I am getting old..

What a day...yesterday on the way back from Bintulu, I left the kek lapis that I bought in the taxi that took me to the airport..i only realised that fact after I went through immigrations and by the time I called the cab, he told me that he was far away already and wanted to charge me 10 ringgit to return the cake...I told him never mind as the cake only cosy me 15 ringgit, not worth it but I am sure I will not be using him for my next trip there...if he had been more reasonable and asked for 5 ringgit then i would not have minded as the distance was not that far away actually...

The next incident that happened was when the mineral water bottle that i put in the side pocket of my backpack somehow came out when i was putting the backpack away on boarding the plane..i thought water was only seeping from the cap but the bottom actually cracked and there was some spill on the seat of the guy sitting next to me..lucky the guy was a reasonable chap and did not make a fuss, so a bad scene was avoided..Anyway this is the second time i left something behind on the way back from a business trip and the first time such a stupid thing happened to me, so i must be getting old as my travelling skills do not seem to be as sharp as previously...i am still tired from the trip and has not bounced back as fast as I used to do from such trips...and more business trips are coming up...man I hate being a road warrior at this stage..hmm wonder if should take up kitchen modelling franchise that KJCraft offered?

Ikan Bakar Bellamy- An Update

Those who may have read my earlier blog may have read about me saying that the gridled fish at Seri Melaka stall in Bellamy has gone upscale price wise but gone down scale taste and service wise :>). Well I did say that I will try out the last stall beside it and last Saturday I finally did it with my family. Well we were test driving the new Perodua Viva from the Sungai Besi showroom and the nearest hilly area that can simulate my home area was Bukit Tunku. Thus we drove around by Bellamy a few times and finally after the deal was made, I brought the family over for the Ikan Bakar since my tastebuds were already aroused by the thought of eating there, though the wife was a bit worried about what the kids will eat there.

Well she need not have worried as the shop had grilled cockles for the little one and gridled catfish for the elder one. In addition I took ikan cencaru (torpedo shad) and a calamari but the wife later remarked that we should have taken another catfish as the elder kid basically polished it off leaving only a small bit for the mom. Well this should tell you that their gridled fish was great as my kids are so fussy eaters coz I guess I spoilt them a bit in the food department, and if the taste does not satisfy them, they are sure not gonna eat it. So of these two critics love the food there, I can assure you you will too. The best thing for me was their sauce, as their soya sauce with shallots and chillis was the way I like it though my wife said she preferred Sri Melaka's asam sauce.

I did some net research and it seems the place is called Ikan Bakar Ramli, though I could not find any signboard to confirm it. Anyway it is the last stall besides Seri Melaka and the above is a picture of the place from another blog, though I cannot be sure they are talking about the same stall based on their description, especially the pricing. All the above gridled fish with three nasi campur(mixed rice with vegetables and additional meat) only cost me RM28, so I have no idea why this blog states their calamari itself cost RM20. Well the proof is in the eating so you might as well try the place out for yourself as it sure has improved. Like the makcik who calculates your bill said,"She's been with the stall when they had 5 kilos of fish but remained unsold, until now when to get a seat is problem." So be wise, come early or be prepared to wait for a seat to land your butts on before your mouth can start savouring the food.

Great photos from this site and here is another photo of the place where as you can see there is actually no signboards, just that price list poster...

Of ESSMs and Nakhodas

JANE'S DEFENCE WEEKLY



- JUNE 20, 2007

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Malaysia poised to bring ESSM aboard new frigates

Richard Scott

Jane's Naval Consultant London

Cost considerations are believed to have favoured the selection of ESSM BAE Systems is looking to sign a contract for the frigate programme by the end of 2007Malaysia looks set to equip its second batch of Jebat-class frigates with the Raytheon RIM-162 Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM) after the US weapon was selected ahead of MBDA's rival Aster 15 missile system. The move, which remains subject to contract, would mark a significant success for Raytheon given that the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) has historically turned to MBDA for the supply of naval guided weapons. BAE Systems received a letter of intent from the Malaysian government in July 2006 confirming plans to acquire two Batch 2 Jebat-class frigates from its Clyde-based shipbuilding subsidiary BAE Systems Surface Fleet Solutions. The company will deliver the so-called Project 'Brave' programme - valued at about GBP700 million (USD1.4 billion) - in conjunction with Malaysian industry partner RealMild, owner of the Labuan Shipbuilding and Engineering (LSE) yard in Sabah. A contract award is expected later in 2007, possibly to coincide with the LIMA 2007 defence and aerospace exhibition on Langkawi Island, Malaysia, in December. The first two Jebat-class frigates, delivered to the RMN in 1999, were equipped with the MBDA VL Seawolf point-defence missile system. However, the staff requirement for the two follow-on frigates specified a more capable and longer-range local area air-defence system. The anti-air missile system was the last major equipment choice outstanding for the Batch 2 frigate programme, with Raytheon Missile Systems and MBDA Missile Systems locked in a fierce dual for the last year. It is understood that while ESSM formed part of the original technical and commercial baseline presented to the RMN by BAE Systems, the customer subsequently endorsed Aster 15 as its preferred technical option after conducting its own performance evaluation and scenario modelling. However, the increased acquisition and integration costs associated with Aster 15 pushed the overall price of the frigate programme significantly above the RMN's budget ceiling. Industry sources have told Jane's that this affordability issue has now seen ESSM reinstated as part of the finalised combat system configuration, with each frigate expected to receive eight Raytheon Mk 56 dual-pack vertical launchers (for a total of 16 ESSM missiles). It is thought that the ships will each be fitted with two continuous wave illuminator-equipped Saab Ceros 200 radar/electro-optical trackers for ESSM guidance and semi-active illumination. The decision in favour of ESSM was the last outstanding major equipment selection for the Batch 2 frigates. Other key systems previously selected are believed to include a variant of the BAE Systems Integrated System Technologies CMS-1 combat management system, the Thales Nederland SMART-S Mk 2 E/F-band multibeam radar and the Thales Underwater Systems Captas Nano low-frequency active/passive towed array sonar. BAE Systems has refused to discuss the outcome of equipment selections for Project 'Brave'. In a statement, the company said that contract negotiations "are progressing well and are ongoing", but added that it was "inappropriate for BAE Systems to comment further". Raytheon and MBDA also refused to comment on the missile selection outcome. Although the technical specification for the Batch 2 Jebat ships is now mature, negotiations are continuing between BAE Systems, RealMild and the Malaysian government to finalise industrial arrangements for the programme. These talks are addressing a range of commercial issues, including the extent of LSE's role in the construction and assembly of the frigates.

