US Chief Army Gen. George W. Casey Jr. visits Singapore

[OPSSG]

Since this is a thread on General Casey's visit to Singapore, it is only appropriate to feature a awkward video of SSG S.Y. Lim, a Singaporean airborne ranger who served in Bamiyan, with the PRT. SSG Lim looks as if he would prefer to go for a 30 mile hike than appear on camera. This video is unintentionally comical.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjqD7kjZpRw]Chief Cam[/ame]

Below is an old pix of one of the two, 6 men construction engineering teams in the central Afghan province of Bamiyan. This team was supervising the construction of the Regional Health Training Centre in early 2008.

The same site at Bamiyan a little bit later in May 2008.

Below is a 2009 pix of LTC Desmond Yeo (left) and CPT Pang Kah Yie (right) of the SAF Construction Engineering Team with local contractors onsite at the Bamiyan Provincial Hospital.

On 25 Nov 2009, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean announced that the SAF would also be deploying a 13-man medical team to a field hospital in Tarin Kowt, the provincial capital of Oruzgan, from December 2009 to March 2010.

The SAF sent a 20-man team there in November 2008.

The medical team will provide emergency medical support, primary healthcare and pre- and post-operative medical care to the International Security Assistance Force, Afghan National Security Forces, as well as the Afghan locals.

Below is a pix of our medical team making time out of their busy schedule to maintain their marksmanship skills.

For more pixs of pior medical team deployments at post #21 of this thread.

 

[Firn]

About the last picture.

Isn't it quite unusual to shoot with one eye closed? Unless using a night sight or shooting with a scope in very low light situations we were instructed to keep both open. In my personal experience you strain your eyes far less, you have far more chance to detect an offsight movement and you can point the weapon faster. It is even duable with a straight 20x spooting and a 10x rifle scope, although I prefered to scan the ground for a long long range observation with one eye covered.

Firn

 

[OPSSG]

I've been reading your posts at the SWJ...

Isn't it quite unusual to shoot with one eye closed? Unless using a night sight or shooting with a scope in very low light situations we were instructed to keep both open.

I've told Chino before that IMO, our training syllabus for shooting is fairly mediocre. We do day and night shooting with run downs as standard for our normal shooting qualifications. Some of the shooters with astigmatism and/or myopia tend to want to shut one eye instinctively. Others pick up the habit of closing one eye from night shoots. It's a personal shooting habit and I'm usually not perturbed if the shooter is consistent with his breathing technique and still hit the target.

IMO, for moving or timed exposure targets, I find that it's much easier to acquire the shot with both eyes open - so I don't really know why he has picked up that bad habit.

In my personal experience you strain your eyes far less, you have far more chance to detect an offsight movement and you can point the weapon faster. It is even duable with a straight 20x spooting and a 10x rifle scope, although I prefered to scan the ground for a long long range observation with one eye covered.

BTW, there are two types of standard built-in scopes on the SAR-21: the 1.5x magnification and 3x magnification.

Featured above are some soldiers with SAR-21s and Ultimax 100s. The first solider carrying a SAR-21 is also carrying a Matador (which has both anti-armour and anti-brickwall capabilities that is suited for operations in confined spaces). Here's an old video of this weapon that is issued to every infantry section:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spMAAJ8ZtEM]The MATADOR Tank Buster, Urban Warrior[/ame]

 

[Firn]

I've been reading your posts at the SWJ...

It must have been quite hard to wade through that rambling thoughts of mine

I've told Chino before that IMO, our training syllabus for shooting is fairly mediocre. We do day and night shooting with run downs as standard for our normal shooting qualifications. Some of the shooters with astigmatism and/or myopia tend to want to shut one eye instinctively. Others pick up the habit of closing one eye from night shoots. It's a personal shooting habit and I'm usually not perturbed if the shooter is consistent with his breathing technique and still hit the target.

I know too little of your training regime to make any specific comment. I have a strong dominant eye and a weaker one and I'm rather dextrous with my weak hand. I shot in quite some manners, for example the rifle and the shotgun from both sides. I seem to do a bit better at static/known moving targets with the dominant eye but I'm faster and more responsive with the weak eye looking through the sights.

