Singapore Army Pictures

[OPSSG]

Pixs of Leopard 2 Tanks in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF)

According to the original Mindef announcement in Dec 2006, Singapore initially acquired 66 refurbished Leopard 2A4s + 30 spare tanks (which adds up to 96 tanks). Depending on how you interpret a 2007 newspaper report, it could mean that Singapore acquired 96 +36 Leopard 2A4 tanks (for a total of a 132 tanks), while there are others in Singapore who believe that the actual numbers for the 2A4s are 66+36 (for a total of a 102 tanks) and the 30 spare tanks are actually other variants like the Buffel ARV shown in the next post below. Interestingly, SIPRI data suggests that Singapore ordered 110 Leopard 2A4s and Buffel Armoured Recovery Vehicles (ARVs) - which could potentially mean 102 Leopard 2A4s and 8 Buffel ARVs (thought that is unlikely). For more comparative data see the SIPRI thread in DT here.

In the November 2008 issue of ADJ, the then MG Neo Kian Hong (and current CDF) also said the the Leopard 2A4s would be upgraded and below are pictures of the Leopard 2A4 upgrade (see post #51 in another DT pix thread for more info).

Top view of the Leopard 2A4 and the uparmoured version side by side

Side View of the uparmoured Leopard 2-SG

Waylander has noted that IBD said that they developed this for one special customer and weasel1962 has also pointed out the similarities found in the hinge mechanism of the AMAP(Advanced Modular Armour Protection) system by IBD.

I note that in Nov 2008, I posted a link at post #48 of another thread that showed a ST Kinetics (STK) made Bronco with Active Defense System AMAP-ADS and Multi-Purpose IED-Protection on display EUROSATORY 2008 (click on link for 2008 IBD news).

Videos of Singapore 2010 National Day Parade (NDP) rehearsals - mobile column

(i) [nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvH47ulDNAM"]NDP 2010 Mobile Column Rehearsal @ Tuas - YouTube[/nomedia]

(ii) [nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTUv1U3eEYM"]YouTube[/nomedia]​

[h/t to spiderweb6969, owd33, XaberXV-25, weasel1962, gary1910 and xtemujin of the milnuts gang]

In an April 2010 interview with Defence News, Singapore's DPM Teo Chee Hean revealed that Singapore spends about 4.5 percent of GDP on defence) and the Singapore 2010 budget for defence set at S$11.46 billion dollars (or US$8.13 billion).

Hopefully the other Singaporean members will come here and post more pixs.

 

[OPSSG]

L2-SG*

Bionix IIs

Singapore actually has armoured infantry (and named as Singapore Armoured Regiments), who are carried in Bionix II IFVs and they are meant to function as part of a heavy or armoured battlegroup (along with the Leopard 2SG MBTs and supported by tracked self propelled howitzers) to seek gaps in against a broad enemy front in a conventional war. The SAF uses the Bronco (hence the horse reference in the Bronco name) as a logistics support vehicle and as a 120mm mortar carrier (as part of our armour spearhead).

Terrex

There's also a DT thread discussing the SAF's Leopard 2s here. Below is one of those posts which discusses the upgrades:

1) They will retain the L44 120mm gun for the time being while retaining the possbility of upgrading them to the L55 gun in future. SAF feels that the L44 will be more than adequate currently given our own threat scenarios. Instead, the SAF will leverage on new versatile kinetic energy and multiple purpose ammunition(advanced kinetic energy rounds and programmable fuze, multi-purpose rounds) to hit and kill targets.

2) New network-centric Battlefield management system to be installed so that the Leos are linked to the SAF`s over-arching battle network.(Already known)

3) New "data-bus" system for better connectivity(SAF`s UAVs and other network centric systems)

4) New Auxilliary Power Unit for better sustainability and power

5) New fire control system for enhanced lethality

6) New armour modules "all-round" for better protection;hence new look

7) New running gear to cater for new weight growth due to new armour; im guessing it will probably be in the range of 60-65 tons.

The above upgrades are the logical outcome of the discussions at SAF's 2006 Land Defence Asia Conference. In particular, I recommend reading MAJ Goh Si Mien's article, Thunder Runs: Panacea for Urban Operation?' and this 2007 Pointer article called, 'The Citizen-Soldier and the City Fight: Threat Entrepreneurship on the Urban Battlefield.'

The concept of a Thunder Run is to thrust a sizeable force into the heart of the enemy’s nerve centre and establish itself there to threaten the physical sanctuary of the enemy’s leaders and psychologically defeat them. Some of the fiercest fighting pursuant to the 2nd American Thunder Run (7 to 8 April 2003) occurred at the 3 objectives at a series of east-west road junctions along Highway 8, named Curley, Larry, and Moe. Each of these 3 objectives along Highway 8 were seized by a company sized combined arms team from TF 3-15 Infantry (click here for details of the fight at Curley, Larry, and Moe) to hold the 3 objectives so as to keep the MSR (Highway 8) open to enable resupply of the armoured forces of 2nd BCT that were involved in the 2nd Thunder Run into Baghdad. After reading the articles recommended, it is clear that in 2006, the SAF intended to acquire the capability that is finally being unveiled in 2010. The acquisition of the L2-SG and it's supporting platforms is designed to enable the Singapore army to conduct a Thunder Run into an urban area. And as you can see, it took the SAF 5 years from concept to execution but the focus is not on a single platform, rather, it is on delivering a capability (supported by ISR, a range of sympathetic platforms and systems) with a strong focus on the army's ability to prosecute, project, promote, persist and maintain a presence in an urban environment. Though persistence is an issue as we have a mainly conscript based army.

For some background, I recommend reading David Zucchino's book, 'Thunder Run: The Armored Strike to Capture Baghdad' and this Charlie Rose interview with Col. H.R. McMaster, famous for his successful counter-insurgency tactics at Tal Afar in OIF and the Battle of 73 Easting in Desert Storm.

Leopard 2 Bergepanzer III ARV, also known as the Buffel (Buffalo). Rear and side view of the ARV

Below is Chinese Junk's video of the NDP 2010 CR1 Mobile Column:
[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcLpb7Vv1LU"]National Day Parade Singapore NDP 2010 Mobile Column Combined Rehearsal 1 CR1 19 June 2010 351.avi - YouTube[/nomedia]

For more info on Singapore's NDP and other defence related matters, catch Chinese Junk's blog at --> http://kementah.blogspot.com/

[h/t to superspitfire, owd33, Red, Chinese Junk and Area-51of the milnuts gang]

 

[OPSSG]

Since this is a picture thread about the Singapore Army, I thought we should post an image of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) crest. This picture is taken at the Army Museum of Singapore. The tiles and the crest are smelted from Singapore's de-commissioned AMX-13 SM1 tanks (which are going to be retired soon). xtemujin, has taken a beautiful picture, which is pictured below:

The Malay words 'Tentera Singapura' literally translated means 'Singapore Army' or alternatively it can be translated as 'Singapore Armed Forces'. The slogan ' Yang Pertama Dan Utama' means 'The first and foremost'.

During July 1969, the SAF obtained the first batch AMX-13s. At the parade on 9 August 1969, showed for the first time of column of 18 second hand AMX-13s, which started the tradition of show tanks during certain national day parades. The appearance of tanks was surprise for Singapore's neighbours and served as an effective deterrent against overt hostility. That is why, Singaporeans like me are really fond of this tank and what it symbolizes.

