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coming. From the Swedish Navy, the RSN helicopters. With a command- and- control
also received operational knowledge, and our suite, the Endurance-class, is also able to
pioneer submarines were trained in the deep, coordinate ship to shore operations.
cold waters of the Baltic Sea and Swedish
fiords. With such capabilities, the LSTs have been
deployed to undertake various peace support
operations, as well as humanitarian and
disaster relief operations. In 2004, the LSTs
were sailed to the Northern Arabian Gulf for
three separate deployments to assist in Iraq’s
post-war reconstruction efforts. The RSN
took on roles such as taking charge of
coalition warships as the Surfaces Action
Challenger – class submarine
Commander, providing logistics support and
1996 medical assistance, acting as an afloat forward
staging base, as well as humanitarian and
The first Fearless- class patrol vessel (PV), disaster relief operations. In 2004, the LSTs
RSS Fearless, was commissioned in 1996. were sailed to the Northern Arabian Gulf for
Built and designed locally, the PVs took on three separate deployments to assist in Iraq’s
the coastal defence role that was previously post-war reconstruction efforts. The RSN
undertaken by the CPCs. Every day, our PV is took on roles such as taking charge of
out on patrol in the Singapore Strait and the coalition warships as the Surface Action
waters surrounding Pedra Branca. Commander, providing logistics support and
medical assistance, acting as an afloat forward
staging base, as well as helping to train
members of the Iraqi Navy.

These deployments also saw the utilisation of
unmanned systems, namely the Protector
unmanned surface vessel (USV), an
unmanned vessel based on the rigid-hulled
Fearless-class patrol vessel
inflatable boat. They were used in the
2000 Northern Arabian Gulf for maritime security
operations. Such systems enable a range of
This year, we commissioned our first operations to be conducted without putting
Endurance-class LST, RSS Endurance. Built servicemen and women in harm’s way.
locally to replace the ageing Country-class
LSTs, the new LSTs were designed with a The LSTs were also deployed for the 2004
higher speed and greater sealift capacity, Boxing Day tsunami disaster in Aceh,
making them better able to support the wider Indonesia, where they provided essential
SAF’s transportation needs. The warships can medical supplies, support equipment and
not only operate with small crafts such as the vehicles. Furthermore, since 2009, the LSTs
fast craft but also with air assets such as the were deployed twice to the Gulf of Aden,
Super Puma and heavy-lift Chinook where they took part in multinational counter-
piracy operations to ensure international trade