The third ASEAN country submarine force in my series concerns Singapore.
4 in commission, 3
pre-commission, 1 in production
Challenger-class
(ex-Sjoormen A11)
5 boats: 2 active,
2 retired, 1 acquired for spares
Displacement
1,200 tonne
Acquired 1995
Delivered by 2002
Archer-class
(ex-Vastergotland A17)
2 boats, in
commission
Displacement 1,400
tonnes
Acquired 2005
Delivered by 2010
Invincible-class
(Type 218SG)
3 delivered, 1 in production
Displacement 2,200
tonnes
Ordered 2014
To be delivered from
2023-2026
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The history of the
Republic of Singapore Navy’s (RSN) submarine service is a clear demonstration
of what Dr. Tim Huxley, in his book Defending
the Lion City: The Armed Forces of Singapore (2000) referred to as defence
capabilities creep - in that every generational step of a weapons system adds
new capabilities to Singapore’s Armed Forces.
In the case of
Singapore’s submarine service, its humble beginnings started when Singapore
purchased 30 year old Sjöormen class A11 submarines in 1995 from Kockums’ used
submarine pier.
All five boats of
the retired Sjöormen class were purchased, with the last boat, HSwMS Sjöhästen,
cannibalised for spare parts for her four sisters. After modernisation and
tropicalisation, the four boats of the Challenger-class entered RSN
service by 2002. Two boats (RSS Challenger and RSS Centurion) were
decommissioned in 2015. RSS Conqueror and RSS Chieftain remain in service
today, though both boats are over 50 years old now. In the 20 years that
they’ve served in the RSN, the Challengers set the foundations for Singapore’s
submarine operations. By 2019 two RSN submarine officers were “Perisher” graduates.
Following on from
the Challenger-class, in 2005 Singapore acquired the two remaining Västergötland
class submarines, which were placed in Swedish naval reserve in the early
2000s, while their two sister boats were upgraded with AIP modules to become
the Södermanland-class (HSwMS Södermanland is about to undergo a second life extension, and remain in service to 2028).
RSS Archer (ex-HSwMS
Hälsingland, launched 1987) and RSS
Swordsman (ex-HSwMS Västergötland, launched 1986)
received an extensive refit similar to the Södermanlands, including AIP. The
Archers also received tropicalization, air conditioning, a Singapore-developed flank sonar array, and were commissioned into the RSN in 2011 and 2013.
The Challengers
are a traditional SSKs (though one of the first with a teardrop hull shape)
with limited range and the need to frequently snort. In contrast the Archers
were refitted with Kockums’ Stirling AIP hull sections, which greatly extended
their fully submerged endurance. The Archers also have a pressurized diver’s lockout (part of
the 12m AIP module insert) a first on an RSN submarine. It is likely that the
Archers have double the endurance of the Challengers, and are frequent visitors
to the Andamans for training and exercises
with the Indian Navy.
In 2013-2014 Singapore
held a submarine contest between TKMS and Naval Group. Also see Submarine Matters on this. TKMS was selected to supply two Type 218SG submarines for US$1.36 billion, with a follow-on order placed in 2017 for two additional boats. The first in
class, RSS Invincible, was launched by TKMS in Kiel in February 2019, but has
remained in the German city for shakedown trials and training, and is slated
for delivery to Singapore in 2023. The second and third boats were launched
together in December 2022. The second boat of the class, RSS Impeccable, is on its way to
Singapore, and should make an appearance on
Singapore’s National Day Parade on August 9, 2023.
The Invincible
class will replace both the Challenger class and Archer class, so it is assumed
the RSN will keep its submarine fleet at four boats. The Invincibles “can stay
submerged 50% longer than the Archer-class”. They have advanced automation plus a high level of situational
awareness, with expanded flank arrays and towed array sonar. The Invincibles
also have a bigger payload capacity (including more torpedoes and other
weapons) than the Archers, This may include a submarine launched version of the
locally developed (with some
Israeli assistance) Blue Spear anti ship cruise
missile.
Blue Spear, an
anti-ship/land attack cruise missile, has been recently confirmed to replace
Harpoon in the ASM role for Singapore’s six Formidable-class frigates. Blue Spears will also
likely arm the RSN’s six upcoming, larger, Multi-Role Combat Vessels (MRCVs).
Singapore’s
maritime security had a major revamp in the late 2010s, resulting in the
division of the ‘fleet’ into two commands in 2020. Fleet Command contains four Flotillas with Frigates,
Missile Corvettes, LSTs and Submarines. While Maritime Security Command
(MARSOC) contains Littoral Mission Vessels, Maritime Security & Response Vessels, Force Protection and UUVs.
What is clear is
that this fleet division created two commands with separate primary tasks, with
the Fleet tasked with power projection and ‘outside littoral boundary’
missions, like patrolling SLOCs.
MARSOC is focused
on the ‘near shore’ - Singapore’s territorial waters, undersea cables/pipes and
near sea lanes such as the Malacca Straits, with unmanned vessels providing port security and infrastructure
protection, including counter naval mine
warfare and seabed inspection.
Singapore has a neutral defence policy. Singapore
and China are establishing a
secure defence telephone line after
signing an MOU on June 1, 2023.
Shawn Chung
June 1, 2023
