“Calm

ly now, sharp sister

Before w

e run silentInto the rolling deep;O

ur sovereignty, we keep.”

NAVY NEWS is a bi-monthly publication of the Republic of Singapore Navy. The views expressed by its writers do not necessarily reflect the official views of the Navy or the Ministryof Defence. NAVY NEWS is not to be reproduced in whole or in parts without the written consent of the RSN. Articles of interest are invited from readers, who may send them toNAVY NEWS, Navy Recruitment Centre, SAF Careers Centre,CMPB Podium, Defence Technology Towers, Depot Road, Singapore 109676. For enquiries, call 6373 1014 or emailnrc1@starnet.gov.sg.

Chairman LTC Seow Hwye Min Editor MAJ Irvin LimMembers LTC Sukhvinder S. Chopra • LTC Peter Chew • MAJ Ang Yong Lee • MAJ Francis Goh • MAJ Serene Chua • CPT Adrian Tan • CPT Francis Goh

LTA Chia Ching Kai • Mr Narindar Singh • SWO Kwok Ping Choon • MWO Lim Chock SingExecutive Staff Ms Margaret Chee • SSG Joshua Ooi • CPL Kimitsu Yogachi

Republic of Singapore Navy

RADM Ronnie TayChief of Navy

Chi

ef o

f Na

vy’s

Me

ssa

ge

VADM Dato’ Ilyas Bin Hj Din, Deputy Chief of Navy,Royal Malaysian Navy.

RADM Tran Quang Khue, Deputy Commander of Navy Forces,Vietnam Navy.

RSN WeightManagementSeminar 2004

NAVY NEWS has been around for over two decades now. From thisyear, it will move from being a monthly newsletter to a bi-monthly issue, whichshould give our editorial team a broader canvass from which to bring youmore naval news and colourful stories that you can connect with and enjoyreading. The intent is to provide increased focus on the day-to-day life in theNavy, as well as to provide a place for members of our Navy Family to reflectand share their achievements and values.

Our recent deployment of a LST Task Group to the northern ArabianGulf in support of the reconstruction effort in Iraq marked a new milestonein the development of our Navy. These operations were conducted in a newenvironment, comprised a range of activities at sea and saw the task groupinter-operating with a number of foreign navies. The two-month long operationtested the readiness of our ship and crew, as well as provided opportunitiesto sharpen our operational capabilities in an extended mission away from ourregion. I am sure all of us in the Navy are extremely proud of the membersof the RSN Task Group who performed admirably in the uncertain conditionsand made the operation a resounding success. I also want to add my appreciationto the many back home who provided the various forms of support to the TaskGroup.

As we celebrate our accomplishments and look forward to more successesahead, it is important that we systematically retain and build upon the lessonsthat we have learnt. This is where the embedded culture of KnowledgeManagement that we have started in the Navy can help to make us a trulydeep learning organization that leverages on the intellectual capital of ourpeople to give us the winning edge in all that we undertake. This is all themore important as we take on even more exciting projects in the coming years.

The RSN continues to play a key role in the defence of Singapore. I urgeall in the Navy family to contribute with pride and passion to their part of shipin making our journey to new places a truly memorable and exciting one forall onboard. Navy News continues to be one such place to share in thatjourney.

More than 300 RSN personnelgathered at the Tuas Auditorium on 13 Jan,with one thing in mind: “How can I reacha healthy weight to achieve a healthierlife?”

The theme of this year’s RSN WeightManagement Seminar was “HealthyWeight, Healthy Life”. There were staticdisplays, booths, games, and presentationson weight management.

Before the presentation, participantswere treated to a video show “Obesity:Who’s in Control?”, which introducedweight management in an informative yetentertaining manner.

CPT (Dr) Daniel Tan, head of DivingMedicine Branch, then presented on“Obesity: A Complex Problem with aCommon Sense Cure”. His presentationoutlined the problems of obesity, new BMIstandards, and weight management skills.A video was also screened to showparticipants a success story. The video clipfeatured a RSN personnel who successfullyreduced his weight and maintained it ata healthy level.

An invited speaker, Dr Benedict Tan,who is a consultant Sports Physician at theChangi Sports Medicine Centre, ChangiGeneral Hospital, presented the topic“Principles of Weight Management”, wherehe shared the weight loss programme atChangi Sports Medicine Centre.

The seminar was an informativeand fun-filled way for RSN personnel tolearn more about maintaining a healthyweight, allowing them to understand andcope with the weighty issue at hand.

RECORD SMASHING SPLASH!31st RSN Swimming Meet 2004

Article contributed by 2WO Sabapathy R.

Now, let’s see who is Commander of the Road! CNV (left) starts the CommandersInvitational race during the SAF/RSN 50km Road Relay at the Marina City park on 14 Feb.

FLEET veteran swimmer COL Cyril Lee,CO of 171 SQN, has broken 3 RSNSwimming records in the individualevents, and won the Best PerformanceMan Swimmer award. Not far in hiswake was 2LT Ng Sok Mui fromCOSCOM who won the BestPerformance Woman Swimmer awardby setting one new record and comingin first in two other events.

Besides the super record-breaking feats,this year’s RSN Swimming Meet wassignificant for everyone involved as itwas held for the first time at ChangiSport Complex Competition SwimmingPool on 29 Jan. The occasion wasgraced by Head Naval OperationsRADM Sim Gim Guan.

A total of 363 swimmers took part inthe Meet organized by the Institute ofNaval Operations and Technology(INTO).

The men and women of the fourformations - TRACOM, Fleet,COSCOM (which included NDU andHQ RSN) and NALCOM, fought thebattle vigorously for the ChallengeTrophy. In the end, NALCOM emergedas the champions with 551 points.With the good swimmers identified,RSN is now ready to compete for theChallenge Trophy in the coming SAFSASwimming Meet in Mar 04.

Human Torpedoes away!

15

Editorial Board

A Word from CNV

Cover Photo:Artist Impression ofRSS Formidable firing anAster Anti-Missile Missile.By: Mandel Ong(Graphic Designer, NRC)

Back Page:Text by MAJ Irvin Lim,Picture by Kimitsu Yogachi

Besides our usual coverage, Navy News is always on the lookoutfor off-track stories and nauti-snapshots around your workplaceand beyond your navy life.

If you see, hear or know of something interesting to share withour Navy Family, we are just a mouse-click away!

Simply capture your shots in digital format with a resolution ofat least 1280 x 1024 at fine pixel settings (2 megapixels orabove), and include a brief description and/or a short write-upto accompany your pix...

Send them to us via email at nrc1@starnet.gov.sg.

Our New Navy News…Make it Yours!

Centurion, onboard! Challenger, onboard!Story and pictures by Kimitsu Yogachi

The crew of RSS Centurion received their RSNSubmarine Insignia (also known as the Dolphins) ata simple yet solemn ceremony at 171 Squadron HQon 11 Feb. Officiating the ceremony was FleetCommander, COL James Soon.

Commanding Officer 171 SQN, COL CyrilLee also presented the Honorary Submarine Insigniato COL Soon who is also the Submarine OperationsAuthority. As former Head Naval Plans Department,COL Soon had contributed significantly towards thebuild-up of the RSN submarine capabilities.

RSS Centurion CrewReceive Their Dolphins

The 45m Missile Gun Boats, which the frigates will soon bereplacing, were built in 1970s by Lurssen. The ship was constructed withthe aim of having a rugged, highly manoeuvrable platform capable ofundertaking seaward defence missions.

In the mid-1980s, the MGBs underwent a major upgrade to bettermeet the operational requirements of the Navy beyond 2000. Part of theupgrading included the fitting of the Harpoon Missiles which nowcomplements the original Gabriel Missile system.

The ship is propelled by four high-speed diesel engines enablingher to attain speed in excess of 30 knots, and is operated by a crew of7 officers and 33 men.

The RSN’s first Missile-armed crafts

B a c k P a d d l e

The Asian Aerospace 2004 held from 24 to 29 Feb saw various senior foreign military officers visitingSingapore. Some photos of guests that CNV hosted…

WHAT better way to learn aboutthe navy than having a ball of a timewhile at it?

CNB (Changi Naval Base) SportsComplex sprang to life when 250students from eight local Junior Colleges(ACJC, CJC, JJC, PJC, RJC, SAJC, TJC andYJC) descended upon the quiet stadiumin the early morning of 7 Feb. Donningtheir dashing sports attires, the high-spirited boys and girls arrived to ‘dobattle’ in the RSN Rugby InvitationTournament 2004 - a first in RSN sportshistory.

The tournament - “Know the NavyThrough Sports” – was an initiativemooted by NRC (Naval RecruitmentCentre). It aims to enable the studentsto learn more about the Navy through

the game of rugby. Theobjective of the tournamentwas to reach out to studentsthrough competitive sports. Thegame of Rugby has manysimilarities with a militarycareer. Not least of which arethe importance of superiorteamwork and gritty fightingspirit.

T h e o n e - d a ytournament was joint lyorganized by 182 Sqn, NRCand the RSN Rugby Team. Atotal of 20 teams from the 8JCs, Overseas Family School,Army’s Guards Junior team,Singapore Cricket Club,Singapore Japanese RugbyFootball Club and RSN RugbyTeam participated in the threecompetitions. The threecategories of competition werethe College Boys 10-A-SideContact Rugby, the CollegeGirls 6-A-Side Touch Rugby

and the Club 10-A-Side Contact Rugby.At the end of the many intense

matches, Raffles Junior College, theArmy’s Guards Junior Team andSingapore Cricket Club emerged asChampions for the College Girls TouchRugby, College Boys Contact Rugby andClub Contact Rugby competitionsrespectively. RSN Rugby Convenor LTCLEE KHAI LEONG ( CO 182 SQN)presented prizes to the winning teams,as well as Letters of Appreciation to thetournament officials.

Besides the robust interaction withthe RSN Rugby players on the pitch, theJC students were also given opportunityto know more about the Navy throughNRC’s recruitment information boothand a ship visi t onboard RSS

PERSISTENCE in CNB. The ship visitwas the first naval experience for amajority of the JC students who wentonboard. The JC students went away witha better understanding of the RSN’s rolesand capabilities, as well as careeropportunities.

“The inaugural RSN RugbyInvitation Tournament is a new initiativein the school rugby calendar. It offersmany students an additional opportunityto play the game and at the same timeassociate themselves more with the Navy.All my students visited the LST and theyreally enjoyed the tour. I think the Navyshould continue to organise thetournament on an annual basis,” saidMr Mark Ng, Rugby Master, ACJC.

