Royal Malaysian Navy
Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) (Malay: Tentera Laut DiRaja Malaysia (TLDM)) is the naval arm of Malaysia's armed forces. In terms of personnel the RMN is one of the largest fleet in South East Asia and is also considered as one of the more technologically advanced navy in South East Asia.The role of the Royal Malaysian Navy is to safeguarding the Malaysia's coastline, her Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), her territorial waters and as well as defending Malaysia against all seaborne threats.
History
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 defense of Singapore, upon which the defense of the Malay Peninsula was based. Another reason behind its formation were political developments in Asia, particularly a Japanese that was increasingly assertive in Asia. The formation of a Penang branch in 1938 saw its expansion.
On 18 January 1935, the British Admiralty presented Singapore with an Acacia-class sloop, HMS Laburnum, to serve as the Reserve's Headquarters and drill ship. It was berthed at the Telok Ayer Basin. HMS Laburnum was sunk in February 1942, prior to the capitulation of Singapore at the beginning of the Pacific Second World War.
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 defenses 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. This formed the basis of the navy in Malaya, called the Malay Navy, manned by indigenous Malay personnel (similarly, the Malays were recruited into the fledgling Malay Regiment formed in 1936). The Malay Navy had a strength of 400 men who received their training at HMS Pelandok, the Royal Navy training establishment in Malaya. Recruitment was increased and in 1941 at the outbreak of the war in Asia, the Malay Navy had a strength of 1450 men.
Throughout the Second World War, the Malay Navy served with the Allied Forces in the Indian and Pacific theater of operations. When the war ended with the Japanese Surrender in 1945, only 600 personnel of the Malay Navy reported for muster. Post war economic constraints saw the disbandment of the Malay Navy in 1947.
The Malay Navy was reactivated on 24 December 1948 at the outbreak of the Malayan Emergency, the Communist inspired insurgent war against the British Colonial government. The Malayan Naval Force regulation was officially gazetted on 4 March 1949 by the colonial authorities and the Malayan Naval Force was based at an ex-Royal Air Force radio base station in Woodlands, Singapore. The base was initially called the 'MNF Barracks' but later renamed HMS Malaya. The Malayan RNVR was reconstituted as a joint force comprising the Singapore Division and the Federation Division, by an Ordinance passed in Singapore in 1952.
The main mission of the Malayan Naval Force (MNF) was coastal patrol in order to stop the communist terrorists from receiving supplies from the sea. In addition, the Force was tasked with guarding the approaches to Singapore and other ports.
The MNF was firstly equipped with a River-class frigate HMS Test that was used as a training ship but by 1950 had in service an ex-Japanese minelayer HMS Laburnum, a Landing Craft Tank (LCT) HMS Pelandok ("Mousedeer"), motor fishing vessel HMS Panglima ("Marshall"), torpedo recovery vessel HMS Simbang and several seaward defence motor launches (SDML).
“Royal” Title
In August 1952 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, bestowed the title "Royal Malayan Navy" to the Malayan Naval Force in recognition of the sterling service in action during the Malayan Emergency. All RMN ships today carry the prefix KD (Kapal Diraja, or His Majesty's Ship) The King of Malaysia is the Supreme Commander of the Malaysian Armed Forces.
Independence
Malaya, soon after attaining independence on August 31, 1957, had successfully negotiated with the British Government and had the British Royal Malayan Navy transferred to the independent Federation of Malaya on 12 July 1958. With the hoisting of the Federation naval ensign - the White Ensign modified by the substitution of the Union Flag with the Federation flag in the canton - the RMN was thus made responsible for Malaya's maritime self defence.
From then on it became Malayan owned and administered. The designation “Royal” in Royal Malayan Navy was now in reference to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. When the navy was transferred to Malaya, all the assets (the ships, the bases and jetties and personnel) were inherited by the Malayan government.
The new force shouldered the responsibility with only an operational and training base at HMMS Malaya and a small coastal fleet of one LCT, two Ham-class inshore minesweepers, one coastal minelayer and seven MLs (the ex-RN 200th Patrol Squadron) on transferred from the Royal Navy.
