Professional Documents
Culture Documents
A Search
For Hope
Navy Spouses
SAF50:
Navy News
CONTENTS
Advisor
RADM Timothy Lo
Editor
ISSUE 01 2015
16
Deputy Editor
Clara Lock
Editorial Coordinator
CPL Hans Lim
Photojournalists
CPL
CPL
CPL
PTE
PTE
(NS) Joel Ng
(NS) Yogachi Kimitsu
Hans Lim
S Mitra
Jonathan Ryan
22
Members
Jessica Teo
Sara Shamini
LTC Terence Tan
LTC Gary Ow
MAJ Ong Willie
CPT Adrian Teo
ME5 Nagara
ME4 Conrad Fung
20
28
The mission of the RSN is to enhance Singapores peace and security through deterrence
and diplomacy, and should these fail, to secure a swift and decisive victory over the
aggressor at sea. The RSN will ensure Singapores seaward defence, secure our sea lines of
communication, and maintain a high level of operational readiness and a broad spectrum of
capabilities to support our national interest.
COVER PAGE
Photo by
ME2 Jasper Ong
NAVY NEWS is a publication of the Republic of Singapore Navy. The views expressed by its
writers do not necessarily reflect the official views of the Navy or the Ministry of Defence.
NAVY NEWS is not to be reproduced in whole or in parts without the written consent of
the RSN. For enquiries and comments, please call 6768 3367 or email us at navynews@
defence.gov.sg or Navy News, NIC, NOD (OA email).
Navy News
CONTENTS
ISSUE 01 2015
03 CNVs Foreword
04 Quickrep
10 Onwards & Upwards
SAF50: The RSN through the years
A search for hope: Search operations for
Air Asia QZ8501
32
22 Photo story
The RSN is part of public exhibition
SAF50@Vivo
28
Know Your Navy Family
Navy spouses are pillars of strength
To lead and serve: The RSNs first
NSMen enroll in CSC
16
34 Dogwatch
City cycling: SAF personnel complete
50km route to commemorate SAF50
Ride on: Cycling tips
38 Port Brief
Explore the forts of Sentosa
34
42
Free Gangway
Get trigger happy with these cameras
44 Lookback
Stories from our pioneers
38
CNVs FOREWORD
Remembering Mr Lee Kuan Yew
On 26 January 1974, our founding Prime Minister officially
opened Brani Naval Base, the first real home we could call
our own. At the opening ceremony, Mr Lee Kuan Yew spoke
about the Navys role in protecting Singapores seaward
approaches.
More than thirty years later, in his book Hard Truths To Keep
Singapore Going, Mr Lee would again affirm the need for a
capable Navy to keep Singapores sea lanes open. The Navy
remembers and thanks Mr Lee for all that he has done for
Singapore and the SAF. We will continue to be steadfast in
our mission.
During the recent SAF50@Vivo celebrations, I had the privilege of interacting with some of our pioneers on
board RSS Endurance, including the members of the Singapore Womens Auxiliary Naval Service. They all
spoke fondly of their time in the Navy it was like yesterday for them. More significantly, they were proud,
and rightly so, of their part in defending a fledgling nation and nurturing a young Navy.
CPT (RET) Ernest Wickramasinghe was unable to join us for SAF50@Vivo, but wrote me a letter recounting
his pride at being the commanding officer of RSS Panglima during Operation Thunderstorm. RSS Panglima
had to remain at sea for 23 days, but his men served with courage and discipline and none of them
flinched from their duties in spite of lack of sleep or their inability to shower or change. Theirs was an
indomitable spirit.
We owe our Navy pioneers a debt of gratitude for laying a strong foundation for the RSN.
QUICK REP
QUICK REP
Senior Military Expert
Appointment Ceremony
QUICK REP
NALCOM Anniversary
NALCOM celebrated their 29th anniversary at the
Singapore Sports Hub on 31 Dec 14. The event, themed
Together Forward, was an opportunity for NALCOM
personnel to reflect what they had accomplished in
2014, and to look ahead towards the new year.
QUICK REP
QUICK REP
SAFSA
Inter-Formation
Championship 14/15
Team Navy emerged third at
the SAF Sports Association
Inter-formation Championship
for
2014/2015
which
concluded on 26 Feb. Combat
Service Support Command
and the Republic of Singapore
Air Force came in first and
second respectively.