 

[OPSSG]

Below, an Advanced Combat Man System (ACMS) equipped platoon commander and his signaller running for cover at the Murai Urban Training Facility. In trials, ACMS enables new intelligence information flowing to troops almost twice as quickly, down from 13 to 7 minutes. Further, effective distribution of the information was also found to have improved. Basically, ACMS allows a section of infantry to call upon fire support systems that aren’t held at the section level to engage specific targets they do not have the capability to engage effectively. Further, one of the goals of ACMS is to enable the section commander to “see one block away”, via a virtual presence via UAVs or such other assets.

According to the June 2010 issue of the Asian Military Review (at page 7), quoted below:

"While ST Kinetics has provided the integration for the systems, the approach has taken component systems from companies around the world including the SSR radios from Selex Communications and the SO35 Helmet Mounted Display from Rockwell Collins.

The programme began in 1998 with the first demonstrator systems rapidly working up to company level and representative battalion level exercises which concluded in 2009. The trials showed that information dissemination speeds doubled with the accuracy of enemy reporting rising from 30 percent to 80 percent."​

An ACMS equipped section of Singapore infantry disembarking from a Terrex Infantry Carrier Vehicle (ICV). Each Terrex ICV is equipped with an Australian made EOS-600 remote weapon station (RWS) with typical Singaporean modifications and 11 cameras to enable the troops inside to a a full 360 degree view all round the vehicle. There's also an acoustic small arms detector that slews the RWS to the direction of enemy small arms fire (click here for a review by Jane's on the Terrex ICV). The above are but some of the changes made to enable the SAF to be better prepared for urban warfare. In fact, the urban warfare scenario used in the following 2009 operational research article, 'The Effects of Terrain on a System of Systems' by CPT Ong Cher Howe, was developed with the assistance of retired Marine Corp COL Edwards Lesnowiz.

For an idea of the complexity involved in urban warfare (in particular, the coordination), read 'The USMC Approach to CAS in Fallujah (Part 1, Part 2 & Part 3)'. In the 2004 battle of Fallujah (Operation Al-Fajr and Operation Phantom Fury), US aircraft dropped or fired approximately 318 precision bombs, 391 rockets and missiles, and 93,000 machinegun or cannon rounds. The CAS deployed was further augmented by over 6,000 artillery rounds and close to 9,000 mortar rounds in direct support.

 

[Chino]

I sincerely hope he intends wearing contact lenses if he intends using that, otherwise he'd better carry a spare set of glasses? I've yet to meet a military sniper using a 7.62mm (.308) weapon attempting to complete a sniper shoot wearing glasses, sniper eye plus broken glass anyone? One assumes this chap has been 'signed-out from stores' for the photo op only :rotfl

Maybe there are no "speckie" snipers - yet. ( IIRC we already have speckie pilots.)

But wearing glasses is not necessarily a hindrance to good marksmanship.

On the flip side there are people with perfect eyesight who can't shoot accurately no matter how you train them.

I wear glasses - AND - a marksman badge. Good eyesight is merely one part of being a great shooter, the other is technique.

And then don't forget the least scientific ingredient: instinct.

All my shots are "guestimate" as the rifle muzzle will always be moving due to breathing. Worst after running 100m during rundown. So it is your instinct at which moment you squeeze the trigger.

...

On a more humourous note...

Also bear in mind one true fact: Singapore has the highest density of people wearing specs - IN THE WORLD. Kid you not.

(I cannot find any reason for this as many other asian countries lead the similar lifestyles to us, similar diet, but do not have a problem... at least not like ours in terms of scale. So I suspect it's high time for us Singaporeans to look outside our little island and marry foreign spouses to help refresh the gene pool. )

 

[OPSSG]

More pictures from Singapore's 45th National Day Parade Rehearsals. It's little wonder that the Leopard tanks have pride of place in this year's national day parade, as the Chairman of this year's EXCO for NDP 2010 is Col. Benedict Lim. Col. Lim is Chief Armour Officer and Commander 25th Division, which is designated as an Army Operational Reserve (AOR) division.

Leopard 2-SG

Bronco All-Terrain Tracked Carriers driving past City Hall as part of the mobile column for this year's National Day Parade. With heavy duty seamless rubber tracks, it is the quietest tracked vehicle on parade and asserts only a ground pressure of 60 kPa to enable it to operate in soft ground conditions. It's also swim capable and can achieve a swimming speed of 5 km/h.

According to CJ, the road marshals (controlling the speed of the speed of the mobile column), like the one pictured in the foreground below, are from the 41st Battalion, Singapore Armoured Regiment (41 SAR) and the 48th Battalion, Singapore Armoured Regiment (48 SAR). Traffic marshal operations in the stadium area are led by Captain Jimmy Goh and his team from 41 SAR. CPT Lee and the tankees from 1st Company 48 SAR shoulder traffic marshal duties from Nicoll Highway onwards (see CJ's blog for more details). In the background is a 30 ton class Counter-Mine Vehicle built on the Bionix chassis called the Trailblazer. The Trailblazer uses a mine flail system. In addition to mine-clearing, the Trailblazer is able to mark its trails using a lane marking system with pneumatically fired rods, enabling vehicles to quickly travel behind the Trailblazer safely without losing momentum.

The Spike-equipped ATGM platoon, on their Light Strike Vehicle (LSV), from the 3rd Battalion, Singapore Guards (3rd Guards), waiting for their turn to drive past City Hall as part of the mobile column. 3rd Guards is part of 7th Singapore Infantry Brigade (7 SIB). 7 SIB is in turn, part of 21st Division. Like the 25th Division, it is listed as an AOR division. The 21st Division is essentially a rapid deployment force composed primarily of Guards, elite infantry trained in both amphibious and heliborne assault. The armoured and artillery component of the division is presumed to be lightweight, amphibious and capable of rapid deployment.

 

[OPSSG]

I've quoted a post from David Boey's (aka Chinese Junk) Senang Diri blog below on the unveiling of the MaxxPro MRAP vehicles in SAF service:

MRAP Unwrapped

July 17, 2010 - The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) took the wraps off its MaxxPro MRAP vehicles today. Three armoured Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, looking somewhat out of place in tropical Singapore wearing desert warpaint, formed part of the National Day Parade Mobile Column. At the time of writing, the MaxxPros are due to take part in the fifth Combined Rehearsal (CR5).

You can see them as part of the Overseas Missions vehicles, which make up Wave Eleven at the tail end of the 2-km long column formed by 210 vehicles from the SAF and Home Team. At the time of writing, if you hurry down to the Padang you should be able to see them drive past around 19:00 Hotel this evening.

Known in Singapore Army service as MPTVs, these armoured 4x4s are understood to be destined for service in Afghanistan as transports for SAF peace keepers. Singapore has never hesitated in giving its warfighters the extra edge before an operational deployment. The wealthy city state is fortunate it has the financial reserves for such acquisitions and a proper, well-managed drawer plan that scales up the SAF's fighting edge as circumstances prescribe.

The Army's MaxxPros are armed with a remote weapon station mounted with a 12.7mm CIS 50 heavy machine gun and possibly another sensor/weapon to the right of the HMG. Senang Diri understands that the SAF's search for an MRAP-type vehicle pitted the MaxxPro against the Marauder MRAP, designed by a group of South African defence engineers. MaxxPros have been in SAF service for some months.

The unveiling of the MaxxPros should be seen in the context of the Singapore Army's greater emphasis on protecting its personnel from direct fire anti-tank munitions and roadside bombs. This is evident when one looks at the add-on armour package fitted to the Leopard 2A4s and the additional bird cage armour fitted to Warthog vehicles that Singapore has built for the British Army. Not to be discounted is the protective role that improved battlefield awareness can serve in protecting SAF personnel, as well as better combat casualty care provided by SAF medical units.