VADM Wolfgang Nolting, Commander of the German Fleet. Mr Gordon England, Secretary of the Navy, United States.

We are the fly-half and fullback at sea too!

The ball is mine.

JOINING the 171 Squadron’s fleet ofsubmarines are RSS Centurion and RSS Challenger,which arrived in Singapore from Sweden on 4 Feb.

A welcoming ceremony was held at ChangiNaval Base for the return of the last two of four RSNsubmarines. On hand to grace the ceremony wasHead Naval Operations, RADM Sim Gim Guan,other senior naval officers, as well as partners fromexternal agencies.

In his welcome address, RADM Simcongratulated the crews on their successfulcompletion of their three-year submariner course inSweden. He reminded them of their leading roles asthe pioneering submariners in the RSN and chargedthem to familiarise themselves with operatingsubmarines in the local environment. “In time, youwill also be called upon to train and nurture thefuture RSN submariners, and that will be a heavyresponsibility that will be laid on your shoulders,”he added.

The arrival of RSS Centurion and RSSChallenger marks a significant milestone for 171Squadron as it is the first time it has all the submarinestogether in Singapore. The submarines will enhancethe RSN’s all-round capability to safeguard Singapore’swaters and protect our vital Sea Lines ofCommunications.

RSS Centurion being towed out of the transport ship outside Changi Naval Base.

RSS Challenger touches down at CNB.

14 3

Know Thy Navy – Thru RugbyArticle contributed by MAJ Ang Yong Lee

Gotcha! No you don’t.

JUST MERELY 46 months after theinception of the frigate project, the firstof the Republic of Singapore Navy’s (RSN)six stealth frigates was launched byMrs Teo Poh Yim, wife of the Minister forDefence at Direction Des ConstructionsNavales (DCN) shipyard in Lorient, Franceon 7 Jan.

The launch of the first frigate, RSSFormidable, marks a significant milestonefor the RSN and the Singapore ArmedForces (SAF). Officiating at the ceremonywas Minister for Defence RADM (NS) TeoChee Hean.

In his address, RADM (NS) Teohighlighted that the frigate programme isone of the largest and most important theSAF has embarked on in recent years.

He a l so remarked tha tSingapore’s dependence onseaborne trade makes maritimesecurity a priority and thatthe RSN’s role is tosafeguard Singapore’smaritime interests and

contribute towards enhancing regionalmaritime security; “The new frigates willenable RSN to better fulfil its mission ofprotecting Singapore's sea lines ofcommunications and safeguard ourterritorial integrity. The frigates, with theirlonger endurance, advanced combatsystems and the ability to operatehelicopters, will significantly enhance theRSN’s operational capabilities,” saidRADM (NS) Teo.

For the first time in the RSN, thefrigates employ stealth technology, as itis a key enabler in the future of navalwarfare. “A low signature ship will delayenemy detection and identification, thusgiving us operational space and time,”said COL Wellman Wan, OperationsManager of the project.

To complement their stealthcapabilities, the frigates areequipped with advanced sensoryand weapon systems. They arealso capable of dealing withmulti-dimensional naval warfare

threats including air, surface andsubsurface. In common with other existingRSN platforms, the frigates will comeequipped with the well-tested anti-shipHarpoon missiles and the trusty OTOMelara 76mm naval gun. New to the fleetare the Aster Anti-Missile Missile systemand the anti-submarine Eurotorp A244Storpedo. The frigates also have the abilityto serve as platforms for naval helicopters,which significantly expand the frigates’operational envelopes with enhancednaval warfare capabilities.

“The ships are designed with a highlevel of automation and embeddedintelligence in their sensors, weapons,and command and control systems, whichwill allow their combat teams to performtheir tasks more rapidly and effectivelyagainst the various threats in differentsituations,” said Chief of Navy, RADMRonnie Tay.

RADM Tay added: “The frigateswill also serve as a key node in the overallnetwork of fighting units under the SAF’s

Integrated Knowledge-based Command& Control (IKC2) concept.”

The f r i ga te p ro jec t i s acommendable collaboration amongst theRSN, Defence Science and TechnologyAgency (DSTA), DCN and SingaporeTechnologies (ST) Marine. As COL Wanput it: “There were different philosophiesinitially, but we learnt to understand andadapt to work as an Integrated ProgrammeManagement Team (IPMT).” During theproject, DSTA provided management andtechnical support while RSN provided thecritical domain expertise, operationalinputs and steering management of theoverall programme.

The frigate project office workedclosely with the other agencies and thevarious combat system suppliers to ensurethat the right combat systems wereselected and that they could interface andintegrate with the other platform andcombat systems. As in all successful multi-agency collaborative enterprises, theSingaporeans and their French partners

quickly confronted and overcame theinitial challenges associated withcommunicating in a foreign language,better understanding each other’s culturesand aligning different working styles.

In the coming months, the Shore-based Integration Centre (SBIC) will beset up to conduct interface testing ofcombat systems. At the same time, thepioneering crew will commence their5-month training in France. MSGRamesh Gopalan who will be onboardthe second frigate, RSS Intrepid, said: “I’mproud to be chosen to join the frigates,

as this marks a tremendous change forthe RSN. I’ve been lookingafter the aging Missile Gun Boats, andnow I will be in charge of the mostadvanced ship in the RSN!”

The frigate programme is wellunderway with all six frigates in variousstages of construction. RSS Formidable isdue to sail back to Singapore in early2005. Local construction of the remainingfive frigates, RSS Intrepid, RSS Steadfast,RSS Tenacious, RSS Stalwart and RSSSupreme, at Singapore TechnologiesMarine is also progressing on course.

Displacement 3,200 tonnes

PLATFORM DESIGN AND SYSTEMS CONFIGURATIONDimensionLength 114.8 metresBeam 16.3 metresDraught 6.0 metres

SpeedMaximum >25 knotsCruising 18 knotsRange/Endurance >3,500 nautical miles

Platform SystemsPropulsion System 4 x MTU 20V 8000 M90, 8200 kW (CODAD Configuration)Electrical System 4 x IFM V1708 with AvK alternator, 800kWHelicopter/ Ship-Heli Interface Support 1 Medium-class helicopter Heli-Visual Approach SystemComplement 70 crew + Air detachment

FRIGATE’S COMBAT SYSTEMS CONFIGURATIONSearch Radar Thales Herakles Multi-function Radar (MFR)Navigation Radar Terma Electronic Navigation RadarSurface Missile Harpoon Surface Missile SystemAnti-Missile Missile MDBA Aster Anti-Missile Missile SystemNaval Gun OTO Melara 76mm GunSonar EDO ALOFTS SonarTorpedo Whitehead A244S SystemCommunications ST (Elect) CET Integrated Communications SystemGun Fire Control System EADS4 Gunfire Control SystemCommand and Control DSTA in-house developed Combat Management System (CMS)Standard Operating ST (Elect) SESCommon Consoles

(Far Left) COL Wan briefs RADM (NS) Teo on the progress of the frigate programme.(Middle) Mrs Teo launches RSS Formidable.Confetti was released to celebrate the launch of the frigate .

Story by Kimitsu YogachiPictures Courtesy of PIONEER

Frigates Named!The RSN recently announced the names of its new frigates.RSS Formidable will be the lead ship in the new class ofstealthy and sophisticated frigates.

The names for the other five frigates are RSS Intrepid, RSSSteadfast, RSS Tenacious, RSS Stalwart and RSS Supreme.The names were selected from a total of 10,200 entriesreceived during a contest held last year. They reflect theoperational qualities of the RSN's frigates and the unwaveringcommitment of the Navy's men and women to ensureSingapore's seaward defence and the protection of its vitalsea lines of communications.

RADM (NS) Teo receives a mementofrom DCN President Jean-Marie Poimbœuf.

4 13

JUST MERELY 46 months after theinception of the frigate project, the firstof the Republic of Singapore Navy’s (RSN)six stealth frigates was launched byMrs Teo Poh Yim, wife of the Minister forDefence at Direction Des ConstructionsNavales (DCN) shipyard in Lorient, Franceon 7 Jan.

The launch of the first frigate, RSSFormidable, marks a significant milestonefor the RSN and the Singapore ArmedForces (SAF). Officiating at the ceremonywas Minister for Defence RADM (NS) TeoChee Hean.

In his address, RADM (NS) Teohighlighted that the frigate programme isone of the largest and most important theSAF has embarked on in recent years.

He a l so remarked tha tSingapore’s dependence onseaborne trade makes maritimesecurity a priority and thatthe RSN’s role is tosafeguard Singapore’smaritime interests and

contribute towards enhancing regionalmaritime security; “The new frigates willenable RSN to better fulfil its mission ofprotecting Singapore's sea lines ofcommunications and safeguard ourterritorial integrity. The frigates, with theirlonger endurance, advanced combatsystems and the ability to operatehelicopters, will significantly enhance theRSN’s operational capabilities,” saidRADM (NS) Teo.

For the first time in the RSN, thefrigates employ stealth technology, as itis a key enabler in the future of navalwarfare. “A low signature ship will delayenemy detection and identification, thusgiving us operational space and time,”said COL Wellman Wan, OperationsManager of the project.

To complement their stealthcapabilities, the frigates areequipped with advanced sensoryand weapon systems. They arealso capable of dealing withmulti-dimensional naval warfare

threats including air, surface andsubsurface. In common with other existingRSN platforms, the frigates will comeequipped with the well-tested anti-shipHarpoon missiles and the trusty OTOMelara 76mm naval gun. New to the fleetare the Aster Anti-Missile Missile systemand the anti-submarine Eurotorp A244Storpedo. The frigates also have the abilityto serve as platforms for naval helicopters,which significantly expand the frigates’operational envelopes with enhancednaval warfare capabilities.

“The ships are designed with a highlevel of automation and embeddedintelligence in their sensors, weapons,and command and control systems, whichwill allow their combat teams to performtheir tasks more rapidly and effectivelyagainst the various threats in differentsituations,” said Chief of Navy, RADMRonnie Tay.

RADM Tay added: “The frigateswill also serve as a key node in the overallnetwork of fighting units under the SAF’s

Integrated Knowledge-based Command& Control (IKC2) concept.”

The f r i ga te p ro jec t i s acommendable collaboration amongst theRSN, Defence Science and TechnologyAgency (DSTA), DCN and SingaporeTechnologies (ST) Marine. As COL Wanput it: “There were different philosophiesinitially, but we learnt to understand andadapt to work as an Integrated ProgrammeManagement Team (IPMT).” During theproject, DSTA provided management andtechnical support while RSN provided thecritical domain expertise, operationalinputs and steering management of theoverall programme.

