South East Asia Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

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Naval Today said:

The Australian Government transferred two of its decommissioned landing craft to the Philippines Navy.

Australian Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Tim Barrett, AO, CSC, RAN, was joined at HMAS Cairns today by his Philippine counterpart, Flag Officer in Command Philippine Navy, Vice Admiral Jesus Millan, at the ceremony to gift the Australian Balikpapan class landing craft to the Government of the Philippines.

Super Typhoon Haiyan caused significant devastation to the Philippines in November 2013, and approximately 500 Australian Defence Force personnel, including the crew of HMAS Tobruk and a deployment of Army Engineers, provided in-country support to the relief effort, at the request of the Philippines Government.

The decommissioned vessels, ex-HMA Ships Tarakan and Brunei, were re-commissioned at the ceremony, into the Republic of Philippines Navy as BRP Ivatan (AT298) and BRP Batak (AT299).

With over 40 years service, the versatility of the Balikpapan class resulted in superb logistics support to Australian Defence Force operations in Bougainville, East Timor and the Solomon Islands, and numerous humanitarian aid missions both domestically and through the region.

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Australian Balikpapan Class


US LCU 2000 Class​

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World Maritime News said:

There is a continuing trend in South East Asia in the hijacking of small coastal tankers by maritime pirates, averaging one attack every two weeks, finds a new report from the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) International Maritime Bureau (IMB).

According to the report, five small tankers were hijacked in South East Asian waters in the second quarter of 2015 alone, bringing the total number of vessels hijacked globally in 2015 to 13.

IMB has stressed however that enhanced cooperation between regional authorities is paying off and that early detection of approaching skiffs has resulted in attacks being aborted.

IMB highlighted the tracking and arrest off Vietnam of an eight-man Indonesian gang responsible for the hijacking of a

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last month. IMB also praised the Malaysian authorities for the June conviction of nine Indonesian pirates, apprehended after the January hijacking of an anchored product tanker off Johor.

Pottengal Mukundan, Director of IMB said: “Information sharing and coordinated action between concerned coastal states is crucial in responding to this threat. We commend the effort that caught one gang and also the hefty custodial sentences imposed on another which will help deter further incidents.”[/quote]

This is a serious situation. I read all the time about vessels being attacked and taken in SE Asia. Sometimes they are recovered. Sometimes ransoms are paid. Some times they are never heard from again.

This is a critical opportunity for the naval/maritime powers in the region to work together and face the joint threat. I hope that they do so more and more.

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Jeff Head said:

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US Navy said:

SINGAPORE (NNS) – The U.S. Navy and Republic of Singapore Navy completed the 21st annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Singapore after 11 days of comprehensive training both at sea and ashore, July 24.

CARAT Singapore featured a series of dynamic training engagements including a five-day sea phase involving ships, submarines and aircraft from both countries.

“Having arrived in Southeast Asia in 2012, this was my third time participating in CARAT Singapore and each year, the exercise gets better and better," said Capt. Fred Kacher, commodore, Destroyer Squadron 7 and co-commander of the exercise task group. "The high-end tactical and integrated warfare that was on display this week proved what a valuable training partner Singapore is and how important we view this maritime relationship."

Building on CARAT’s emphasis of increasing the complexity of combined scenarios each year, USN and RSN ships, submarines and aircraft operated together during joint torpedo and gunnery exercises, launched unmanned aerial vehicles, performed deck landing qualifications with embarked aircraft, and conducted concurrent simulated underway replenishments with fleet replenishment oiler USNS Pecos (T-AO 197).

The RSN's Formidable-class frigate RSS Supreme (73), Republic of Singapore Air Force's (RSAF) S-70B Seahawk helicopter and the USN's MH-60R Seahawk helicopter took part in the successful combined torpedo firing exercise July 22. Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman, RSN Fleet Commander Rear Adm. Lew Chuen Hong, Rear Adm. Charles Williams, commander of the USN’s Logistics Group Western Pacific, and members of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Defence and Foreign Affairs (GPC-DFA) were underway on board Supreme to observe the TORPEX.

The highlight of this year’s exercise was the inaugural use of unmanned aircraft systems. The MQ-8B Fire Scout, embarked on littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth (LCS 3), and the RSN’s Scan Eagle UAV operated in the joint environment, demonstrating the value of unmanned platforms in providing an enhanced maritime domain awareness picture for the afloat task group.