Senang Diri understands that soft skin vehicles now used by SAF teeth arms and combat service support units will eventually be phased out of service. This underscores the SAF's awareness that its area of operations may not have clearly defined front lines, which explains why its logistics train will be hardened. Alongside these hardware enhancements are moves to raise a number of Civil-Military Relations (CMR) battalions. In the event deterrence fails, these CMR battalions will serve a critical role in the area of operations as hostile units are systematically destroyed and order is restored under Singaporean command. Observers should note that SAF vehicles taking part in NDP 2010 form only a small part of the armoured and soft skin vehicles that serve Singaporean soldiers, sailors and airmen.

Below are pixs of MPTVs by xtemujin, who is also a member of our forum.

Like the Terrex, the MPTVs are armed with an Australian made EOS R-600 (see brochure) Dual Remote Weapon Station (DRWS) mounted with a ST Kinetics 12.7mm CIS 50 heavy machine gun. Singapore is the launch customer for the R-600, which is believed to be the first product of its kind - the DRWS can be fitted with a 40 mm AGL and a 7.62 mm combo OR a single 12.7mm heavy machine gun.

I've also provided a link to xtemujin's blog for more pictures of the MPTVs in SAF service.

 

[t68]

Below are pixs of MPTVs by xtemujin, who is also a member of our forum.

Like the Terrex, the MPTVs are armed with an Australian made EOS R-600 (see brochure) Dual Remote Weapon Station (DRWS) mounted with a ST Kinetics 12.7mm CIS 50 heavy machine gun. Singapore is the launch customer for the R-600, which is believed to be the first product of its kind - the DRWS can be fitted with a 40 mm AGL and a 7.62 mm combo OR a single 12.7mm heavy machine gun.

I've also provided a link to xtemujin's blog for more pictures of the MPTVs in SAF service.

I am sure they are fine but they look awfully top heavy, moving on uneven ground at speed might be tricky but looks can be deceiving.

I remember moving a M113ACV on a Mack 6x6 for an ex and was a little bit unnerving rolling all over the place and started kicking the track boards out from under the track, RAEME where with us and we jack it up on the tray of the Mack sledge hammer the board back under, then emptied about 6 or so jerry’s of water from the top made it 100% better.

 

[OPSSG]

National Day Parade (NDP) 2010 in photos in AsiaOne (limited time pix link)

A Chinook carrying the national flag and escorted by two Apaches.

Video of Chinooks and Apaches flying over Singapore (filmed from an escorting Apache): [nomedia]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QL-5vIP0fuM[/nomedia]


More Singapore Army pictures from the recently concluded 45th NDP and the earlier rehearsals. It's little wonder that the Leopard tanks and the Bionix IFVs have pride of place in this year's national day parade, as the Chairman of this year's EXCO for NDP 2010 is Col. Benedict Lim. Col. Lim is Chief Armour Officer and Commander 25th Division, which is designated as an Army Operational Reserve (AOR) division.

For NDP, a total of 20 military aircraft, including F-5s, F-16s, F-15SGs and G550 CAEW aircraft made an aerial fly-past. The crowd was also thrilled by the free-fall displays by eight parachutists who jumped out from a Chinook helicopter above the Padang. This was followed by the biggest mobile column ever, featuring 210 military vehicles, some of which are Singapore-made, ranging from Leopard 2-SG main battle tanks, armoured fighting vehicles, air defence weapon systems and vehicles from the Home Team (Police and Civil Defence).

I am sure they are fine but they look awfully top heavy, moving on uneven ground at speed might be tricky but looks can be deceiving.

Source: AsiaOne

Like you, I'm a fan of calling a spade, a spade. Like other vehicles with a V-shaped hull, it looks top heavy but I'm sure others will point out that there is a variant that has a DXM suspension system, provided by Hendrickson Truck Suspension Systems and AxleTech International - which is called the MaxxPro Dash. This version improves the vehicle’s off-road capabilities, which is vital given Afghanistan’s lack of road infrastructure.

I suspect these MPTVs will be used by our guys in a more road bound role. Later this year, the SAF is going to send 6 to 10 guys from the artillery formation (along with Australian Defence Force trainers) to help set up an artillery school for the ANA and a 52-man UAV team (see link). In both cases, these Singaporeans sent in our mini-surge to 162 troops (over and above the existing teams deployed and up from 97 last year) should be quite road/track bound.

However, I'm sure we are not going to send our guys to Afghanistan in these:

The Light Strike Vehicle (LSV) has great off-road mobility but zero protection against IEDs and small arms. And we deployed the LSV in East Timor . See this video on the LSV: [nomedia]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUdI42HUw4o&feature=related[/nomedia].

I remember moving a M113ACV on a Mack 6x6 for an ex and was a little bit unnerving rolling all over the place and started kicking the track boards out from under the track, RAEME where with us and we jack it up on the tray of the Mack sledge hammer the board back under, then emptied about 6 or so jerry’s of water from the top made it 100% better.

LOL :lol3

I find that I get more 'car sick' in an armoured vehicle during night movement (as compared to day movement). Do you feel the same?

 

[t68]

LOL :lol3

I find that I get more 'car sick' in an armoured vehicle during night movement (as compared to day movement). Do you feel the same?

I only had a restricted licence for the M113 only load/unload for transport. But when we were doing the restricted driver course it only the basic knowledge for the bucket, we did have a little play at the back of Holsworthy airfield had to shoot down the long straight at speed under the direction of a crew commander giving instructions he said give it some so i did then told me lets head back so i just pulled back on the stick, you should have seen his face when we pulled up you where supposed to back off first, jeez it was fun!!!

Ahh the good ol days.

 

[OPSSG]

Some new pictures of the SAF in Afghanistan
- Operation Blue Ridge

17 Oct 2010 -- The SAF currently has a 21-man Weapon Locating Radar Team (WLRT), a 52-man Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Task Group deployed in Uruzgan province, 4-man team of institutional trainers in Kabul, and a 6-man Construction Engineering Team (CET) in Bamiyan province. The CET has completed it's mission and will return soon and the WLRT will eventually be replaced by the new Counter Rocket Artillery and Mortar (C-RAM) Sense and Warn system, which will be operated by the Australians (see link).

The UAV Task Group belongs to the RSAF but I think it makes sense to fit the pictures in this section, given that they arise because of Chief of Army Major-General (MG) Chan Chun Sing's visit to the troops. At the same time, RSAF Chief of Staff Air Staff, Brigadier-General (BG) Hoo Cher Mou, visited the SAF's Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Task Group and the Weapon Locating Radar team deployed in Uruzgan province.

From left: 1WO Nedun, LTC Nicholas Seow, CPT Prem Goh, and LTA Wu Wenjie were deployed to Kabul as part of the coalition forces to train the Afghanistan National Army's (ANA) School of Artillery

The 4-man team in Kabul are institutional trainers to the ANA School of Artillery. See this ISAF video on ANA soldiers running through gun drills at Kabul Military Training Center, Kabul, Afghanistan, with advisers from Singapore aiding them (a Singaporean artillery trainer, 1WO Nedun, appears at 2:45 onwards):

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNhXuVR5l8k"]Afghanistan: Afghan National Army Artillery School (HiDef!) - YouTube[/nomedia]


This means that there are at least 83 SAF personnel deployed in Afghanistan. The numbers may grow slightly, later in the year.