I wonder if engaging more hidden or less (moving) obvious targets while walking or observing would promote open eyes. I mean it is just amazing how greatly a scope reduces your field of view, especially for guys with good eyes or with contact lenses. It is also far easier to keep the target in sight while shooting.

IMO, for moving or timed exposure targets, I find that it's much easier to acquire the shot with both eyes open - so I don't really know why he has picked up that bad habit.

It is a very natural reaction, and possibly a sensible one for night shooting with NV. But as you said it should be avoided as much as possible.

BTW, there are two types of standard built-in scopes on the SAR-21: the 1.5x magnification and 3x magnification.

It should be duable for most with both magnifications. How much does the difference impact on close and long range shooting in your training?


Firn

 

[OPSSG]

Here's more pixs of our 'reservists' (or what the SAF calls NSmen). There's even an official web portal dedicated to the provision of online services. As NSmen, Singaporean males have an annual reserve liability up to 40 days (typically the training period is shorter, about two to three weeks) for 10 years after completion of their 24 months of conscript service (who are called NSFs). When called upon, each NSman is required to go back for his in-camp training (ICT) with his unit, which always includes taking an annual physical fitness test (or what we call IPPT).

NSmen from 657 SIR firing at “enemy” positions during their In-Camp Training. They were fitted with sensors and devices that sound off when the soldiers are “shot”.

Below, NSmen from 657 SIR firing a GPMG from a near fire base to in support of their fellow troops.

Below, an NSman from 657 SIR being evaluated for his unit proficiency and operational-readiness during his ICT. In the background are two exercise controllers evaluating the proficiency of the unit.

Below NSmen from 657 SIR evacuating a simulated casualty on a stretcher during their ICT.

Below a 657 SIR medic tending to a “wounded” comrade during an ICT. The platoon medic is the first responder to injuries incurred when the unit is out in the field.

Please note that not all ICTs are held in Singapore and most NSmen are mature working adults below the age of 40 (though there are exceptions). Here's a video of NSmen, their employers, colleagues and family members, speaking for themselves below:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdTFGakGzgI]United as One[/ame]

The strength of the SAF lies in the hearts of our NSmen and the weakness of the SAF also lies in our NSmen. In fact, when Singapore deployed a 160 combat peacekeepers, there were 10 NSFs and 15 NSmen amongst the group deployed. There's also a video called 'SAF Peacekeepers in Timor-Leste', which provides details on our Green Helmet patrols (conducted in 2002) in the district of Cova Lima in Timor-Leste (which shares a border with Indonesia's West Timor) with robust ROEs to secure the border, to weed out armed groups and to disarm criminal elements. If you watch the video, it was stated that the Green Helmet patrols are heli-inserted into the jungle for foot patrols lasting between 5 to 10 days. The fact that there was little or no news coverage of the activities of the SAF does not mean that there was no danger. Click here for an unpublished Timor-Leste story by David Boey with never published before pictures.

Even with the task group on RSS Persistence, with regard to CTF-151 counter-piracy efforts in the Gulf of Aden, we deployed a sprinkling of NSmen. Aircrew specialist Second Sergeant (NS) The Jia Fu (of the RSAF), a chemical processing technician, volunteered to serve beyond his 40 days of In-Camp Training said:

"When my squadron called me up in January to tell me about the mission, I told them I was interested on the spot. Luckily, my boss and my parents were very supportive of my decision... It was a good opportunity to utilise the skills I learnt as an active serviceman."​

At the heart of our system is determination to involve NSmen in as many missions as possible, to avoid the situation of having a two tier force. The SAF is a citizen army and our capabilities are affirmed by hundreds of thousands of individual sacrifices made by each and every citizen-solider for the greater good of our city-state.

 

[OPSSG]

IMO, for moving or timed exposure targets, I find that it's much easier to acquire the shot with both eyes open - so I don't really know why he has picked up that bad habit.

BTW, there are two types of standard built-in scopes on the SAR-21: the 1.5x magnification and 3x magnification.

It should be doable for most with both magnifications. How much does the difference impact on close and long range shooting in your training?

