Singapore Deploys LMV on Inaugural Regional Mission in Show of Platform’s Wider Capabilities

17 November 2017

Singapore's first-of-class Littoral Mission Vessel, RSS Independence. The vessel has been deployed to a regional activity for the first time (photo : Sing Mindef)

The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) has deployed its first-of-class Littoral Mission Vessel to Thailand, marking the platform’s debut in a regional multilateral exercise.

The 1,250-tonne warship, RSS Independence (15) will participate in the first Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) multilateral naval exercise (‘AMNEX’ 2017), which will take part on and around Sattahip Naval Base in the Gulf of Thailand from 13 to 22 November.

Independence , which was commissioned in May, is also scheduled to take part in an international fleet review on 19 November in Pattaya Bay as part of ASEAN’s 50th anniversary celebrations.

During its deployment in Thailand, the LMV will have the opportunity to demonstrate a number of concepts for the RSN, including the platform’s ability to be deployed away from its homeport for a relatively extended period of time, and its ability to interoperate with assets of regional navies.

The vessel will also have the opportunity to prove out pioneering concepts found on its integrated platform management system (IPMS), such as a remote health monitoring and support system, which has been designed to allow shore-based engineers troubleshoot contingencies from a distance while the vessel is at sea.

Independence is one of eight LMVs ordered from shipbuilder ST Marine in January 2013. The platform measures 80 m in length, 12 m in breadth, has a hull draught of 3 m, and a standard range of 3,500 n miles (6,482 km) at 15 kt.

(Jane's)