------------------- Below the SAF in Bamiyan Province -------------------

Map on the Left. Location of Bamiyan Province in Afghanistan
Map on the Right. Original and Newly Established PRTs in 2004

During his visit to Bamiyan, MG Chan expressed his appreciation to the SAF's partners in Bamiyan, in particular the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF), for the support they have provided for the SAF's deployment. He also thanked the local Afghans for their hospitality and assistance. MG Chan also visited the SAF Construction Engineering Team (CET) in Bamiyan province. In a ceremony held earlier, the SAF handed over the Foladi Comprehensive Health Clinic (FCHC) to the local Afghan authorities.

Above, Chief of Army MG Chan interacting with LTC Royston Lim (left) from SAF's Construction Engineering Team and LTC Andrew Fox (right) from New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team (NZ PRT) during his visit to the SAF troops deployed in Afghanistan.

I believe that LTC Royston Lim was previously caught on camera on 5 August 2010 standing between the Provincial Governor, Dr Habiba Sarabi and the Acting Provincial Chief of Police, as they were paying respects to the fallen Lieutenant (LT) Tim O’Donnell from the NZ PRT in Afghanistan.

RIP. The fallen LT Tim O’Donnell, being sent home in a simple ramp ceremony below. See NZDF's website for more details.

[h/t to VAMAN]

From left : COL Desmond Tan, LTC Alywin Tan and COL Kenneth Liow meeting up the locals in Bamiyan (see pix here).

The SAF CET utilised the SAF-funded Regional Health Training Centre (RHTC) project in the summer of 2008 to complement and integrate NGO, CERP and USAID healthcare projects/programmes in Bamiyan. Although the RHTC's construction process was itself challenging due to work-site disruptions, intimidation and threats by ex-landowners, contractor competency and bureaucratic "roadblocks" posed by other government ministries, the SAF CET sought to concurrently engage, include and enthuse the other healthcare stakeholders in Bamiyan. It succeeded in helping the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) frame and initiate a system to, in military parlance, "Raise, Train and Sustain" the province's healthcare workers (see Figure below).

The RHTC provided a critical single-stop facility for the healthcare workers' skills sustenance training (i.e. upgrading and refresher training). The healthcare workers, comprising doctors, nurses, midwives, vaccinators, health supervisors and trainers, etc., underwent these courses sponsored by USAID, the Aga Khan Health Services and other healthcare-oriented NGOs. The RHTC also enabled NGOs, like Marie Stoppes International (MSI) and Afghan Red Crescent Society, to run ailment/condition-specific workshops and public education programs, e.g. family planning, child mortality prevention, nutrition and communicable diseases prevention.

In addition, roving RHTC-certified trainers also visited USAID- and US CERP-constructed, but NGO-operated, District Hospitals (DHs), and People's Health Clinics (PHCs) throughout the province to:

(i) audit and sustain the skills of doctors, nurses, mid-wives and vaccinators;
(Ii) conduct basic health education for villagers; and
(iii) train and sustain the skills of Community Medics (CMs) "raised" by the villages.​

Thus, each PHC also served as a skills training, education and medical supply node for approximately 50-60 CMs deployed in the surrounding Village Health Posts.

By connecting the RHTC to the various healthcare centres, by synergising the healthcare-oriented NGOs' resources and focus, and by helping to establish a role for the community to play, this training and clinic/hospital operation network encouraged and proliferated community participation and healthcare ownership.

 

[OPSSG]

Some pictures of the SAF in Afghanistan (2 of 2 posts)
- Operation Blue Ridge

The SAF in Uruzgan province (which is also sometimes spelled as Oruzgan province). Below a map of Afghanistan showing the location of Oruzgan province:

Above, RSAF's Chief of Staff Air Staff BG Hoo Cher Mou (far right) addressing personnel from the SAF’s Weapon Locating Radar team and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Task Group.

SAF Servicemen Receive Commemorative Medal for Peacekeeping Operations from the Netherlands

Below, Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Alvin Chan receiving the Commemorative Medal for Peacekeeping Operations from the Commander of Task Force Uruzgan, Brigadier-General (BG) Kees van den Heuvel.

Six Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) servicemen have been awarded the Commemorative Medal for Peacekeeping Operations by the Netherlands Minister of Defence for their contributions towards the multinational stabilisation and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan. They are the SAF Contingent Commander in Uruzgan Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Alvin Chan, former SAF Contingent Commander in Uruzgan LTC Dinesh Vasu Dash who served in Uruzgan from Nov 2009 to Jul 2010, and four members of an SAF surgical team- team leader Major (MAJ) (DR) Muhammad Idu, MAJ (DR) Mathew Cheng, MAJ (NS) (DR) Philip Iau and CPT (NS) (DR) Tan Wah Tze - all of whom served in a field hospital in Tarin Kowt, Uruzgan, from Apr to May this year. LTC Chan received the medals from the Commander of Task Force Uruzgan, Brigadier-General (BG) Kees van den Heuvel, on behalf of the five other servicemen in a medal presentation ceremony held in Afghanistan on 31 July 2010.

Above MAJ (NS) (DR) Mathew Cheng and a member of the Dutch surgical team attending to a young patient in the field hospital in Tarin Kowt, Uruzgan.

Above, personnel from the SAF's Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Task Group preparing the UAV for a mission in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan. I note that Uruzgan seems to be occasionally spelled as Oruzgan, in various media releases.

 

[OPSSG]

Singapore soldiers depart Kiwi Base
- Operation Blue Ridge (See March 2010, RSIS Commentary)

Click on the above link to see the story by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Peter Ferrell, Task Wolverine Public Affairs, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
- Thursday, 04 November 2010 11:59

The Singapore national anthem is played while their flag is lowered for the last time at Kiwi Base here Oct. 27, signifying the end of the Singapore Army’s mission. The Singapore troops have been part of the New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team for three years doing six-month rotations. The unit’s final contribution has been the oversight of the construction of a health clinic in Bamian, the capital of Bamyan province.

Singapore Army Commander Royston Lim gives a farewell speech to U.S. Army, New Zealand, Malaysian and Singaporean soldiers at Kiwi Base here Oct. 27. The Singaporean units have been at Kiwi Base for three years with six-month rotations of troops. The final achievement for the unit is the completion of a health clinic in Bamian, the capital of Bamyan Province.

U.S. Army Col. Michael Berry, the Bamyan Embedded Training Team commander, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, and a Georgetown, Del., resident; and Singapore Army Commander Royston Lim, the Singapore Army attachment commander with the New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team here, exchange gifts at the conclusion of a farewell ceremony for the Singapore unit here Oct. 27. The two have worked together for past six months on development projects in Bamyan Province. The final contribution made by the Singapore Army unit was the construction of a health clinic in Bamian, which is the capital city of Bamyan Province.

All above pixs by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Peter Ferrell.

SAF Afghan deployment ends

Oct 17, 2010 - The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) completed and handed over a clinic they had funded and constructed to the Afghanistan authorities on Saturday. The completion of the clinic in Bamiyan province in central Afghanistan also marks the end of SAF's deployment in the area, said a Ministry of Defence spokesman in a statement on Sunday.

Over the past four years, the SAF has made many inroads in the province - funding and supervising the construction of a paediatric and women's ward extension at the Bamiyan Provincial Hospital, setting up a dental clinic as well as constructing two bridges, among other projects. With the end of the deployment there, the SAF can focus on other ongoing deployment in Afghanistan, the spokesman added.