Not very much. It's more of a role specialization as the SAR-21 with x3 magnification scope is issued to one person in each section, the section sharpshooter.

Below is a video of some conscripts enjoying their basic military training (BMT) in 2007, which includes live hand grenade throwing at 4.42 min of the video and range shooting thereafter at 4.53 min (which shows timed exposure targets):
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgg4WJBX0mM]Alpha Coy at BMT[/ame]

BMT, the magical process where a schoolboy like that below...

...becomes a man (standing beside his proud father, at his BMT passing out parade)...

...and grows up to become an officer and a gentleman (with his date)...

...after the party, he had to complete his Commando Officer conversion course, where he had to complete 4 missions and complete a 120 km march in full battle order (to earn the right to be a leader in an 'elite' unit)...

...thereafter he may be required to lead his men (for unrealistic publicity pixs like this )...

LRRPS rarely ever insert in daylight hours as they do not want their insertion compromised. And why would you want to heli insert via fast rope (which is slower) on a beachhead, especially since the LZ is big enough to land and everyone can just hop off? It just does not make sense to heli insert with the LRRPS as they are coming ashore in boats.

There's more pictures at doodleness' personal bog here (see link for his commissioning parade pictures).

 

[OPSSG]

The SAF Ranger Course

Conducted by Special Operations Tactics Centre (SOTAC)/Commando Training Institute, the Ranger Course, is split into three phases, with the first two phases held locally. The trainees go through realistic patrolling exercises in simulated environments and various terrain. To further expose the trainees to such terrain and weather conditions, they also train overseas during the final phase. The two-month course is open to all medically-fit Army officers and specialists who have undergone the Advanced Section Leaders' Course in the School of Infantry Specialists (SISPEC) or the Commando Small-Unit Leader Course.

Where suffering and sleep derivation is a promised constant. Trainees are expected to perform effectively as small unit leaders in realistic tactical environments under mental and physical stress.

Where pain is a embraced as a friend and participants have been known to drop out within the first hour despite being in tip-top physical condition. Typically only half of the leaders who volunteer make it through the course selection test (before they start the training proper).

Where endurance is required and confidence acquired. The main motivator - desire, the raw desire to earn the ranger tab. And during the course, the trainees had virtually no communication with the outside world.

Where the small unit tactics is king and the ability to conduct mission planing under stress becomes second nature. Chief Commando Officer COL Lam Shiu Tong who took the course in 1989 as a Commando lieutenant said:

"I realised the importance of attention to details as a solider. It's something that we take away with us and even till now, this aspect has served us well in our military career."​

Where air insertion is only one of many methods and surprises are expected. "During the Ranger course, you learn about yourself. You may not have gone through similar situations," COL Lam said. "Things that you previously thought you couldn't do, you realise that you actually can."

Where acquiring a foreign airborne wing is part of the course. Chief of Army MG Neo Kian Hong, himself a Ranger, encourages more junior commanders to go for the Ranger Course. As MG Neo said:

"All junior commanders should step up and take up the Ranger challenge and all unit commanders should encourage their subordinates to do so. As Rangers, you can help by encouraging others to attend. Tell your success stories to your soldiers and colleagues to inspire them. With sufficient preparation and the right motivation, I believe that this challenge is surmountable, as you have so aptly proven."​

This post is dedicated to all my friends, former instructors who have gone for the course and the Ranger cadre who have served and continue to serve our nation in missions abroad.

 

[Firn]

At the heart of our system is determination to involve NSmen in as many missions as possible, to avoid the situation of having a two tier force. The SAF is a citizen army and our capabilities are affirmed by hundreds of thousands of individual sacrifices made by each and every citizen-solider for the greater good of our city-state.

It is indeed the center core of this system which (re)changed the face of war from the 18th century onwards. More so for a small city state.

Not very much. It's more of a role specialization as the SAR-21 with x3 magnification scope is issued to one person in each section, the section sharpshooter.

In my experience magnification is, out to a reasonable range, far more beneficial for target detection and identification than accuracy.