The frigate project office workedclosely with the other agencies and thevarious combat system suppliers to ensurethat the right combat systems wereselected and that they could interface andintegrate with the other platform andcombat systems. As in all successful multi-agency collaborative enterprises, theSingaporeans and their French partners

quickly confronted and overcame theinitial challenges associated withcommunicating in a foreign language,better understanding each other’s culturesand aligning different working styles.

In the coming months, the Shore-based Integration Centre (SBIC) will beset up to conduct interface testing ofcombat systems. At the same time, thepioneering crew will commence their5-month training in France. MSGRamesh Gopalan who will be onboardthe second frigate, RSS Intrepid, said: “I’mproud to be chosen to join the frigates,

as this marks a tremendous change forthe RSN. I’ve been lookingafter the aging Missile Gun Boats, andnow I will be in charge of the mostadvanced ship in the RSN!”

The frigate programme is wellunderway with all six frigates in variousstages of construction. RSS Formidable isdue to sail back to Singapore in early2005. Local construction of the remainingfive frigates, RSS Intrepid, RSS Steadfast,RSS Tenacious, RSS Stalwart and RSSSupreme, at Singapore TechnologiesMarine is also progressing on course.

Displacement 3,200 tonnes

PLATFORM DESIGN AND SYSTEMS CONFIGURATIONDimensionLength 114.8 metresBeam 16.3 metresDraught 6.0 metres

SpeedMaximum >25 knotsCruising 18 knotsRange/Endurance >3,500 nautical miles

Platform SystemsPropulsion System 4 x MTU 20V 8000 M90, 8200 kW (CODAD Configuration)Electrical System 4 x IFM V1708 with AvK alternator, 800kWHelicopter/ Ship-Heli Interface Support 1 Medium-class helicopter Heli-Visual Approach SystemComplement 70 crew + Air detachment

FRIGATE’S COMBAT SYSTEMS CONFIGURATIONSearch Radar Thales Herakles Multi-function Radar (MFR)Navigation Radar Terma Electronic Navigation RadarSurface Missile Harpoon Surface Missile SystemAnti-Missile Missile MDBA Aster Anti-Missile Missile SystemNaval Gun OTO Melara 76mm GunSonar EDO ALOFTS SonarTorpedo Whitehead A244S SystemCommunications ST (Elect) CET Integrated Communications SystemGun Fire Control System EADS4 Gunfire Control SystemCommand and Control DSTA in-house developed Combat Management System (CMS)Standard Operating ST (Elect) SESCommon Consoles

(Far Left) COL Wan briefs RADM (NS) Teo on the progress of the frigate programme.(Middle) Mrs Teo launches RSS Formidable.Confetti was released to celebrate the launch of the frigate .

Story by Kimitsu YogachiPictures Courtesy of PIONEER

Frigates Named!The RSN recently announced the names of its new frigates.RSS Formidable will be the lead ship in the new class ofstealthy and sophisticated frigates.

The names for the other five frigates are RSS Intrepid, RSSSteadfast, RSS Tenacious, RSS Stalwart and RSS Supreme.The names were selected from a total of 10,200 entriesreceived during a contest held last year. They reflect theoperational qualities of the RSN's frigates and the unwaveringcommitment of the Navy's men and women to ensureSingapore's seaward defence and the protection of its vitalsea lines of communications.

RADM (NS) Teo receives a mementofrom DCN President Jean-Marie Poimbœuf.

4 13

THE RSN Safety Review Committee,chaired by Head Naval Operations, RADMSim Gim Guan, was established in Jun 03,to look into the safety of all operations andtraining conducted in the RSN.

The committee adopted a holisticapproach for the review, which includedthe RSN Safety Organisation, RSN TrainingSystem, and Safety Policies and Procedures,so as to address the entire spectrum ofsafety-related issues and concerns at thesystems and operations levels.

With the conclusion of the safetyreview, a number of significant safetyinitiatives have been implemented:

RSN Safety BoardThe chairmanship of the RSN

Safety Board was elevated from HeadNaval Inspectorate to Chief Of Staff –Naval Staff, to place greater emphasison safety and to present greater synergyin safety enforcement and promotionefforts at the RSN level.

Formation Safety OfficersThe introduction of Formation

Safety Officers (FSOs) to manage safety

in their respective formations. They willconduct more safety inspections, scansand spot checks to highlight appropriatecorrective measures.

Hotline 91-SAFETYThe RSN Safety Hotline, 91-

SAFETY, was implemented by NavalInspectorate (NIS) to enhance the safetyculture, which encompasses the elementsof openness and transparency in the RSNsafety system.

The commit tee has a l soformulated the following initiatives thatwill be implemented in the near future:

Behaviour-Based Safety SystemThe introduction of Behaviour-

Based Safety (BBS) System to mould theperception of servicemen to identify “at-risk” behaviours, unsafe acts and unsafeconditions, so that they are capable ofpractising timely intervention.

Safety Time OutThe implementation of Safety Time

Out (STO) procedure will provide an

avenue for servicemen to intervene andcall for a temporary halt to an ongoingactivity when there is a genuine safetyconcern, safety breach or violation thatis potentially life-threatening.

Restriction on OperationsThe implementation of Restriction

on Operations (ROO) procedure willallow Commanders to impose timelyrestriction on operations and trainingactivities after a hazard, near accidentor actual accident has taken place. Thiswill provide immediate responses torectify the problem and to prevent anypotentially detrimental consequencefrom spreading.

Safety Information SystemThe automated Safety Information

System (SIS) wil l enhance themanagement and dissemination of safetyinformation and statistics in the RSN. Inaddition, the RSN SIS will incorporatean open reporting system to encouragethe servicemen to be more vigilant inspotting and reporting hazards.

THE class of CPOC 4/03 visitedthe Sree Narayana Mission Home for theAged Sick during their Cohesion Day on3 Dec 03. The day was meant to inculcateesprit de corps amongst the trainees andthey wanted to do something meaningful.The class also donated cash and basicnecessities to the Home.

They spent the day sprucing upthe compound and also assisted inclearing a storeroom to be convertedinto a new ward. During lunch, traineesassisted with feeding the residents, whichwas probably the most challenging part,being the first time for many. The elderlyresidents greatly appreciated and

expressed their gratitude for the trainees’visit.

The four-hour visit to the Homewas definitely well-spent in a meaningfulway, making the outreach one of theindelible memories for the class.

“In war, there is no second chance! No matter how junior you are,you can make a big difference,” said Commander 1st Flotilla COL Ng CheePeng during the 1st Flotilla Total Defence Seminar on 13 Feb.

Indeed, the role in defending Singapore today is more than a job.COL Ng reiterated, “What you can’t defend doesn’t belong to you. Ourpurpose is to defend what is rightfully ours.” He also provided an insightinto the capabilities of the Singapore Armed Force and how every individualin 1st Flotilla plays a vital role in the defence of Singapore.

The seminar continued with video presentations, dialogue sessionsand a presentation titled ‘Our Existence’ by CO RSS Vigour. LTC TimothyLo. The seminar ended off with the Total Defence Day Speech tocommemorate the fall of Singapore to the Japanese on 15 Feb 1942.

3SG Luke Chua was heard commenting after the seminar: “Now Ican better appreciate our existence and how I can better contribute to makea difference.”

RSN Safety Review - New Initiatives

1st Flotilla Total Defence Seminar

Class Action With Heart

Article contributed by LTA Ng Boon Kiat

COL Ng Chee Peng addresses members of 1st Flotilla during theTotal Defence Day Seminar.

Article contributed by SSG Omri Wong

COSCOM’s Fun(D)-Raising For aGood CauseArticle contributed by LTA Adeline Kuah

185 SQN Chinese New Year CelebrationsCum Family Day

(Top) Crash course on Chinese calligraphy.(Below) Going, going, gone!Auction for charity.

COSCOM organized its firstCohesion Day for 2004 with adifference at Tuas Naval Base on16 Jan. The team-bonding occasion alsoincorporated a Lunar New Yearcelebration and a fundraiser forCOSCOM’s adopted charities, makingit an extraordinarily joyous event.

The theme for the event was

“Fun for Fund”. COSCOM HQ wastransformed into a Chinatown funfairwith red decors, complete with boothsselling food, souvenirs and game stalls.The celebration was launched with a“Yu Sheng” tossing ceremony led byCommander COSCOM COL ChngTeow Hiang with the CommandingOfficers of the various squadrons andCOSCOM CWO. Highlights of theevent included the Hamper-Wrapping,Cooking competitions, a Lion danceperformance by RSS Katong and RSSResilience, and even a boisterousfundraising auction. Among the itemsput up for the auction were hampersf r o m t h e h a m p e r- w ra p p i n gcompetition, and art pieces created bythe students of Katong Special School.

More than $5000 was raisedfor Katong Special School and Homefor the Aged Sick during the event. TheCohesion Day with a strong CharitySpirit proved to be an enjoyable yetmeaningful event for all COSCOMpersonnel.

COL Chng Teow Hiang presenting a pairof Mandarin oranges during thecustomary Lion Dance.

MANY people were seen rushing towardsChangi Naval Base on the sunny Saturdayafternoon of 17 Jan. Not another mobilisationexercise? No, Sir. It was 185 Sqn’s Chinese NewYear cum Family Day Celebrations.

Men and women of 185 Sqn came withtheir loved ones, and not forgetting friends fromthe squadron’s adopted charity - Tampines Home,who were also invited to celebrate the joyousoccasion.

For the 600-strong crowd, the event kickedoff with a visit to the Missile Gun Boats (MGB). The visit gave a rare opportunity for familymembers of 185 Sqn to have a glimpse of theworking environment of their loved ones,whilevisitors from the Tampines Home weretreated to a light-hearted movie at the FleetAuditorium.

After the ship visits, the celebrationcommenced at the Fleet Auditorium. In hiswelcome address, Commanding Officer 185

Sqn, COL Sim Tiong Kian commended the men andwomen of 185 Sqn for their tireless effort in keeping theMGBs in a high state of readiness, and constantly strivingto improve, reinvent and stay relevant. He also paidtribute to all family members who make up the “extended185 Family”, for their unrelenting support and many

sacrifices, which has been instrumental to the successof the squadron.