And

JANE'S DEFENCE INDUSTRY
- July 01, 2007

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Brunei weighs options for selling on BAE Systems OPVs

Richard Scott Consultant

BAE Systems and Royal Brunei Technical Services have settled a contractual dispute over the delivery of three OPVs Lürssen has been approached to act as a broker for the disposal of the ships The Brunei government is considering options to offload three new 95 m offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) after settling a long-running contractual dispute with builders BAE Systems. With no prospect of the ships entering service with the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN), German shipbuilder Lürssen Werft has been approached to act as a broker for the onward sale or lease of the ships. The former Yarrow Shipbuilders now subsumed in BAE Systems Surface Fleet Solutionswas selected in July 1995 as shipbuilder and prime contractor for the three F 2000-type OPVs under a memorandum of understanding signed between Brunei and the UK. A contract worth more than GBP700 million (USD1.4 billion) was awarded in January 1998 following protracted negotiations. First-of-class Nakhoda Ragam was presented for acceptance in December 2003. The second ship Bendahara Sakam completed its trials programme in May 2004, with the third and final ship Jerambak presented for acceptance in December 2004 following conclusion of its trials programme. However, Royal Brunei Technical Services Sdn Bhd the Brunei government's procurement agent refused to take delivery of the ships on the grounds that they did not meet contract specifications. BAE Systems, which insisted that the three vessels had demonstrated contracted performance, subsequently instigated legal proceedings. A closed hearing was held at the International Court of Arbitration in London in June 2006. A judgement had been expected by the end of last year but in the event the court's adjudication was set aside to allow the two parties to engage in further out-of-court negotiations. In a statement released to Jane's, a BAE Systems spokesman said that the company and Royal Brunei Technical Services "have reached an amicable conclusion to issues related to the contract for the supply of three OPVs". The spokesman declined further comment. It is understood that Brunei has taken formal delivery of the ships, but has no plans to commission the ships into the RBN. Furthermore, rather than engage BAE Systems or the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) as an agent to re-market the ships, Royal Brunei Technical Services has turned instead to Lürssen to explore opportunities for onward transfer to a third party. Neither the Brunei MoD nor Lürssen have responded to Jane's requests for comment. While ship brokerages are commonly used for the sale of merchant and recreational vessels, it is exceptionally rare for a commercial agent to be appointed to sell on naval ships. This is because of the need to fully satisfy end-user licensing controls requiring any purchaser to be approved by the government that sanctioned the original export contract and the requirement for any purchaser to be assured of long-term support from the design authority and specialist original equipment manufacturers. All three OPVs currently remain alongside at BAE Systems Surface Fleet Solutions' Scotstoun yard in Glasgow. The company has maintained the vessels on a care and maintenance basis throughout the duration of the dispute, with each ship being taken to sea at six-monthly intervals.

Huh, the two recent news above has started forumers’ tongues wagging….one on why the ESSM was and rather will be selected and two, if we are going to buy over the Nakhoda class corvettes.

On the first issue, my take on this is no surprise. Raytheon has been marketing their ESSM solution to the navy since the PV project so long ago, so it seems that the navy may have decided to standardize their SAM equipment for both the new frigates and PVs, specifically the second batch AAW squadron. This will leave the Seawolf missile as an anomaly in the navy’s system, so it seems that the system will be superceded by the ESSM instead. That is unless the navy suddenly decided to buy over the Nakhodas that has the system on board, that it makes sense if five naval units continues to carry the system. Anyway even though I cannot it, if we do purchase the ESSM I hope the Mk56 launcher unit can handle the Aspide as a last ditch back-up, in the unlikely event that we cannot source the missiles from Raytheon directly, as we should still be able to source it from the NATO ESSM Consortium if their congress stops such sales.

This prospect has actually caused forumers to salivate on whether the navy will expand their fleet with these capable corvettes. I do not put it above the navy to do so although there is no budget for those ships in the 9MP, as there is always the defence slush fund to depend on. The Laksamana class corvettes are a reference case on such purchases. Even though some may call this an unplanned purchase and thus unwise, I would think that the navy would have put this prospect on the consideration agenda once they knew of RBN’s plans not to accept the ships into their fleet. As I understand it, the RMN was a consultant on this purchase, so they would know the details much earlier than the public. It is just that the purchase price may be too high for us, as other countries have more critical needs to acquire these ships than the RMN. Nigeria, Pakistan and Thailand are a few navies that are on the market for such vessels for immediate delivery but have been unsuccessful in their dealings with the British for second hand vessels thus far, so I presume they would jump at this chance to purchase these pre-used vessels. “Hardly been used and only driven on Sundays” a second-hand dealer would say he!he!he!. Thus I do not put any hope on us acquiring the vessels, but I would be happy to be proven wrong anyway.

REGISTER OF DECOMMISSIONED RMN SHIPS Part 2

From Royal Malayan Navy (1952-1962) to Royal Malaysian Navy 1963 onwards.