SAF50@Vivo
SAF50@Vivo, which ran from 12 to 15 Feb, played host to over 87,000
people at VivoCity. Landing ship tank RSS Endurance opened its doors to
the public, offering ship tours and rides on the Fast Craft Utility. There
was also a shore exhibition where visitors got to experience simulators on
flying a fighter jet or shooting down a target with a ships 0.5 CIS gun.
The exhibition enabled visitors to learn about the 50 years of SAF history,
including the stories of servicemen and servicewomen from all three
services who have shaped it. Read more about it on page 22.
QUICK REP
E-Navigation Workshop
QUICK REP
Ex Malapura
The RSN participated
in Exercise Malapura,
a
yearly
bilateral
exercise
with
the
Royal Malaysian Navy
that took place from
4 to 15 Mar. Frigate
RSS Stalwart, missile
corvette RSS Victory
and patrol vessel RSS
Sovereignty took part
in the exercise, which
saw both navies carry
out joint planning and
training, as well as
drills in conventional
naval warfare and
maritime security in
the Malacca Strait. The
exercise concluded at
Lumut Naval Base.
Kure, Japan
Shanghai, China
South Korea
Langkawi, Malaysia
Lumut, Malaysia
Java Sea
Muara, Brunei
Thailand
Admiral Kraison Chansuvanich
Commander-in-Chief, Royal
Thai Navy
SAF50:
The RSN through
the years
Story by Jonathan Ryan
Photos courtesy of Pioneer, the Navy Museum and MINDEF
The growth of the Singapore Armed Forces has mirrored that of our
nation for the past 50 years. Navy News takes a look at some of the key
operations the Navy has taken part in along the way.
Operation Thunderstorm
In April 1975, the Singapore
Maritime Command was renamed
the Republic of Singapore
Navy (RSN). Less than a month
later, this young force was to
experience its crucible moment.
Boat people were fleeing war-torn
Indochina and seeking refuge in
other Southeast Asian nations.
They entered Singapore waters
hoping for shelter, or to use
Singapore as a point of transit to
other countries.
The entire Navy was turned
out on 1 May 1975 to intercept
the flood of vessels coming into
Singapore carrying boat people,
recalls LTC (RET) Namasevayam
who was a gunnery officer on
board RSS Daring.
The RSN had 14 ships capable
of such operations six missile
gun boats, six patrol craft, RSS
Panglima and RSS Endeavour.
But the operation was tough for
Many RSN ships were deployed for the MI185 search and recovery
mission Mine countermeasures vessel RSS Bedok, RSS Kallang and
RSS Punggol; missile corvette RSS Valiant; landing ship tanks (LST) RSS
Excellence and RSS Perseverance, and missile gun boat RSS Sea Dragon.
We
assimilated
everything
we had learnt during previous
exercises, and drew relevance
from prior experiences to respond
to the scenarios we faced, said
LTC Lee, who would later take
command of RSS Persistence.
Pirate
attacks
have
been
drastically reduced, falling from
237 in 2011 to only one attempt
last year. No successful attacks
have been carried out since
2012.
Standing guard against threats
that could launch at any hour
of the day takes focus, said CPT
Eric Goh.
Last year, he was one of three
operations officers on frigate
RSS Tenacious, which spent
three months in the GoA.
This
deployment
requires
prolonged persistence, he says.
We may not see action every
day, but when action is upon us,
we will be ready to respond.
Counter piracy mission: Ship security teams could launch RHIBs to conduct
compliant boarding and investigate skiffs suspected of piracy.
15
A search for
hope
By Clara Lock
Photos by Terence Tan, Kenneth Lin and courtesy of RSS Supreme
Landing ship tank RSS Persistence, which was equipped with fast craft utility and Super Puma helicopters on
board, was one of five ships from the RSN participating in search operations for Air Asia flight QZ8501.
16
17
ME2 Daniel Liao, who helms one of the fast craft utility on board
RSS Persistence, prepares the craft for a night launch. Low
visibility and swell heights of up to two metres made the operation
challenging, but the crew was trained and ready, he said.
Swift response
A frigate, RSS Supreme and
a missile corvette RSS Valour
were deployed on 28 December
2014, the same day Air Asia
flight QZ8501 went missing.
RSS Persistence departed the
next day with two Super Puma
helicopters embarked.