The guests were then treated to an in-housevideo production focusing on life in the squadron. The video screening was followed byother activities, which included a round ofhilarious Chinese New Year games, a spectacularLion Dance put up by the crew of RSS SeaHawk and the presentation of New Year goodiesto the friends from Tampines Home by COL

Sim.The event ended with the traditional tossing of

Yu Sheng, and Commanding Officers handing out goody-bags to their crew and staff, to usher in a successful andprosperous year of the Golden Monkey.

Article contributed by MAJ Tan Pin

6 11

Republic of Singapore Navy’s Landing Ship Tank(LST) RSS Endurance returned to Changi Naval Base (CNB)from its deployment to the Middle East on 31 Jan. Themission was part of Singapore’s contribution to themultinational reconstruction effort in Iraq.

Eager family members and friends arrived early inthrongs at CNB, anticipating the return of their loved ones.Squinting out to sea under the scorching sun, excited parentsand spouses locked their eyes on the smart ship silhouettein the distance, steadily making its way into the CNB basin.

Once alongside, a homecoming ceremony was heldonboard RSS Endurance for the 160 RSN personnel deployedfor the mission, witnessed by family members and friends

of the crew. Chief of Navy, RADM Ronnie Tay officiated theceremony, handing out Letters of Appreciation, while HeadNaval Operations, RADM Sim Gim Guan handed outpersonalised posters as tokens of appreciation to the crew.

Commanding Officer 191 Squadron, LTC ChopraSingh also presented RADM Tay with a photo album ofpictures taken during the mission, before crew and theirloved ones were finally able to interact after a long two-month absence.

Hugs were exchanged, kisses pecked, tears of joyflowed, and hearty laughter filled the air on a successfulmission and safe return of loved ones.

IN a fine testimony to her operational readiness andcrew stamina, RSS Endurance sailed to the Gulf at short-notice at the end of last year. She only returned to Singaporerecently on 31 January after a long and operationallydemanding two-month deployment in support of UN efforts for the reconstruction of Iraq. She was deployed with a total of160 personnel comprising of Task Group staff, NDU security personnel, FCU crew from 195 Squadron and medical personnel.RSN personnel were also stationed ashore at the US Naval Central Command HQ as liaison officers.

Modifications were made to the ship before the mission. They included installation of extra catches to secure weapons,metal plates to protect gunners, and the introduction of the deadly accurate 20mm Typhoon gun. The lightning speed at whichthe modifications were made prior to the deployment was indeed laudable in contributing to mission success.

To better put into perspective the high operational tempo of the mission, here are some key statistics: RSS Enduranceconducted a total of 258 vessel queries, with 73 ship boardings, 67 Health and Comfort Checks, 26 helicopter deck landings,12 helicopter hot refuelling, 2 replenishment at sea (RAS), and a 10-day guardship duty of seas around the Al-Basrah OilTerminal.

RSS Endurance Comes Home from the Gulf

To the Gulf & BackStrong Endurance:

WHILE most Singaporeans spent their Chinese NewYear weekend visiting friends and kin, the dedicated patrolvessels of the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) routinely‘sacrifice’ their weekends to ensure the maritime security ofSingapore.

One such vessel, RSS Justice, was scheduled for navalpatrol on 25 Jan, on the fourth day of CNY 2004. Despitebeing a Sunday patrol during the festive season, the morale ofthe crew was boosted by two distinguished guests who camealong for the sail - Commander COSCOM, COL Chng TeowHiang and CWO COSCOM, MWO Roger Seow, brought with

them a sumptuous breakfast of curry puffs and a variety offestive confectionaries for the crew.

“The crew especially appreciate the warm gesture ofsupport by our Senior Commander and the ready assistanceof our shore HQ staff”, said Justice’s Coxswain MSG Yeo KengSeng.

And as Executive Officer, CPT Alex Ang put it: “Whateverthe season, RSN ships vigilantly patrol our waters 24/7. Mycrew understands only too well the important role each andeveryone onboard plays in safeguarding our waters andhomeland.”

CHIEF of Defence Force (CDF) MG Ng Yat Chung visited Tuas Naval Base (TNB) on 21 Jan, eve of LunarNew Year. He visited RSS Daring, which was scheduled for routine patrol that day. During the visit, he emphasisedto the crew that their sacrifice was essential to the security and defence of Singapore.

He also visited RSS Gallant, which was on stand-by that day. He thanked them for their dedication beforejoining the crew for a Yu-Sheng tossing ceremony.

CDF’s visit boosted the morale of the crews, as they had to give their annual Lunar New Year reuniondinners with their families a miss.

CDF Goodwill Visitto RSS Daring and RSS Gallant

CDF speaks to the crew of RSS Daring before their routine patrol on Chinese New Year Eve.

COSCOMCommanderFestive Sail

Crew of RSS Justice with COL Chngand MWO Seow.

Story by Kimitsu Yogachi, Pictures by Kimitsu Yogachi & 191 Squadron

CNV dropped by for a Christmas visit.

Welcome home honey!You look so tanned.So do you!

(Right) Anyone ordered acake?

10 7

The RSN’s first-ever Military Operations Other Than War (MOOTW)Seminar was held at the Changi Naval Base Auditorium on 28 Feb. The

professional seminar began with a recollection of RSN involvement in non-warfare operations over the years, and provided a timelyopportunity for sharing the many lessons learnt and critical reflection.

Chief of Navy, RADM Ronnie Tay opened the seminar with an address highlighting the increased significance of MOOTW incontemporary naval operations. The subsequent presentations by the various ground units who had participated in MOOTW highlightedsome of RSN’s involvement in international operations, particularly in the last few years, such as the LST deployments to Timor Lesteand Iraq.

MOOTW include peace support operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. The RSN’s continued involvement inMOOTW helps to ensure regional stability and contributes to Singapore’s wider commitment and efforts as a responsible member ofthe international community.

Ship Boarding Operations

The purpose of the boarding operations was to enforcethe UN Security Council Resolutions, which prohibitunauthorised shipments of arms or arms-related material, Iraqicultural and religious artefacts, and most importantly illegallyexported petroleum products. The operations were conductedby Coalition boarding teams, with NDU personnel leading thejoint RSN and USN teams. The boarding operations were adaily affair with as many as 7 boardings carried out in a singleday. RSS Endurance also represented Singapore in the country'sfirst exercise under the multilateral Proliferation Security Initiativein the Arabian Sea.

Health and Comfort Checks

If a vessel was found to be contravening the SecurityCouncil Resolutions, it was detained in the Smugglers’ Box toawait legal judgement. The judgement process can take aslong as 6 months. It was the Coalition Force’s responsibilityto ensure the well-being of the detainees. Health and Comfortchecks were conducted on each vessel once every two dayswhich was tasked to the RSN medical team. The speed andloading capacity of the RSN’s Fast Craft Utility (FCU) provedto be a real asset as they were able to complete 5 vessel checksin less than 4 hours, compared to 12 hours normally taken bythe other Coalition forces for the same routine.

Logistics Support

RSS Endurance also provided logistics support forCoalition helicopters and vessels in the area of operations.Boasting the largest flight deck in the Northern Arabian Gulfother than an aircraft carrier, the ship provided a ready deckfor helicopters from other Coalition ships when their mothership had to go off-station for replenishment or other duties. Itwas also a hot refuelling pit-stop for the Coalition helicopters.RSS Endurance also provided logistics support to USN PatrolCrafts and US Coast Guard Patrol Boats, by replenishing of fueland fresh water at sea.

Al-Basrah Oil Terminal Guardship Duties

US$60m of crude oil is exported daily via this oilterminal. This is crucial income that goes towards thereconstruction of Iraq. Hence, security of the Oil Terminal isparamount. A two nautical mile exclusion zone was establishedaround the terminal, enforced by Coalition warships. On oneoccasion, RSS Endurance was called into action when twocargo dhows (small wooden boats) initially refused to heedrepeated warnings to stay away from the Oil Terminal. Theboats eventually turned away when RSS ENDURANCE tookappropriate measures to show her resolve.

Commander Task Group Shares His Thoughts

Inaugural MOOTW Seminar 2004

RSS Endurance Takes Part in PSI

The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) participatedfor the first time in a US-led Proliferation Security Initiative(PSI) maritime interdiction exercise in the Arabian Sea from11 – 17 Jan. RSS Endurance participated in the exercise afterits mission in Iraq. The exercise was part of the series ofinterdiction training exercises planned by PSI members, involvingAustralia, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Singapore andthe US. The aim of the exercise was to practise interception,boarding and searching vessels which have been assessed tobe illegally trafficking Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)and related materials.

Through the participation, RSN has enhanced itsprofessional capabilities to conduct maritime interdictionoperations in partnership with other PSI members.

Deployed into an unknown territory with many uncertainties, thecrew had to adapt quickly. “We were a diverse group of people sailing outinto unknown territory, and naturally, there were differing thoughts amongstthe crew. But the crew was ready and raring to do what was required,” saidCommanding Officer 191 Squadron and Commander Task Group of themission, LTC Chopra Singh.

LTC Chopra felt that although the crew came from various RSN unitsand there was little time to build a strong team spirit, they learnt to buildtrust and were able to anticipate each other quickly in an uncertainenvironment. “We pushed them hard, and then slowly eased up the pacewhen it was clear that our objectives had been achieved,” he added.

During the mission, some of the crew asked about Standard OperatingProcedures (SOPs). LTC Chopra explained that numerous new SOPs werepromulgated to facilitate the conduct of operations professionally. He said:“It was necessary to inform the crew that it was ok to exercise their initiative

to do something that is not in the SOP, as long as they have a good reason.This was said to free the minds of the crew, especially those out on the(boarding) boats so that they would not be mentally shackled to complyingto SOPs at the expense of adapting to a developing situation.”

Despite being deployed far away from home for the extended missionand missing the festive season, LTC Chopra observed that crew morale wasboosted when Chief of Navy, RADM Ronnie Tay visited the ship in the Gulfduring Christmas.

LTC Chopra expressed his confidence in the younger RSN personnel:“I was very heartened by the way our young officers and crew, measuredup to the challenge that this deployment presented. They rose to the occasion,and it was very encouraging for me to see these young people carry suchresponsibility on their shoulders.”

RSN – RN camaraderie.8 9

The RSN’s first-ever Military Operations Other Than War (MOOTW)Seminar was held at the Changi Naval Base Auditorium on 28 Feb. The

professional seminar began with a recollection of RSN involvement in non-warfare operations over the years, and provided a timelyopportunity for sharing the many lessons learnt and critical reflection.

Chief of Navy, RADM Ronnie Tay opened the seminar with an address highlighting the increased significance of MOOTW incontemporary naval operations. The subsequent presentations by the various ground units who had participated in MOOTW highlightedsome of RSN’s involvement in international operations, particularly in the last few years, such as the LST deployments to Timor Lesteand Iraq.