After the establishment of the Royal Malayan Navy, expansion was gradual since the Royal Navy still shielded the nation through the long years of Emergency, even though independence came in 1957. Only a minelayer and two additional SDMLs entered service before the RMN was formally transferred to Malaya on 12 July 1958. To strengthened the fledgling navy, the British further turned over four Inshore and one Coastal minesweepers that was also used as patrol craft. With the formation of Malaysia in 1963, the Royal Malayan Navy became known as the Royal Malaysian Navy and shortly faced the challenge of the Indonesian Confrontation, resulting in a period of rapid expansion with the induction of additional Coastal minesweepers and the navy’s first frigate, the KD Hang Tuah . Assuming greater responsibilities of safeguarding the nation’s maritime interest at the end of the Confrontation period, plans were already made much earlier to induct new patrol crafts instead of relying on transfers from other navies. Built in three batches, patrol crafts became the backbone of the navy for a considerable period. At the same time, the introduction of the Perkasa Class torpedo FACs marked a new dawn of modernisation and eventual entry into the missile age. The sudden decision by the British to quit the Far East in 1968 also heralded an extended period of rapid expansion, with the thrust of providing a modern fleet with sophisticated weapons and missile systems, thus bigger and faster ships were acquired to give the RMN better reach, firepower and performance capabilities. The declaration of the 200 mile EEZ in 1979 that increase the RMN’s area of operations further added to the expansion but there was a lull in capacity building due to economic difficulties before the RMN again announced new rounds of acquisitions in order to prepare for the challenges of the new millennium, this time taking on the capabilities of three dimensional warfare with new stealth frigates, modern patrol vessels, submarines and naval helicopters. Below are the ships that were decommissioned before the new millennium that paved the way for the RMN to reach this level.

1. NAME : HMMS Sri Johore
PRECEDING NAME : HMMS Penyu/HMS Dabchick/HMS Thorney
PENNANT NUMBER : ?
SERVICE ENTRY : 1954
SERVICE DEACTIVATED : 1958 – transferred – (Sri Lanka)
TYPE : Coastal Minelayer - Blackbird Class

HMMS Sri Johore was for a brief time the largest fighting ship in the newly independent Royal Malayan Navy, although she had actually entered RMN service in 1954 with the Malayan Naval Force under the name of HMMS Penyu. Of WW-II vintage, she was used as a large patrol craft in the Malayan service rather than her actual designation as a minelayer, as she was actually built to the design of an Admiralty class armed trawler. In 1958 she was transferred to the Sri Lankan Navy upon deactivation from the Malayan active service and was finally broken up in 1960.

Type : Bird controlled class minelayer
Displacement: 560-ton normal, 734 ton full load
Dimensions : 45.72 metres x 8.4 metres x 3.2 metres
Guns : 1x 101mm(?), 3 x 20 mm, 12 mines
Electronics : ?
Propulsion: 1 x cylinder boiler, 1 x vertical triple expansion reciprocating engine totalling 850 hp Speed : 12 knots
Crew : 40

2. NAME : KD Langkasuka, KD Temasek, KD Sri Johore, KD Sri Perlis, KD Jerong, KD Todak
PRECEDING NAME : HMS Bedham, HMS Brantingham, HMS Altham, HMS Asheldham, HMS Boreham, HMS Felmersham
PENNANT NUMBER : M2602, M2612,M2602, M2604, M 2610, M2627
SERVICE ENTRY : First two 1958, Middle two 1959, Last two 1966
SERVICE DEACTIVATED :1967, 1966, 1967,1967, 1973?, 1973?
TYPE : Inshore Minesweeper - Ham Class
These minesweepers were six RN units transferred to the RMN in two groups, four in 1958 to 1959 as minesweepers and two in 1966 as patrol craft. These modern vessels had a relatively short service period of about eight years in the RMN compared to other vessel classes in the RMN. The last two units were most likely to have had their sweeping gear removed and replaced with twin 20 mm guns for service as patrol crafts as they were found as a class too small to effectively act as minesweepers. They may have found more success in this role as their names were subsequently transferred to the FAC(G) squadron when the units entered the RMN service.

Displacement: 120-ton normal, 159 ton full load
Dimensions : 32.5 metre x 6.4 metres x 1.67 metre
Guns : 1 x 40mm/60 Mk 7, additional 1 x twin 20 mm Mk 2 in patrol boat configuration
Electronics : Type 978
Propulsion : 2 x 12-cylinder Davey Paxman Diesels totalling 1100 hp to 2 shafts.
Speed : 14 Knots, range 4352 Km at 9 knots
Crew :15

3. NAME : KD Mahamiru, KD Ledang, KD Jerai, KD Kinabalu, KD Tahan, KD Brinchang
PRECEDING NAME : HMS Darlaston, HMS Hexton, HMS Dilston, HMS Essington, HMS Lullington, HMS Thankerton
PENNANT NUMBER :M1127, M1143, M1168, M1134, M1163, M1172
SERVICE ENTRY : 1960, 1963, Middle two 1964, Last two 1966
SERVICE DEACTIVATED : First two 1980s, 1977, 1981, Last two 1980s
TYPE : Coastal Minesweeper - Ton Class
To strengthen the defence of the Malayan waters during Konfrontasi, the RN transferred to the RMN six of these modern coastal minesweepers in three groups with the first unit in 1960, three units in 1963-1964 and the last units in 1966, to make up the 25th Minesweeper Squadron. Unlike the Ham class minesweepers, they were more successful in service with a longer service history with the RMN. All the Ton-class minesweepers underwent modernisation in 1972-1973 but from 1977 to early 1980's they were deleted to make way for Lerici-class MCMV's.