On 16 September 1963 the naval force was renamed Royal Malaysian Navy with the formation of Malaysia. The RMN was gradually strengthened after the formation of Malaysia. 18 “Keris”-class patrol boats were ordered from Vosper, and these formed the mainstay of the navy for years to come. These 103 ft (31 m) boats were driven by maybach diesels and capable of 27 knots ([convert: unknown unit]). The Keris patrol boats are confined to coastal patrols and had short endurance. An offensive capability was acquired with the purchase of four Vosper "Brave" class fast attack craft. The “Perkasa” Fast Patrol Boats were built for the RMN by Vosper Thorneycroft in 1967, powered by three Rolls Royce Marine Proteus gas turbines as the main power plant with two diesel auxiliary engines for cruising and manoeuvring. These were armed with four 21" torpedoes and one 40 mm Bofors gun forward and one 20 mm cannon aft. It had a maximum speed of 54 knots ([convert: unknown unit]) and was driven by triple propellers.
The Royal Navy transferred a Loch-class frigate HMS Loch Insh (F433) to the RMN in 1964 and renamed KD (Kapal di-Raja, "His Majesty's Ship") Hang Tuah. In 1965, during the Indonesian Confrontation, Hang Tuah took over guardship duties off Tawau from HMS Yarra. The ship served the RMN until decommissioned in the 1970s and scrapped.
When the trials and tribulations of Indonesian Confrontation settled down in 1966, especially after the signing of the agreement between Malaysia and Indonesia, Tunku Abdul Rahman and his colleagues decided to Malaysianise the top posts in the navy and air force. They initially offered these posts to two senior Malaysian army generals, who declined for two main reasons. Firstly they felt that they were not professionally qualified and secondly because they did not want to jeopardise their own careers in the army.
Tunku and his colleagues then decided that they would select two officers, one from the navy and one from the air force, and appoint them chiefs of the respective services. They were fully aware of Rear Admiral Datuk K. Thanabalasingam's age but decided, nevertheless, to appoint him and take the risk. This exercise created history not only because Malaysians for the first time were appointed to these two top posts but also because of his age -- he was 31 years old and a bachelor.
Under Thanabalasingam and with Tunku Abdul Rahman's foresight and will, they were responsible for initiating the gradual transformation of the navy from a coastal navy (brown water force) to an ocean-going navy (blue water navy).
1970's Onwards
In 1977, the RMN acquired the frigate HMS Mermaid from the Royal Navy to replace the decommissioned Hang Tuah. The ship was also named KD Hang Tuah(F72) and retained HMS Mermaid’s pennant number. KD Hang Tuah is a 2,300 std ton light patrol frigate armed with twin 102 mm guns. "Hang Tuah" gradually reverted to a training role and currently continues in that role for the RMN. KD Rahmat (ex-HANG JEBAT) (F24) joined the RMN in 1972. The 2,300-ton ship was a one-off Yarrow light frigate design for the RMN. The ship was originally named KD Hang Jebat but renamed after initial propulsion problems during pre commissioning trials. It was the first Malaysian naval vessel equipped with a missile (Seacat) system. Rahmat was decommissioned in 2004.
The RMN purchased several types of missile boats in the 1970s and 80s. These were four Combattante II attack boats purchased from France and four Spica M from Sweden. Both classes were armed with the Exocet MM38 missiles. The RMN also acquired two 1,300-ton OPVs of Korean design. Sealift requirements were met by the purchases of several ex-United States Navy World War II-era LSTs. KD Sri Langkawi (A1500), formerly USS Hunterdon County (LST-838), KD Sri Banggi (A1501), formerly USS Henry County (LST-834), and KD Rajah Jarom (A1502), formerly USS Sedgwick County (LST-1123), were replaced by KD Sri Indera Pura (A1505), the ex-US Navy Newport-class LST USS Spartanburg County (LST-1192). Additional sealift capability is provided by two 4,300-ton, 100-meter Multi-Role Support Ships, KD Sri Indera Sakti (A1503) and KD Merong Mahawangsa (A1504).
