THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE NAVY
By George Kaplan
The navy of the Republic of Singapore (RSN) is one of South East Asia's most interesting and dynamic. From humble beginnings following independence in 1963, the RSN has grown to a position of control over one of the world's most important waterways. Today, the RSN is capable of exerting 'Sea Control' over their area of immediate interest and sea denial much further away. With the introduction into Singaporean service of four ex-Swedish Navy submarines and the addition of new stealth frigates on order from France the RSN will soon be in a position to exert 'Sea Dominance' on, over and under the waters surrounding the Singapore Strait. Such is the mix of capabilities that the RSN is integrating that, with the exception of the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force with their Aegis destroyers and fleets of modern destroyers and submarines, and the overwhelming firepower of the United States Navy, the RSN is on track to become the most powerful navy in the region. The RSN of Today
Today's RSN is based around a core of missile armed fast patrol boats. These vessels are ideal for operations in and around the intensely crowded littoral waters of the Singapore and Malacca Straits. Small, fast and easily able to disappear amongst the numerous islands, ferries, fishing boats and merchant ships that ply these waters, they are also possessed of potency far outweighing their size. The largest and most capable of Singapore's fleet are the six Victory class corvettes. Displacing 600 tonnes, they are armed with up to eight Harpoon anti-ship missiles, each with range of 130kms and more than capable of seriously damaging a frigate-sized opponent. A recent upgrade to these corvettes has seen a substantial improvement in their self-defence capabilities, with the addition twin vertical launch octuple Barak surface to air missile launchers to augment the single 76-mm dual-purpose Super Raid gun and passive defence measures.
The Israeli Barak is designed to be a relatively low-cost point defence missile system to protect ships against both manned aircraft and anti-ship missiles and consequently has a quick reaction time, typically 3 seconds including 0.6 seconds to turn over. The fire-control system is based upon the Elta EL/M-2221GM I/J- and K-band (X-Ka band) monopulse coherent tracking and illumination radar which is supplemented, on the right-hand side, by a Rafael thermal imager. It features a dish antenna with an elevation of -25 to +85º. Search, acquisition and tracking may be conducted in either I/J (8 to 20 GHz) or K (20 to 40 GHz) bands and it can track the target or targets while controlling two missiles. The system may also be used for controlling guns, possibly with the assistance of a separate ballistic computer. Upon acquisition of the target/targets by the ship's search radar, the fire-control radar designates the targets.

Sea Wolf class missile (Harpoon & Gabriel ASMs) armed attack boat. Also 57mm rapid fire gun plus Simbad twin launcher for Mistral homing AS missiles.

The system automatically calculates the level of threat from each target, allocates a missile or missiles and automatically launches them. In the anti-ship missile role the Barak leaves the launcher and is turned over towards the target by the thrust vector control system at the base of the missile which is automatically discarded, presumably by explosive bolts, upon completion of launch. The missile is acquired and controlled by the fire-control radar which then guides it towards the target. The missile is capable of engaging targets 2 m above the sea and can manoeuvre at 25 g. It travels at Mach 2 and has a range of 12kms.
The Victory class are also fitted with two triple 324mm ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare) torpedo tubes for six Italian Whitehead A 244s anti-submarine active/passive homing torpedos with a range of 7kms.
Backing up the Victory class are six 260 tonne Sea Wolf Harpoon/Gabriel I armed missile attack craft, and 12 500 tonne Fearless patrol craft, half of which are fitted out for ASW operations. The Sea Wolf are armed with four Harpoon ASMs and four Israeli Gabriel I ASMs with a range of 20km at Mach .7 and guided by either optical or radar guidance (semi-active homing). The Sea Wolf and fearless are also fitted with the Matra Simbad twin launcher for Mistral IR anti-aircraft missiles, which have a range of 4kms.
The Fearless class are fitted with a 76mm super rapid gun which can fire 120 rpm to 16kms. As mentioned, half of the class are also fitted for ASW operations and employ a Thomson Sintra TSM 2362 Gudgeon hull-mounted active attack medium frequency sonar. One of the ships is also fitted with a towed sonar array. The ASW ships have two triple 324mm torpedo tubes for the Italian Whitehead A244s active/passive torpedo.
Operating close to their bases, and under friendly air cover, these vessels could use Singapore's crowded waters to full advantage, mingling with neutral traffic and darting out to deliver missile attacks against their targets or to search and destroy transiting submarines. They would have the 'Home Ground' advantage of airborne and shore based radar surveillance. Realistic exercises that emphasise these tactics regularly feature in the RSN's training schedule.
Taken together with the Republic's Grumman E-2 Hawkeye AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning & Control) aircraft, and A-4 Skyhawk and F-16 Falcon attack aircraft, these surface assets have the capability to render the waters in and surrounding the Singapore Strait extremely dangerous to opponents. These however are not the only forces that an aggressive maritime force would have to deal with, for further danger lurks beneath the waves.
