Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) update

[Sandhi Yudha]

Royal Malaysian Navy inaugurates UAS squadron

The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) has established a new formation to operate the ScanEagle unmanned aerial system (UAS).

www.janes.com

The Royal Malaysian Navy created a new unit for the new ScanEagle UAV. The RMN received its first batch of six ScanEagle unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) units from the US in May 2020. Besides the six initial UAV units, Squadron 601 has also taken delivery of two pneumatic launchers, two units of the SkyHook UAV retrieval system, and two ground control units from the US.

It is unclear yet if the systems will be used only on land or also on naval vessels.

 

[STURM]

They will initially be operated from a converted MISC ship and an oil rig which have been converted into forward operating bases in ESSCOM.

 

[STURM]

In January the RMN Chief revealed that a contract has been been signed for 3 “maritime operations helicopters” the previous September. Although he didn’t name the type: it’s believed to be the AW139.

The RNN has long been seeking a medium size utility platform to perform resupply and the transporting of PASKAL teams; problematic with the current Super Lynx and Fennec fleet due their limited carrying capacity and range.

 

[STURM]

It will be delicious irony if Malaysia’s China built LMS is used to monitor/chase away China’s navy or coast guard ships.

Which happened late last year when in its first operational deployment; a Kris class LMS was deployed to the Spratlys to monitor a Chinese ship.

 

[STURM]

I guess this's the results with what happened to Boustead debacle. Most of TLDM domestic project done by Boustead.

The Naval Dockyard (as it was known then) started life as a refit facility; its “bread and butter” so to speak: a job it did quite competently.As it stands BNS is the RMN’s main refit facility but there are several other yards which perform refits.

The first naval ships constructed locally were 6 Jerong class FACs (Lurssen designed) and a survey ship in the 1970’s in Penang: followed by a OPV (South Korean designed) in the 1980’s in Johore. Several riverine boats were also constructed in the 1970’s and served quite well during the 2nd Energency.

In the 1990’s a patrol boat was constructed for Cambodia and a yard in Sarawak some years ago was contacted to construct a LST for the UAE.

The problems with BNS started when it was assigned ambitious jobs which were beyond its capability and experience levels. With the Kedahs we know what the problem was : upper level mismanagement.

With the LCS; although there have been a number of official statements and a lot of speculation on the part of observers/enthusiasts; we can’t for certain say what the issue was/is. Was it really due to the inadequacies of a yard which truly lacked the ability or was it due to a combination of factors; including certain decisions made by the government? We don’t know yet.

 

[STURM]

Photos released in May last year of a RMN Super Lynx being loaded into a RMAF A400M for transport to East Malaysia.

A video was also released last year of a Su-30 receiving mid air refuelling from a A400M during an exercise.

 

[Ananda]

The problems with BNS started when it was assigned ambitious jobs which were beyond its capability and experience levels. With the Kedahs we know what the problem was : upper level mismanagement.

Thanks for the explanation. Hopefully whatever miss management that happen in BNS can be solve quickly. I do believe Malaysia also need to diversified Naval works toward other domestic yards outside BNS.

I'm talking more on looking through experience in Indonesia, where before Naval works usually handle by PAL and few others State Owned (SOE) yards. However now more Private Commercial Yards in Batam or Banten also being given Naval Jobs. So far they in fact can shown more efficient and faster jobs on Patrol Boats and LST for Navy, OPV and Patrol Boats for Coast Guards and other Government Institution like SAR and Fisheries.

In fact Banking institution in general are more comfortable to provide domestic financing to some Private Commercial Yards compared to SOE yards. Shown external comfortability level from Finance Industry toward them relatively higher then SOE Yards.

 

[STURM]

Pics of a recent replenishment involving KD Lekiu and KD Jebat with HMAS Sirius which was escorted by HMAS Anzac; in the Andaman Sea.

In addition to exercises under the FPDA: the RMN conducts an annual exercise with the RAN; as well as PASSEXs with RAN ships visiting the region.

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

It seems there is no alternative, no other shipyard who can or want to take over the Gowind Class project.

The programme has now a USD340 million cost overrun, and being some years behind schedule.

Malaysia retains Boustead as shipbuilder for LCS programme

The Malaysian government has decided to retain state-affiliated Boustead Naval Shipyard (BNS) as the shipbuilder for the country’s troubled Maharaja Lela (Gowind)-class...

www.janes.com

 

[STURM]

It seems there is no alternative, no other shipyard who can or want to take over the Gowind Class project.

Of course there is no other shipyard. Whilst there are other yards who are capable of the job (a yard in Sarawak delivered LSTs to the UAE and others also perform refits for the RMN) it was BNS which was awarded the contract and BNS which is legally bound to complete the job.

One of the of the solutions looked at was to appoint the Naval Group (former DCNS) as “rescue contractor” but this option was not taken up. A decision has been made for BNS to complete the job but the actual details have not been released.

There’s a lot of press coverage on the issue and debate taking place. This is a piece by the Chairman of the Select Committee on Defence and Home Affairs.