“CARAT Singapore has increased in scope and complexity over the years. The successful conduct of the combined torpedo firing and the UAV operations underscores the high level of interoperability and trust both navies have achieved," said Col. Seah Poh Yeen, the RSN's co-commander of the exercise task group, in a Ministry of Defence press release July 22.
Additionally, Fort Worth conducted deck landing qualifications during the sea phase, landing the RSAF’s S-70B on its flight deck. The DLQs on Fort Worth marked the first time a RSAF landed on board a LCS, showcasing the versatility of the rotary wing assets.

In another first, a sortie of two RSAF F-15SG Strike Eagle jets overflew the ships, providing an opportunity for the task group to practice integrated air defense measures.
Shore-based training included visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) drills, military law enforcement expert exchanges, medical culinary and aviation exchanges, and a community service project. Sailors from the USN and RSN coastal riverine teams also conducted advanced small-boat training and boarding drills.

More than personnel from both countries participated in CARAT Singapore 2015. In addition to Fort Worth, U.S. assets included the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen (DDG 82), a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft from Patrol Squadron 45 (VP-15), the Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Houston (SSN 713), USNS Pecos (T-AO 197), U.S. Marine Corps military police, and a Navy Riverine Squadron. RSN assets included the Supreme, Victory-class missile corvettes RSS Vigour (92) and RSS Valour (89),
Fearless-class patrol vessel RSS Fearless (94), and Archer-class submarine RSS Archer.
The Republic of Singapore has been part of the CARAT exercise series since it began in 1995. After more than two decades of annual training events between the armed forces, CARAT Singapore remains a model for cooperation that has evolved in complexity and enables both navies to refine operations and tactics in response to both traditional and non-traditional maritime security challenges.

Following CARAT Singapore, additional bilateral phases of CARAT will occur from July through November 2015 with Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Timor-Leste.

Commander, Task Force 73 and DESRON 7 staff conduct advanced planning, organize resources and directly support the execution of maritime exercises such as the bilateral CARAT series, the Naval Engagement Activity (NEA) with Vietnam, and the multi-lateral Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) with Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.

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Sea Waves said:

Over time, illegal immigrants, smugglers and terrorists have become more sophisticated in their game.

Some use decoys, faster boats and piracy tactics, and make dangerous maneuvers to evade arrest.

In 2014 alone, the Police Coast Guard (PCG) arrested 46 illegal immigrants and prevented more than 7,000 suspicious vessels from intruding Singapore’s waters.

To improve the Police’s interception of these maritime intruders, the PCG launched a new fleet of Patrol Interdiction Boats (PIB) and 2nd Generation PK Class High Speed Interceptors (2nd Gen PK) at a naming and commissioning ceremony held at the PCG headquarters in Pulau Brani.

The new PIB can travel above 45 knots (or 80km/h) and features a beaching ramp that allows PCG officers to dismount on land quickly and pursue their targets if they get to shore.

It is also equipped with shock-mitigating seats, armoured protection against armed attacks and a Stabilised Naval Gun System with increased shooting accuracy to disable the engine of intruding boats.

The 2nd Gen PK interceptors are propelled by twin high-powered engines that boast a speed upwards of 55 knots (100km/h), compared to the earlier generation boats’ top speed of 45 knots.

Made of reinforced marine-grade aluminium, these high-speed interceptors can withstand hard impact and have improved maneuverability to pursue high-speed vessels with ease.

The reduced engine noise emissions and lowered profile of the boats help minimise detection by targets too.

“The 2nd Gen PK interceptor was custom built with inputs from the users and the boat builders. The improved functions of the interceptors enhance the operational capabilities of the Special Task Squadron in dealing with the ever evolving high-speed threats intruding our waters,” said Assistant Superintendent Desmond Ong, Commanding Officer of the Special Task Squadron.

The PIBs are used by PCG officers for routine patrols while the 2nd Gen PK interceptors are operated by the Special Task Squadron and deployed in emergency situations such as deliberate ambushes.

In all, 11 PIBs and six 2nd Gen PK interceptors will be added to the PCG’s current fleet by February 2016.

In his speech at the commissioning ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs Mr Teo Chee Hean said that the large number and variety of vessels in our waters, coupled with our lack of maritime space, pose challenges to Singapore’s maritime security forces.

“The PCG’s new boats will provide our officers with significantly improved interception capabilities. Working closely together, the PCG and Singapore’s maritime agencies strengthen our ability to safeguard our waters and sea borders for the benefit of Singaporeans and the international shipping community,” he said.

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The Philippine Navy (PN) formally commissioned into service its two armed AgustaWestland AW-109E "Power" helicopters during a ceremony at Naval Station Jose Andrada, on Roxas Boulevard, Manila this week. The helicopters are armed with two FN Hertsal FN RMP rocket machine gun pods combining a 50 caliber machinegun and three 2.75 inch rockets.

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