Over the next three days, mine
countermeasure vessel (MCMV)
RSS Kallang and submarine
rescue vessel MV Swift Rescue
joined the operation.
MV Swift Rescue had both a
dive team and an Autonomous
Underwater
Vehicle
team
embarked, the latter flown in to
enhance the underwater search.
There are rough templates
that search operations of this
nature are based upon, standard
operating procedures refined
over the years. But the specific
needs of each search operation
vary, and so must the responses.
18
Every time
I fly, Im
hoping the next
thing I see is a
living person.
- 3SG Goh Zhe Wen
When craft coxswain from the
Fast Craft Training Unit (FCTU)
ME3 Max Yeo led a team to
retrieve a body from the side door
of RSS Persistence, many of the
crew involved had never stared
death so starkly in the face.
If there was fear, it was secondary
to their purpose.
They all wanted to retrieve the
body and bring it home.
19
I told my
guys that no
matter what we
face, we want
to bring closure
to at least one
family.
- ME3 Max Yeo
3SG Goh Zhe Wen, who extended his National Service by four months, is an
Air Crew Specialist on the Super Puma helicopter. His job is to look out for
debris or bodies during the aerial surveillance flights.
Finding answers
17 days after the crash, the
Remotely
Operated
Vehicle
(ROV) on MV Swift Rescue
captured underwater footage of
the wreckage.
photo story
SAF50
on the waterfront
Photos by Navy News and LTA Leow Tien Leng
SAF50@Vivo, which ran from 12 to 15 Feb, played host to over 87,000 people at VivoCity.
Landing ship tank RSS Endurance opened its doors to the public, offering ship tours and rides
on the Fast Craft Utility (FCU).
22
photo story
23
photo story
24
photo story
25
photo story
8
26
photo story
7
6
to RSS Endurance
enjoyed rides on the FCUs,
where they sailed to Sentosas
Siloso
Beach
and
back.
Ambassadors on the 30-minute
ride shared with visitors what
the Navy does, including trivia
such as the top speed of the
FCU.
8 Visitors
27
Pillar of
support
Story by S Mitra
Photos by Jonathan Ryan, ME2 Jasper Ong and courtesy of interviewees
Im proud that my husband protects the seas and defends the country, says Miss Jacklyn Chew,
who will be married to CPT Wei Lai later this year.
28
Keeping house
For the RSN personnel, having
a partner to rely on back home
makes being out at sea easier.
When ME2 Amy Lim is away, her
husband ME2 (NS) Charles Tan
runs the household.
The couple choose not to hire a
domestic helper as they want to be
actively involved in the formative
years of their two sons aged seven
and five.
So Dad does it all getting them
dressed, shuttling them to school
and childcare, and coaching them
when they do their homework.
As a mother, being away from
home is tough for her. We believe
that home is where the heart is. So
when shes away, I try my best to
take care of our family so that she
can concentrate on her work, says
ME2 (NS) Tan, who met his wife
in 2003 while they were both in
service.
The couple have been married for
a decade.
ME2 Lim says: Its tough leaving
them behind when I sail, but I
feel more at ease knowing that my
husband will do whatever he can to
ensure everything runs smoothly in
my absence.
29
Silent supporters
Defending
Singapores
every
day;
ensuring
maritime
Being a
Navy wife
is the hardest
appointment
in the whole
Navy.
MAJ Daniel Tee
Navy spouses come to understand
these concepts too through
stories their partners tell, and
learning about what their partners
are passionate about.
the crew knows the significance
of maritime presence in these
shipping lanes.
When LSTs call on foreign ports,
the men and women on board
see first-hand how this enhances
defence relations.
To lead
and serve
Story and photos by S Mitra
Work-study balance
The course is a milestone
in the careers of many RSN
32
(L-R) NSMen MAJ (NS) David Seow, LTC (NS) Daryl Ou and MAJ (NS) Terence
Quek are the first three Navy NSmen enrolled in the Command and Staff Course,
which prepares them for higher command and staff appointments in the SAF.
33
DOG WATCH
The 50km ride started and ended at RSS Endurance, which was berthed at VivoCity as
part of the SAF50@Vivo exhibition. It took cyclists round the island, passing industrial
estates in Jurong as well as landmarks such as the war memorial, the Cenotaph.