Do you get issued (small) binoculars down to the fireteam/section level? I always thought the rather tiny number of binos per platoon rather ridiculous, especially and of all things for mountain infantry. Even a durable, lightweight and optically decent 8x25 bino for 50€ does vastly increase your team's capability to observe. As far as I know a good deal of people going over to Afghanistan take their own with them.

Firn

P.S: I have personally spotted under excellent conditions game (chamoix) from as far as 30+ km with a good spotting scope. This was calculated with a map and logged down. Perhaps I should browse through the notes to see if I find something similar for binos. For certain terrains the optics can not be good enough.

 

[sunshin3]

Exercise Director Brigadier-General (BG) Tan Chuan Jin said that exercises like Forging Sabre are important in building up the capabilities of the 3rd Generation SAF because they allow for the Army and Air Force to work together and hone their communication skills.

What do these pictures have to do with Exercise Forging Sabre? Who connects them?

Is the answer relating to BG Tan Chuan Jin with regards to the Dec 2004 Tsunami? But how is BG Tan Chuan Jin related to the picture below?

 

[OPSSG]

Is the answer relating to BG Tan Chuan Jin with regards to the Dec 2004 Tsunami?

Yes, he is connected to all three events. Below a Singaporean LARC-5 amphibious vehicle on the streets of Meulaboh, Indonesia in Jan 2005. While our efforts to help Indonesia was dwarfed by the aid given by the US, Japan or Australia, we were the first on the ground in Meulaboh. This was also our largest deployment for relief operations ever. There's a journal article on disaster management and humanitarian assistance by LTC Leonard Tan here, an online case study on relief efforts of the SAF and more Tsunami relief effort pixs here

Below is a pix of him handing over a modular building to his Indonesian counterpart, which is a gift from the SAF to the TNI and the people of Indonesia in Meulaboh. Beyond partnering with the TNI to help Indonesia when natural disaster strikes, Singapore had also transferred 19 SIAI- Marchetti SF-260s and the ex-RSS JUPITER to the Indonesians in 2002.

Tan Chuan Jin was the the Commander of the SAF Humanitarian Assistance Task Force (HATF) at Meulaboh, Indonesia in the aftermath of the Dec 2004 Tsunami and Exco Chairman of the National Day Parade (NDP) 2009 organizing committee.

But how is BG Tan Chuan Jin related to the picture below?

Evidently, organizing the NDP requires similar skill sets of co-ordination and split second timing as acting as Exercise Director for Ex Forging Sabre. In the SAF hierarchy, BG Tan is Commander, TRADOC.

Unrelated to the above national day pix is a 2007 newspaper article on the "Mexicans" (our code name for Israeli military advisers) who played a crucial role in setting up our conscript army and teaching Singapore about armoured warfare via the acquisition of 2nd hand AMX-13s in 1969. So if you stumble onto a Singapore online forum and they talk about the "Mexicans", they are really talking about the Israeli military advisers.

In his book, "From Third World to First: The Singapore Story 1965-2000," published in 2000, Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's founding father and its first prime minister, disclosed the secret that had been kept for almost 40 years: It was the Israel Defense Forces that established the Singaporean army. The Israeli military mission was headed by Yaakov (Jack) Elazari, then a colonel, who was later promoted to brigadier general. After leaving the army, he became a consultant to the Singaporean army. Hedied 15 years ago. "To disguise their presence, we called them `Mexicans.' They looked swarthy enough," Lee wrote.

Singapore declared its independence on August 9, 1965. At the time of its creation, it had only two infantry regiments, which had been established and were commanded by British officers.

The defense minister, Goh, contacted Mordechai Kidron, the former Israeli ambassador to Thailand, and asked for assistance. Kidron arrived in Singapore within days, along with Hezi Carmel of the Mossad. "Goh told us that they think that only Israel, a small country surrounded by Muslim countries, with a strong army, could help them build a small, dynamic army," Carmel says. The two Israelis met with Lee, who writes that he "told Keng Swee to put it on hold until Lal Bahadur Shastri, the prime minister of India, and President Nasser of Egypt replied to my letters seeking their urgent help to build up our armed forces." It's not clear whether Lee, in fact, believed India and Egypt were capable of, or interested in, building up Singapore's army.