Minehunting capabilities are provided by 4 Mahamiru minehunters. These are Italian LERICI-class minehunters of 610 tons displacement. Hydrographic duties are handled by KD Perantau and KD Mutiara. A Naval Air Wing was also founded with the purchase of ex-Royal Navy Westland Wasps. Four ships of the RMN have been officially decommissioned and handed over to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency. The vessels are patrol boats KD Lembing and KD Sri Melaka, and offshore patrol vessels KD Marikh and KD Musytari. MMEA had received a total of 17 vessels from the RMN fleet to equip its enforcement operations. 6 of the vessels were transferred in August 2005 and 7 were handed over in January 2006. [1]
Present Modernisation
Four LAKSAMANA class corvettes were purchased from Italy. These compact ships were originally built for Iraq but were not delivered due to international sanctions put in place against Iraq.
A prominent addition to the fleet were two Lekiu-class frigates. Based on the YARROW F2000 design, the two 2,300-ton frigates are armed with SSMs (8x Exocet MM40 IIs) and the Sea Wolf VLS point defence SAM system with accommodation of one Westland Super Lynx helicopter.
Complementing the two Lekiu frigates are two German-built HDW Kasturi-class frigates which were delivered in the early 1980s. These are scheduled to undergo a ship life extension program (SLEP). These 1,500-ton light frigates are armed with 8x Exocet MM40 IIs and can accommodate a single Lynx helicopter.
The RMN have developed a future force structure plan that calls for a force of ten frigates added to the New Generation Patrol Vessel (NGPV).
The first Scorpene submarine will be delivered to the RMN at the beginning of 2008 and expected to have an initial operational capability in 2009. The construction of two Scorpene submarines are to be built jointly by the French shipbuilder, DCNS, and its Spanish partner, Navantia. They will be armed with Blackshark wire-guided torpedoes and Exocet SM-39 sub-launched, anti-ship missiles.
Moreover, the submarine program includes the redeployment of an Agosta-class submarine, formerly in service in the French Navy, for the training of submarine crews. The training of 150 Malaysian sailors, mainly in Brest, France, represents an important aspect of the program.
In 2006, the RMN had launched a nationwide competition in order to select the names for the Malaysian first two submarines. On 26th July, RMN announced these vessels will be name after the Malaysia's first and second Prime Ministers. The first hull will be name as KD Tunku Abdul Rahman and the second hull KD Tun Razak. Official naming ceremonies are schedule to be held in the near future. These vessels will be classified as Perdana Menteri Class after they received their names.[1]
Kedah Class New Generation Patrol Vessels
6 ships have been ordered, with 2 ships to be built in Germany and another four ships to be built in Malaysia. This is the lead for a planned total purchase of over 20 ships. These ships are termed as NGPVs and are not armed with offensive weapons, though the modular MEKO design by Blohm und Voss would accommodate any upgrades.
The first 2 Meko A 100 New Generation Patrol Vessels have now been commissioned by the RMN after an 18-month-delay. The delays were due to management and financial difficulties faced by PSC-ND, the Malaysian contractor responsible. In 2006, the Public Accounts Committee brought the controversial RM5.3 billion contract to the media's attention following PSC-ND's failure to deliver the first vessel on time. A new management team was put in place and the project has been revived. PSC-ND is now known as Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd. The 2 new ships are called 171 KD Kedah, commissioned in June 2006 and 172 KD Pahang commissioned in August 2006. [2]
The Kedah class NGPVs will be used for search and rescue operations and offshore patrol duties. The vessels are lightly armed, with a 76 mm gun forward and a 30 mm gun aft. A third ship, to be called KD Pulau Pinang is expected to be delivered soon. [3] As the Kedah Class vessels are derived from the Meko design, the ships are capable of upgrades with more weaponry when required under the "fitted for but not with" (FFBNW) concept. Provisions have been made for the fitting of the 4x Exocet MM40 IIs and the SEARAM rolling airframe missiles, but none have been fitted so far. [4]
New Frigate
Najib Razak, the Malaysian Minister of Defence announced at the Farnborough Air Show that Malaysia would be buying 2 frigates from the United Kingdom. [5] The Evening Times published on 20 July 2006 that the Clyde shipyard has won a contract to help build two Lekiu class warships for Malaysia. [6] [7] The two frigates will be completed at Labuan Shipyard & Engineering Sdn Bhd in Malaysia as a condition of the deal.The new frigates are said to be benefit from the latest U.K.Type 45 (T45) destroyer technology transfer. [8]. While the price of procurement and technical speculations are yet to decide, Annual Report 2006 published by MOD anticipates the new frigates to have a larger displacement than the current Lekiu class and capable of area air defence.