Singapore took the decision to acquire a submarine force in the early 1990's, with the acquisition announced in 1995 of the first one, then four submarines of the Sjoormen class. All had seen service with the Royal Swedish Navy in the shallow and cold waters of the Baltic. These submarines, 25 years old at the time, were to be decommissioned as part of reductions in the Swedish submarine service. Singapore evaluated them and found them to be excellent entry level technology into submarine operations. Their design, optimised for shallow water operations in the Baltic, is ideally suited for operations in the waters of the Singapore Strait and the surrounding region. However, the water temperature is much higher in the tropics meaning more corrosion and a loss of underwater endurance due to battery overheating.
Following extensive reconditioning, which involved the replacement of most of the submarines pipping, wiring and the fitting of air conditioning, two of the four boats are now in operation in Singapore, with the remaining two completing crew-training duties in the Baltic and due to arrive in Singapore in 2003. The submarines are armed with four 533mm bow tubes and carry up to 10 FFV 613 anti-surface wire guided passive homing torpedos with a range of 15kms at 45kts using a 250kg warhead. The subs also have two 400mm torpedo tubes for four FFV Type 431 anti-submarine active/passive wire guided torpedoes with a range of 20kms at 25kts and using a 45kg shaped charge warhead, or an equivalent war load of mines. The four boats are named CHALLENGER, CENTURION, CONQUEROR and CHIEFTAIN are a potent weapon in the republic's maritime arsenal. Despite their age, they are quiet, manoeuvrable and will be extraordinarily hard to detect in the notoriously difficult anti-submarine environment of the tropics, where shallow water, noisy acoustic environment, varying salinity and complex temperature gradients combine to work to the submarine's advantage. Even the most capable anti-submarine force will struggle to locate the Challenger class subs in these difficult waters.
The RSN is aware that a mining campaign conducted in the waters of the Singapore and Malacca Straits could have a devastating impact on both the economy of the island state, and on the RSN's movements. To this end they have commissioned four Swedish designed Landsort class minehunters. The first, BEDOK (which the class was also named), was built in Sweden with the last three being built in Singapore. While not sufficient to keep the entire Singapore Strait clear of mines, they are sufficient to ensure RSN access to their operating areas. The RSN has rightly concluded that any indiscriminate mining campaign in the Strait's would endanger the traffic of so many nations that an international anti-mining operation would commence to sweep the waters clean and ensure continued access by shipping.
The mine hunter force is equipped to deal with the most modern mines, being equipped with high definition sonars, remotely operated mine disposal vehicles, and facilities to support teams of divers. The Bedok class is also fitted to lay mines if necessary.
To support Singapore's claims to some of the outlying islands, the RSN operates an amphibious force comprising one ex-Royal Navy Landing Ship Logistic and four Endurance class LST (Landing Ship Tank). Commissioned into RSN service as PERSEVERANCE in 1994 the former Falklands War veteran SIR LANCELOT can lift a maximum of 560 troops and 16 MBTs (Main Battle Tanks), and has two platforms for operating helicopters. While PERSEVERANCE can deliver her cargo by beaching and unloading via bow doors, this is rarely carried out in practice.
The four Endurance class LST's were designed and built in Singapore, and provide a useful capability with each capable of lifting 350 troops, 18 MBT's and 20 other vehicles. These can be delivered through four small landing craft carried in davits, four larger landing craft in the ship's well dock or via the two embarked Puma helicopters. Bow and stern doors are also fitted which allows a mate up with the RSN's larger landing craft for transport of vehicles to the shore. It has a well dock which can flood down to enable landing craft to drive in and out of the ship. The acquisition of these four vessels gives the RSN the capability to land and support troops on any of the numerous islands which surround Singapore's territorial waters, or which control the entrance to the Singapore Strait. In fact one of the Endurance class completed the RSN's first circumnavigation of the globe, in 2000. However, one must really question why a small island nation needs four very large amphibious assault ships at all when helicopters can transport troops around its territory with ease? Some have speculated that the ships are there to protect Singaporean interests either up the Malay peninsular or further from home.
All in all, the RSN has developed into a capable navy, emerging from its brown-water status to a green-water force, capable of controlling its direct area of operational interest, which just happens to be one of the most busy and influential waterways in the world. In the years to come, the RSN will extend this capability.
The RSN of Tomorrow
For many years it has been apparent that the RSN was seeking a larger more capable vessel to supplement their current fleet of attack craft and corvettes. Most observers expected a larger OPV/corvette design of between 1000 and 1500 tonnes, probably incorporating some measure of stealth technology. In fact Singapore stunned the naval world with the announcement that it would buy six La Fayette-derived stealth frigates from France.

Computer generated drawing of Delta class frigate with better signature reduction measures than its basic French La Fayette design.