On Saturday, the Chief of Army, Major-General (MG) Chan Chun Sing, met the SAF trainers deployed in an artillery school in Kabul and received updates on their efforts to train the Afghan National Army. At the same time, Brigadier-General Hoo Cher Mou, the Republic of Singapore Air Force Chief of Staff, Air Staff, visited the SAF's Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Task Group and the Weapon Locating Radar team which are deployed in Uruzgan province in the southern region of Afghanistan.

As the 6-man Singaporean Construction Engineering Team (CET) in Bamiyan province is withdrawn, Singapore has stepped up our contributions in Uruzgan province. I've previously posted info on the 52-man UAV Task Group and the 21-man Weapon Locating Radar team deployed in Uruzgan province. There's also 4-man SAF team in Kabul are institutional trainers to the ANA artillery school.

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f35bo6R02x0&feature=related"]SAF to beef up Afghan presence‎ - YouTube[/nomedia]

Above a completed project where the SAF engineering team in Bamiyan worked with the local Afghan contractors to build two bridges at the Monara and Chapdara villages. That SAF engineering team also helped surpervise the construction of a water supply system for a university dormitory and a culvert.

 

[OPSSG]

Videos from Operation Blue Ridge (the SAF in Afghanistan)

Ops Diaries - SAF in Afghanistan is a six-part series on the Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF's) contributions to the multinational stabilisation and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan. Told through the eyes of video-journalist Mano from MINDEF Public Affairs, this series looks at the challenging conditions in which the teams operate and the difference they make to the lives of the people there.

Episode 1: No Pain, No Gain (Pre-deployment training in Singapore and at the National Support Element, somewhere in the Middle East)
[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwGhfg_fDbY"]Ep 1: No Pain No Gain (Ops Diaries - SAF in Afghanistan) - YouTube[/nomedia]


Screen Capture from a Singaporean blog, 'The Green and Black Screen'.

Episode 2: Remote Controlled (Army and Air Force personnel from the SAF's Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Task Group launching and recovering the Searcher II UAV for a mission in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan)
[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZqWYjWcFbQ"]Ep 2: Remote Controlled (Ops Diaries - SAF in Afghanistan) - YouTube[/nomedia]

Personnel from the SAF's UAV Task Group preparing the UAV for take off at Tarin Kowt, Uruzgan.

Episode 3: Eagle Eye (The internal UAV pilot and his team of two keep a close watch on the ground providing a surveillance blanket of real-time intelligence to coalition forces. COMD CTU highlights the "world-class" analysis the UAV team provides the war fighters in the front lines.)
[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghoKjKEkSrc&feature=watch_response"]Ep 3: Eagle Eye (Ops Diaries - SAF in Afghanistan) - YouTube[/nomedia]

 

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[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIsrO5156Qc"]NATO in Afghanistan - Singapore assistance in Bamiyan - YouTube[/nomedia]


On 17 January 2011, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean presented the Overseas Service Medal (OSM) to 139 SAF personnel at a ceremony, in recognition of their contributions to the SAF's overseas missions.

Above four proud recipients of the OSM: (from left) LTC Chan, CPT Rashik, LTC Seow and 1WO Krishnasamy posing for cyberpioneer. Commander of the UAV Task Group, LTC Chan, commented on other threats faced by the team in Uruzgan:

"Insurgents occasionally launched rocket attacks, but our Weapon Locating Radar Team (WLRT) was able to provide early warning before these attacks and our UAV operators were trained to fly and land the UAV even in a high threat environment."​

Among the recipients were 137 personnel who had been deployed to Afghanistan as part of Singapore's contribution to the multinational stabilisation and reconstruction efforts there. These included:

(i) six members of a Construction Engineering Team deployed to Bamiyan province from May to Oct 2010;

(ii) two 21-man WLRTs were deployed in Tarin Kowt, Uruzgan from Jun to Sep 2010 and Oct to Dec 2010 respectively to provide early warning of rocket attacks for the personnel deployed there (the WLRTs will eventually be replaced by the new Counter Rocket Artillery and Mortar (C-RAM) Sense and Warn system, which will be operated by the Australians, see link for more details).;

(iii) a 52-man Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Task Group deployed to Afghanistan (the UAV Task Group has members from both the air force and the army); and

(iv) a four-man team of military institutional trainers (MIT).​

Above, the four-man Military Institutional Trainer team together with MAJ Piero Bertocchi (third from left) from the Artillery Training Team (Kabul), Australian Defence Force and Commanding Officer, ANA School of Artillery LTC Abne Amin Kohistani (fourth from left).

The MIT, deployed in an artillery school in Kabul, assisted in the International Security Assistance Force's (ISAF) effort to train the Afghan National Army.

The other medal recipients included an officer deployed to Pakistan from Aug to Sep 2010 as part of the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination team and an officer deployed to the Combined Maritime Forces Headquarters in Bahrain from Sep 2009 to Dec 2010.

 

[OPSSG]

Videos from Operation Blue Ridge (the SAF in Afghanistan)

Ops Diaries - SAF in Afghanistan is a six-part series on the Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF's) contributions to the multinational stabilisation and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan. Told through the eyes of video-journalist Mano from MINDEF Public Affairs, this series looks at the challenging conditions in which the teams operate and the difference they make to the lives of the people there (see post #15 on page 1 of this thread for episodes 1 to 3).

Episode 4: Rocket Racket

They work in pairs in confined space some two arms length, for five hours straight. Their eyes are glued to computer screens that are speckled with coloured dots. For a layman they're just colours. But our Weapon Locating Radar team are trained to spot the difference between rockets and aircraft. Australian army officer, LTC Blain, commends the team for giving him the critical seconds to dodge a rocket that exploded just 40m away.
[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSmKJhKzp3s&feature=player_detailpage#t=1s"]Ep 4: Rocket Racket (Ops Diaries - SAF in Afghanistan) - YouTube[/nomedia]


Above is a video episode on the ARTHUR weapon locating radar team at Tarin Kowt. The above video also provides a glimpse of the new C-RAM (Counter - Rocket, Artillery, Mortar) recently purchased by the Australians to detect artillery projectiles fired into multi-national Base Tarin Kot, Afghanistan (which has replaced the ARTHURs).

Screen capture below of the Australian C-RAM taken from the blog, "The Green and Black Screen."

WLR Team: Providing a Peace of Mind
(Army News, Issue No. 177, June 2010, pg 7-8)

The sterling performance of the 17-man Weapon Locating Radar (WLR) Team in Afghanistan gave the personnel in Camp Holland peace of mind. DPM Teo shared its background, “From September 2009, we deployed for the first time a Weapon Locating Radar Team in Tarin Kowt, the capital of Oruzgan province. The decision to deploy this capability was in response to a request from the coalition forces, following an increase in the number of rocket attacks on Tarin Kowt and the coalition base there.” Rockets are fired into the camp to disrupt the reconstruction efforts and to cause anxiety and stress within the camp, affecting the personnel’s ability to effectively perform their tasks. By providing early warning of rocket attacks, the team alleviated anxiety within the camp. Whenever the alarm was sounded, camp personnel would take cover in the nearest
hardened shelter.

MAJ Vincent Koh, the detachment commander, described the deployment, “We certainly made significant contributions as Camp Holland previously did not have any equipment to provide them with early warning of rocket attacks. Most of its accommodation consists of armoured containers and some tents are not as well protected. Naturally, this caused quite a bit of stress among the soldiers. With our presence, we could sense that the people are more relaxed knowing that the team is watching out for them and is keeping a sharp look out for rocket attacks.”