SLEP For Kasturi Class Corvettes
THALES Group of France has been selected for undertaking the stepped-life-extension-programme involve of the FS 1500 guided missile corvette - KD Kasturi,KD Lekir and two Mahamiru (Lerici) Class Minehunter - KD Mahamiru, KD Ledang. SLEP aim to extend the service life of of these surface combatants by another 10 years. [2][3]
Vision and Mission
Vision
- To Be A Quality Navy
Mission
- Prepare and Deploy Naval Forces To Protect Malaysia's Maritime Interest In Peace and Ensure Victory In War
Commanders of the RMN
Admiral Tan Sri Ramlan bin Mohamed Ali
Vice Admiral Datuk Abdul Aziz bin Jaafar
First Admiral Tan Eng Seng
- Assistant Chief of Staff - Logistic
Rear Admiral DATO' PAHLAWAN Ir HJ. JASAN APHANDI BIN SULAIMAN
- Assistant Chief of Staff - Human Resources
First Admiral MOHD SOM BIN IBRAHIM
- Assistant Chief of Staff - Planning and Operation
First Admiral AMZAH BIN SULAIMAN
- Assistant Chief of Staff Administration
Captain ABD AZIZ BIN MOHD SANI
- Fleet Commander
Vice Admiral DATO MOHD AMDAN BIN KURISH
- Commander Naval Region 1
First Admiral JAMIL BIN OSMAN
- Commander Naval Region 2
Rear Admiral DATO' AHMAD KAMARULZAMAN BIN AHMAD BADARUDDIN
- Commander of Naval System Control
First Admiral YAHYA BIN HASHIM
- Commander of Naval Education and Training
First Admiral MUSA BIN OMAR
- Commander of Naval Support
Captain Gunaselan s/o Salamuthu
This is the list of ranks that is currently used in the Royal Malaysian Navy, from the highest rank to the lowest rank.
Flag Officer
| Rank | Admiral | Vice Admiral | Rear Admiral | First Admiral | |
| Malay | Laksamana | Laksamana Madya | Laksamana Muda | Laksamana Pertama |
Commissioned Officer
| Rank | Captain | Commander | Lieutenant Commander | Lieutenant | Sub Lieutenant | Acting Sub Lieutenant | Midshipmen | Cadet | |
| Malay | Kepten | Komander | Leftenan Komander | Leftenan | Leftenan Madya | Leftenan Muda | Pegawai Kadet Kanan | Kadet |
The Westland Wasps were retired from service in 1999. As a replacement, RMN now has 6 AgustaWestland SuperLynx 300 Mk100 helicopters which are operated by the 501 Squadron and another 6 Eurocopter AS 555 Fennecs which are operated by the 502 Squadron. Both squadrons were managed and supported at their main base, KD Rajawali.
Bases
The RMN's Fleet HQ is called KD Malaya, in Lumut, Perak. Other bases are located at Tanjong Gelang, Kuantan, Pahang, which also serves as HQ Naval Region I and KD Sultan Ismail at Tanjung Pengelih, Johor, where the Recruit Training Centre is located. Bases are also located in Sungai Antu ,Sarawak; Labuan; and Sandakan, Sabah. The principal submarine base is located at Teluk Sepanggar, Sabah, which also serves as HQ Naval Region II.
Another base is also being constructed on Pulau Langkawi, Kedah to provide the RMN with readier access into the Indian Ocean. Ready access into the Pacific Ocean is available via the existing base at Semporna, Sabah.
- TLDM Lumut, Perak [9](Fleet HQ and location of Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd)
- TLDM Tanjung Gelang, Pahang (HQ Naval Region I)
- TLDM Tanjung Pengelih, Johor (Recruit Training Centre (PULAREK))
- TLDM Labuan (location of Labuan Shipyard & Engineering Sdn Bhd)
- TLDM Sungai Antu, Sarawak
- TLDM Sandakan, Sabah
- TLDM Semporna, Sabah
- TLDM Sepanggar, Sabah (HQ Naval Region II)
- National Hydrographic Centre, Pulau Indah, Selangor
Ship Names
All RMN Ships carry the prefix KD for Kapal di-Raja meaning His Majesty's Ship. The Training vessel Fajar Samudra however carries a KLD prefix for Kapal Layar di-Raja for His Majesty's Sailing Ship.