MOOTW include peace support operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. The RSN’s continued involvement inMOOTW helps to ensure regional stability and contributes to Singapore’s wider commitment and efforts as a responsible member ofthe international community.

Ship Boarding Operations

The purpose of the boarding operations was to enforcethe UN Security Council Resolutions, which prohibitunauthorised shipments of arms or arms-related material, Iraqicultural and religious artefacts, and most importantly illegallyexported petroleum products. The operations were conductedby Coalition boarding teams, with NDU personnel leading thejoint RSN and USN teams. The boarding operations were adaily affair with as many as 7 boardings carried out in a singleday. RSS Endurance also represented Singapore in the country'sfirst exercise under the multilateral Proliferation Security Initiativein the Arabian Sea.

Health and Comfort Checks

If a vessel was found to be contravening the SecurityCouncil Resolutions, it was detained in the Smugglers’ Box toawait legal judgement. The judgement process can take aslong as 6 months. It was the Coalition Force’s responsibilityto ensure the well-being of the detainees. Health and Comfortchecks were conducted on each vessel once every two dayswhich was tasked to the RSN medical team. The speed andloading capacity of the RSN’s Fast Craft Utility (FCU) provedto be a real asset as they were able to complete 5 vessel checksin less than 4 hours, compared to 12 hours normally taken bythe other Coalition forces for the same routine.

Logistics Support

RSS Endurance also provided logistics support forCoalition helicopters and vessels in the area of operations.Boasting the largest flight deck in the Northern Arabian Gulfother than an aircraft carrier, the ship provided a ready deckfor helicopters from other Coalition ships when their mothership had to go off-station for replenishment or other duties. Itwas also a hot refuelling pit-stop for the Coalition helicopters.RSS Endurance also provided logistics support to USN PatrolCrafts and US Coast Guard Patrol Boats, by replenishing of fueland fresh water at sea.

Al-Basrah Oil Terminal Guardship Duties

US$60m of crude oil is exported daily via this oilterminal. This is crucial income that goes towards thereconstruction of Iraq. Hence, security of the Oil Terminal isparamount. A two nautical mile exclusion zone was establishedaround the terminal, enforced by Coalition warships. On oneoccasion, RSS Endurance was called into action when twocargo dhows (small wooden boats) initially refused to heedrepeated warnings to stay away from the Oil Terminal. Theboats eventually turned away when RSS ENDURANCE tookappropriate measures to show her resolve.

Commander Task Group Shares His Thoughts

Inaugural MOOTW Seminar 2004

RSS Endurance Takes Part in PSI

The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) participatedfor the first time in a US-led Proliferation Security Initiative(PSI) maritime interdiction exercise in the Arabian Sea from11 – 17 Jan. RSS Endurance participated in the exercise afterits mission in Iraq. The exercise was part of the series ofinterdiction training exercises planned by PSI members, involvingAustralia, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Singapore andthe US. The aim of the exercise was to practise interception,boarding and searching vessels which have been assessed tobe illegally trafficking Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)and related materials.

Through the participation, RSN has enhanced itsprofessional capabilities to conduct maritime interdictionoperations in partnership with other PSI members.

Deployed into an unknown territory with many uncertainties, thecrew had to adapt quickly. “We were a diverse group of people sailing outinto unknown territory, and naturally, there were differing thoughts amongstthe crew. But the crew was ready and raring to do what was required,” saidCommanding Officer 191 Squadron and Commander Task Group of themission, LTC Chopra Singh.

LTC Chopra felt that although the crew came from various RSN unitsand there was little time to build a strong team spirit, they learnt to buildtrust and were able to anticipate each other quickly in an uncertainenvironment. “We pushed them hard, and then slowly eased up the pacewhen it was clear that our objectives had been achieved,” he added.

During the mission, some of the crew asked about Standard OperatingProcedures (SOPs). LTC Chopra explained that numerous new SOPs werepromulgated to facilitate the conduct of operations professionally. He said:“It was necessary to inform the crew that it was ok to exercise their initiative

to do something that is not in the SOP, as long as they have a good reason.This was said to free the minds of the crew, especially those out on the(boarding) boats so that they would not be mentally shackled to complyingto SOPs at the expense of adapting to a developing situation.”

Despite being deployed far away from home for the extended missionand missing the festive season, LTC Chopra observed that crew morale wasboosted when Chief of Navy, RADM Ronnie Tay visited the ship in the Gulfduring Christmas.

LTC Chopra expressed his confidence in the younger RSN personnel:“I was very heartened by the way our young officers and crew, measuredup to the challenge that this deployment presented. They rose to the occasion,and it was very encouraging for me to see these young people carry suchresponsibility on their shoulders.”

RSN – RN camaraderie.8 9

Republic of Singapore Navy’s Landing Ship Tank(LST) RSS Endurance returned to Changi Naval Base (CNB)from its deployment to the Middle East on 31 Jan. Themission was part of Singapore’s contribution to themultinational reconstruction effort in Iraq.

Eager family members and friends arrived early inthrongs at CNB, anticipating the return of their loved ones.Squinting out to sea under the scorching sun, excited parentsand spouses locked their eyes on the smart ship silhouettein the distance, steadily making its way into the CNB basin.

Once alongside, a homecoming ceremony was heldonboard RSS Endurance for the 160 RSN personnel deployedfor the mission, witnessed by family members and friends

of the crew. Chief of Navy, RADM Ronnie Tay officiated theceremony, handing out Letters of Appreciation, while HeadNaval Operations, RADM Sim Gim Guan handed outpersonalised posters as tokens of appreciation to the crew.

Commanding Officer 191 Squadron, LTC ChopraSingh also presented RADM Tay with a photo album ofpictures taken during the mission, before crew and theirloved ones were finally able to interact after a long two-month absence.

Hugs were exchanged, kisses pecked, tears of joyflowed, and hearty laughter filled the air on a successfulmission and safe return of loved ones.

IN a fine testimony to her operational readiness andcrew stamina, RSS Endurance sailed to the Gulf at short-notice at the end of last year. She only returned to Singaporerecently on 31 January after a long and operationallydemanding two-month deployment in support of UN efforts for the reconstruction of Iraq. She was deployed with a total of160 personnel comprising of Task Group staff, NDU security personnel, FCU crew from 195 Squadron and medical personnel.RSN personnel were also stationed ashore at the US Naval Central Command HQ as liaison officers.

Modifications were made to the ship before the mission. They included installation of extra catches to secure weapons,metal plates to protect gunners, and the introduction of the deadly accurate 20mm Typhoon gun. The lightning speed at whichthe modifications were made prior to the deployment was indeed laudable in contributing to mission success.

To better put into perspective the high operational tempo of the mission, here are some key statistics: RSS Enduranceconducted a total of 258 vessel queries, with 73 ship boardings, 67 Health and Comfort Checks, 26 helicopter deck landings,12 helicopter hot refuelling, 2 replenishment at sea (RAS), and a 10-day guardship duty of seas around the Al-Basrah OilTerminal.

RSS Endurance Comes Home from the Gulf

To the Gulf & BackStrong Endurance:

WHILE most Singaporeans spent their Chinese NewYear weekend visiting friends and kin, the dedicated patrolvessels of the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) routinely‘sacrifice’ their weekends to ensure the maritime security ofSingapore.

One such vessel, RSS Justice, was scheduled for navalpatrol on 25 Jan, on the fourth day of CNY 2004. Despitebeing a Sunday patrol during the festive season, the morale ofthe crew was boosted by two distinguished guests who camealong for the sail - Commander COSCOM, COL Chng TeowHiang and CWO COSCOM, MWO Roger Seow, brought with

them a sumptuous breakfast of curry puffs and a variety offestive confectionaries for the crew.

“The crew especially appreciate the warm gesture ofsupport by our Senior Commander and the ready assistanceof our shore HQ staff”, said Justice’s Coxswain MSG Yeo KengSeng.

And as Executive Officer, CPT Alex Ang put it: “Whateverthe season, RSN ships vigilantly patrol our waters 24/7. Mycrew understands only too well the important role each andeveryone onboard plays in safeguarding our waters andhomeland.”

CHIEF of Defence Force (CDF) MG Ng Yat Chung visited Tuas Naval Base (TNB) on 21 Jan, eve of LunarNew Year. He visited RSS Daring, which was scheduled for routine patrol that day. During the visit, he emphasisedto the crew that their sacrifice was essential to the security and defence of Singapore.

He also visited RSS Gallant, which was on stand-by that day. He thanked them for their dedication beforejoining the crew for a Yu-Sheng tossing ceremony.

CDF’s visit boosted the morale of the crews, as they had to give their annual Lunar New Year reuniondinners with their families a miss.

CDF Goodwill Visitto RSS Daring and RSS Gallant

CDF speaks to the crew of RSS Daring before their routine patrol on Chinese New Year Eve.

COSCOMCommanderFestive Sail

Crew of RSS Justice with COL Chngand MWO Seow.

Story by Kimitsu Yogachi, Pictures by Kimitsu Yogachi & 191 Squadron

CNV dropped by for a Christmas visit.

Welcome home honey!You look so tanned.So do you!

(Right) Anyone ordered acake?

10 7

THE RSN Safety Review Committee,chaired by Head Naval Operations, RADMSim Gim Guan, was established in Jun 03,to look into the safety of all operations andtraining conducted in the RSN.

The committee adopted a holisticapproach for the review, which includedthe RSN Safety Organisation, RSN TrainingSystem, and Safety Policies and Procedures,so as to address the entire spectrum ofsafety-related issues and concerns at thesystems and operations levels.

With the conclusion of the safetyreview, a number of significant safetyinitiatives have been implemented:

RSN Safety BoardThe chairmanship of the RSN

Safety Board was elevated from HeadNaval Inspectorate to Chief Of Staff –Naval Staff, to place greater emphasison safety and to present greater synergyin safety enforcement and promotionefforts at the RSN level.

Formation Safety OfficersThe introduction of Formation

Safety Officers (FSOs) to manage safety

in their respective formations. They willconduct more safety inspections, scansand spot checks to highlight appropriatecorrective measures.

Hotline 91-SAFETYThe RSN Safety Hotline, 91-

SAFETY, was implemented by NavalInspectorate (NIS) to enhance the safetyculture, which encompasses the elementsof openness and transparency in the RSNsafety system.

