SHAH ALAM: ESSCOM needs more assets. The RMN needs three more sea bases to secure the ESSCOM area-of-operations. The service currently operates three sea bases as “garrisons at sea” to extend its”operational reach”.
The sea bases served to cut response time to any incidents or intruders and also serve as a logistic hub for short-legged units such as interceptor boats, helicopters and UAVs. And another three will greatly enhanced its operational reach and response time.
Captain Shaiful Nizam Abdul Manan, the service’s Operations Director, Operations and Exercise Division, says they actually need at least six sea bases to cover the AOR which covers an area of 53,420km with a long and rugged coastline of 1,773km. He was speaking at the Maritime Warfare Asia conference held in Kuala Lumpur, early last month.
The three sea-bases currently operational are the former mobile offshore production unit – commissioned as Pengkalan Laut Tun Sharifah Rodziah and two modified cargo vessels – Tun Azizan and Bunga Mas Lima.
Shaiful Nizam says six sea bases was the minimum for the tasking currently required for ESSCOM and for that reason it was asking for three more ships to supplement Tun Azizan and Bunga Mas Lima.
Why six was the minimum? As RMN had identified six locations where the main entry and exit points of the threats faced by ESSCOM.
His words were prescient as last weekend kidnapping of a German yachting couple of the waters of eastern Sabah, proved beyond doubt the enviable task facing ESSCOM.
ESSCOM was formed to prevent the repeat of the 2013 Tanduo incident (which resulted in 10 servicemen killed in action with 62 intruders killed) and not against the kidnapping for ransom threat.
As for the RMN’s preference for ships as sea bases (apart from its parochial interest of course) is elementary. Unlike the static sea base, ship-based sea bases could sailed into areas where they are needed even into neighbouring countries, once the tri-lateral agreement among Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines for “hot pursuit” is finalised.
A static sea base like Tun Rodziah is not flexible as it could not easily moved or towed away to other locations if needed. Sharul Nizam also pointed that the static platform was also proving to be a logistic challenge as it needed to be re-supplied continuously.
Shaiful Nizam says the main threat in ESSCOM came from “non-traditional threats” operating in the area, from hit-and-run robbers and pirates to kidnap for ransom gangs which became further problematic as they were influenced by Daesh/IS movement.
The kidnap for ransom activities are supported, according Shaiful Nizam by militant groups like the Abu Sayyaf Group, Bangsa Moro Islamic Freedom Fighters and the Raja Solaiman Movement. Ransom money are used to pay for arms and ammunition which will further their cause.
Although Shaiful Nizam stated that ESSCOM was facing a “non-traditional threat” these kind of criminal enterprise have been on going for centuries through-out the region though now-days it is limited to several localities only.
Analysis
Despite the obvious need for more assets it is unlikely that funding for ESSCOM – especially for maritime interdiction – will be increased any time soon due to current budgetary crunch.
Even the sea bases and other equipment were paid by Petronas although the operational expenditure comes from the government. The Army is getting more assets in the area though it is again mostly for land defences.
Tun Azizan is a former cargo ship transfered from MISC to the RMN in 2015. Bunga Mas Lima, also formerly owned by MISC, was tasked with escorting Malaysian merchant vessels in the Gulf of Aden under Ops Fajar. She undertook the task alternately with her sister ship, Bunga Mas Enam.
Tun Azizan was commissioned as an auxiliary ship in July, last year while Bunga Mas Lima gained the same status in early January, 2016. It must be noted that RMN refer to the two ships as auxiliary ships or KA even though the ships were commissioned into the naval reserve.
Tun Rodziah, the sea base was declared operational in May. It is not known why Bunga Mas Lima sister ship, Bunga Mas Enam, has yet to be transferred to the navy for ESSCOM operations.
I have no idea why Bunga Mas Lima has not been renamed thought it must be noted her presence at ESSCOM seemed to escape the officialdom as the latest statements on the sea bases stated that they were two – Tun Azizan and Tun Rodziah – only. The ship has an official Twitter account – @bungamas05 in case you think its not already based in Sabah.
BTW, RMN is running a survey to find the name for the LCS (graphic above). Go here if you want to enter the survey. The survey is open to Malaysians only.
* An earlier version of this posting stated that KA Tun Azizan was formerly Bunga Mas Enam. It is not. Bunga Mas Enam remained in the service of MISC. Her present location is unknown.
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (10)
With regard to the survey in naming the LCS, all three themes
are good enough,
although I much more prefer PEJUANG for the first six.
I prefer they called sarawak class.it will show our determination like incheon for rokn.
From the proposed names of the LCS, it is clear that Pilihan 1 (option 1) is the best.
The Pilihan 2 could be the aditional names for the LMS, plus the former names of ex. vospers with traditional weapons names.
I wonder why can't Bunga Mas 6 too be deployed in ESSCOM? BTW the proposed PT PAL MRSS would be one of the most ideal ship for the task, with floodable dock at the rear to deploy and recover RHIB's, and even CB90's, plus large helicopter landing deck and hangar for UAV's and helicopters.
at right time PT PAL propose MRSS...next move will be the gov but with the economy right now
With the recent "hot pursuit" agreement with Philippines, it is more important now for the LMS to have a higher speed to fully utilise the agreement to chase deep into Philippine waters those non state actors doing kidnapping and other activities. I really hope that the LMS will came out close to what I envision it to be.
Reply
The hot pursuit agreement has yet to be signed, its just that it has been agreed upon to negotiate the terms. Yes if it we are lucky, the LMS will be on line when the agreement finally kicks in. No worries, if the stop gap measure goes through it will be the one doing the chasing...
I like the second option, although I would have preferred names associated with Sejarah Melayu like Parameswara and Tun Perak, etc.
The suggested names are a mouthfull. IMO KD Perkasa, KD Handalan, KD Ganyang & KD Ganas are more suitable. These names have a long and illustrious history in the RMN. Currently these names are used on the 4 Spica-M Missile boats which would be retired when the LCS enters service.
Historicaly these names adorned the hardest hitting RMN '' front line'' ships untill the introduction of the Kasturi class and the Lekius
For the other 2 names I suggest KD Pendekar & KD Halilintar.
KD HALIMUNAN
KD BAYANG
KD HANTU
KD SILUMAN
KD GELAP
KD HITAM
KD Naga Laut
KD Singa Laut
KD Raja Laut
St marine lay kneel 5th LMV. 3 more to go.
I read it looks like RSN using strales dart for oto melara 76mm and according to armada..it tied to radar.