531428652023-06-05T07:12:00.004+08:002023-06-06T08:22:46.983+08:00Type 218SG Impeccable due to arrive in time for Singapore’s National Day 2023<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioUqCVhhcc-1JvMv41yXrrTQ5SDiP_6WS8xNvxZHjUFpt6G_CJNvPoEOGE7Sq-94Ml-lNgghOSVBfQcX8lB1e6SpcYKVEF_dN2ZOQkpwUhPUXZpAWVjaqCwNqKXa-iJLTK-ZUrkF33nNgIIX22J8iRuuf8CTPsB9TlRpYiZsXSV-fCKC97_TsJ3OWw/s2037/IMG_3539.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2037" data-original-width="1169" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioUqCVhhcc-1JvMv41yXrrTQ5SDiP_6WS8xNvxZHjUFpt6G_CJNvPoEOGE7Sq-94Ml-lNgghOSVBfQcX8lB1e6SpcYKVEF_dN2ZOQkpwUhPUXZpAWVjaqCwNqKXa-iJLTK-ZUrkF33nNgIIX22J8iRuuf8CTPsB9TlRpYiZsXSV-fCKC97_TsJ3OWw/s320/IMG_3539.jpeg" width="184" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>National Day this year will be even more special as the Republic of Singapore Navy’s newest class of submarine is expected to arrive here on 1 August. <div><br /></div><div>Ship tracking websites show that Rolldock Storm, a civilian vessel designed to carry outsized cargo, is now in the Atlantic Ocean bound for Singapore. Rolldock Storm has in her cargo deck the Type 218SG submarine, Impeccable, which was built in a German shipyard ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Updated 6 Jun 0815H</b>: Rolldock Storm appeared bound for the long way round Africa. As at 0800H 6 June 2023, ship tracking websites showed the vessel had passed the entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar. Will continue to monitor. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi18UVirB2-6fZrHBmcpRMNJpWoMl0_usM_GdUg0eARPgFoI6CZTr8CZY2TjU7VRn9c0Kv03LQxepXuKi7L-v9qZrSWCG74nDnWwsOCco5Iog9nkT9sWCpxS6s8_ZTDSl811AeSWM9O4W0AiCmVVToBUQhIgoVOC8_sxqFpmkZVAAJH6afr-MUkxTQ_/s1818/IMG_3595.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1818" data-original-width="1170" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi18UVirB2-6fZrHBmcpRMNJpWoMl0_usM_GdUg0eARPgFoI6CZTr8CZY2TjU7VRn9c0Kv03LQxepXuKi7L-v9qZrSWCG74nDnWwsOCco5Iog9nkT9sWCpxS6s8_ZTDSl811AeSWM9O4W0AiCmVVToBUQhIgoVOC8_sxqFpmkZVAAJH6afr-MUkxTQ_/s320/IMG_3595.jpeg" width="206" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>[<b>Deleted 6 Jun</b>: Rolldock Storm is expected to enter the Mediterranean, after which she will transit the Suez Canal and continue her journey to Singapore.]</div><div><br /></div><div>Save the date shipspotters! </div>David Boeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401913253357584603noreply@blogger.com0