SHAH ALAM: PC Sri Sarawak – pennant number 48 – has completed its OP Plus work and now it is ready to be re-commissioned into the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN). RMN regional headquarters 1 – Mawilla 1 – posted on its social media page that the patrol boat had arrived its base at the Kuantan port on January 14.
Selamat Datang!
Warga @Mawilla_1 hari ini menyambut ketibaan PC SRI SARAWAK yang telah selesai menjalani Rutin Pasang Pulih di MSET Shipbuilding Corporation Sdn Bhd.@tldm_rasmi @MPA_Barat#3B4one#BersatuBersediaBerjaya pic.twitter.com/eZ4ooaoRoe
— MAWILLA 1 (@Mawilla_1) January 14, 2024
Sri Sarawak joined her sister ship, PC Sri Sabah – pennant number 46 – which had also undergone the same reincarnation at MSET Shipyard in Kuala Terengganu. Sri Sabah berthed at Kuantan RMN base two months ago.
Once recommissioned both boats are to be based at Sandakan RMN base – the regional headquarters 2 or Mawilla 2.
Originally, both were supposed to be in Sandakan by mid-2022 but its better late than never. From the pictures, Sri Sabah certainly looked like KD Sri Perlis and KD Sri Johor which had undergone the OP Plus work in Sabah.
It is interesting to note that RMN is still clinging to the notion that the work on Sri Sabah and Sri Sabah was a routine refit work. It was in fact a rebirth programme for both. Both patrol boats had been divested to the MMEA in 2005 and was supposed to be retired by 2020. They would have been artificial reefs by now if not for the fact that RMN needs hulls without breaking the bank.
Hence the work to put back both patrol boats into RMN service.
It is also interesting to note that RMN held a gathering for the survivors of KD Sri Perak on January 14 to mark the 40th anniversary of her sinking. Sri Perak – the sister ships of both Sri Sabah and Sri Sarawak – in their original service with RMN – sank on January 8, 1984.
A book on the sinking was also launched but there is no mentioned whether the book is available to the public.
Sixteen crew members of Sri Perak were present at the ceremony. Twenty six out of the 29 crew survived the sinking which occurred in the South China Sea. RMN chief Admiral Rahman Ayob is the last crew member of Sri Perak to remain in service. He was a senior cadet officer during the incident.
— Malaysian Defence
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Observation :
looks like there are 3x Handalan-class boats (including 3512 KD Perkasa with OP done), 1x Perdana-class boat (hidden behind one of the handalans), 2x Kedah-class OPV (172 KD Pahang & 174 KD Terengganu), 3x FIC G2000 Mk1, and a white ex-apmm? boat tied alongside the FIC G2000 in the last picture.
Interesting to note the the differences in hull shape of 3512 KD Perkasa and sistership 3513 KD Pendekar. It can also be seen the 40mm bofors still mounted in the stern of the KD Perkasa.
History Of KD Sri Sabah and KD Sri Sarawak
KD Sundang – P36
launched 22/05/1966
commissioned November 1966
Passed to APMM 2006
KM Segantang – 3133
retired APMM 2018
passed APMM back to TLDM 10/06/2020
OP Progran Start – ??? (MSET Shipyard Terengganu)
accepted back to TLDM after OP program – 23/10/2023
Renamed KD Sri Sabah – 46
KD Panah – P42
launched 10/10/1966
commissioned July 1967
Passed to APMM 2006
KM Kukup – 3135
retired APMM 2018
passed APMM back to TLDM 10/06/2020
OP Progran Start – ??? (MSET Shipyard terengganu)
accepted back to TLDM after OP program – ???
Renamed KD Sri Sarawak – 48
Original KD Sri Sabah – P3144
launched 30/12/1963
commissioned September 1964
Passed to APMM 2006
KM Labas – 3137
retired APMM 2018 – scrapped
Original KD Sri Sarawak – P3145
launched 20/01/1964
commissioned September 1964
Passed to APMM 2006
KM Sipadan – 3131
retired APMM 2018 – sunk artificial reef off Pulau Tioman
KD Sri Perlis – P47
launched 26/05/1967
commissioned 28/01/1968
OP program start 11/08/2020 (Preston shipyard)
accepted back to TLDM after OP program – 24/09/2021
KD Sri Johor – P49
launched 21/08/1967
commissioned 14/02/1968
OP program start – 31/10/2022 (Preston shipyard)
accepted back to TLDM after OP program – 23/07/2023
If the navy can make do with refurbished old ships, why don’t they go the same route for the LMSb2?
As the old ships they refurbished, they know a lot about it. The old ships available out there do not have anything in common with ships operated by RMN.
BTW a normal refit work does not involve a change of identity for KD Sri Sarawak (which is actually KD Panah and not the original KD Sri Sarawak) and KD Sri Sabah (which is actually KD Sundang and not the original KD Sri Sabah)
The RMN is laying up a lot of ships due to no sailors n officers to man them. Just buy a few n get by until pur asset s are stabilised
No, they are not laying any ships at the moment, as they do not have enough ships. They had done this a few years back around 2015 to 2017 as they moved to the 15-to-5 programme. Now every ship has returned to the fleet apart those under refit or maintenance of course.
Updated infornation :
http://www.mset.com.my/MSET/assets/split/2023Vol3.png
History Of KD Sri Sabah and KD Sri Sarawak
KD Sundang – P36
launched 22/05/1966
commissioned November 1966
Passed to APMM 2006
KM Segantang – 3133
retired APMM 2018
passed APMM back to TLDM 10/06/2020
OP Progran Start – ??? (MSET Shipyard Terengganu)
accepted back to TLDM after OP program – 23/10/2023
Renamed KD Sri Sabah – 46
KD Panah – P42
launched 10/10/1966
commissioned July 1967
Passed to APMM 2006
KM Kukup – 3135
retired APMM 2018
passed APMM back to TLDM 10/06/2020
OP Progran Start – ??? (MSET Shipyard terengganu)
accepted back to TLDM after OP program – 07/12/2023
Renamed KD Sri Sarawak – 48
Original KD Sri Sabah – P3144
launched 30/12/1963
commissioned September 1964
Passed to APMM 2006
KM Labas – 3137
retired APMM 2018 – scrapped
Original KD Sri Sarawak – P3145
launched 20/01/1964
commissioned September 1964
Passed to APMM 2006
KM Sipadan – 3131
retired APMM 2018 – sunk artificial reef off Pulau Tioman
KD Sri Perlis – P47
launched 26/05/1967
commissioned 28/01/1968
OP program start 11/08/2020 (Preston shipyard)
accepted back to TLDM after OP program – 24/09/2021
KD Sri Johor – P49
launched 21/08/1967
commissioned 14/02/1968
OP program start – 31/10/2022 (Preston shipyard)
accepted back to TLDM after OP program – 23/07/2023
It’s rather weird seeing a security organisation first law enforcement second desperately float as many old ship as possible while the law enforcement organisation first just turn their old ship into artificial reef