At the same time, in the wake of reports sent by Kidron and Carmel, the Israeli defense establishment deployed to supply military aid to Singapore. In discussions conducted by the chief of staff, Yitzhak Rabin, with the participation of the deputy chief of staff and head of the Operations Branch, Ezer Weizmann, it was decided to make Major General Rehavam Ze'evi, who was then deputy head of the Operations Branch, responsible for building the Singaporean army. Ze'evi (nicknamed "Gandhi" ) paid a secret visit to Singapore and the preparatory work began on his return.

Ze'evi appointed Elazari, who worked under him in the Operations Branch, as head of the team he established. Lieutenant Colonel Yehuda Golan, then-commander of an armored division (he retired from the IDF with the rank of brigadier general), was subsequently added to the team. Some members of the team "concentrated on writing the chapters that dealt with building army bases. I wrote the chapters dealing with the establishment of an infantry," Golan says. Initially they produced the "Brown Book," dealing with combat doctrine, followed by the "Blue Book," dealing with the creation of the Defense Ministry and intelligence bodies. The Brown Book was translated into English and sent to Singapore's government for its perusal. In October 1965, a military delegation from Singapore arrived in Israel.

"The delegation arrived in order to tell us: `Well done, but to implement the book, you are invited to come to Singapore,'" Golan recalls. Prior to setting out, the members of the military mission were invited to the chief of staff's bureau. "Dear friends," Rabin said, "I want you to remember several things. One, we are not going to turn Singapore into an Israeli colony. Your task is to teach them the military profession, to put them on their legs so they can run their own army. Your success will be if at a certain stage they will be able to take the wheel and run the army by themselves. Second, you are not going there in order to command them but to advise them. And third, you are not arms merchants. When you recommend items to procure, use the purest professional military judgment. I want total disregard of their decision as to whether to buy here or elsewhere."

On December 24, 1965, about five months after Singapore became an independent state, six IDF officers and their families set out on an unknown mission. "Elazari and two other officers dealt with the establishment of the Defense Ministry," Golan relates. "My task, along with three other officers, was to establish the army."

On Independence Day, August 9, 1969, a major surprise awaited the invited guests, including the defense minister of Malaysia: 30 tanks rolled past the reviewing stand. "It had a dramatic effect," Lee writes. Malaysia had cause for concern. Its defense minister recommended to his guests that they take steps to persuade the Malaysian government that its intentions were not hostile.

 

[OPSSG]

In the last 4 pages of this thread, I have been posting information from disparate sources and it's kind of hard to keep track of all the latest changes in the SAF. I have posted MG Neo Kian Hong's interview in the November 2008 issue of ADJ below, as it helps pull all the disparate developments together.

Singapore Armour - a little trip down memory lane

Made of smelted AMX-13 SM1 tanks, this SAF Crest hangs in the Army Museum of Singapore along with the SAF Core Values. [h/t to b.]

An AMX-13 on static display at the Kent Ridge Park. This is Singapore's first tank. Two of my family members are former tank commanders who received their tank training directly from the Israeli military advisers in those early years. In those days, it took 28 months to commission a tank officer, as armour officers had to go through course after course to get their commission - as they were trained to Israeli standards.

I would like to comment on the above article - with regards to our ability to defend our country. Singapore is not belligerent towards any of our neighbours but the main island is defend-able and we plan to defend every inch of our territory in the event of war. More importantly, I'll like to tell LTG (rtd) Abdul Rashid of Malaysia that the Singaporean soldiers assigned to defend the main island believe they are trained and resourced to do such a task, should diplomacy and deterrence fail. We cannot control the beliefs of people in other countries but we can believe in our training and the bond we have as fellow soldiers serving in an unit that has literally grown up together. We are not equipped or trained like a tier-one army but I think it would be a mistake to underestimate our will to fight (if we have to).

Much to the shock of our neighbours, we paraded AMX-13 tanks for the first time during our NDP on 9 August 1969. An improved version called the AMX-13 SM1 is still in service to date (See pdf for upgrade details).