Displacement: 300-ton normal, 425 ton full load
Dimensions : 46.3 metre x 8.8 metres x 2.5 metres
Guns : 1 x 40mm/60 Mk 7, 1 x twin 20 mm Mk 2
Electronics : Type 978
Propulsion : 2 x 18 cylinder Napier Deltic Diesels totalling 3000 hp to 2 shafts.
Speed : 15 Knots, range 5556 Km at 8 knots
Crew :29

4. NAME : KD Mutiara
PRECEDING NAME : New
PENNANT NUMBER : 35?
SERVICE ENTRY : 1961
SERVICE DEACTIVATED : 197s?
TYPE : Survey & Despatch Vessel/Royal Yatch – Indigenous Design

KD Mutiara was the first ship officially awarded the title "Kapal Diraja' on 20 May 1961. Amongst her other firsts were she was the first ship specifically built for the RMN and she was also the first locally built vessel, wholly built with local wood by local artisans. Almost sixty-one metres or 200 feet long , she had specialised quarters for Royalty and dignitaries on board as she was the largest vessel in the fleet then. Nevertheless, her primary role in the navy still remained the coastal patrol of the country's waters.
Displacement: ? ton normal, ? ton full load
Dimensions : 60.96 metre x 6.09 metre x ? metre
Guns : ?
Electronics : ?
Propulsion : ?
Speed : 12 Knots, range ?
Crew :15
Note: Picture added 23 June 2009

5. NAME : KD Sri Kedah, KD Sri Selangor, KD Sri Perak, KD Sri Pahang, KD Sri Kelantan, KD Sri Trengganu
PRECEDING NAME : New
PENNANT NUMBER : 3138,3139,3140,3141,3142,3143
SERVICE ENTRY : 1962, Rest 1963.
SERVICE DEACTIVATED : 1975, 1995, 1984 (foundered), 1976, 1994 (Donated To Marine Engineering University), 1994 (museum ship)
TYPE : Patrol craft – Kedah class

In 1961, the RMN announced the purchase of Vosper type patrol boats to replace the Royal Navy transferred Seaward Defence Motor Launches. The first of 6 Kedah Class boats was launched in 1962 with a 3500 Horse-powered Siddeley Maybach diesel engine providing a speed of 25 knots. These patrol craft form the simple and reliable basis of the navy's fleet and serve as the splendid workhorses of the RMN. It was an extremely seaworthy craft and remained very operational, more often than not shouldered duties far superceding their design and initial role. During the Confrontation period, several of the patrol craft spent periods of up to a total od 280 days each away from their main base each year.

Displacement: 96 tons standard , 109 tons full load
Dimensions: 31.4 m x 6 m x 1.7 m
Guns : 2 x 40/60 mm Bofors, 2 12.7 mm MG
Electronics: Decca 616
Propulsion: 2 Bristol Siddeley diesels 3,500 hp, 2 shafts
Speed : 25 knots, range 2600 Km at 14 knots
Crew: 30

6. NAME : KD Panglima

PRECEDING NAME : New
PENNANT NUMBER : 68
SERVICE ENTRY : 1956.
SERVICE DEACTIVATED : 1967 – returned to Singapore-
TYPE : SDML – Ford Type

KD Panglima was built at United Engineers Singapore and launched on 14 January 1956 to the design of the British Ford-class SDML. Inheriting the names of her two previous predecessors in Singapore naval service, It was a much better equipped ship than the previous two vessels, being fitted with an assortment of modern equipment such as Sonar and Radar. With a maximum speed of 15 knots and a range of 3000 miles, it became an essential member of the MRNVR in its fight against piracy and illegal smuggling. The history of the Panglima continued into the merger of Singapore into Malaysia she was transferred to the RMN when Malaysia was formed in 1963. In the RMN, she was successful in capturing 4 Indonesian infiltrators in Johor waters during the Confrontation. Malaysia returned her to Singapore in 1967 after Singapore's secession.

Displacement: 120 tons standard , 160 tons full load
Dimensions: 35.7 m x 6.1 m x 1.5 m
Guns : 1 x 20 mm gun
Electronics: ?
Propulsion: ?
Speed : 15 knots, range 3000 miles
Crew: 15
Note :Edited 24 June 2009

7. NAME : KD Hang Tuah
PRECEDING NAME : HMS Loch Insh
PENNANT NUMBER : F433
SERVICE ENTRY : 1964
SERVICE DEACTIVATED : 1977 – scrapped-
TYPE : Frigate – Loch class

The Royal Malaysian Navy's training ship KD Hang Tuah was mothballed at Woodlands naval base in Singapore on May 30 1977 - after 43 years service, including 12 1/2 years in Malaysia. The 2,000-ton Modified Loch Class ASW frigate was bought by the RMN in early 1964 and refitted in England before being commissioned at Portsmouth on October 2, 1964. On arrival in 1965, she was made the RMN's flagship and took over guardship duties off Tawau from HMAS Yarra and carried out a number of bombardments against infiltrators in Sabah during the Indonesian Confrontation. In 1971, she was turned into a training ship, a role she assumed until deactivation.


Type : Modified Loch Class Frigate
Displacement : 1435 tons normal, 2260 tons full load
Dimensions : 94 metre x 11.7 metre x 4 metre
Guns : 2 x twin 101 mm Mk 19, 4 x 40 mm Mk 9, 1 x twin 40 mm Mk 5, 2 x Squid ASW mortar, DC Throwers and rails
Electronics : Type 277Q and IFF242, Type 960?, 170 and 174 sonar.
Propulsion : 2 x boilers, 2 x triple expansion reciprocating engine with 5500 hp to 2 shafts
Speed : 19 Knots, range 13890 Km at 15 knots
Crew : 114

8.NAME : KD Sri Langkawi
PRECEDING NAME : HMS Counterguard
PENNANT NUMBER : 4043
SERVICE ENTRY : 1965
SERVICE DEACTIVATED : 1970 – deleted?-
TYPE : LCT Mk 8
Displacement : 895 tons standard, 1245 tons full load
Dimensions : 68.6 metre x 11.9 metre x 1.1 metre
Guns : 1?
Electronics : Decca 616
Propulsion : Four Paxman 12TPM for main propulsion
Speed : 12 Knots , range 4000 Km
Crew : 24

9. NAME : KD Perkasa, KD Handalan, KD Gempita, KD Pendekar
PRECEDING NAME : New
PENNANT NUMBER : 150, 151, 152, 153
SERVICE ENTRY : 8 May 1967 (Portsmouth)
SERVICE DEACTIVATED : 1977 –
TYPE : Fast Attack Craft – Torpedo/Missile

An offensive capability was acquired with the purchase of these Fast Attack Craft in 1964 that brought the RMN into a new era. These Perkasa's were modern vessels that can reach a speed of 57 knots on gas turbine, but were weaken by a lack of endurance. Due to their speed and ability to attack with torpedoes, they were only used for special operations rather than for general patrol duties. In 1971, they were retrofitted with SSM's to become the first RMN vessels with anti-surface missile capability. Later in the year, these missiles were subsequently test fired by KD Gempita against a sea-towed target by KD Mahamiru with success, therefore becoming the first RMN operational warship to fire an SSM.

