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22 Apr 00

Introduction

Hey all and welcome aboard! My first feature focuses on our RSN’s submarines which we recently purchased from Kockums, Sweden. This establishes the RSN as the first country in this region to acquire submarines. It also reflects a few qualities that we Singaporeans possess as we move towards the goal of being a world class navy.

History of the submarine

By historic convention, a navy used to be restricted to surface vessels, but the days of great naval battles where the only threat was another surface combatant carrying big guns and firing off board-side lies in the pages of history. By WWI, the value of submarines as an underwater military asset was fast emerging. 2 trends developed during that war which would evolve and revolutionise today’s concept of naval warfare. Firstly, submarines have the ability to hunt silently and inflict losses from a distance without detection. More than simply material loss, a fleet hunted by an undetected underwater stalker suffers loss of morale and stands to lose the battle psychologically even before it is fought.

Secondly, with the advent of this new menace, naval forces have developed new strategies and equipment to counter this threat. These methods include the use of depth charges, variable depth sonars, specialised ships specifically equipped to hunt subs and paired with naval helicopters dedicated to anti-submarine warfare. And of course what better way is there to hunt/kill a submarine than to use newer advanced hunter/killer subs equipped with modern torpedoes?

But other than hunt and kill, submarines can be built to fulfil other roles as well, some are designed to carry nukes, some as exploratory vehicles, yet others are designed to be ultra quiet as part of their surveillance/intelligence-gathering ops.

RSN’s move to submarine warfare

When the RSN was first formed in 1967, the fleet had to get by with merely 2 ships which were hardly worth their weight in salt militarily. Nonetheless, it allowed the RSN to establish a surface presence. Also, in March 1992, then-CDRE Teo Chee Hean, CNV honoured the Skyvans of 121 Sqn with the Navy crest at Changi Air Base. This major milestone in RSN-RSAF affiliation reflected the RSN’s ability to exploit the air as well as surface dimensions.

But today, 32 years down the road, with the Sjoormen class submarines, the RSN has conquered its last dimension of naval warfare : sub-surface warfare. Looking at the specs of the Sjoormen class submarines, they may not be anything to shout about. They are old (late sixties; the subs were actually de-commissioned by the Swedes before they were sold to us), slow, and small. And as announced by Dr Tony Tan in Sept 95, the decision to take up a submarine programme offered by Sweden serves 2 vital purposes : firstly for submarine training and secondly to help the Navy evaluate whether or not she should add submarines to her list of modern operational capabilities. In short, what Dr Tony Tan is saying is that the Sjoormen class is not meant for a combat role per se. However, I beg to differ. Although our subs may not be in the same league as modern H/K vessels like the American Los Angeles and Seawolf class or the Russian Akula and Alfa class, they can present a credible defense against regional maritime threats. They have 6 torpedo tubes for surface and sub-surface targets, a modern sonar (Plessey Hydra) and fire control (Ericsson IPS–12) suite, and are armed with Swedish Type 613 and 431 torps. I also heard that RSN may be acquiring the more modern TP 2000 torpedo in the future (thanks Alvin for the tip!).

Furthermore, after casual inquiries with some of my personal contacts, most of whom gave piecemeal information, I have discovered that the subs can also be rigged for silent surveillance in regional waters. Presumably they will be patrolling the waters close to our ‘friend’ as a means of monitoring the movements of their sampans. But let’s leave that kinda work to the boys in blue.

LATEST NEWS!!!!  The first of our Sjoormen subs have returned on 01 May 00.  Do stay tuned for more info.

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