A clean and parade ready AMX-13 SM1 on a public road in Singapore. BTW, I have a few family members who are tank commanders and armour infantry trained. The late Dr Goh Keng Swee, our Minister for the Interior and Defence then, took a personal interest in the individual careers of armour officers. Today, these Israeli trained tank commanders have sons who are also in the armour formation and serving as operationally ready NSmen.

Singapore armour officer cadets on an AMX-13 at an undisclosed location. This may just look like an old tank to most readers, but for me and many members of my family, this tank is an unofficial symbol of our independence and 'deterence' against potential aggressors. This is because Singapore armour had operational tank battalions even before we had an air force (which at that time was called the Singapore Air Defence Command). Our first generation of tank commanders were trained to go to the fight without air support as we did not have an air force at that time. In those days, Singapore had to make do with what we could afford and learn to make a virtue out of necessity.

Above is two of the SAF's AMX-13 SM1s in action during the annual Ex Bold Kurukshetra, a bilateral army exercise between the SAF and the Indian Army. In Lee Kuan Yew's memoirs, he reveals that after our independence in 1965, Singapore approached India for help to set up our army. While they turned us down, they were kind enough to maintain a good relationship with us and we have a number of SAF officers who were trained in India.

 

[OPSSG]

Exercise Panzer Strike 2009, in Bergen, Germany

This was the first company live-firing of our Leopard 2A4 MBTs from the 48th Battalion, Singapore Armoured Regiment. More pixs here.

Pictured above is Chief of Defence Force, LG Desmond Kuek who is himself a black hat. LG Desmond Kuek and German Chief Armour BG Feldmann witnessed the live-firing.

Lieutenant-Colonel (LTC) Ng Chia Yong, Commanding Officer 48 SAR, the men, a woman with their machines.

Today, at 40, the SAF Armour formation deploys a comprehensive complement of combat, combat support and combat service support vehicles based on locally designed and produced fighting platforms. Working with other platforms in the Armour formation such as the Bionix Infantry Fighting Vehicles and Bronco All-Terrain Tracked Carriers, the new Leopard 2A4 MBTs form the backbone of the formation’s network-centric fighting system, which includes our own BMS.

This live-firing exercise in Bergen, Germany represents a milestone in 48 SAR's journey towards operationalising the Leopard MBT. From 23 March 2009 to 13 April 2009, 1st Company familiarised themselves with the German terrain and learnt to manoeuvre and fire for the first time as a Leopard Company.

Reflecting on the progress achieved, Platoon Commander 2LT Jason Gay, who is not much older than the men shared:

"The company's Command and Control has certainly improved from Exercise Wallaby. We have also become more aggressive in our manoeuvres as the crew and commanders have mastered how to handle the tank."​

At Exercise Wallaby held at Shoalwater Bay Training Area, Australia (16 October 2009 to 29 November 2009), the Leopard tank crews are expected to have fired a further 686 120mm rounds.

Addressing 1st Company, BG Feldmann said:

"I've been here for 40 years on the range, and I want you to know that this was a good performance. You have performed very well and have rendered great honour to your country."
​

With the live-firing completed, 1st Company has taken up a new role as our Army's mailed fist.

Here are links to a Dec 2006 issue of Jane's Defence Weekly, see page 5 and DID for more details on Singapore tanks, if you are interested. There is also a DT thread on Singaporean Leopard 2A4s in Australia.

According to the original Mindef announcement in Dec 2006, Singapore acquired 66 refurbished Leopard 2A4s + 30 spare tanks (which adds up to 96 tanks). Depending on how you interpret the above 2007 newspaper report, it could mean that Singapore acquired 96 +36 Leopard 2A4 tanks (for a total of a 132 tanks).

Given the Singapore Government's willingness to downplay our actual military capabilities and our acquisitions, I would not be surprised if the to 'refurbished Leopard 2A4s' could mean 'upgraded' and upgraded to the level described by the Chief of Army, MG Neo Kian Hong in page 9 of his interview with ADJ in November 2008 issue (new databus, APU, new running gear and improved all round armour protection but retaining the L44 gun). And if the refurbished tanks have new running gear, it would mean that there is a significant weight increase via the installation of improved protection levels or that Singapore's Leopard 2A4s can have such 'improved' protection added quickly.

