Yuku free message boards

The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) is the navy of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). The RSN came into being in 1975 when the SAF established its component forces into three distinct services, and it is the smallest among the three services. It is responsible for the defence of Singapore against sea-borne threats and protection of its sea lines of communications. All commissioned ships of the RSN have a prefix RSS, which mean Republic of Singapore Ship.
As some may know, Shipping is one of the major life lines of Singapore, much emphasis is also placed on protecting and safe-guarding our sea lanes and ports. As the straits of Malacca may be well-known for carrying almost a quarter of the world's trade and oil, it is veri much prone to being attacked by pirates. Thus much has to be done to ensure the vitality and survival of the shipping lanes. Singapore do cooperate with its neighbours in conduct joint-protection of the straits.
RSN has currently 30 odd surface vessels and 4 subs.
One may ask why Singapore does not place emphasis on building large vessels when it does not face much economical constraints?
The answer is the straits of Singapore and Johore is very narrow. Besides the small islets around the main Islands are pitted with many shallow reefs and rocks. Thus it is not wise to build large ships as they might collide with other commercial vessels.


SUBMARINES

the RSN acquired a Challenger class (formerly known as Sjormen class) submarine from the Swedish Navy and another three in 1997, making them Singapore's first underwater platforms. Various modifications were required to suit them to tropical waters. A comprehensive tropicalisation programme was carried out for all four submarines, which involves installing air conditioning, marine growth protection systems and corrosion-resistant piping. It is believed that the Challenger class were purchased to develop the required submarine operations expertise before selecting a modern class of submarines to replace them. The four submarines form the 171 Squadron of the RSN.

FRIGATES

The design of the frigates are based on the French Navys La Fayette class frigate. The frigates are very stealthy platforms and are shaped to reduce their radar cross-section. They are also highly capable multi-mission platforms, with significant anti-air, anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare capability, augmented by a 10-tonne class helicopter.
RSN has chosen Sikorsky S-70B naval helicopters (an international derivative of the United States Navy (USN) SH-60B Seahawk) which will operate off these frigates. The acquisition of these naval helicopters, equipped with advanced anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare sensors and weapons, is a significant milestone in the RSN's force development.
weapons include --- 76mm oto melara naval gun
--- Aster 15 AAM VLS
--- 2 twin barrel 20mm auto AA gun
--- Harpoon Anti ship missile
--- whitehead A244 torpedoes

CORVETTES

RSN ordered six Victory class corvettes from Fredrich Lrssen Werft of Germany. The first corvette was built in Germany while the remaining five were built locally by ST Marine. The corvettes were also the first class of ships in the RSN to have an anti-submarine capability. six corvettes form the 188 Squadron of the RSN.
Weapons--- 76mm oto melara gun
--- Harpoon Missile
--- Barak AAM missile
--- white head torpedoes

GUNBOATS

The Sea Wolf class of missile gunboats were acquired in 1968, based on the TNC 45 design from Fredrich Lrssen Werft. The first two gunboats were constructed in Germany, while the remaining four were constructed locally by ST Marine (then known as Singapore Shipbuilding and Engineering). As new technology became available, these gunboats underwent a number of upgrading programmes in the 1980s and 1990s to increase their strike capability and sophistication
Weapons---Harpoon anti-ship missiles
---Gabriel surface missiles
---Mistral surface-to-air missiles
---Bofors 57 mm gun

PATROL VESSELS

The Fearless class of patrol vessels were built locally by ST Marine to replace the older coastal patrol crafts, which were transferred to the Police Coast Guard. The first six vessels of the class are armed for anti-submarine warfare missions.
Weapons---Mistral surface-to-air missiles
---Oto Melara 76 mm gun
---Whitehead A.244/S torpedoes
---CIS 50 12.7 mm machine guns

