SHAH ALAM: The Special Forces Group or GGK displayed two new watercrafts at its anniversary parade held on the grounds of Kem Iskandar in Mersing, Johor, on August 19. The new watercraft – painted green – looked like landing crafts as both have a ramp in front of them.
Checks with industry sources so far have not revealed their manufacturer nor the dates of their procurement.
From the pictures and videos of the parade, both landing craft looked not much bigger than the RHIBs also displayed at the parade grounds. That said it is likely that the landing craft could carry around a dozen soldiers and small vehicles like scramblers and ATVs.
The landing craft has machine guns mounted along the sides near the front ramp. The two boats are steered from raised console in the rear much like traditional landing craft. It is likely that the engines, propulsion system and other things are placed under the console.
It is likely the watercraft is made from aluminium as with many commercially available landing craft. From Armor Marine, a shipbuilder from the US:
Aluminum landing craft are the ultimate utility vessel. Their large, spacious decks and bow doors/loading ramp make them perfect for transporting everything from small vehicles to materials and personnel. The ability to beach themselves and operate efficiently in shallow waters offers much more flexibility than normal watercraft.
Does this mean the Army is creating a marine force on its own? I am guessing here but the two water craft are meant for the GGK very own special needs. It operates a Special Boat Squadron on its own and it is likely the new landing crafts will augment the RHIBs and other watercrafts in its inventory.
As with other landing craft with a flat bottom hull, sea keeping will not be that great in open waters. I personally prefer the assault/landing craft as proposed by CMN of France (see graphics above and below).
— Malaysian Defence
View Comments (18)
Given the types of roles [i.e. riverine] roles the unit performs; I feel such a designed is better suited with Gerak Khas's Boat Section; rather than with PASKAL. We have a long history with flat bottomed craft; i.e. the Aussie supplied RCPs and LCMs [in RASCOM]; followed by the locally produced RCPs.
A marine force with just couple of flimsy aluminum boats meant for the bayou? lmao
Actually those crafts are not new at all
Those are the GGK 15m Medium Assault Craft (MAC), that is said to be personally designed and specified by HRH Sultan Ibrahim himself. The class is designated as "Ibrahim Class Commando"
2 of them were built, plus a smaller 13m version as a dive boat.
They were built by Powercraft Marine Malaysia
They have been in the GGK inventory since 2021
This is the model of the craft dedicated to HRH Sultan Ibrahim
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GVjt_hdbkAAtnGl.jpg
The brochure of the 15m Medium Assault Craft (MAC)
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GVjtX52a8AAZD38.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GVjttl9bgAAOpNS.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GVjtgY2bQAA8r_X.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GVjti7SbgAM_nd6.jpg
"the watercraft is made from aluminium"
Being military, would it make more sense to be armoured or at least made from steel rather than AL?
dundun - ''A marine force with just couple of flimsy aluminum boats meant for the bayou? lmao''
You've lost the plot. What ''marine force''? Gerak Khas has a waterborne unit which amongst other things conducts riverine ops. You expect Anaconda to have LPDs, LCACs and its own air wing?
''would it make more sense to be armoured''
If not armoured; fitted with lightweight ballistic panels. Adding armour adds considerably to the overall weight.
azlan
read the article
dundun - ''read the article''
I have. Have you? Where does it say we are indeed creating a ''marine unit'' or that the vessel's are for a ''marine unit''? Where?
Before you ''lyao''; there is no ''marine unit''. Anaconda is the Boat Wing of Gerak Khas and performs riverine ops. As such a flat bottomed vessel with a bow ramp would be useful.
Azlan
can you read? Or did you just started typing furiously the moment new comments were posted?
This is the excerpt from above article
"Does this mean the Army is creating a marine force on its own?"
I'm responding to marhalim's rhetorical question
For now its just for the special forces team. Unless a regular unit or PARA gets a boat squadron, its too early to say were setting up any marine force.