Singapore Navy Participates in Group Sail with Australia, Brunei, Japan and United States Navies

14 Agustus 2020

From left to right: KDB Darulehsan, RSS Supreme, HMAS Sirius, USS Rafael Paralta, HMAS Stuart (photos : US Navy)

The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN)'s Formidable-class frigate RSS Supreme participated in a Multinational Group Sail (MNGS) with five other warships from Australia, Brunei, Japan and the United States from 1 to 11 Aug 2020 (local time) in the Pacific Ocean. RSS Supreme exercised alongside Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Anzac-class frigate HMAS Stuart and support ship HMAS Sirius, Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) Darussalam-Class Offshore Patrol Vessel KDB Darulehsan, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Atago-class destroyer JS Ashigara and United States Navy (USN) Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Rafael Peralta. 

The ships conducted a series of drills while transiting from Guam to Hawaii, with RSS Supreme leading a component of the MNGS, which included manoeuvring and communication exercises, underway replenishment and protection of a simulated high-value unit. The exercise was planned virtually, without any physical contact among navies.

RSS Supreme is sailing to Hawaii for the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise. Hosted by the USN, the biennial Exercise RIMPAC will be conducted in the waters off Hawaii from 17 to 31 Aug 2020 (local time). This is the seventh time that the RSN will be participating in the world's largest international maritime exercise, and the RSN will be undertaking the role of commander of a task group during the exercise. The multilateral Exercise RIMPAC and the MNGS are important avenues for the RSN to hone its competencies and strengthen interoperability and professional ties with other navies.

The crew of RSS Supreme were isolated and tested negative for COVID-19 prior to deployment.

(Sing Mindef)