The commit tee has a l soformulated the following initiatives thatwill be implemented in the near future:

Behaviour-Based Safety SystemThe introduction of Behaviour-

Based Safety (BBS) System to mould theperception of servicemen to identify “at-risk” behaviours, unsafe acts and unsafeconditions, so that they are capable ofpractising timely intervention.

Safety Time OutThe implementation of Safety Time

Out (STO) procedure will provide an

avenue for servicemen to intervene andcall for a temporary halt to an ongoingactivity when there is a genuine safetyconcern, safety breach or violation thatis potentially life-threatening.

Restriction on OperationsThe implementation of Restriction

on Operations (ROO) procedure willallow Commanders to impose timelyrestriction on operations and trainingactivities after a hazard, near accidentor actual accident has taken place. Thiswill provide immediate responses torectify the problem and to prevent anypotentially detrimental consequencefrom spreading.

Safety Information SystemThe automated Safety Information

System (SIS) wil l enhance themanagement and dissemination of safetyinformation and statistics in the RSN. Inaddition, the RSN SIS will incorporatean open reporting system to encouragethe servicemen to be more vigilant inspotting and reporting hazards.

THE class of CPOC 4/03 visitedthe Sree Narayana Mission Home for theAged Sick during their Cohesion Day on3 Dec 03. The day was meant to inculcateesprit de corps amongst the trainees andthey wanted to do something meaningful.The class also donated cash and basicnecessities to the Home.

They spent the day sprucing upthe compound and also assisted inclearing a storeroom to be convertedinto a new ward. During lunch, traineesassisted with feeding the residents, whichwas probably the most challenging part,being the first time for many. The elderlyresidents greatly appreciated and

expressed their gratitude for the trainees’visit.

The four-hour visit to the Homewas definitely well-spent in a meaningfulway, making the outreach one of theindelible memories for the class.

“In war, there is no second chance! No matter how junior you are,you can make a big difference,” said Commander 1st Flotilla COL Ng CheePeng during the 1st Flotilla Total Defence Seminar on 13 Feb.

Indeed, the role in defending Singapore today is more than a job.COL Ng reiterated, “What you can’t defend doesn’t belong to you. Ourpurpose is to defend what is rightfully ours.” He also provided an insightinto the capabilities of the Singapore Armed Force and how every individualin 1st Flotilla plays a vital role in the defence of Singapore.

The seminar continued with video presentations, dialogue sessionsand a presentation titled ‘Our Existence’ by CO RSS Vigour. LTC TimothyLo. The seminar ended off with the Total Defence Day Speech tocommemorate the fall of Singapore to the Japanese on 15 Feb 1942.

3SG Luke Chua was heard commenting after the seminar: “Now Ican better appreciate our existence and how I can better contribute to makea difference.”

RSN Safety Review - New Initiatives

1st Flotilla Total Defence Seminar

Class Action With Heart

Article contributed by LTA Ng Boon Kiat

COL Ng Chee Peng addresses members of 1st Flotilla during theTotal Defence Day Seminar.

Article contributed by SSG Omri Wong

COSCOM’s Fun(D)-Raising For aGood CauseArticle contributed by LTA Adeline Kuah

185 SQN Chinese New Year CelebrationsCum Family Day

(Top) Crash course on Chinese calligraphy.(Below) Going, going, gone!Auction for charity.

COSCOM organized its firstCohesion Day for 2004 with adifference at Tuas Naval Base on16 Jan. The team-bonding occasion alsoincorporated a Lunar New Yearcelebration and a fundraiser forCOSCOM’s adopted charities, makingit an extraordinarily joyous event.

The theme for the event was

“Fun for Fund”. COSCOM HQ wastransformed into a Chinatown funfairwith red decors, complete with boothsselling food, souvenirs and game stalls.The celebration was launched with a“Yu Sheng” tossing ceremony led byCommander COSCOM COL ChngTeow Hiang with the CommandingOfficers of the various squadrons andCOSCOM CWO. Highlights of theevent included the Hamper-Wrapping,Cooking competitions, a Lion danceperformance by RSS Katong and RSSResilience, and even a boisterousfundraising auction. Among the itemsput up for the auction were hampersf r o m t h e h a m p e r- w ra p p i n gcompetition, and art pieces created bythe students of Katong Special School.

More than $5000 was raisedfor Katong Special School and Homefor the Aged Sick during the event. TheCohesion Day with a strong CharitySpirit proved to be an enjoyable yetmeaningful event for all COSCOMpersonnel.

COL Chng Teow Hiang presenting a pairof Mandarin oranges during thecustomary Lion Dance.

MANY people were seen rushing towardsChangi Naval Base on the sunny Saturdayafternoon of 17 Jan. Not another mobilisationexercise? No, Sir. It was 185 Sqn’s Chinese NewYear cum Family Day Celebrations.

Men and women of 185 Sqn came withtheir loved ones, and not forgetting friends fromthe squadron’s adopted charity - Tampines Home,who were also invited to celebrate the joyousoccasion.

For the 600-strong crowd, the event kickedoff with a visit to the Missile Gun Boats (MGB). The visit gave a rare opportunity for familymembers of 185 Sqn to have a glimpse of theworking environment of their loved ones,whilevisitors from the Tampines Home weretreated to a light-hearted movie at the FleetAuditorium.

After the ship visits, the celebrationcommenced at the Fleet Auditorium. In hiswelcome address, Commanding Officer 185

Sqn, COL Sim Tiong Kian commended the men andwomen of 185 Sqn for their tireless effort in keeping theMGBs in a high state of readiness, and constantly strivingto improve, reinvent and stay relevant. He also paidtribute to all family members who make up the “extended185 Family”, for their unrelenting support and many

sacrifices, which has been instrumental to the successof the squadron.

The guests were then treated to an in-housevideo production focusing on life in the squadron. The video screening was followed byother activities, which included a round ofhilarious Chinese New Year games, a spectacularLion Dance put up by the crew of RSS SeaHawk and the presentation of New Year goodiesto the friends from Tampines Home by COL

Sim.The event ended with the traditional tossing of

Yu Sheng, and Commanding Officers handing out goody-bags to their crew and staff, to usher in a successful andprosperous year of the Golden Monkey.

Article contributed by MAJ Tan Pin

6 11

“I ALMOST ended up being afisherman…” MWO Roger Seow beganhis story. Growing up as a son of afisherman, he loved life out at sea somuch that when he was called up forNational Service in 1972, he requestedto be in the Navy. However, he couldonly “choose” his posting by signing acontract as a regular serviceman.

The rest was history.MWO Seow worked his way up

the ranks, serving onboard variousplatforms, including the now-decommissioned Coastal Patrol Crafts(CPC), Patrol Crafts (PC), Missile Gun

Boats (MGB) and Missile Corvettes(MCV), having also been the

coxswain on these vessels. Ascoxswain of these ships, he hasfostered a deep bond offriendship and earned theprofessional respect of hismen, officers and even othersonboard other ships overthe years.

Said Coxswain RSSIndependence, MSGOliver Lo: “I wasonboard another ship,but MWO Seow wasthen the coxswain ofRSS Sea Wolf. I hearda lot of stories abouthim and I naturally

looked up to him as amentor even though he didn’t know

me then.” As RSS Independence is partof COSCOM, MSG Lo now worksclosely with MWO Seow. “Until today,he is still my mentor. When I have

difficulties as a Coxswain, I can alwaysturn to him for advice. He is also apeople-person, always able tocommunicate up and down the rankswith ease, whether the person is a Privateor an Admiral - all the same,” he added.

As COSCOM’s CWO, MWOSeow personally takes the effort to visitthe various ships during Coloursceremony for two reasons: to check ontheir turn-out and bearing and moreimportantly to find out the concerns ofthe crew. “I make sure that they knowmy door is always open and they cantalk to me whenever they have anyproblems at all,” said MWO Seow.

But he was quick to highlight thatwelfare and discipline have to be clearlydifferentiated. “In the military setting,discipline has to always come first. Notonly basic discipline like turn-out andbearing, but also operational discipline.Out at sea, it is essential that all soldiersare professional and quick to respondto commands,” he said firmly.

Commanding Officer 182Squadron, LTC Lee Khai Leong, who wasMWO Seow’s Executive Officer onboardRSS Vigour some years ago, remembershim to be a strict but fair father figure tothe crew. “Although he may mete outharsh punishment when needed, he oftenspoke out for his crew to me behindclosed doors,” added LTC Lee.

“He does not use his rank to getothers to obey him. He is very persuasiveand eloquent in his own special waythat makes him approachable and veryeffective,” said SSG Robin Teo, BufferRSS Freedom.

A good leader is one who exhibits exemplary conduct in his everyday talk and walk. He or she is someone whom superiors trust to get a job done well, and someone subordinates look up to as a role model. Arguablyone of the more prominent and colourful Warrant Officers in the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), MWO Roger Seow has gained much respect from both his men and officers alike over his 32 years of servicein the RSN. He is widely known for his tact, firmness, discipline and care for servicemen, reflecting the SAF and RSN core values. Navy News catches up with the Chief Warrant Officer – COSCOM (CWO) and someof his colleagues to know more about the man.

When asked whether thechallenges of man-management haschanged much over the years, MWOSeow noted matter-of-factly that thesoldiers of today are different from thoseof yesteryears. “In today’s knowledge-based society, soldiers are getting moreeducated, creative and smarter. Theywill sometimes query orders, and I haveto be tactful when dealing with them.”Though he was quick to add: “But thatdoesn’t mean that our soldiers are adisobedient lot. Sometimes I use a tactfulway, instead of a regimental method, todiscipline my men and women, and Ifind it works more effectively today.”

LTC Lee cited an example whenhis ship was on an overseas exerciseand during their recreation day, someof the junior crew had one drink toomany and a squabble erupted. From aheated head-on incident, MWO Seow

managed to deftly turn the situationaround. “After cooling the boys down,Roger then explained to them that as acrew, everyone was family and shouldnot resort to petty quarrels and fights.As a firm and fair disciplinarian, he thenproceeded to punish them to the fullextent of the disciplinary code to makesure they learnt their lesson well,” hesaid.

Although one may find beingvocal while being tactful oxymoronic,MWO Seow’s approach provesotherwise. He is known to be a vocalperson, as he is one who feels stronglythat sunshine is the best disinfectant,and “there is nothing to hide”. Anexample is when he wrote to all theships’ Commanding and ExecutiveOfficers, requesting their cooperationin empowering the ship coxswains onthe regimentation and discipline of theircrew. He believes that if the officers hadto micromanage the coxswain’s job,then the latter is doing a poor job.Furthermore, the crew will lose respectand trust for the coxswain, making itharder for him to execute his jobproperly.

