Swift-class coastal patrol craft
The Swift class coastal patrol craft were a series of patrol vessels built for the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) by the Singapore Ship Building and Engineering Company (SBEC).
 Model of Swift-class coastal patrol craft | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders: | Singapore Shipbuilding and Engineering, Jurong |
| Operators: | |
| Built: | 1980–81 |
| Completed: | 12 |
| Active: | 5 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Patrol boat |
| Displacement: | 45.7 long tons (46.4 t) |
| Length: | 22.7 m (74 ft) |
| Beam: | 6.2 m (20 ft) |
| Draught: | 1.6 m (5.2 ft) |
| Propulsion: |
|
| Speed: | 33 kn (61 km/h; 38 mph) |
| Range: | 900 nmi (1,700 km; 1,000 mi) at 10 kn (19 km/h; 12 mph) |
| Complement: | 12 |
| Armament: |
|
History
During expansion of the Republic of Singapore Navy's capabilities in the late 1970s, the need for a dedicated coastal patrol platform was identified in order to perform the coastal surveillance and patrol mission. This need was especially apparent in 1975 during Operation Thunderstorm, where RSN resorted to using the Sea Wolf-class missile gun boats to intercept Vietnamese boat people attempting to land in Singapore. This was deemed to be operationally inefficient as it deprived RSN of a critical surface strike asset.[1] As a result, a contract was signed with the SBEC for 12 Coastal Patrol Craft (CPC). The first vessel, RSS Swift Warrior was launched on 8 June 1980 and all 12 vessels were commissioned on 20 October 1981 by then Defence Minister, Mr Howe Yong Chong.[2]
With the transfer of the coastal patrol mission of the Police Coast Guard in 1997, the 12 CPC were transferred and recommissioned in the Police Coast Guard as the Shark class, with the first four officially handed over on 7 May 1993,[3] another four on 24 April 1994,[4] and the last four on 22 January 1997[5] as part of the formation of the Police Coast Guard Coastal Patrol Squadron.
The CPCs were decommissioned by the Police Coast Guard between 2008 and 2012 as the next generation CPCs were gradually put to service. Five of the decommissioned CPC were transferred to the Indonesian Marine Police or POLAIR on 9 February 2012.[6]
Design
The Swift-class are of aluminium construction, with an overall length of 22.7 metres (74 ft), with a beam of 6.2 metres (20 ft) and a draught of 1.6 metres (5.2 ft). Displacement was 45.7 long tons (46.4 t) full load. The ships are powered by two Deutz SBA-16M816 diesel engines with a total power of 2,660 brake horsepower (1,980 kW) and driving two propeller shafts, for a maximum speed of 33 knots (61 km/h; 38 mph). 8.6 tons of fuel is carried, giving a range of 550 nautical miles (1,020 km; 630 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) or 900 nautical miles (1,700 km; 1,000 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). Armament consists of a single 20 mm cannon and two machine guns. The ships carried a crew of 3 officers and 9 other ranks.[7]
Ships of class
| RSN service (Pennant) | Commissioned | Decommissioned | PCG service (Pennant) | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RSS Swift Knight (P11) | 20 October 1981 | – | Tigershark (PH54) | – | – | – |
| RSS Swift Lancer (P12) | 20 October 1981 | – | Hammerhead Shark (PH50) | – | – | |
| RSS Swift Swordsman (P14) | 20 October 1981 | – | Mako Shark (PH51) | – | – | – |
| RSS Swift Warrior (P15) | 20 October 1981 | – | Basking Shark (PH55) | – | – | – |
| RSS Swift Archer (P16) | 20 October 1981 | – | White Shark (PH52) | – | – | – |
| RSS Swift Warlord (P17) | 20 October 1981 | – | Whitetip Shark (PH58) | – | – | – |
| RSS Swift Combatant (P18) | 20 October 1981 | – | Blue Shark (PH53) | – | – | – |
| RSS Swift Challenger (P19) | 20 October 1981 | – | Blacktip Shark (PH59) | – | – | – |
| RSS Swift Cavalier (P20) | 20 October 1981 | – | Goblin Shark (PH60) | – | – | – |
| RSS Swift Conqueror (P12) | 20 October 1981 | – | Sandbar Shark (PH56) | – | – | – |
| RSS Swift Centurion (P22) | 20 October 1981 | – | School Shark (PH61) | – | – | – |
| RSS Swift Chieftain (P23) | 20 October 1981 | – | Thresher Shark (PH57) | – | – | – |
In Indonesia's POLAIR service, the five vessels are renamed to KP Zaitun (3014), KP Kedidi (3015), KP Bittern (3016), KP Perkakak (3017) and KP Lory (3018).
References
- Citations
- "Speech by Mr Phua Bah Lee, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Defence at the Launching of the Coastal Patrol Craft "Swift Warrior" at Singapore Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd on Sunday June 1980 8 at 5.00 pm" (pdf) (Press release). Singapore Government. 16 June 1980.
- "Address by the Minister of Defence, Mr Howe Yoon Chong, at the Commissioning Ceremony of the Coastal Patrol Craft at Pulau Brani Naval Base on Tuesday, 20 October 1981 at 4.00 pm" (pdf) (Press release). Singapore Government. 27 October 1981.
- "Speech by Prof S Jayakumar, Minister for Law and Home Affairs, at the Formation Ceremony of the Police Coast Guard Patrol Squadrons and Naming of Coastal Patrol Craft on Friday, 7 May 93 at 11.00 am at the Police Coast Guard Headquarters, Stadium Lane" (pdf) (Press release). Singapore Government. 10 May 1993.
- "Speech by Mr Wong Nan Seng, Minister for Home Affairs, at the Naming Ceremony for the Second Batch of Coastal Patrol Crafts at Police Coast Guard Headquarters, Stadium Link on Monday, 25 April 1994 at 10.00 am" (pdf) (Press release). Singapore Government. 13 May 1994.
- "Speech by Mr Wong Kan Seng, Minister for Home Affairs, at the Combined Ceremony for the Formation of the Pcg Special Task Squadron and the Naming of Coastal Patrol Craft on 22 Jan 97 at 10.00 am at Pcg Headquarters" (Press release). Singapore Government. January 1997.
- "Police Presents 5 Coastal Patrol Craft to Indonesian Counterparts" (Press release). Singapore Police Force. 9 February 2012. Archived from the original on 20 May 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
- Prézelin and Baker 1990, p. 463.
- Bibliography
- Prézelin, Bernard; Baker, A.D., eds. (1990). The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World 1990/91:Their Ships, Aircraft and Armament. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-250-8.