 

[Waylander]

Ah, nice to see that the Singaporeans trained in Bergen.
Some familiar ranges on these pics.

Do you know if they also made a little trip to the regional training center north, which is just some kilometres away, to play a little bit with the AGDUS kits against one of our companies?

To train against forces from other countries is always a healthy experience for both sides.

 

[sunshin3]

Yes, he is connected to all three events.

Thanks for the clarification. I didn't know that the 'Mexicans' were actually Israeli military advisers. Interesting selection of photos you have posted!

 

[OPSSG]

Ah, nice to see that the Singaporeans trained in Bergen.
Some familiar ranges on these pics.

Thanks for all the comments on Bergen in this thread and in another Leopard 2A4 thread.

Do you know if they also made a little trip to the regional training center north, which is just some kilometres away, to play a little bit with the AGDUS kits against one of our companies?

1. I did not know that.

2. I suspect we may have bought and integrate some German technology here and there in our simulation systems. The SAF uses a Battlefield Instrumentation (BFI) System to provide a more realistic setting for the training and evaluation of SAF units. The BFI System has been used for overseas training and can support exercises involving up to 1,100 soldiers and/or armoured vehicles, over an area of more than 400 sq km.

 

[OPSSG]

A blast from the past - here's a link to Raymond's 1987 pictures of LRRPs and some old pixs of Singapore made gear. [h/t to tiusok and spiderweb6969]

Below, the Reconnaisance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition team deploying the Mini-Unmanned Aerial Vehicle in Ex Wallaby 2008.

Primus Self Propelled Howitzer

Bronco - 120mm Mortar Tracked Carrier

Bronco - STrike ObserveRs Mission (STORM)

Command post

Bronco - Resupply Vehicle

Overview of NCW with Singapore Armour

 

[OPSSG]

Pixs from tiusok, Heather Roy and Mindef

Bionix IFVs at Shoalwater Bay, Australia

Spider Light Strike Vehicles at Shoalwater Bay, Australia

Anti-tank teams using the Spider Light Strike Vehicles, at a Spike live-firing in Waiouru, NZ

Hermes 450 of RSAF's Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Command

 

[Firn]

The Bronco seems to be an excellent take on an excellent orginal idea. This is actually a vehicle in which I would like to take a ride. If the mobility is similar to the swedish Bv206 used by the Alpini it would be a great vehicle for many formations. Such a vehicle could often push the supply, troops and fire support further ahead or around to greatly facilitate a mission in difficult terrain. For a mountain operation I would love to have also one or two small vehicles (mini transporters /ATVs) like a better Fresia or a mule strapped to it.

It could also be used to pull a simple, large Ahkio or skier in winter timer or a compact trailer. In this case the ATVs/snowmobiles/mules should be transported on them.

Firn

 

[OPSSG]

January 20, 2010 – Bahrain – Singaporean Navy Rear Adm. Bernard Miranda assumed command of the Coalition counter-piracy unit, Combined Task Force (CTF) 151, in a ceremony aboard the destroyer USS Hopper (DDG 70) while pier-side in Bahrain today. Rear Adm. Miranda relieved US Navy Rear Adm. Scott E. Sanders, who has commanded the counter piracy task force since August 13, 2009. Rear Adm. Miranda will join his flagship, the USS Farragut (DDG 99), in Djibouti next week.

Having patrolled the Gulf of Aden and Somali Basin for over 160 days, Rear Admiral Sanders marked the conclusion of a highly successful deployment with today’s ceremony. During his tenure in command, CTF-151 helped coordinate the safety of over 15,000 vessels transiting an area of water that covers roughly 1.1 million square miles. In order to accomplish this task, Rear Adm. Sanders and his staff held regular meetings and interactions both Coalition vessels and independent deploying nations such as China and Russia to ensure the most effective use of patrol assets... During the ceremony, Miranda took the opportunity to thank Rear Adm. Sanders for his leadership, mentorship and friendship over the preceding months. “It is a great honor and privilege for me to be given command of CTF-151,” Miranda said. ”I will build on the fine work of my predecessors, Rear Admirals McKnight, Howard, Bener and Sanders. I will engage our partners, especially the EU and NATO, in order to make the seas safer.”