Apart from his hectic schedulemaking sure the discipline of hisformation is well taken care of, MWOSeow finds time to indulge in otherinterests. Among which is his love forrunning. For a man of 50 years old, heis probably twice as fit as a man halfhis age! He still proudly dons an IPPTGold medal badge. “No matter howhard I try, I can never achieve Silver,”he said in jest. Certainly a hard featwhen you can complete your 2.4kmruns slightly in excess of 10 minutes.

His secret to achieve his fighting fitsuccess is simple discipline – he runsand works out three times a weekwithout fail.

So what motivates him to keepfit?

“I need to be a role model to mysubordinates. I want to show them thatif even a senior citizen like myself cando it, there’s no excuse for them. Andof course, with the ‘promotion carrot’dangling in front of me, how can I notchase after it? [laugh]” he explained.

On top of his keen interest inrunning, he also loves to cook. A fan ofspicy food, he has lent his culinary skillsto the galley onboard his previous ships,something which he calls KM(Knowledge Management). The chefsonboard sometimes even ask him toplan menus for the crew. LTC Lee vividly

recalls: “He always ensured that therewas sufficient hot drinks and food forthe midnight watches. I remember thathe used to stay up just to fix a nightsnack for them.” He also recounts howMWO Seow rode a scooter in his earlydays and slung bags of food to his smalltwo-wheeler to work before longoverseas trips. “He always went theextra mile for us,” he remembers fondly.Until today, MWO Seow still shares hisgastronomic skills with his office staffup at HQ COSCOM. Amongst hisfavourite dishes are laksa and seafood(he loves to rear fishes too).

“I learnt an important lesson frommy daughter, Audrey, who studiedhospitality in Switzerland and is nowworking at the Ritz Carlton. There is thisconcept of reverse customer-focus,whereby the ‘employer serves theemployee’ which I have come topractice with deep conviction. That’swhy every month, I will don my chef’shat and whip up a hearty meal tocelebrate birthdays in the office. Afterall, good leadership begins and endswith one being a good servant,” saidMWO Seow with passion. Now, whocan argue with that? Roger that, Sir!

ROGER THAT SIR! What a whopper!

Golden Life-Runner!

Master Chef in action!12 5

Story and pictures by Kimitsu Yogachi

“I ALMOST ended up being afisherman…” MWO Roger Seow beganhis story. Growing up as a son of afisherman, he loved life out at sea somuch that when he was called up forNational Service in 1972, he requestedto be in the Navy. However, he couldonly “choose” his posting by signing acontract as a regular serviceman.

The rest was history.MWO Seow worked his way up

the ranks, serving onboard variousplatforms, including the now-decommissioned Coastal Patrol Crafts(CPC), Patrol Crafts (PC), Missile Gun

Boats (MGB) and Missile Corvettes(MCV), having also been the

coxswain on these vessels. Ascoxswain of these ships, he hasfostered a deep bond offriendship and earned theprofessional respect of hismen, officers and even othersonboard other ships overthe years.

Said Coxswain RSSIndependence, MSGOliver Lo: “I wasonboard another ship,but MWO Seow wasthen the coxswain ofRSS Sea Wolf. I hearda lot of stories abouthim and I naturally

looked up to him as amentor even though he didn’t know

me then.” As RSS Independence is partof COSCOM, MSG Lo now worksclosely with MWO Seow. “Until today,he is still my mentor. When I have

difficulties as a Coxswain, I can alwaysturn to him for advice. He is also apeople-person, always able tocommunicate up and down the rankswith ease, whether the person is a Privateor an Admiral - all the same,” he added.

As COSCOM’s CWO, MWOSeow personally takes the effort to visitthe various ships during Coloursceremony for two reasons: to check ontheir turn-out and bearing and moreimportantly to find out the concerns ofthe crew. “I make sure that they knowmy door is always open and they cantalk to me whenever they have anyproblems at all,” said MWO Seow.

But he was quick to highlight thatwelfare and discipline have to be clearlydifferentiated. “In the military setting,discipline has to always come first. Notonly basic discipline like turn-out andbearing, but also operational discipline.Out at sea, it is essential that all soldiersare professional and quick to respondto commands,” he said firmly.

Commanding Officer 182Squadron, LTC Lee Khai Leong, who wasMWO Seow’s Executive Officer onboardRSS Vigour some years ago, remembershim to be a strict but fair father figure tothe crew. “Although he may mete outharsh punishment when needed, he oftenspoke out for his crew to me behindclosed doors,” added LTC Lee.

“He does not use his rank to getothers to obey him. He is very persuasiveand eloquent in his own special waythat makes him approachable and veryeffective,” said SSG Robin Teo, BufferRSS Freedom.

A good leader is one who exhibits exemplary conduct in his everyday talk and walk. He or she is someone whom superiors trust to get a job done well, and someone subordinates look up to as a role model. Arguablyone of the more prominent and colourful Warrant Officers in the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), MWO Roger Seow has gained much respect from both his men and officers alike over his 32 years of servicein the RSN. He is widely known for his tact, firmness, discipline and care for servicemen, reflecting the SAF and RSN core values. Navy News catches up with the Chief Warrant Officer – COSCOM (CWO) and someof his colleagues to know more about the man.

When asked whether thechallenges of man-management haschanged much over the years, MWOSeow noted matter-of-factly that thesoldiers of today are different from thoseof yesteryears. “In today’s knowledge-based society, soldiers are getting moreeducated, creative and smarter. Theywill sometimes query orders, and I haveto be tactful when dealing with them.”Though he was quick to add: “But thatdoesn’t mean that our soldiers are adisobedient lot. Sometimes I use a tactfulway, instead of a regimental method, todiscipline my men and women, and Ifind it works more effectively today.”

LTC Lee cited an example whenhis ship was on an overseas exerciseand during their recreation day, someof the junior crew had one drink toomany and a squabble erupted. From aheated head-on incident, MWO Seow

managed to deftly turn the situationaround. “After cooling the boys down,Roger then explained to them that as acrew, everyone was family and shouldnot resort to petty quarrels and fights.As a firm and fair disciplinarian, he thenproceeded to punish them to the fullextent of the disciplinary code to makesure they learnt their lesson well,” hesaid.

Although one may find beingvocal while being tactful oxymoronic,MWO Seow’s approach provesotherwise. He is known to be a vocalperson, as he is one who feels stronglythat sunshine is the best disinfectant,and “there is nothing to hide”. Anexample is when he wrote to all theships’ Commanding and ExecutiveOfficers, requesting their cooperationin empowering the ship coxswains onthe regimentation and discipline of theircrew. He believes that if the officers hadto micromanage the coxswain’s job,then the latter is doing a poor job.Furthermore, the crew will lose respectand trust for the coxswain, making itharder for him to execute his jobproperly.

Apart from his hectic schedulemaking sure the discipline of hisformation is well taken care of, MWOSeow finds time to indulge in otherinterests. Among which is his love forrunning. For a man of 50 years old, heis probably twice as fit as a man halfhis age! He still proudly dons an IPPTGold medal badge. “No matter howhard I try, I can never achieve Silver,”he said in jest. Certainly a hard featwhen you can complete your 2.4kmruns slightly in excess of 10 minutes.

His secret to achieve his fighting fitsuccess is simple discipline – he runsand works out three times a weekwithout fail.

So what motivates him to keepfit?

“I need to be a role model to mysubordinates. I want to show them thatif even a senior citizen like myself cando it, there’s no excuse for them. Andof course, with the ‘promotion carrot’dangling in front of me, how can I notchase after it? [laugh]” he explained.

On top of his keen interest inrunning, he also loves to cook. A fan ofspicy food, he has lent his culinary skillsto the galley onboard his previous ships,something which he calls KM(Knowledge Management). The chefsonboard sometimes even ask him toplan menus for the crew. LTC Lee vividly

recalls: “He always ensured that therewas sufficient hot drinks and food forthe midnight watches. I remember thathe used to stay up just to fix a nightsnack for them.” He also recounts howMWO Seow rode a scooter in his earlydays and slung bags of food to his smalltwo-wheeler to work before longoverseas trips. “He always went theextra mile for us,” he remembers fondly.Until today, MWO Seow still shares hisgastronomic skills with his office staffup at HQ COSCOM. Amongst hisfavourite dishes are laksa and seafood(he loves to rear fishes too).

“I learnt an important lesson frommy daughter, Audrey, who studiedhospitality in Switzerland and is nowworking at the Ritz Carlton. There is thisconcept of reverse customer-focus,whereby the ‘employer serves theemployee’ which I have come topractice with deep conviction. That’swhy every month, I will don my chef’shat and whip up a hearty meal tocelebrate birthdays in the office. Afterall, good leadership begins and endswith one being a good servant,” saidMWO Seow with passion. Now, whocan argue with that? Roger that, Sir!

ROGER THAT SIR! What a whopper!

Golden Life-Runner!

Master Chef in action!12 5

Story and pictures by Kimitsu Yogachi

Centurion, onboard! Challenger, onboard!Story and pictures by Kimitsu Yogachi

The crew of RSS Centurion received their RSNSubmarine Insignia (also known as the Dolphins) ata simple yet solemn ceremony at 171 Squadron HQon 11 Feb. Officiating the ceremony was FleetCommander, COL James Soon.

Commanding Officer 171 SQN, COL CyrilLee also presented the Honorary Submarine Insigniato COL Soon who is also the Submarine OperationsAuthority. As former Head Naval Plans Department,COL Soon had contributed significantly towards thebuild-up of the RSN submarine capabilities.

RSS Centurion CrewReceive Their Dolphins

The 45m Missile Gun Boats, which the frigates will soon bereplacing, were built in 1970s by Lurssen. The ship was constructed withthe aim of having a rugged, highly manoeuvrable platform capable ofundertaking seaward defence missions.

In the mid-1980s, the MGBs underwent a major upgrade to bettermeet the operational requirements of the Navy beyond 2000. Part of theupgrading included the fitting of the Harpoon Missiles which nowcomplements the original Gabriel Missile system.

The ship is propelled by four high-speed diesel engines enablingher to attain speed in excess of 30 knots, and is operated by a crew of7 officers and 33 men.

The RSN’s first Missile-armed crafts

B a c k P a d d l e

The Asian Aerospace 2004 held from 24 to 29 Feb saw various senior foreign military officers visitingSingapore. Some photos of guests that CNV hosted…

WHAT better way to learn aboutthe navy than having a ball of a timewhile at it?