City
cycling
Story and photos by Joel Ng
34
DOG WATCH
35
DOG WATCH
RidE ON
Story by Kimitsu Yogachi
Photos by Joel Ng
Training
Quality, not quantity
Train smarter by focusing on the type of terrain youll be covering or
competing on. If your route is mainly on flat ground, then train to become
a road sprinter by blasting up and down that kind of roads. Similarly, if you
are going to be encountering road inclinations, then make sure that your
training regime includes more uphill segments.
Fuel up
Apart from ensuring that you drink enough liquids to replenish water-loss
in our hot and humid weather, it is important to have enough nutrients
when you cycle long distance. If you are planning for a long ride, be sure
to have a power bar with you so that you can fuel up along the way. But
dont wait till you feel hungry or tired eat regularly as you are riding to
energise yourself and keep your ride going.
36
DOG WATCH
Training smart and cycling safely are two key elements of
a succesful ride, says ME2 Foong Wei Sheng (pictured)
Kit
Safety First
37
Port Brief
Hold
the fort
Story by CPL (NS) Yogachi Kimitsu
Photos courtesy of Sentosa Development Corporation
Fort Siloso
Perhaps the most famous of
all the forts, construction of
Fort Siloso started in 1879 and
was completed in 1885. The
four-hectare area underwent
numerous upgrades over the
years and was finally upgraded
to a fortress status in 1941
when it became fully selfsufficient. It even had its own
fresh-water supply.
During World War Two (WWII),
the guns at Fort Siloso engaged
in fierce battle against Japanese
troops coming from the south.
It famously sank a Japanese
troop transport. Before the fall
of Singapore, the guns also
assisted in destroying oil storage
on neighbouring islands, Pulau
Bukom and Pulau Sebarok, to
prevent the fuel from falling
38
Port Brief
39
Port Brief
Fort Serapong
Unlike Fort Siloso, not much is
known about the abandoned Fort
Serapong.
It was built in 1879 atop Bukit
Serapong, where it gets its name
from. This was the highest point on
To learn more about the significance that the artillery forts in Singapore had,
readers can visit tourist attractions such as Fort Siloso, as well as lesser-known
jewels such as Fort Serapong (pictured).
40
Port Brief
Fort Connaught
41
FREE GANGWAY
Trigger
happy
XR-H8
1:2.12
IN THE UK
M LENS 17-55M
B U I LT
ZOO
42
FREE GANGWAY
Micro four-thirds
Micro four-thirds cameras are designed
without mirror boxes found in digital
single lens reflex (DSLR) cameras,
allowing them to be built smaller and more portable
while maintaining good image quality.
These mirrorless cameras are ideal for the
prosumer, who wants a bit more control over
settings and functions without having to shell out
for a DSLR camera. These cameras allow users to
adjust individual settings such as aperture and
shutter speeds. Most bodies are also fairly small
and portable, and lenses can be swapped to suit
different subjects.
Instant photography
Instant cameras offer a different
approach to photography in this
day and age of photo editing and sepia-toned
filters. They produce an immediate tangible
print of the photograph captured and each
photograph is unique because that it cannot
be duplicated. Although it may be difficult
to control the focus and exposure of instant
cameras, the fuzzy, retro feel is part of their
charm.
43
LookBack
Pioneering
spirit
Story by CPL (NS) Yogachi Kimitsu
Photos by CPL (NS) Yogachi Kimitsu and
courtesy of CPT (Ret) Ernest H Wickramsinghe
The Singapore
Armed Forces
celebrates its Golden
Jubilee this year. In
the first of a fourpart series, Navy
News speaks to the
men who pioneered
and unknowingly
shaped the Republic
of Singapore Navy
into the force it is
today.
The crew of RSS Panglima, which spent 23 days at sea during Operation
Thunderstorm, pose before their ship berthed at Brani Naval Base.
From past
to futurE
Photo by Jonathan Ryan
RSS
Challenger, the boat on which many of our pioneer submariners trained, is now the name
of a submarine training centre.
Chief of Navy RADM Lai Chung Han officiated at the launch of RSS Challenger submarine training centre
on 11 March, which was held in conjunction with the retirement ceremony for RSS Challenger and RSS
Centurion.
COL (RET) Cyril Lee, who was the first Commanding Officer of RSS Challenger, said: We marked the start
of submarine capabilities for Singapore, but standing down is a rite of passage that all ships have to go
through. I am happy that the name RSS Challenger continues to live on, and will mould the future of the
submarine fraternity in the RSN.
45