SHAH ALAM: The third AW139 Maritime Operations Helicopter (MOH) – tail number M503-3 – has undertaken the 2500km journey from Kota Kinabalu to Lumut, in time for the RMN’s 89th anniversary parade held at the Lumut naval base today.
Tail number 1 flew to Lumut last January. Both helicopters were placed on static display at KD Pelandok (see picture below) – RMN training facility located inside the naval base – as part of the anniversary parade officiated by Navy chief Admiral Datuk Abdul Rahman Ayob.
Other RMN assets (see picture above) include two low loaders carrying missiles; two Paskal RHIBs and a fire tender likely the one of two procured recently. The other RMN helicopters – the Super Lynx and Fennec – both based at Lumut conducted a fly past at the parade.
Regular reader Ed Liew who was in Lumut this morning, said that tail number 3 is expected to return to Kota Kinabalu soon. RMN had previously announced that tail number 1 will be taking part in LIMA 2023 scheduled to be held in late May. As part of the anniversary, RMN is holding open ships programme at various locations today and tomorrow. The same programme will be held at Sandakan naval base this weekend.
As I was not at Lumut today, we has to rely on what was reported by the mainstream media. From Bernama:
LUMUT, April 27 — The project on the reconstruction of the littoral combat ships (LCS) is expected to begin three months after the sixth supplemental agreement is concluded, said Navy chief Admiral Datuk Abdul Rahman Ayob.
Abdul Rahman said the contract which is being prepared by the Ministry of Defence would see several amendments to the timeline and costs.
“As we are aware, the Cabinet meeting held on April 19 had agreed to continue the LCS project. This is an important decision to proceed further.
“If the agreement (contract) is finalised, we hope that the LCS project will be able to commence as early as possible,” he told a press conference after officiating at the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) ceremonial parade at Lumut RMN base here today.
Air Times had this to say on the LMS Batch 2:
Sehubungan itu, beliau menjelaskan, perolehan Littoral Mission Ship (LMS) Batch Kedua adalah salah satu usaha TLDM dalam mengantikan aset-aset usang yang sedia bagi meningkatkan keupayaan pasukan keselamatan itu.
“Kita mengharapkan pada tahun ini ia (LMS Batch 2) dapat dimuktamadkan perolehannya, sebab sekarang ini kita masih menunggu keputusan samaada TLDM berurusan secara kerajaan dengan kerajaan (G2G) atau berurusan terus dengan industri yang akan membekalkan kapal tersebut,
“Perkara ini masih dibincangkan di peringkat Kementerian Pertahanan (MINDEF). TLDM secara am telah bersedia dengan spesifikasi yang diperlukan untuk LMS Batch Kedua ini,
“Kami telah berbincang dan menetapkan apa keperluan serta mengenalpasti beberapa model kapal yang berpontensi untuk menjadi LMS Batch 2 ini,” katanya kepada pemberita selepas menyaksikan Sambutan Hari TLDM ke-89 Tahun 2023 di Pangkalan TLDM Lumut, hari ini.
Both are depressing reads, to be honest.
— Malaysian Defence
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Went to the open day in Penang.
Two ships were at the cruise jetty, KD Mahamiru and KD Gagah Samudera.
Pretty hot day today.
Lots of PSSTLDM personnel on duty for the open day, which is good to see.
On each ship, all the visitors are put through designated pathways that snake through the respective ship, with plenty of ship crews available to answer questions from the visitor. Any pathways what is off limits are just placarded no entry. Rooms that are off limits such as the ship mess, galley, CIC are just closed off. Not seen any padlocks. Both ship bridges are open to visitors, with KD Gagah Samudera ECDIS switched on for visitors to look at and compare the digital map and the paper map on the chart table.
Once again I feel sad that Peninsular open days are held on weekdays, why can’t be like Sandakan base and hold it on a weekend? :_(
About LMS2, Im not surprised or depressed. I expected it would take some time to get going and I think TLDM realises it as well which is why they are pushing more boats thru the OP program. I feel that if extra time taken to do proper selection and proper planning of the program (no more 1st unit made locally BS), then its worth the wait.