Current Assets
Submarines
Perdana Menteri Class Scorpene Submarine
- KD Tunku Abdul Rahman
- KD Tun Abdul Razak
Frigates
- FFG 29 KD Jebat
- FFG 30 KD Lekiu
Corvettes
Kasturi Class (FS 1500)
- 25 KD Kasturi
- 26 KD Lekir
- 134 KD Hang Nadim
- 135 KD Tun Abdul Jamil
- 136 KD Mohammad Amin
- 137 KD Tan Pusmah
Offshore Patrol Vessel
Kedah Class MEKO A-100 class patrol vessels
- 171 KD KEDAH
- 172 KD PAHANG
Fast Attack Craft (Missile)
Perdana (Combattante-II 4AL) class missile boats
- 3501 KD Perdana
- 3502 KD Serang
- 3503 KD Ganas
- 3504 KD Ganyang
Handalan Class (Spica-M) Patrol Craft
- 3511 KD Handalan
- 3512 KD Perkasa
- 3513 KD Pendekar
- 3514 KD Gempita
Fast Attack Craft (Gun)
Jerong class (Lurssen TNC 45) patrol boats
- 3505 KD Jerong
- 3506 KD Todak
- 3507 KD Paus
- 3508 KD Yu
- 3509 KD Baung
- 3510 KD Pari
Mine Countermeasures
Mahamiru (Lerici) Class Minehunters
- 11 KD Mahamiru
- 12 KD Jerai
- 13 KD Ledang
- 14 KD Kinabalu
Support Ships
Sri Indera Sakti Class Support Ship
- 1503 KD Sri Indera Sakti
- 1504 KD Mahawangsa
Newport Class LST (Amphibious Assault Ship)
- 1505 KD Sri Inderapura (ex-LST 1192 USS Spartanburg County)
Training Ship
- 76 KD Hang Tuah (Training frigate)
- MV Fajar Samudra (Trainning Yacht)
- MV MAHSURI (Trainning Yacht)
- 4 KTD PENYU
- 6 KTD SOTONG
- 8 KTD KEPAH
Air Assets
- 6 x Eurocopter Fennec Helicopters
- 6 x AgustaWestland SuperLynx 300 Helicopters
- The AgustaWestland SuperLynx 300 is equipped with the MBDA Sea Skua antiship missile. The Super Lynx 300 is configured for the Anti Surface Warfare (ASuW), Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW) and Over The Horizontal Targeting (OTHT) roles. [10]
Current Fleet of the RMN
- Squadron 21 Frigate
- Squadron 23 Frigate
- Squadron 22 Corvette
- Squadron 24 Corvette
- Squadron 26 Mine Countermeasure Unit
- Squadron 31 MPCSS
- Squadron 32 SEALIFT
- Squadron 36 HYDRO
- Squadron 1 FAC (M)
- Squadron 2 FAC (M)
- Squadron 6 FAC (G) (LABUAN)
- Squadron 16 OPV (KUANTAN)
- Squadron 12 PC (LUMUT)
- Squadron 13 PC (SANDAKAN)
- Squadron 14 PC (KUANTAN)
- Squadron FAST TROOP VESSEL (FTV)
- Squadron DIVING TENDER
- Squadron TUG
Transferred to Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency
Musytari class offshore patrol vessels
- 160 KD Musytari
- 161 KD Marikh
Keris Class Patrol Craft
- ex-P 40 KD Lembing
- ex-P 3147 KD Sri Melaka
Special Forces
The special forces arm of the RMN is known as PASKAL (Pasukan Khas Laut). In peacetime, the unit is tasked with responding to maritime hijacking incidents as well as protecting Malaysia's numerous offshore oil and gas platforms. Its wartime roles include seaborne infiltration, sabotaging of enemy naval assets and installations and the defense of RMN vessels and bases. This unit is analogous to the US Navy SEALs.
See also
- Military of Malaysia
- Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency
- Official Website of The Royal Malaysian Navy
References
- Commanders of The RMN
- Royal Malaysian Navy
- Fleet of The RMN
- The Tunku – as I knew him, The Star, August 21, 2007.
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