TRANSPORT SHIP

The Endurance class amphibious transport docks are the biggest class of ships in the RSN. They were designed and built locally by ST Marine to replace the old County class tank landing ships. Each ship is fitted with a well dock which can accommodate four landing craft, as well as a flight deck which can accommodate two medium lift helicopters. The ships provide sea transportation for personnel and equipment for SAF's overseas training, as well as a training platform for RSN's midshipmen. The ships are also actively involved in humanitarian and disaster relief operations, notably in East Timor, the Persian Gulf and the recent tsunami-hit Indonesian province of Aceh.
Weapons: Mistral surface-to-air missiles
Oto Melara 76 mm gun
CIS 50 12.7 mm machine guns

MINE-COUNER MEASURE VESSELS

The RSN acquired mine counter-measure capabilities as early as 1975, when the USN's USS Thrasher and USS Whippoorwill were reactivated by the RSN's engineers and technicians in California. The Bluebird class coastal minesweepers were commissioned as RSS Jupiter and RSS Mercury [11]

These two ships were eventually replaced by the Bedok class mine counter-measures vessels. The first ship, RSS Bedok, was built by Karlskronavarvet in Sweden based on the Landsort class design. The remaining three ships were prefabricated in Sweden and transferred to Singapore for final assembly by ST Marine. The ships are constructed of glass reinforced plastic to maintain low magnetic and acoustic signatures. The ships form the 194 Squadron of the RSN.
Weapons:Bofors 40 mm gun
ECA PAP 104 Mk 4 mine disposal vehicles
CIS 50 12.7 mm machine guns

To Sumdud, I have not fired a CIS 0.5 Cal gun nor a Browning before,.......thus I am not in a position to discuss abt the weapons.
Besides, since the weapon is already been in use by the forces, it means tat the performance must be acceptable. But somethings for sure, I fired a SAR21 and Ultimax before, they are both veri gd. SAR21 do not suffer from IA tat much compared to the M16 and easier to maintain. It is shorter, thus better for FIBUA

To gollevainen, regarding the transport ships, Singapore does most of the large scale exercises overseas. Thus u need such ships to ferry the equipments overseas.
Besides, most of Singapore's neighbours has many islands,.........( u know wat I want to say, thus... )

In conclusion, we must understand tat watever weapons filed by the forces of a particular nation should not be used to compare with other countries. When a weapon is chosen or invented, it is design to cater to the specialised needs of the country with respect to its terrain, logistics, education lvl of soldiers, technology, etc..... Thus I don't really understand why some ppls here like to bash others, by making crude comparisons of the weapons, without understanding the true situations.

I would like to post some sats on local made arm:

SAR21

Caliber: 5.56mm NATO
Firearm action: Rotating bolt with gas operation
Manufactured by: Singapore Technologies Kinetics
Overall Length: 805 mm
Magazine type and capacity: 30 round translucent polymer box magazine
Aiming Systems: Integral 1.5x Scope, Integral 4-mode Laser Aiming Device
Rate Of Fire: 450-650 rpm
Weights
Weapon Weight, without accessories: 3.82kg

MATADOR

Calibre: 90mm
Length: 1 metre
Max range: 400 meters
Flight time to max range: 1.2s
Weight: 8.9kg
Penetration: Actual classified, but has anti-wall HESH (High-Explosive Squash Head) and anti-armour (HEAT) mode
Recognition: Similar to SPIKE-SR, however with exposed armor piercing pin

ULTIMAX100

caliber 5.56mm NATO
weigth 4,9 kg w/o magazine, 6,8 kg with loaded 100 rds mag and sling
Length 1024 mm
Length of barrel 508 mm OR 330 mm ('para' version)
feeding drum magazine 100 rounds OR box magazine 30 rounds
rate of fire 400-600 rounds per minute
Ultimax 100 light machine gun is the world's lightest machine gun with a patented concept that eliminates recoil for excellent control even in full automatic fire.

BIONIX

The indigeniously built Bionix Armoured Fighting Vehicle was designed and developed by ST Auto, it is a medium weight tracked vehicle weighing around 22 tonnes. The Bionix replaced the ageing M-113A2 amoured personnel carriers in the Singapore Armoured Regiments (SAR).