“While the main focus of my command remains the mission to deter and disrupt piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the Somali Basin, I will also put emphasis on the readiness and optimization of all assets and the well being of all people involved in the day to day tasks in this mission,” said Miranda. “My team and I look forward to being part of the Combined Maritime Forces Headquarters and the USS Farragut.”

Bahrain (Jan. 20, 2010) Rear Adm. Bernard Miranda being congratulated by Rear Adm. Scott Sanders, the outgoing Commander CTF-151 after the change-of-command ceremony held on board USS HOPPER (DDG 70). Singapore Rear Adm. Bernard Miranda relieved Sanders and assumed the task of deterring, disrupting and suppressing piracy in the Gulf of Aden and Somali Basin in order to protect global maritime security and secure freedom of navigation for the benefit of all nations (Released by Singapore Mindef).

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRRJUwk870k]The Fight for Safe Passage - SAF in the Gulf of Aden[/ame]
Last year, an SAF task group was deployed to the Gulf of Aden and returned after a three-month deployment. Comprising RSS Persistence, a Landing Ship Tank with two Super Puma helicopters on board, they conducted sector patrols to deter pirate attacks. The SAF task group responded to 57 calls for assistance and launched 80 helicopter sorties. They also helped to coordinate operations within the CTF-151 by facilitating information sharing between the CTF and other navies operating in the region.

 

[OPSSG]

Singapore Developments & News

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXmi0e0gp0g]Singapore Airshow 2010[/ame]

Click to see Flight Global video of the F-15SG Simulator

ST Kinetics' Unmanned Ground Surveillance Vehicle (UGSV) on display

The above UGSV carries LIDAR navigation sensors, electro-optical payloads and public address systems and it provides 360 degree situational awareness for the operator.

It Won't Fly, But Airplanes Can't Clear Minefields - Bill Sweetman

The Singapore air show has always been unique in that the first thing that greets a visitor at the entrance to the exhibit hall is a large booth full of green, steel things with tracks. For ST Kinetics, land-forces division of ST Engineering, this is the first Singapore show since its end-2008 coup, in which it overcame BAE Systems' home-team advantage and sold its Bronco articulated tracked vehicle to the British Army (which calls it the Warthog). The company now has a second Bronco export order for a south-east Asian customer.

Also new here is the Trailblazer mineclearing vehicle, in production for the Singapore army. It's a novel variation on an old concept: based on the chassis of the Bionix infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), it carries its flail on a swivelling, articulated mount - so that it sweeps a wide area but is no wider than an IFV for road travel or transport.

It sweeps backwards, too, placing the crew (in an isolated, armored cell) as far as possible from the mines, and it has a new ST Kinetics infinitely variable transmission which allows it to creep slowly and under full control.

New from ST Electronics is the Venus unmanned surface vessel (USV). Based on a hull design from US specialized boatbuilder Navatek, Venus is designed to be modular to permit rapid mission changes. The bow mounting is designed as a "clip" to accept a remotely operated weapon system or Spike missile launcher, and the aft deck is an open bay that can accept a mission module for antisubmarine warfare, or even two lightweight torpedo tubes.

USVs still suffer from one basic limitation - without using satcoms, which take a lot of bandwidth, it's not possible to transmit imagery over the horizon. ST, however, is working on improved satcoms - and a video showed the USV working as a team with a Schiebel CanCopter UAV, which could act as a relay.

Above we have more details on the Venus USV which is designed as a multi-mission hull with better sea keeping capabilities than the Rafael's Protector (which is designed primarily with force protection, surveillance and interception in mind). The Protector is also in service with the RSN and was deployed for Operation Blue Orchid to protect Iraqi oil terminals. Below is are pixs of the Venus USV back from sea trials.

As you may know, Navatek Ltd is a subsidiary of Pacific Marine and designed the unique 'M' hulls of the 11-metre USVs designed for the USN's LCS vessels. For more info see this post in another thread.