Displacement : 95 tons standard, 114 tons full load
Dimensions : 30.4 metre x 7.3 metre x 2.1 metre
Guns : 1 x 40mm/60 Mk 9, 1 x 20 mm Oerlikon, 4 x 21 inch torpedo or 10 mines, 8 SS12 SSM (1971)
Electronics : Decca 616
Propulsion : 3 Proteus gas turbine plus 6 cylinder diesels totalling 13130 hp to 3 shafts
Speed : 54 Knots
Crew : 24

10. NAME : KD Perantau
PRECEDING NAME : HMS Myrmidon, HMS Eddington
PENNANT NUMBER : ?
SERVICE ENTRY : 1969
SERVICE DEACTIVATED : 1990 – expended-
TYPE : Survey Vessel

The navy's first hydrographic vessel, KD Perantau, was a converted Ton class CMS transferred by the Royal Navy in 1968. She has participated in five joint-surveys of the Straits with Indonesian and Singapore, and has helped to update the old British Admiralty sea charts. After serving for more than twenty years she was replaced by a modern ship that took on her name. She was expended in missile firing test in 1991.

11. NAME : KD Duyong
PRECEDING NAME : New
PENNANT NUMBER : 1109
SERVICE ENTRY : 1971
SERVICE DEACTIVATED : 1999 –sales list-
TYPE : Dive Tender


One of the few specialised vessels in the RMN's fleet was a diving tender that had the mission of supporting naval divers for their dangerous missions at sea. Built by Kall Teck PLC of Singapore, KD Duyong means "mermaid" in Malay and has been in the forefront of many rescue missions since it was commissioned in January 1971. The vessel is also used in the training of navy divers and PASKAL (Special Naval Force) personnel or naval commandos. The vessel has a range of 1,000 miles and is manned by a complement of 23 officers and ratings. Being a diving tender, KD Duyong is lightly armed with a 20 mm gun. For operations with divers, it has a decompression chamber and can act as support ship for up to 10 divers.

Displacement : 140 tons full load
Dimensions : 33.6 metre x ? metre x ? metre
Guns : 1 x 20mm
Electronics : ?
Propulsion : ?
Speed : 12 Knots , range 1,852 kilometres
Crew : 23

12. NAME : KD Sri Langkawi Ex-LST 838, KD Sri Banggi Ex-LST 824, KD Raja Jarom Ex-LST
PRECEDING NAME : USS Hunterdon County, USS Henry County, USS Sedgwick County
PENNANT NUMBER : 1500, 1501, 1502
SERVICE ENTRY : 1971, 1977
SERVICE DEACTIVATED : 1980s?, 1999 –sale list-
TYPE : LST 511/542 -class


Realising the need for larger logistic transports than was available at the time, the RMN obtained the KD Sri Langkawi as their first Landing Ship Tank (LST) class vessel. The 511 class LST was initially loaned buy the US navy to the RMN in 1971 but purchased outright later in 1974. She was actually a replacement for her namesake, the much smaller LSM-sized British LCT Mk 8. The KD Sri Langkawi was herself finally scrapped n the 1980's. The two later bought LSTs were named after islands off Sabah and called KD Sri Banggi and KD Raja Jarom. They were used as tenders to the light forces such as patrol boats during operations and as a troop transport for security forces between Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah and Sarawak. Built for the United States Navy in 1944, the ships were in service during the Vietnam War before they were sold to Malaysia on October 7, 1976. The decks of these 103-meter vessels have been modified for helicopter landings midships and each LST has capability to carry up to 2,100 tonnes of cargo. Both the ships were decommissioned in 1999, after carrying numerous amphibious operations with the nation's armed forces and joint operations with foreign armed forces, as well as providing hands on training for naval officers and personnel of the naval reserve units.

Displacement : 1980 tons standard, 4080 tons full load
Dimensions : 103 metre x 15.24 metre x 2.44 metre
Guns : 3 x Bofors 40/70 mm guns
Electronics : ?
Propulsion : 2 x General Motors 12-567 Diesel Engines, two shafts, twin rudders
Speed : 12 Knots , range 1,852 kilometres
Crew : 128

13.NAME: KD Sri Inderapura 1505 1970/1995
PRECEDING NAME : USS Spartanburg County

PENNANT NUMBER : 1505
SERVICE ENTRY : 1995
SERVICE DEACTIVATED : 2009 stricken
TYPE : Newport class LST