Constant Vigilance

The radar is manned by just two operators, each seated in front of a screen. A nearby red button is pressed whenever an incoming rocket is detected. Working in shifts, the operators man the radar 24/7. The commander also offers them a much-needed cup of coffee and temporarily relieves them while they take a break. The radar maintenance team is on continuous standby to keep the radar operating throughout the deployment. For every day of the five months that they were in Camp Holland, the team performed its tasks with utmost professionalism and dedication.

Perseverance and Commitment

3WO Hoo Tuck Leong, a radar operator, described his experience, “Staring continuously at a screen in a small room is stressful and lonely. The knowledge that the safety of the many people in Camp Holland depends on our vigilance is a heavy weight on our soldiers but it is also a motivation for us to persevere. I knew that if I do not do my job, my fellow operator, who is equally tired, will have to cover for me.” It was this sense of camaraderie that helped the team to persevere and overcome the challenges faced.

Maintaining a 24-hour watch for months was no mean feat for a small 17-man team. The radar operators worked in pairs and on shifts. MAJ Koh explained, “This shift system was maintained continuously for the 117 days that we were there. There were no off days or medical leave for anyone. We relied on the bond we forged to take care of one another during the mission.”

United in One Mission Objective

In such a compact team, all the members must be confident that they can depend on one another to watch their backs and fulfil their duties. As the detachment commander, MAJ Koh felt a responsibility to ensure this. He said, “The pre-deployment training was heavily focused on individual competency like shooting skills, physical fitness and operator proficiency. We also fine-tuned the specific signs and cues that indicate approaching rockets on the screen to avoid ambiguity during actual deployment. When all of us put the mission as our top priority, any personal issues became easy to reconcile. We were united in a common mission objective.”

The interdependency of the team went beyond their professional realm. In fact, 3WO Hoo’s greatest takeaway was not technical. The experience has been beneficial to him on a personal level as well, “My main takeaway is friendship and learning to be open to one another. To live together for five months can be tough, I learnt a lot in terms of interpersonal skills and developed many lasting friendships. In Afghanistan, there were no secrets among us. We sometimes brought our personal matters into the open so that we could discuss them and move on. When one of us was very quiet we could tell that something was wrong. We would then silently support him and give him a comforting environment to straighten out his thoughts.”

Nothing Beats the Real Stuff

Although it was gruelling, the team appreciated the opportunity to experience a real operation. 3WO Hoo elaborated, “This deployment was the first actual operation where every action or inaction could make the difference between life and death. It was only when I was flying into Afghanistan on the military transport plane and was told to put on my bullet proof vest and full combat load that the reality of the situation struck me. As much as it was initially nerve-racking, it was also fulfilling. I remember people coming up to us in the canteen and thanking us for protecting them.”

As a token of appreciation for their role in saving lives, Commander Taskforce Uruzgan (TF-U), BG Marc Van Uhm presented the team with a Command Coin during the handing over ceremony at the end of their tour. MAJ Koh added, “The deployment has definitely given us more confidence in our ability to deal with real situations and live up to Our Army's mission of being Ready, Relevant and Decisive.”

The highly commendable teamwork and professionalism displayed by the WLR team has indeed done Singapore proud. It is not surprisingly that DPM Teo included them for special mention during his OSM speech, “I would like to commend MAJ Koh and his team for rising to the challenge. Their skills, professionalism and dedication to duty provided reassurance to the ISAF members at the base that they can go about their duties with confidence, knowing that they have more warning.

 

[OPSSG]

Episode 5: The Peace We Keep

With its lush greenery and crystal-like streams you'd probably think you're in Switzerland in summer. The SAF engineering team in Bamiyan faces a different kind of challenge. Not an environmental one but of culture and language as they put the finishing touches to a health clinic they've helped build for the Foladi Valley locals. A significant building as a village elder puts it, borne by the SAF team's hard work and perseverance.

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWz91guHDHA&feature=player_profilepage#t=202s"]Ep 5: The Peace We Keep (Ops Diaries - SAF in Afghanistan) - YouTube[/nomedia]

Below MAJ (Dr) Adrian Tan (right) presenting a hand-made symbolic crest of Singapore to MAJ Diana Verweij, Officer Commanding, 420 Med Coy of the Netherlands Armed Forces.

See also the cyberpioneer stories - Doing our part and Making a difference in Afghanistan.
Video: To Make a Difference - Afghanistan

Episode 6: Making a Difference

The paediatric clinic that was built a year ago has treated over 1000 children so far the numbers keep growing. The hospital manager highlights his gratitude to the SAF team for the infrastructure. Meanwhile the Shah Foladi Comprehensive Health Clinic is ready to be handed over. The new clinic is a fitting end to the SAF's operations in Bamiyan and a symbol of the difference they've made to the lives of the Afghan people.

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vym1GS4_888"]Ep 6: Making a Difference (Ops Diaries - SAF in Afghanistan) - YouTube[/nomedia]

A reflection by CPT Huang Wen Yao.

“We had many opportunities to interact with the local populace to find out about their needs. We visited schools, villages, hospitals and clinics. Through these trips, I learnt more about the challenges that the Afghans had to endure, such as hot summers and harsh winters. Despite their difficult circumstances, the Afghans in Bamiyan were incredibly resilient.”

 

[OPSSG]

Below, COL Ong giving the SCDF contingent a quick update on the situation before they depart for Christchurch (7SIB is part of the 21st Division, which is the Singapore Army's rapid deployment division).

23 Feb 2011 -- Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean has conveyed our condolences and offer of assistance to the New Zealand government (link). At around 3 am, Singapore time, one KC-135R and two C-130s started their engines at Paya Lebar airbase to depart for Christchurch. The three RSAF airraft will be will be flying 10 tons of equipment, a 55-member Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) urban search and rescue team, 4 rescue dogs and a command team led by Colonel Melvyn Ong, Commander, 7 Singapore Infantry Brigade, to assist in the disaster relief efforts. For more details see this Mindef website.

The 55-member SCDF contingent deployed to Christchurch, carried out operations at a total of 43 sites since their arrival. The New Zealand government has made a request, for the contingent to stay until next Sunday, 13 March 2011, to assist with the recovery operations. As such 33 members of the 55-team contingent (including the Contingent Commander, LTC Ling Kok Yong) will remain to assist with the recovery operations. The other 22 members are scheduled to return to Singapore on Sunday, 6 March 2011.

SAF reinforces NZDF deployments around downtown

Above, Commander of the Singapore contingent Colonel Melvyn Ong (left) speaking with (second from left) New Zealand Member of Parliament for Selwyn Amy Adams, New Zealand Minister for Conservation, Labour and Food Safety Katie Wilkinson and Ms Button at the temporary emergency operations centre in Christchurch.

SAF C-130s assist in Christchurch earthquake

Singapore forensics team starts work to identify victims of NZ quake

Above, part of the forensics team meeting their New Zealand counterparts yesterday. The team is led by COL (Dr) Tan (second from right) and comprises Dr George Paul (right), and three other DVI experts from the Health Sciences Authority and Singapore Police Force.

Operation Awhina

New Zealand Defence Force SUPPORT BY THE NUMBERS

Above, NZ Army medics provide support at the PGG building in Christchurch after the earthquake.

Friday 4 March 2011 -- 1796 NZ Defence Force personnel. At the peak of the operation on 2 March, 1796 NZ Defence Force personnel made up of 239 Navy, 1379 Army and 150 Air Force regular force and territorial/reserve personnel have been directly involved on the ground in Christchurch. There are many more personnel working in support of the operation in Burnham, Wellington, Linton, Ohakea, Devonport and Whenuapai.