Variants include:
Armoured Fighting Vechile (40mm AGL/.5-inch HMG Turret)
Armoured Fighting Vehicle (25mm Bushmaster)
Armoured Vehicle launched Bridge (AVLB)
Armoured Recovery Vehicle (ARV)
IFV (GPMG/HMG armed)


PRIMUS-1

Designed and manufactured by Chartered Industries of Singapore
Singapore Self-Propelled Howitzer (SSPH)
155mm, 39-calibre Self-propelled Howitzer
Automatic loading system, enables operation with 4 men crew
Automated targetting based on GPS and Datalink
28-ton, 7-road wheel chassis based on U.S. M-109 and Singapore's Bionix chassis
Max road speed: 50km/h
Datalink system for shared targetting within battalion and information feeding from forward observers.

TERREX

The Terrex AV-81 is an armoured fighting vehicle developed by Singapore Technologies. It weights an estimated 25-30 tons with an 8x8 wheeled chassis with modern armour. Multiple weapon platforms are supported, including both the remote and overhead weapons stations.

The Republic of Singapore Air Force was established in 1968 and was at that time called the Singapore Air Defence Command (SADC), it was later named the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) in 1975. The backbone of the RSAF is formed by a number of Block 15OCU and Block 52+ F-16 Fighting Falcons. These are armed with US-supplied AIM-120C AMRAAM missiles and LANTIRN targetting pods, laser guided munitions and conformal fuel tanks for long-range strike. The Block15OCU aircraft are believed to be upgraded to "Falcon One" standard by Singapore Technologies before being donated to the Royal Thai Air Force.

Due to the small area Singapore covers (only 647.5 square km), the RSAF had to seek overseas locations to operate its complete aircraft inventory. With F-16 Fighting Falcons, KC-135 Stratotankers, AH-64D Apaches and CH-47 D Chinook helicopters based in the USA, Marchetti S-211s and Puma helicopters in Australia and A-4 Super Skyhawks in France, almost one third of the inventory is based outside Singapore.

In 1994 the RSAF started the modernization program for its fleet of approximately 40 operational (R)F-5E and F-5F aircraft. The upgrade was performed by Singapore Technologies Aerospace (STAero) and the upgraded aircraft were designated (R)F-5S and F-5T respectively, operating from Paya Lebar Airbase. These upgraded F-5S/T are capable of firing the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile. The Fighter force of F-16's, (T)A-4SU's and (R)F-5S/T's is supported by four KC-135Rs for in-flight refuelling.

Air Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) capability was introduced when in 1987 four E-2C Hawkeyes were delivered to 111sq and coastal surveillance is performed by four Fokker 27's, and five Fokker 50's in the Maritime Patrol Aircraft configuration, armed with long-range anti-shipping Harpoon missiles and torpedoes.

Singapore has ordered eight AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters and after a long period of negotiations over the delivery of the sophisticated Longbow radar, the first one was handed over on May 17, 2002, fitted with the Fire Control Radar. An extra batch of twelve Apaches was ordered in 2001, before the first delivery actually took place, so eventually the RSAF will operate 20 of those sophisticated attack helicopters. All initial 8 Apaches are based in USA. 4 of the Apache Longbow were expected to return home by 2008, but will be returning in 2006 at the Minister of Defense's request. Apart from the six CH-47D's delivered from 1996 on, a new batch of six aircraft was ordered in 1997, with an option of four extra airframes. At least 12 CH-47D have been delivered and in-service at Sembawang Airbase, it is believed that these have been upgraded to the SD standard prior to delivery. 8 of them were deployed in late December to January to support the relief efforts in Indonesia's Tsunami disaster. As of 24 January, 3 of them remain there while other assets have returned.

After 31 years of operations, the RSAF officially withdrew its fleet of Super Skyhawks from operational service on 31 March 2005. The A4-SUs' achievements included flying directly from Singapore to the Philippines, incorporating the RSAF's first air-to-air refuelling mission in 1986, as well as the excellent aerobatic display of the 'red and white' Super Skyhawks flown by the RSAF Black Knights during Asian Aerospace 1990. A month before its retirement, the SkyHawk squadron won the top honours in a strike exercise against its more modern F-16 and F-5 counterparts.

wow, they have Kc-135s to extend the range of their F-16s. Even china needs this capability.