@KC Wong
Im so jealous! Haha! Were the crew knowledgeable about the history of their boats ie any accomplishments or successes?
They are more than willing to talk about the details of the ship itself, but not much on operational details, which I fully understand.
On KD Gagah Samudera, only a few of the senior ranks are onboard at the time, so those remaining on board (due to the raya holidays) are mostly the trainees, some with family (and girlfriends) visiting the ship they are training on.
One question nobody could answer is why KD Gagah Samudera is not a part of the future 15 to 5 posters that they widely distributed for free at the event…
The wardroom of Mahamiru is small but cosy. The main table is a solid oak one that folds. The ship came with 1970’s style Italian TVs which are still stored ashore. Interestingly when viewed from a deck above through a large hatch the heat from the engine room can be felt.
I’ve only ever tasted RMN food on Mahamiru but it was good. RMN food is known to be good. The most spacious wardroom I’ve been in [admittedly not many] was Hang Tuah. Solid wood panelling and comfy. The head was also spacious.
… Wong – “One question nobody could answer is why KD Gagah Samudera”
There are many peculiarities with the 5/15; if one wants to list them a tome can be written.
@KC Wong
“why KD Gagah Samudera is not a part of the future 15 to 5”
IINM training ships such as the Samuderas aren’t included as that plan are more towards frontline operations & supporting ships.
Quite a few of Mahamirus stairs around the ship are of beautifully varnished wood and highly polished bronze handrails that would be at home on expensive yachts, unlike plain steel ones on gagah samudera.
Hang Tuah was supposed to be a presidential yacht for Nakrumah and was equipped for that purpose.
The Gagah samudera was also equipped with a few VIP cabins on the same level as the CIC just below the bridge.
Joe, my questions of the gagah samudera future was because it is explicitly included among the 15, but conveniently omitted in the 5 for the future fleet. But i guess nobody in the navy has an official answer for that and i got virtually zero answers for that question.
… Wong – ”Quite a few of Mahamirus stairs around the ship are of beautifully varnished wood”
The class was constructed to a high standard. The steep stairs take some getting use to as does moving between the narrow entrances that divide bulkheads.
… Wong – ”Hang Tuah was supposed to be a presidential yacht for Nakrumah and was equipped for that purpose.”
Yes but had limited DC and other standards because of what Ghana was willing to pay for her. It was common for Brit built ships of that era to have ”posh” fittings.
Both Mahamiru and Gagah Samudera has extremely steep stairs that is more akin to a ladder than that of a normal stairs. Both also has similarly narrow waterproof doors between the bulkheads.
I would not call the Hang Tuah having limited DC standards, but it does have very limited electronics and weaponry even for a 1960s design. She was heavily built, but very lightly armed, which is why nobody wanted to buy the relatively expensive vessel (compared to its light armament) when it was completed. Hang Tuah has rammed and sunk quite a few ships without major damage onto herself. Other than the many ramming incident with Iceland coast guard in the cod wars, in 1976 she accidentally rammed and sunk HMS Fittleton, with 12 personnel died on board the HMS Fittleton
https://twitter.com/OnthisdayRN/status/1307488396147859457
Cod wars ramming
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fn4Znf_XwAILXFK.jpg
Wong – ”I would not call the Hang Tuah having limited DC standards”
I was fortunate to have been able to board her some years ago on a non public event. The XO mentioned limited DC standards and he would know wouldn’t he.
Wong – ” She was heavily built, but very lightly armed, which is why nobody wanted to buy the relatively expensive vessel (compared to its light armament)”
She was intended to Ghana and that’s why she was fitted out the way she was and why nobody in the Admiralty was overly disappointed when she was struck from RN service and placed for sale.
Wong – ”Other than the many ramming incident with Iceland coast guard in the cod wars,”
An ADJ from the 1980’s had an article which included badly damage RN ships which had been rammed by Icelandic trawlers.