In the early 1990s the RMN needed more specialised vessels for their amphibious and logistics needs as the existing WW-II era LSTs were aging and were no longer able to provide sufficient support to the fleet and the subsequent purchase of a Newport class LST KD Sri Inderapura alleviated the requirement somewhat. KD Sri Inderapura is a Newport class landing ship tank (LST) acquired by the Royal Malaysian Navy from the United States in 1994. The refurbished vessel, which had served in the Gulf War, Somalia and Haiti among others, was commissioned into service with the navy on January 31 1995. With the presence of the KD Sri Inderapura, the RMN's sea-lift capability has been tremendously boosted. Currently the largest ship in the RMN's inventory, the LST is capable of offensive assault operations in war and humanitarian rescue and support missions in peacetime. This will allow the navy to play a bigger role in supporting mass troop movements such as to transport Malaysian soldiers serving as peacekeepers overseas including their equipment. The RMN could not previously carry out such missions unilaterally as its capacity was limited and it was uneconomical to do so compared to using the services of merchant vessels. The KD Sri Inderapura however can support these missions when merchant ships refuse to go into certain areas owing to the risks involved. The vessel is capable of carrying up to 25 armoured carriers or 500 tonnes of cargo, 400 troops and 4 LCVP's at any one time. For self-defence, the vessel is fitted with an anti-guided missile system capable of firing 3,000 rounds per minute. In the RMN fleet, the ship will not carry and land marines on hostile shores as she was used to under the US Navy but will find new roles when operating in the region. Although she had already proven her usefulness in several operations, plans for the induction of another similar LST died a stillborn death as the RMN determined that no more acceptable ships of the class are longer available from the United States Navy (USN)’s transfer pool. She was damaged in a fire in 2002 but was repaired but a second fire that occured in October 2009 effectively ended with her in being stricken from the fleet as it was found that it will not be economically effective to be repaired again for active service.


Displacement: 4975 tons standard, 8450 tons full load
Dimensions: 159.2m x 21.2m x 5.3m
Guns: 1 x 20mm GE/GD 6-barreled Vulcan Phalanx Mk 15, 2 x 40mm/70 Bofors, 8 12.7 mm MG
Electronics: Raytheon SPS 67, Marconi LN-66Propulsion: 6 x 16 cylinder ALCO 251-c propulsion diesel engines delivering 16,500hp to two shafts, 1 x fixed pitch bow thruster, 800hp, 2 shafts, controllable pitch propellers
Speed: 20 knots, range 4630Km at 14 knots
Crew: 213 + 400
Aircraft: Platform aft.

REGISTER OF DECOMMISSIONED RMN SHIPS Part 1

MALAYAN NAVAL FORCE (Service Entry 1948-1952)

At the outbreak of the First Emergency in 1948, the British saw an urgent need to reactivate the Malay Navy. The Malayan Naval Force was legislated into being and many former members of the Malay Navy disbanded the year before were re-enlisted and formed the core of this newly established force together with new recruits. In this turbulent period much has been written about the role played by the Police Constabulary and Army but very little or almost nothing is mentioned of the role played by the naval element. The General Orders issued by General Templer involved action by the naval forces. Albeit small, the naval elements played a very important role as back-up for the transport of army personnel, food and equipment to river mouths, providing naval gunfire support and maintaining vigilance in cutting off supplies to terrorists across waters, especially along the then Malaya’s common borders with Thailand and Indonesia. The MNF also conducted anti-piracy, anti smuggling and fishery protection patrols. In May 1950, the Royal Navy presented the deactivated Battleship HMS Malaya ship’s bell to the MNF as a mark of honour and appreciation for their service. In August 1952, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II bestowed the title “Royal” upon the Malayan Naval Force in recognition of its sterling service during the Malayan Emergency thus extending the proud existence of the Malayan Naval Force into a full navy unit. Thus from then on, the Malayan Naval Force evolved and became known as the Royal Malayan Navy. Below are the ships that help gained that honour.

1. NAME : HMS Test Ex -HMIS Neza
PENNANT NUMBER : F56/K239
SERVICE ENTRY : 1949
SERVICE DEACTIVATED : 1950-hulked-
TYPE : Frigate -River Class (Training and Accommodation ship)



HMS Test was one of six River class frigates in the Royal Indian Navy WW-II service but was returned to the Royal Navy in 1947. Being surplus to the Royal Navy's needs, she served as an accommodation ship in Singapore from 1948. However in 1949, she was loaned to the newly created Malayan Naval Force as a training frigate until hulked a year later. She finally met her fate at the breakers in 1955.

Type : Short range type River class frigate
Displacement : 1450 tons standard, 1960 tons full load
Dimensions : 92 metre x 10.9metre x 3.6 metre
Guns : 2 x 101 mm Mk 5, 4 x 20 mmOerlikon, 1 x Hedgehog ASW Mortar, DC throwers and rails
Electronics : Type 286 AW RDF and Type 271 SW, 144 sonar
Propulsion : 2 x boilers with 5500 hp to 2 shafts
Speed : 20.5 Knots, range 10000 Km at 15 knots
Crew :107

2. NAME : HMMS Sri Melaka Ex HMS Malaya, HMS Pelandok Ex LCT 341
PENNANT NUMBER : MRC 1401
SERVICE ENTRY : 1949
SERVICE DEACTIVATED : 1957+?
TYPE : LCT Mk 3

Originally named as HMS Pelandok but renamed two months later as HMS Malaya, she was one of two remaining LCT Mk 3 remaining in the Royal Navy service in 1947. The vessel was brought to Singapore during World War II and was then refurbished after the war for duties in Malayan waters. She initially served as a maintenance repair craft for the Royal Navy but was later converted to a training and accommodation ship before entering service into the Malayan Naval Force on 18 April 1949, to serve as a training ship like her namesake. As of January 1957, she was still listed as the maintenance repair craft HMMS Sri Melaka in the RMN vessels list.

Displacement: 640-ton normal, 940 ton full load
Dimensions : 58.5 metre x 9.1 metres x 1.1metre
Guns : ?
Propulsion : ?
Speed : 9 Knots, range 5000
Crew :12

3. NAME : HMMS Sri Perlis Ex HMMS Pelandok Ex LCG 450

PENNANT NUMBER : 450
SERVICE ENTRY : 1949
SERVICE DEACTIVATED : 1959 –stricken-
TYPE : LCG (L)

Landing Craft Gun(Large) LCG 450 was handed over to the MNF in June 1949 by the British Admiralty in London and named HMS Pelandok. She was capable of naval bombardment with her 4.7-inch guns and provided naval gunfire support in the form of large-scale coastal bombardment of communist infested areas. With her guns and very small draught, she proved very useful in this role. On 31 August 1958, the newly transferred RMN decided to change all her vessel names to Malayan state names and the HMMS Pelandok thus became the HMMS Sri Perlis until she was stricken in 1959.

