SHAH ALAM: FIC/FCBs on the move. Four of the six FIC/FCBs ordered under the urgent operational requirement of Op Benteng are underway from Lumut naval base to the Regional Headquarters 1 or Markas Wilayah Satu (Mawilla 1) base in Kuantan, Pahang. The transfer of the four boats were announced by the Western Fleet Headquarters or MPA Barat on May 18. It did not say whether the boats will be based out of Kuantan though it is likely they will be deployed to other locations for Op Benteng.
The announcement was made via the MPA Barat social media post. It said simply:
Selamat Bertugas!
Empat buah Fast Combat Boat (FCB) meneruskan penugasan ke @Mawilla_1 sebagai Aset Bantuan Operasi di sana
From the pictures posted it appears that the FIC/FCBs have yet to be equipped with a remote weapon station. The boats do have two single gun mounts on the stern deck and both are equipped with shields to protect the gunners.
RMN also did not appear to equip the boats with a canvas cover over the stern deck indicating that the crew will stay inside the cabin while on patrol unlike the police marine boats also built by Gading Marine.
From an earlier post:
The Gading Marine boats, according to Ismail were delivered to the RMN on April 19, was built under a RM80 million contract. It is unclear the contract worth included the RWS which has yet to be installed on them. The FICs will be in service in the fast combat boat squadrons of the RMN.
Despite its name, Mawilla 1 current assets include at least four FACs though I am not sure of their exact identities. It used to have two Kedah class apart from the FACs but the ships have been transferred to the Kota Kinabalu naval base within the last few years.
— Malaysian Defence
The ” Fast Combat Boat Squadron” designation is a wee bit misleading as these boats – like the CB-90’s – will perform a variety of tasks; some mundane. From the pics it looks a bit smaller than the CB-90 and I have no idea if like the CB-90 it has a raised wheelhouse. Some have commented on speed but its 50 knots speed is more than adequate; unless one desires a boat with a ”rocket assisted engine”. Protection is a concern for which the only answer is lightweight ballistic panels.
More on speed less on armour, like A6M Zero.
I don’t think it will install any RWS from the photo above + it should do it early for cost saving. Anyway, RMN still have new boat to do their duty. I personally think if our defense industry can build 1000 ton below vessel is good enough. What we need focus is build weapon like guns, missile which can use to attack or defense. If me manage build Gowind but we don’t have ability to build gun, missile, SAM and the the battle system, it seem not brings any benefit to our defense. We can get cheaper copy right from China to build own weapons. Maybe quality still have a gap but atless we save 50% initiative R&D cost. Took example Turkey, Thailand and Indonesia.
Oh yeah,speed boat for rest n relax…..how will the boarding party board the orher boat without being block by MG post..or the MG gunner field of view being block by the boarding party….?why do we want to add cost by adding more panel,when simply the hull can be made of steel or aluminium…? As for speed its not an issue….give warning shots or shot to kill the engine…
The boats are fine. The swedes bought their new CB-90s for slightly higher price for a roughly similarly equipped boats as ours (RWS, EO and comms). If the navy and police found the boats to be satisfactory then might as well bought more because obviously they didn’t bought enough
RedSot – “do we want to add cost by adding more panel,when simply the hull can be made of steel or aluminium”
It’s a very simple and straightforward answer if you really put some thought to it ….
Unless you want 6 or 7 inch armour plating; it won’t stop a high velocity small arms round …. Even the hulls and superstructures of frigates/destroyers are thin and can be penetrated by small arm rounds- which is why ballistic lightweight panels are used ….
If the answer was a thicker hull and superstructure then weight goes up and navies won’t have a need for lightweight panels …
RedSot – “? As for speed its not an issue”
Of course it isn’t ….. The only reason I brought it up is because in another thread you questioned if the speed was sufficient…. Unless one wants a rocket assisted engine (yes I’m being sarcastic) it doesn’t get better than 50 knots ….
Ultimately; as I’ve pointed out before; the FICs are intended to perform roles which the CB-90’s did and the specs as issues in the tender was based on almost 2 decades of operational experience.
Michael – “What we need focus is build weapon like guns, missile which can use to attack or defense”
Mimpi ke? So we have the economics of a scale to justify and sustain local production : no
Michael – “.Took example Turkey, Thailand and Indonesia.”
Instead of making direct comparisons and assuming we can do what others do; first look
at the variables. These countries have economics of scale; they put in far more on R&D and they have a realistic idea of what that want to achieve, what they can and what is sustainable. We on the other hand have a cloud cuckoo land defence policy …
Nimitz – “More on speed less on armour, like A6M Zero.”
Both are needed ….
Speed to get from Point A to B fast and for pursuit. Ballistic protection in the event crews come under direct fire. Both are are essential.
dundun – “The boats are fine”
They look “fine” and we hope they are indeed “fine” and we are not suggesting a local company is incapable of constructing sound FICs but until they have been operated for a certain period in operational conditions we won’t know how they compare to the CB-90s ie whether they are indeed “fine”.
Old fren….u got the wrong guy…i know how fast is 50 knots is…..no matter how many times the magnification of your scope u still get the wrong guy…..so the frigate can easily be penetrated by 5.56 ball rounds….how intresting.. so no point in investing in EXOCET missiles and all of its derivatives then….simply just shoot any frigates with 12.7mm or 30mm cannon and we will sink and damage a frigate…how i wish its that simple…..