CNB (Changi Naval Base) SportsComplex sprang to life when 250students from eight local Junior Colleges(ACJC, CJC, JJC, PJC, RJC, SAJC, TJC andYJC) descended upon the quiet stadiumin the early morning of 7 Feb. Donningtheir dashing sports attires, the high-spirited boys and girls arrived to ‘dobattle’ in the RSN Rugby InvitationTournament 2004 - a first in RSN sportshistory.

The tournament - “Know the NavyThrough Sports” – was an initiativemooted by NRC (Naval RecruitmentCentre). It aims to enable the studentsto learn more about the Navy through

the game of rugby. Theobjective of the tournamentwas to reach out to studentsthrough competitive sports. Thegame of Rugby has manysimilarities with a militarycareer. Not least of which arethe importance of superiorteamwork and gritty fightingspirit.

T h e o n e - d a ytournament was joint lyorganized by 182 Sqn, NRCand the RSN Rugby Team. Atotal of 20 teams from the 8JCs, Overseas Family School,Army’s Guards Junior team,Singapore Cricket Club,Singapore Japanese RugbyFootball Club and RSN RugbyTeam participated in the threecompetitions. The threecategories of competition werethe College Boys 10-A-SideContact Rugby, the CollegeGirls 6-A-Side Touch Rugby

and the Club 10-A-Side Contact Rugby.At the end of the many intense

matches, Raffles Junior College, theArmy’s Guards Junior Team andSingapore Cricket Club emerged asChampions for the College Girls TouchRugby, College Boys Contact Rugby andClub Contact Rugby competitionsrespectively. RSN Rugby Convenor LTCLEE KHAI LEONG ( CO 182 SQN)presented prizes to the winning teams,as well as Letters of Appreciation to thetournament officials.

Besides the robust interaction withthe RSN Rugby players on the pitch, theJC students were also given opportunityto know more about the Navy throughNRC’s recruitment information boothand a ship visi t onboard RSS

PERSISTENCE in CNB. The ship visitwas the first naval experience for amajority of the JC students who wentonboard. The JC students went away witha better understanding of the RSN’s rolesand capabilities, as well as careeropportunities.

“The inaugural RSN RugbyInvitation Tournament is a new initiativein the school rugby calendar. It offersmany students an additional opportunityto play the game and at the same timeassociate themselves more with the Navy.All my students visited the LST and theyreally enjoyed the tour. I think the Navyshould continue to organise thetournament on an annual basis,” saidMr Mark Ng, Rugby Master, ACJC.

VADM Wolfgang Nolting, Commander of the German Fleet. Mr Gordon England, Secretary of the Navy, United States.

We are the fly-half and fullback at sea too!

The ball is mine.

JOINING the 171 Squadron’s fleet ofsubmarines are RSS Centurion and RSS Challenger,which arrived in Singapore from Sweden on 4 Feb.

A welcoming ceremony was held at ChangiNaval Base for the return of the last two of four RSNsubmarines. On hand to grace the ceremony wasHead Naval Operations, RADM Sim Gim Guan,other senior naval officers, as well as partners fromexternal agencies.

In his welcome address, RADM Simcongratulated the crews on their successfulcompletion of their three-year submariner course inSweden. He reminded them of their leading roles asthe pioneering submariners in the RSN and chargedthem to familiarise themselves with operatingsubmarines in the local environment. “In time, youwill also be called upon to train and nurture thefuture RSN submariners, and that will be a heavyresponsibility that will be laid on your shoulders,”he added.

The arrival of RSS Centurion and RSSChallenger marks a significant milestone for 171Squadron as it is the first time it has all the submarinestogether in Singapore. The submarines will enhancethe RSN’s all-round capability to safeguard Singapore’swaters and protect our vital Sea Lines ofCommunications.

RSS Centurion being towed out of the transport ship outside Changi Naval Base.

RSS Challenger touches down at CNB.

14 3

Know Thy Navy – Thru RugbyArticle contributed by MAJ Ang Yong Lee

Gotcha! No you don’t.

NAVY NEWS is a bi-monthly publication of the Republic of Singapore Navy. The views expressed by its writers do not necessarily reflect the official views of the Navy or the Ministryof Defence. NAVY NEWS is not to be reproduced in whole or in parts without the written consent of the RSN. Articles of interest are invited from readers, who may send them toNAVY NEWS, Navy Recruitment Centre, SAF Careers Centre,CMPB Podium, Defence Technology Towers, Depot Road, Singapore 109676. For enquiries, call 6373 1014 or emailnrc1@starnet.gov.sg.

Chairman LTC Seow Hwye Min Editor MAJ Irvin LimMembers LTC Sukhvinder S. Chopra • LTC Peter Chew • MAJ Ang Yong Lee • MAJ Francis Goh • MAJ Serene Chua • CPT Adrian Tan • CPT Francis Goh

LTA Chia Ching Kai • Mr Narindar Singh • SWO Kwok Ping Choon • MWO Lim Chock SingExecutive Staff Ms Margaret Chee • SSG Joshua Ooi • CPL Kimitsu Yogachi

Republic of Singapore Navy

RADM Ronnie TayChief of Navy

Chi

ef o

f Na

vy’s

Me

ssa

ge

VADM Dato’ Ilyas Bin Hj Din, Deputy Chief of Navy,Royal Malaysian Navy.

RADM Tran Quang Khue, Deputy Commander of Navy Forces,Vietnam Navy.

RSN WeightManagementSeminar 2004

NAVY NEWS has been around for over two decades now. From thisyear, it will move from being a monthly newsletter to a bi-monthly issue, whichshould give our editorial team a broader canvass from which to bring youmore naval news and colourful stories that you can connect with and enjoyreading. The intent is to provide increased focus on the day-to-day life in theNavy, as well as to provide a place for members of our Navy Family to reflectand share their achievements and values.

Our recent deployment of a LST Task Group to the northern ArabianGulf in support of the reconstruction effort in Iraq marked a new milestonein the development of our Navy. These operations were conducted in a newenvironment, comprised a range of activities at sea and saw the task groupinter-operating with a number of foreign navies. The two-month long operationtested the readiness of our ship and crew, as well as provided opportunitiesto sharpen our operational capabilities in an extended mission away from ourregion. I am sure all of us in the Navy are extremely proud of the membersof the RSN Task Group who performed admirably in the uncertain conditionsand made the operation a resounding success. I also want to add my appreciationto the many back home who provided the various forms of support to the TaskGroup.

As we celebrate our accomplishments and look forward to more successesahead, it is important that we systematically retain and build upon the lessonsthat we have learnt. This is where the embedded culture of KnowledgeManagement that we have started in the Navy can help to make us a trulydeep learning organization that leverages on the intellectual capital of ourpeople to give us the winning edge in all that we undertake. This is all themore important as we take on even more exciting projects in the coming years.

The RSN continues to play a key role in the defence of Singapore. I urgeall in the Navy family to contribute with pride and passion to their part of shipin making our journey to new places a truly memorable and exciting one forall onboard. Navy News continues to be one such place to share in thatjourney.

More than 300 RSN personnelgathered at the Tuas Auditorium on 13 Jan,with one thing in mind: “How can I reacha healthy weight to achieve a healthierlife?”

The theme of this year’s RSN WeightManagement Seminar was “HealthyWeight, Healthy Life”. There were staticdisplays, booths, games, and presentationson weight management.

Before the presentation, participantswere treated to a video show “Obesity:Who’s in Control?”, which introducedweight management in an informative yetentertaining manner.

CPT (Dr) Daniel Tan, head of DivingMedicine Branch, then presented on“Obesity: A Complex Problem with aCommon Sense Cure”. His presentationoutlined the problems of obesity, new BMIstandards, and weight management skills.A video was also screened to showparticipants a success story. The video clipfeatured a RSN personnel who successfullyreduced his weight and maintained it ata healthy level.

An invited speaker, Dr Benedict Tan,who is a consultant Sports Physician at theChangi Sports Medicine Centre, ChangiGeneral Hospital, presented the topic“Principles of Weight Management”, wherehe shared the weight loss programme atChangi Sports Medicine Centre.

The seminar was an informativeand fun-filled way for RSN personnel tolearn more about maintaining a healthyweight, allowing them to understand andcope with the weighty issue at hand.

RECORD SMASHING SPLASH!31st RSN Swimming Meet 2004

Article contributed by 2WO Sabapathy R.

Now, let’s see who is Commander of the Road! CNV (left) starts the CommandersInvitational race during the SAF/RSN 50km Road Relay at the Marina City park on 14 Feb.

FLEET veteran swimmer COL Cyril Lee,CO of 171 SQN, has broken 3 RSNSwimming records in the individualevents, and won the Best PerformanceMan Swimmer award. Not far in hiswake was 2LT Ng Sok Mui fromCOSCOM who won the BestPerformance Woman Swimmer awardby setting one new record and comingin first in two other events.

Besides the super record-breaking feats,this year’s RSN Swimming Meet wassignificant for everyone involved as itwas held for the first time at ChangiSport Complex Competition SwimmingPool on 29 Jan. The occasion wasgraced by Head Naval OperationsRADM Sim Gim Guan.

A total of 363 swimmers took part inthe Meet organized by the Institute ofNaval Operations and Technology(INTO).

The men and women of the fourformations - TRACOM, Fleet,COSCOM (which included NDU andHQ RSN) and NALCOM, fought thebattle vigorously for the ChallengeTrophy. In the end, NALCOM emergedas the champions with 551 points.With the good swimmers identified,RSN is now ready to compete for theChallenge Trophy in the coming SAFSASwimming Meet in Mar 04.

Human Torpedoes away!

15

Editorial Board

A Word from CNV

Cover Photo:Artist Impression ofRSS Formidable firing anAster Anti-Missile Missile.By: Mandel Ong(Graphic Designer, NRC)

Back Page:Text by MAJ Irvin Lim,Picture by Kimitsu Yogachi

Besides our usual coverage, Navy News is always on the lookoutfor off-track stories and nauti-snapshots around your workplaceand beyond your navy life.

If you see, hear or know of something interesting to share withour Navy Family, we are just a mouse-click away!

Simply capture your shots in digital format with a resolution ofat least 1280 x 1024 at fine pixel settings (2 megapixels orabove), and include a brief description and/or a short write-upto accompany your pix...

Send them to us via email at nrc1@starnet.gov.sg.

Our New Navy News…Make it Yours!

“Calm

ly now, sharp sister

Before w

e run silentInto the rolling deep;O

ur sovereignty, we keep.”