Displacement: 306 ton normal, 640 tons full load
Dimensions : 58.5metre x 9.4 metre x 1.6 metre
Guns : 2 x 4.7 in gun, 2 x Oerlikon 20 mm Cannon after conversion
Propulsion: Paxman Diesel with 920 bhp to 2 shafts
Speed : 10.5 knots
Crew : 35

4. NAME : KD Sri Kedah, KD Sri Trengganu, KD Sri Negeri Sembilan, KD Sri Perak, KD Sri Selangor, KD Sri Pahang, KD Sri Kelantan (HMMS previously)
PENNANT NUMBER : 3501, 3502, 3506, 3507, 3509, 3505, 3508
SERVICE ENTRY : 1949 for first 5 units, 1950 for last two units
SERVICE DEACTIVATED : 1959 (scrapped), 1970 (stricken), 1966 (sale list), 1966(sale list), 1961(scrapped), 1965 (scrapped), 1965 (scrapped)
TYPE :ML 1000 Type Seaward Defence Motor Launch (SDML)

The main function of the MNF was coastal patrol and in order to equip the force for the task, seven SDML's were progressively transferred from the RN's 200th Patrol Squadron in Singapore. These SDML's became the Malayan service's patrol force backbone until the RMN's Vosper Type patrol boats gradually replaced them in the sixties. Nevertheless, the last SDML still remained in RMN service until 1970 before being stricken. In service, these SDML's had the honour of participating in the first RMN Royal fleet Review in 1958, where five units represented the patrol squadron. The units continued to serve gallantly in many roles until they could no longer meet the navy's operational requirements. Nevertheless, these vessels will be remembered as the RMN's first naval combatants.

Displacement : 46 ton normal, 54 ton full load
Dimensions : 21.9 metre x 4.72 metre x 1.62 metre
Guns : 1 x 40 mm, 1 x 20 mm, Depth Charges
Electronics : Type 978
Propulsion : 2 x Diesels totalling 320 hp to 2 shafts.
Speed : 12 knots, range 4074 Kilometres at 10 Knots
Crew :14

5. NAME : HMMS Laburnum Ex-HIJMS Wakataka
PENNANT NUMBER : Ex-N11
SERVICE ENTRY : 1949
SERVICE DEACTIVATED : 1956-deactivated-
TYPE : Minelayer-Hatsutake class

The second HMMS Laburnum was a 1941 built former Japanese minelayer called Wakatake captured in Surabaya Indonesia at the end of WWII, the sole survivor of her class. She was initially used for repatriation service and then reparated to the Royal Navy on 17 October 1947. An odd unit in the Royal Navy's fleet, she subsequently entered service with the MNF until she was deactivated from active service in 1956. However, she continued to serve as a drill ship for the Singapore Naval Volunteer Force (SNVF) under RN control. At the time of Singapore's separation from Malaysia in 1965, she was transferred and served as headquarters ship for the SNVF, to form the nucleus of the new Singaporean navy. She was berthed at Telok Ayer Basin and renamed RSS Singapura.




Type : Imperial Japanese Navy Hatsutaka class mine/netlayer
Displacement : 1608 ton normal, 1890 ton full load
Dimensions : 85 metre x 11.3 metre x 4.4 metre
Guns : 2 x 80 mm, 4 x 25mm, 4 x 13.2mm HMG, Depth Charges rail
Electronics : Radarset
Propulsion : 3 x boiler totalling 6000 hp to 2 shafts.
Speed : 20 knots, range 5556 Km at 14 Knots
Crew : ?

6. NAME : HMS Panglima
PENNANT NUMBER : MS ?
SERVICE ENTRY : 1949
SERVICE DEACTIVATED : 1956-stricken-
TYPE : Motor Fishing Vessel

HMMS Panglima was the second vessel to be so named, a 27.4 metre motor fishing vessel built in England for the Royal Navy. When World War II came to an end, this ship was transferred over to the command of the re-established MRNVR as a replacement for the earlier vessel. However, being made of wood(1), it proved to be unsuitable for use in the tropical waters of Singapore. The high salinity and humidity of the local waters meant that the wooden hull would begin deteriorating faster than it would in colder climates.

The first Panglima was a 23 metre motor launch built in Singapore in 1937. It was used for the training of naval officers and ratings in the Malayan Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (MRNVR). During World War II, the ship was involved in the evacuation of British and Australian troops from Johore, escort duties and patrol duties. However, in February 1942, while evacuating troops from Singapore, it was bombed and sunk.

Note : Edited 24 June 2009

7. NAME : HMS Simbang
PENNANT NUMBER : ?
SERVICE ENTRY : 1949
SERVICE DEACTIVATED : 1951? -reassigned by RN-(Korea)-
TYPE : Torpedo Recovery Vessel

ERRATUM : After further research, I have found that HMS Simbang served in Korea as a naval aircraft repair section disembarked from HMS Unicorn. This explains why I have never managed to find HMS Simbang listed as an Royal Navy Vessel. Instead HMS Simbang was the Royal Navy Air Station based in Sembawang, Singapore commissioned from 15 December 1945 until 31st December 1947 and recommissioning and decommissioning a few times until finally being paid off in September 30th 1971. Nonetheless Mr John Hooper, an MRNVR officer (1948 to 1959) informed me via email that the HMS Simbang (an ex-RAF torpedo recovery launch) was one of the MRNVR ships together with HMS Panglima and HMS Pelandok above. This may be why it is not formally listed as a navy vessel. This error in research is regretted.

Last edited 25 June 2009

THE MALAY NAVY IN WORLD WAR II

The Royal Malaysian Navy can trace its roots to the formation of the Straits Settlement Naval Volunteer Reserve (SSNVR) in Singapore on 27 April 1934 by the British colonial government in Singapore. The SSNVR was formed to assist the Royal Navy in the defence of Singapore, upon which the defence of the Malay Peninsula was based. In the colonial era the British only knew too well the importance of the Straits of Malacca and the South China Sea and it is no surprise then that they made Singapore a bastion of their presence in the region. Another reason behind its formation was political developments in Asia, particularly Japanese that was increasingly assertive in Asia. They were keen to mount a volunteer service corps comprising of locals and the Straits Settlement Naval Volunteer Reserve (SSNVR) came into being on 27th April 1934.