10 RNZAF aircraft have been involved over the course of the operation, made up of Boeing 757s, C-130 Hercules, Kingair, Iroquois helicopters and the P3-K Orion.The C-130 and B757s aircraft have moved a total of 4278 passengers and 268894 lbs of freight (a combined total weight including passengers, freight and baggage of 674639 lbs). Army catering staff have been producing more than 5000 meals per day for Police, Fire Service, Search and Rescue teams and military personnel. 77 Unimogs, 47 Pinzgauer Light Operational Vehicles (LOV), and 28 Light Armoured Vehicles (LAV) formed part of the response, with the Unimogs mostly used for the transportation of equipment and stores.

Four Royal New Zealand Navy ships, the HMNZS CANTERBURY, HMNZS PUKAKI, HMNZS OTAGO and HMNZS RESOLUTION have all been involved with taskings. The CANTERBURY has transported a total of 1707 tonnes of vehicles and equipment and 375 personnel in and out of Lyttelton.

Above, an NZ Army LAV and crew provide support to the Christchurch Earthquake Operation by providing cordons around the city's CBD.

129 Singapore Armed Forces personnel have been assisting NZ Defence Force personnel and the NZ Police on the cordon. 2 Singapore Armed Forces C-130 Hercules aircraft have been based at Whenuapai, and carried out taskings for freight and personnel movement.

Above a Singapore Guardsman with his NZDF counter part manning a traffic cordon (in 12 hour shifts).

Above RSAF KC-135 pilot LTC Moses Tan assisting civilians onto the aircraft heading to Auckland.

Above, NZ Army Engineers working at New Brighton beach to provide desalinated water for residents affected by the Christchurch.

Above, SAF assists in water purification operations.

 

[OPSSG]

Pixs below are specific to the various SAF relief efforts in Indonesia

SAF's response after the Dec 2004 Tsunami

"The Singapore government's military response to the emergency in Aceh has been nothing less than outstanding. It has done a phenomenal job; all the aid agencies and the UN are very grateful for the enormous and fast response the military in Singapore brought to bear on this disaster."

John Budd, UNICEF Head of Communications in Indonesia​

SAF and TNI soliders working alongside each other to clear debris in the aftermath of the Dec 2004 Tsunami.

Singapore, a close neighbour to Thailand and Indonesia, immediately offered after the Dec 2004 Tsunami stuck. Operation Flying Eagle, SAF's blueprint for humanitarian aid, was activated. Within three days, the first C-130 with relief supplies had flown out to Medan. The humanitarian efforts of the SAF were to focus on Banda Aceh, Medan and Meulaboh in Indonesia, with a RSAF helicopter detachment sent to Phuket, Thailand The Indonesian Government had asked the SAF to concentrate specially on Meulaboh, as it was one of the worst hit towns and was very much inaccessible. On New Year's Eve, RSS Endurance, laden with the first batch of Humanitarian Assistance Support Group (HASG) personnel and relief supplies, left for Meulaboh. Over the next three weeks, the Singapore public became well acquainted with the scale of the humanitarian efforts of the SAF in helping the people of Meulaboh. By the time the HASG left Meulaboh on 21 January 2005, it had achieved what it set out to do - to give aid to the people of Meulaboh and help in the relief efforts. The smooth conduct of Operation Flying Eagle was in part due to the joint capability of the SAF and was greatly helped by the close relationship between SAF and TNI, achieved through years of exchanges and exercises. Behind the SAF personnel working on the ground were many others in Singapore who worked tirelessly to ensure that the operations went on smoothly. Singaporeans had donated generously in cash and kind to the victims of the tsunami, with some volunteering to help in the affected areas. Sixty-seven of these volunteers boarded RSS Endeavour on 14 January for Meulaboh, bringing along relief supplies and equipment. In a way, Operation Flying Eagle had become one of the conduits for the whole of Singapore to channel their warmth and generosity.

A Super Puma landing on RSS Endurance to refuel in support of relief efforts. In this picture, RSS Endurance was anchored off the waters of Meulaboh in the aftermath of the Dec 2004 Tsunami.

For the actual troop and equipment carrying capability of the Endurance Class at surge in the aftermath of the Dec 2004 Tsunami, if you are interested in specific info on the Endurance Class that is not available on the ST Marine brochure, where it carried:

(i) 470 people (including a field hospital);
(ii) 51 vehicles and heavy equipment; and
(iii) 350 pallets and crates of relief supplies during the Tsunami relief operations
(see page 25 of the SAF's Dec 2004 Tsunami ebook, where the flight deck was also used to hold vehicles).

See this also Cyberpioneer article called 'Fast Aid' for details.

The then UN chief Mr Kofi Annan (in blue) gets an update of ongoing relief efforts from the TNI officers and COL Tan Chuan-Jin (second from right), the SAF Joint Humanitarian Assistance Task Force Commander.

Members of the RSN surgical team performing a hernia surgery on an Ambon resident on board RSS Endeavour.

On Aug 2010, RSS Endeavour visted Ambon, Indonesia for a socio-civic programme. About 200 RSN personnel joined the TNI AL to provide social assistance, primary health and dental care to Ambon residents. As part of the programme, a RSN surgical team also treated patients on board the RSN's Landing Ship Tank RSS Endeavour and on shore.

Indonesian Defence Minister Dr Purnomo Yusgiantoro being briefed by Major (Dr) (NS) Nelson Chua (left) and Chief Navy Medical Officer Colonel Kang Wee Lee (right) on how surgeries are performed on board RSS Endeavour.

SAF Deploys Medical Team to Bali after the 2005 Bali Bombing

An Indonesian doctor (far left) explains the condition of a bomb blast victim to Indonesian President Dr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. On Mr Lee’s left are the SAF’s medical team leader, LTC (Dr) Tay Guan Sze, and his deputy, MAJ (Dr) Adrian Tan.

(From left) MAJ (Dr) Adrian Tan, 2LT Tan Tai Shen and CPT Ng Geok Cheng monitor the recovery progress of a bomb blast victim post operation.

1SG Jean Ng, a paramedic, helps in the dressing of a wound on the leg of a bomb blast patient. Currently the SAF medical team is helping in the treatment of eight bomb blast victims.

On 30 September 2009 earthquakes occurred just off the southern coast of Sumatra, Indonesia and had a moment magnitude of 7.9. The epicenter was 45 kilometres (28 mi) west-northwest of Padang, Sumatra, and 220 kilometres (140 mi) southwest of Pekanbaru, Sumatra. Death-toll estimates range from a few hundred to over 1300, with thousands more trapped in collapsed buildings and under landslides.

Video: [nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A56JtIUnFKM"]SAF Medical Team Dispatched to Indonesia - YouTube[/nomedia]

A 54-strong medical team from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and 42 members of the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) were dispatched on 3 Oct 2009 in 4 Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) C-130 aircraft to Indonesia.

16 Oct 2009 - The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) engineering team has completed the construction of the two medical clinics in Pariaman and Padang. Assistant Chief of the General Staff (Operations), Brigadier-General (BG) Tung Yui Fai, and the Deputy Assistant for Territorial Affairs to Commander-in-Chief Indonesian Defence Forces (TNI) BG Norman Zamili, handed over the medical clinic at Padang Pasir, Padang to Mayor of Padang Dr Fauzi Bahar this morning. Separately, the SAF and TNI handed over the medical clinic at Koto Bangko, Pariaman to the Deputy Mayor of Koto Bangko, Ali Mukhni. The SAF engineering team had worked together with their TNI counterparts to construct the two medical clinics to replace the two that had collapsed during the earthquake.