Displacing more than 3200 tonnes, the Singaporean, or Delta version of the popular frigates will be armed with a OTO Melera 76-mm super rapid gun, and a mix of anti-aircraft and anti-ship missiles. While exact armaments are still uncertain, it is known that they will be armed with the European anti-aircraft ASTER missile system. The first ship of this class will be completed in France and arrive in Singapore in 2005, while ships 2 and 3 will commence construction at the same time in Singapore. All are scheduled to be in service by 2009.
With the capability to operate a medium sized helicopter for over the horizon surveillance and targeting, far superior sea keeping capabilities than their predecessors and a reduced IR, acoustic and electronic signature, the six as yet unnamed frigates will dramatically bolster the Republic's Navy.
Recent announcements of the features of the six frigates reveals that the 110 metre frigates differ in a number of ways from the base line La Fayette class, as operated by France, Taiwan and Saudi Arabia.
The hull design is in most respects similar to the current La Fayette hull design, but the superstructure is substantially different. The superstructure has been reduced and incorporates further shaping to reduce the radar signature of the ship, relative to the baseline ships. Part of the change will have been driven by the RSN's choice of weapons and sensors, and others by growing experience in the art of radar reduction.
The ships will be highly automated and have a crew of only 60. An as yet the Singaporeans have not specified an anti-ship missile but may possibly retain Harpoon to maintain commonality with the rest of the fleet. To support over the horizon and terminal guidance for the anti-ship missiles, the frigates will be equipped to operate a Seahawk/NH-90 sized helicopter. Depending on its fit out, this helicopter could also be capable of deploying anti-submarine sensors and weapons, in concert with the frigates own low-frequency towed sonar array.
The ships will also be fitted with a comprehensive combat system and secure communications to enable it to coordinate the operations of the RSN's missile corvettes and fast attack craft.
Much of the design of the frigate suggests that it may also be destined for "out of area" operations, away from the Singapore and Malacca Straits. In particular the fitting of a EDO low frequency towed sonar array, which would be difficult to operate in the shallow waters of the Strait, but which would be useful for supporting the escort of other ships in the open ocean.
Far surpassing Malaysia's Lekiu frigates, and emphasising the obsolescence of much of the Indonesian, Philippines and Thai navies, it will be interesting to see what responses the other ASEAN navies will announce to try and match the RSN's new frigates. A mini-arms race may develop, as each tries to counter the others capabilities.
The operations of the Challenger class submarines have brought home the many capabilities that an efficient submarine force can offer. Covert surveillance, anti-shipping strikes, special operations and mine-laying operations are just a few of the capabilities available to the RSN, despite the limitations of the boats due to their age.
The Challenger class are all more than 25 years old, and it has always been Singaporean policy that these boats were to develop the required submarine operations expertise before selecting a modern class of submarines to replace them. The most likely candidates are the German U 212 class, the New Viking class of submarines being designed for the Swedish and Norwegian navies, and the French/Spanish Scorpene class. All are small, manoeuvrable and fast for conventional submarines. Fitted with a modern command and control systems, and state of the art sensors and weapons, they would be potent additions to the RSN's arsenal. While use of the Challenger class submarines may provide the Swedes with a small lead in the choice of a new submarine, the French have considerable expertise in foreign sales, and it must not be forgotten that more German submarines have been built and operated by more navies worldwide than any other nations.
A timeframe for the selection and construction of the new submarines has not been announced however, the age of the Challenger class will to some extent force the RSN's hand. Most likely an announcement of the search for a replacement will be made within the next 12 months, and a decision within two years after that, by which time the youngest of the Challenger class will be approaching 30 years in service.
The acquisition of the Challenger class, and the expected announcement of their replacements has already stirred other South East Asian states to consider the acquisition of submarine arms (Thailand), or the revitalisation of their currently moribund sub forces (Indonesia), to match the Singaporean capability. Malaysia has already announced the purchase of two of the French/Spanish Scorpene class submarines (see THE NAVY Vol 64, No.4, p 22)
Conclusion
The RSN is the most capable navy in South East Asia. Its potent mix of missile corvettes and submarines, in concert with the surveillance and strike aircraft of the RSAF, can control the waters surrounding Singapore, and allow it to exert control over the length of the Singapore Strait, one of the world's most vital waterways, and further a field.
The addition of the six stealth frigates, and the anticipated replacements for the Challenger class submarines, will allow the RSN to dominate the waters of its direct interest, and to project that power into surrounding seas.
The Delta class frigates will also provide the RSN with the capability to deploy naval power further from home waters, allowing participation in United Nations sanctioned maritime operations such as the Multi-National Interception Force enforcing sanctions against Iraq.
One key weakness in the Singaporean naval order of battle is the lack of support ships. Replenishment vessels would allow the RSN to extend into the South China Sea and to the entrance of the Malacca strait. It is more than likely that a Singaporean acquisition of such replenishment ships would spark unrest in the navies of the region as this would be the key indicator of Singaporean expansion.
With tensions periodically rising and falling between the nations of the region, the powerful RSN will still provide the rulers of their tiny nation state with a versatile and potent arm in support of diplomacy.