HMS Laburnum, The Pride of MRNVR

The first SSNVR ship, HMS Laburnum was inducted on 18 February 1935 and was used as a naval training platform. She was an ex-royal New Zealand Navy 2000 ton Flower class corvette fitted with a three-pounder gun and a 4.7-inch gun. HMS Laburnum was later converted to the HQ and Administrative Centre for the SSNVR, and the smaller HMS Penyengat was brought in for seamanship and navigational training. By 1937, two motor launches HMS Panglima and HMS Pahlawan, equipped with Lewis guns, were commissioned for coastal patrols. The SSNVR was expanded in October 1938 when its Penang branch was established. Initially known as SSNVR Penang, it was later designated as the Malayan Naval Volunteer Reserve (MRNVR) and received HMS Panji, transferred from Singapore, for training purposes. However by 1940 MRNVR had acquired two additional patrol boats, HMS Trang and HMS Jerong and five minesweepers. These reservists were in essence local volunteers , comprising almost entirely of Malays whose recognition of their service has largely gone unrecognised.With the outbreak of the Second World War in Europe, the SSNVR increased the recruitment of mainly indigenous personnel into the force, to beef up local defences as Royal Navy resources were required in Europe. Members of the SSNVR were called up to active duty, and the force was augmented by members of the Royal Navy Malay Section.


With the winds of war blowing stronger, the British government had formed the Malay Section of the Royal Navy (RN) in 1939. This was the colonial government's effort to beef up the RN's power to defend the coastal waters of the Peninsula and the British Empire's interests in the archipelago, including Sarawak, North Borneo and Labuan. This was a separate unit of the Royal Navy and these men were given rigorous training in seamanship, communications and gunnery whilst shaping them into a fighting unit.This section, affectionately known as the Malay Navy, comprised exclusively of Malay men amongst the ranks as the RN was impressed with the will, abilities and service spirit of the Malay youths in the Malayan Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve (MRNVR). They comprised of fresh recruits and a number of MRNVR members mobilised into the new force. The section's training centre and barracks were established at HMS Pelandok, tucked inside the sprawling naval base in Singapore. Under the command of Lt.-Commander H. Vickers, the recruits were trained as telegraphists, seamen and signal visualisers before serving on board RN ships, mostly merchantmen hastily converted and armed for combat. These ships were part of 80 warships the RN had for the defence of Malaya against the Japanese, with the battleship HMS Prince of Wales and battle cruiser HMS Repulse leading the fleet.


The RN was however shocked on 2 December 1941 when these ships were sunk by Japanese warplanes, exposing the RN's fleet weakness against air attacks since there was no effective air cover available. Eleven days after the sinking of the capital ships, the HMS Lipis was sunk in Sarawak waters. By January 1942, the RN suffered further casualties with HMS Kudat sunk in Klang harbour, HMS Surveyor in Pulau Besar and HMS Kampar in the South China Sea. Meanwhile on 13 January 1942, HMS Matahari and HMS Larut were sunk by Japanese aircraft near Pulau Sabang while withdrawing from Malaya. The survivors who swam to the island were later rescued by HMS Kedah, which was heading towards Java Island after evacuating Borneo waters. In Singapore, HMS Pelandok was initially bombed on 8 December 1941 but was later destroyed in January 1942 by Japanese air raids. All able-bodied survivors were then moved to HMS Laburnum to join members of the MRNVR there. However, HMS Laburnum herself was damaged by the Imperial Japanese Navy on 11 February 1942 and was scuttled four days later at the Fall of Singapore to avoid her capture by the Japanese. By this time, all surviving ships were ordered to make a break from the harbour and sail for Australia via Indonesia, and for Colombo. Of the Malay seamen left behind in Singapore, 25 were killed by the Japanese in Tanjong Pagar after the surrender while the rest were sent as force labourers to Siam, Burma and Indonesia although some managed to escape to their kampongs.

Meanwhile, most of the ships escaping to Australia were sunk by the Japanese who were waiting in ambush in the south of Singapore. HMS Vyner Brooke was sunk by 9 Japanese Bombers on 14 February off Pulau Bangka with 20 Malay seamen dead. HMS Hwang Ho with Lt.-Commander Vickers was sunk off Lingga and he and his crew were taken as prisoner of wars (POW's) to Pulau Bangka where he later died. Sister ships HMS Siang Wo and HMS Shu Kuang were sunk on the same day but the survivors from the latter ship managed to reach Padang Sumatra where they were evacuated by the light cruiser HMS Dauntless to Chelicap Java. There, the Malay survivors joined those on board HMS Kedah that now headed towards Colombo as the way to Australia was no longer safe. Unfortunately after two days sailing. HMS Kedah had mechanical problems and was taken under tow by HMS Dauntless and arrived in Colombo in March 1942.

It was estimated that 10,000 British and Malay seamen were killed in the sinkings while about 85 Malay seamen survived. H.M.S. Kelantan, HMS Pangkor, HMS Pahang, HMS Perak, HMS Kepong, HMS Matang, and escort H.M.S. Medusa also safely arrived in Colombo in addition to H.M.S. Kedah. Of the 143 Malay Navy and MRNVR personnel now in Colombo, some were sent to East Africa to serve as intelligence operatives and others to India to prepare troops for the liberation of Malaya. Those remaining in Colombo were mainly deployed as telegraphists or harbour securitymen, while a number of selected personnel served with the British Military Force 136 and the USA's clandestine military unit OSS 404. These men later returned to Malaya with the liberation forces on September 1945.

H.M.S. Kedah - a typical converted merchantman Malay Navy men served on in WWII