Video: [nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0ZFJlhEWA8"]SAF Completes Humanitarian Assistance Operations in Pariaman and Padang - YouTube[/nomedia]

BG Tung Yui Fai and BG Norman Zamili handing over the clinic to Dr Fauzi Bahar, Mayor of Padang, at Padang Pasir.

 

[OPSSG]

Brigadier-General (BG) Ravinder Singh s/o Harchand Singh will take over from Major-General (MG) Chan Chun Sing as Chief of Army on 25 March 2011.

The SAF's Afghan diaries: Film-maker chronicles how S'pore soldiers are protecting their NATO friends and winning hearts and minds

by Paul Gilfeather

A FILM-MAKER is causing a stir on YouTube with a six-part series about Singapore troops serving in war-torn Afghanistan - the first such documentation by a local civilian. Video journalist Mano Mahendran, 41, who is employed by the Ministry of Defence, travelled more than 6,000km to the NATO base at Tarin Kowt in the heart of the country. He was tasked with making a series for cyberpioneerTV, highlighting the invaluable work being done by the men and women of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) as the international effort to stabilise the country continues.

....

"When I interviewed commanders from, say, the American or Australian side it is amazing just how valued our soldiers are and they were only too happy to spell out for me the integral part Singapore forces play in day-to-day operations." One team making a huge contribution to the mission in Afghanistan is Singapore's unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) outfit. The 52-man squad operates the 5.8-m Israeli-made drone, which provides surveillance and identifies targets for ground troops.

Mr Mahendran said that, within a week of taking up position at the base, the team had produced for NATO commanders a 99-page report on how to improve UAV operations to gain maximum impact against the enemy. "They were all amazed," he said. "Singapore came in and said: 'Okay, you've been doing things this way. But this is what we think and from the calculations we have made, regarding contours and heat conditions, we could be doing so much better'. "Everyone is still raving about them and you can say they have set a very high benchmark for the UAV teams which will follow them." The films show the drone's three-man ground crew flying the vehicle both in the dustbowl conditions of daytime and at night in the pitch dark. Singapore provides vital intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance round-the-clock for troops on the ground.

...

]h/t to xtemujin's blog for the picture of the "Timika 1996" campaign streamer below:

Note for non-Singaporean readers: The Singapore Army provides imagery analysts as part of the S2/G2 function for the data gathered by the UAVs deployed by Singapore but it is the RSAF that owns the Searcher UAVs. RSAF provides the UAV with the mission commander, external pilot, the internal pilot, sensor operator and the maintenance crew. That is why, the Singapore UAV Team in Afghanistan is a SAF Task Group. For more info, watch part 1 and part 2 of these videos on the RSAF's UAV crew.

Part 1:The UAV Logistics Crew

Part 2: The UAV Pilots

I note that Afghanistan is not the only operational deployment of Singapore owned pilotless drones. The TNI and SAF also worked together in hostage rescue operations in West Papua in 1996. An SAF Remotely Piloted Vehicle detachment worked closely with the Indonesian special forces in Timika in West Papua, providing surveillance which proved crucial in facilitating the successful rescue of Indonesian and foreign hostages (from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Germany) taken by the Organisasi Papua Merdeka or Free Papua Movement. The RSAF's then Tactical Air Support Command (now renamed Air Defence and Operations Command) received a campaign streamer for that. The streamer is navy blue with a red stripe between two thin yellow lines throughout its length and inscribed with "Timika 1996" in white and the streamer was inherited by the UAV Command Regimental Colour in 2011. See this indirect reference of that hostage rescue by the then Singapore Defence Minister, in a Dec 2010 speech at the Indonesia Defence University, where he said:- "In previous years, we have managed to operate together to carry out some missions to safeguard the lives of Indonesian and foreign citizens in Indonesia."

According to Ares (reporting in Nov 2010), Singapore Army's Skyblade III mini Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) system has turned operational.

Developed in collaboration with DSO and made by ST Aerospace, the Skyblade III was developed indigenously and is a product of the cooperation between the Army and its defence industry partners. The 5kg battery-powered UAV has an endurance exceeding 60min at altitudes up to 1,500ft. The gimballed camera is mounted in a payload pod under the wing, similar to Elbit's Skylark mini-UAV. To recover, the UAV deep-stalls and lands on an airbag. See this Mindef story for more details.

As mentioned in the RSAF Thread, on 2 March 2011, it was confirmed by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minster of Defence Teo Chee Hean in Parliament that two new pieces of equipment will enter RSAF service. They are namely:

(i) Heron 1 UAV (length of 8.8 metres x wing span of 16.6 metres) to replace the Searcher-class UAV (length of 5 metres x wingspan of 7.6 metres) in service with the 119 and the 128 Squadrons (which is part of RSAF's UAV Command). The Searcher-class UAVs have seen service with the SAF in Afghanistan. Interestingly, the Australians, the Canadians and the Germans (see pix of a German Heron UAV)are using the Heron 1 in Afghanistan (see this link for an overview and this link for info specific to Australian UAV operations). The Heron 1 used in Afghanistan are flown with up to four payloads that are operated simultaneously. This means that if something is found with the Surface Aperture Radar (SAR), the Heron 1 operator can immediately transfer the target to EO and the payload will automatically point to the target. With a comint payload, the system on the Heron 1 will start looking for that specific specified transmission.

Source: The Base Leg by Mike Yeo

(ii) SPYDER-SR will replace the 30-year old RAPIER air defence system. The SPYDER-SR comprises of both the surface-to-air Python-5 and Derby missiles.

Conceptual Overview of the different commands of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF)

See this link for the RSAF's 5 Main Commands.

The Heron 1 UAV squadron will become part of RSAF's UAV Command comprises a Headquarters (HQ UC), four squadrons (three UAV and one Air Logistics Squadron) and a UAV Training School.

h/t to gilcrest for the pix of the Heron I over Singapore skies

The new SPYDER-SR acquisition could be deployed as part of Divisional Air Defence Group (which is one of the four Groups under RSAF's Participation Command) or deployed as part of the RSAF's Air Defence and Operations Command (which is for island defence). Defence News has a backgrounder called 'Singapore Picks Spider Air Defense System'.

In the case of RSAF's Participation Command, it performs similar functions to US Army Aviation (at Corps level - keep in mind that our Chief of Air Force is a two star general and our Chief of Defence is only a three star general) and US Army Air Defense Artillery for their expeditionary wars (obviously we have less capable systems in our Divisional Air Defence Group). Even our command structure is leaner and Participation Command has significant resource limitations in comparative terms to US Army branches - leading to dual hatting of some roles and functions. Despite these limitations, Participation Command has a wide ambit as a dedicated command that focuses on providing integrated air power solutions for the land and maritime campaigns and includes the following groups:

(i) Operational Development Group (ODG);
(ii) Helicopter Group (HeliG);
(iii) Tactical Air Support Group (TASG); and
(iv) Divisional Air Defence Group (DAG).

Note for non-Singaporean readers: The Singapore Army does not have 'army aviation', hence, Singapore's Apaches (Peace Vanguard Detachment), Chinooks (Peace Prairie detachment - which took part in the Hurricane Katrina Relief Operations) and the division support assets like the larger UAVs so on are operated by the RSAF. Further, the RSAF also performs the air defence role and has individual air defence battalions assigned to our Army's different Combined Arms Divisions (CADs) for forward deployment at a time of war.

There are also plans to to replace the 11 Fearless-class patrol vessels in current service (no details have been released on the replacement class of vessels).