SHAH ALAM: Back in the saddle again. Back in December 2021, Malaysian Defence posted that the KD Laksamana Muhammad Amin (pennant number 136) was undergoing a refit at the Grade One Marine Shipyard (GOMS) Sdn Bhd near Lumut. As part of the refit, she was getting a new hull to replace the old one that had been worn out.
Earlier, this month – December 4 – GOMS posted on its social media that Laksamana Muhammad Amin had completed a portion of the refit and it was to take part on the next phase of the programme.
As the corvette had been put back into water, it is likely the ship was undergoing harbour trials before much of the equipment taken off prior to the refit would be installed. Once she passed the harbour tests, it is likely she will undergo sea trial prior to returning into RMN service.
The refit and re-hulling of Laksamana Muhammad Amin is part of the RMN’s Obsolescence Programme which involved the replacement of engines and other components of its Fast Attack Craft and the Laksamana class fleet. Under the same programme, some of the ships will have their superstructures mated to a new hull.
It appears that Laksamana Muhammad Amin will beat KD Perkasa which was among the first FAC to undergo a re-hulling refit.
— Malaysian Defence
View Comments (51)
KD Laksamana Muhammad Amin right?
Not Laksamana Muda Amin
Yup my mistake
So basically it’s a chimera ship. Old superstructure mated to a brand new hull. Does all this work actually cost less than a new ship?
I first heard of feasibility studies to rehull the class as far back as 2013/2014 [by that period various things were inoperable due to obsolescence and the hulls were already worn out] by an incredulous RMN officer. Never thought it would actually have to be implemented. At one point there was talk of the class being transferred to the MMEA but the MMEA would have fought tooth and nail.
Yup
@ tom tom
Probably. Steel are cheap, equipment are not afterall. Even if it's not it's not like there's public support for RMN to get more mostly patrol only vessel.
Well,at least RMN did something about some of their oldest ships. Quickly too. The Thais unfortunately didn't and their corvette Sukhothai sank.
Touch wood
Tom Tom -'' Does all this work actually cost less than a new ship?''
Yes and it's easier to get approved because the bean counters don't have to spend the cash needed for a new ship. Ultimately it's a final resort solution and the bean counters still have to allocate funds at a later stage but to course they will drag it as far as possible.
Taib - ''The Thais unfortunately didn’t and their corvette Sukhothai sank.''
As it stands we don't know exactly why she sank [no indication at present that a full SLEP would have prevented the tragedy] and the RMN had to do something to keep the FACs and Laksamanas operational. When we have to resort to such desperate measures as rehulling ships which are well past their retirement date; it's an indication of how bad things are and how antipathetic the politicians are.
Hopefully they could include weapons upgrade as well. Even if no ASM.at least couple of 30mm RWS would do
It will be good if both the 76mm and 40mm guns can be fired remotely guided by FCRs, even that would be too much, I am afraid...