MP SPEAKS | Govt must be transparent on combat ship saga

Delivery of the first LCS was supposed to be April 2019 but in Dec 2020, the first ship was only halfway complete.

www.malaysiakini.com

 

[OPSSG]

...BNS which was awarded the contract and BNS which is legally bound to complete the job.

...

There’s a lot of press coverage on the issue and debate taking place. This is a piece by the Chairman of the Select Committee on Defence and Home Affairs.

Malaysia badly needs the long delayed Maharaja Lela-class (or better known as Gowind-class) completed. Hulls in the water or naval presence matters in the South China Sea — congrats on having a firm decision made.

 

[STURM]

On the Spratlys the eventual plan is to have the MMEA maintain a greater presence there with the RMN playing a secondar/backup role. Which is why the MMEA’s new OPVs and NGPCs are so needed. The RMN’s main assets in the area are the 6 Kedah class NGOPVs and the Chinese built LMSs.

 

[OPSSG]

The RMN’s main assets in the area are the 6 Kedah class NGOPVs and the Chinese built LMSs.

That’s 10 naval vessels, grossly inadequate to maintain a min. presence in such a large area to patrol.

Presence matters. 6 more Maharaja Lela-class will give the Malaysian Navy a total of 16 reasonably modern vessels — to enable a constant presence of 4, with 4 more on short notice to sail (5 days notice or less), during:

(i) times of tension with China or Vietnam, over disputed claims in the South China Sea; or

(ii) another unfortunate incident with Philippines (that threatens to escalate like that of 2013 Lahad Datu standoff).

 

[STURM]

That’s 10 naval vessels, grossly inadequate to maintain a min. presence in such a large area to patrol.

Indeed and based on the actual number of hulls it has; it’s a miracle that the RMN is even able to maintain a permanent presence in the area; with at least another ship at Seoanggar able to put to sea at short notice.

In addition to the 6 Kedahs and 2 LMSs: there are a number of FACs which are there but of course they suffer from poor seakeeping in certain sea conditions and don’t have the endurance of larger ships. There are also a number of MMEA ships based in the area.

The intention is for the MMEA to take some of the pressure off the RMN once its OPVs and NGPCs are fully delivered.

 

[STURM]

A “passing exercise” was held between the RMN and the RN’s Queen Elizebeth Carrier Group. It is the Queen Elizebeth’s maiden voyage to the region.

 

[Systems Adict]

Sorry - Duplicate post...

 

[Systems Adict]

A “passing exercise” was held between the RMN and the RN’s Queen Elizebeth Carrier Group. It is the Queen Elizebeth’s maiden voyage to the region.

Nice to see LEIKU & JEBAT at sea, having spent a LOT of time on them in the 1990's during the build & test phase.

 

[STURM]

Systems Addict,

I was told that during contractor trials in the North Sea someone left the hatch of the main gun open and a lot of seawater got it. Apparently the circuitry got damaged.

If you don’t mind sharing; what was your job scope? Thank you.

 

[Systems Adict]

Systems Addict,

I was told that during contractor trials in the North Sea someone left the hatch of the main gun open and a lot of seawater got it. Apparently the circuitry got damaged.

If you don’t mind sharing; what was your job scope? Thank you.

I wasn't on that particular trip, as the ship sailed south from Scotland, to the English channel operating & training areas, through the North Channel / Irish sea. My recollection of comments I've heard (bearing in mind that it is over 20 years ago now), is that the ship was sailing through particularly heavy seas, during a force 7 or 8 storm. All I can say from what I had heard is that whatever happened, the gun ended up turned round, so the barrel was facing aft. The result was that during the storm, a series of large waves came over the bow, & they eventually forced in the door on the back of the gun.

I am not brave enough to admit to all that I did during the x4 years of the construction & testing of the x2 ships, but I was lucky enough to work on both of them before & after launching & was honoured to be part of an all civilian team (although there were many ex-Naval personnel in the team), who took the ships through the testing phase, training the ship's crew on the their new equipment & to the point of handover to the RMN.

Lets leave the mystery there...

SA

 

[ASSAIL]

I wasn't on that particular trip, as the ship sailed south from Scotland, to the English channel operating & training areas, through the North Channel / Irish sea. My recollection of comments I've heard (bearing in mind that it is over 20 years ago now), is that the ship was sailing through particularly heavy seas, during a force 7 or 8 storm. All I can say from what I had heard is that whatever happened, the gun ended up turned round, so the barrel was facing aft. The result was that during the storm, a series of large waves came over the bow, & they eventually forced in the door on the back of the gun.

I am not brave enough to admit to all that I did during the x4 years of the construction & testing of the x2 ships, but I was lucky enough to work on both of them before & after launching & was honoured to be part of an all civilian team (although there were many ex-Naval personnel in the team), who took the ships through the testing phase, training the ship's crew on the their new equipment & to the point of handover to the RMN.

Lets leave the mystery there...

SA

It is pretty standard practice to face the gun aft in heavy weather (or it used to be).
From my vague memory, the old 4.5” Mk6 turret had the doors on each side, not on the rear as did the old 5”/54 Mk42 turret.