Fearless-class patrol vessel
The Fearless-class patrol vessels were built by Singapore Technologies (ST) Marine for the Republic of Singapore Navy in the 1990s. Together, the ships formed the 182 and 189 Squadron.
 RSS Resilience at sea | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Fearless |
| Builders: | ST Engineering (Marine) |
| Operators: | |
| Preceded by: | Swift class |
| Succeeded by: | Independence class |
| Completed: | 12 |
| Active: | 2 |
| Lost: | 1 (RSS Courageous) |
| Retired: | 9 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Patrol vessel |
| Displacement: | 500 t (490 long tons; 550 short tons) |
| Length: | 55.0 m (180 ft 5 in) |
| Beam: | 8.6 m (28 ft 3 in) |
| Draught: | 2.7 m (8 ft 10 in) |
| Propulsion: | 2 × MTU 12 V 595 TE 90 diesel engines coupled to ZF gear boxes driving 2 × Kamewa Waterjets |
| Speed: | In excess of 20 kn (37 km/h; 23 mph) |
| Range: | 1,000 nmi (1,900 km) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph) |
| Sensors and processing systems: |
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| Electronic warfare & decoys: | |
| Armament: |
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| Notes: |
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On 30 January 2013, MINDEF awarded ST Engineering a contract for the design and build of eight new vessels to replace the Fearless-class patrol vessels. ST Engineering announced that the group’s marine arm, ST Marine will build the eight vessels at its Singapore Benoi Yard. While the group’s electronics arm, ST Electronics, will supply the core combat systems and combat system integration solutions. ST Marine will carry out the platform system integration as the lead system integrator. The first vessel is expected to be delivered in 2016 and all eight vessels will be fully operational by 2020.[1][2]
History
The Fearless-class patrol vessels were ordered as replacements for the earlier Swift-class coastal patrol crafts after they had been transferred to the Police Coast Guard.[3] The contract was awarded to ST Marine on 27 February 1993. The first six vessels are fitted for anti-submarine warfare, while the remainder are configured as patrol vessels.
In 1996, the Defence Science Technology Agency project team leading the patrol vessel project was awarded the Defence Technology Prize.[4]
On 3 January 2003, RSS Courageous was badly damaged in a collision with a container ship in the Singapore Strait.[5] The ship has since been stricken from the navy list.[6]
In January 2005, 189 Squadron was transferred to the Coastal Command from the Fleet, and the 11 ships now form the 182 and 189 Squadron.[7]
In April 2012, ST Marine was awarded a contract by the Ministry of Defence of the Oman to build four 75-metre (246 ft) patrol vessels based on the Fearless class. The vessels was delivered as the Al-Ofouq class between 2015 and 2016.[8]
Ships of class
| Name | Pennant Number | Launched | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RSS Fearless | 94 | 18 February 1995 | 5 October 1996 | 27 August 2019[9] | |
| RSS Brave | 95 | 9 September 1995 | 5 October 1996 | 27 August 2019[9] | |
| RSS Courageous | 96 | 9 September 1995 | 5 October 1996 | -N.A.- | Stricken May 2003 |
| RSS Gallant | 97 | 27 April 1996 | 3 May 1997 | ||
| RSS Daring | 98 | 27 April 1996 | 3 May 1997 | 19 July 2018[10] | |
| RSS Dauntless | 99 | 23 November 1996 | 3 May 1997 | 27 August 2019[9] | |
| RSS Resilience | 82 | 23 November 1996 | 7 February 1998 | 19 July 2018[10] | |
| RSS Unity | 83 | 19 July 1997 | 7 February 1998 | 3 October 2017[11] | |
| RSS Sovereignty | 84 | 19 July 1997 | 7 February 1998 | 3 October 2017[11] | |
| RSS Justice | 85 | 18 October 1997 | 22 August 1998 | 3 October 2017[11] | |
| RSS Freedom | 86 | 18 October 1997 | 22 August 1998 | ||
| RSS Independence | 87 | 19 April 1998 | 22 August 1998 | 8 March 2017[12] | |
References
Notes
- "MINDEF Signs Contract with ST Engineering for the Construction of Eight New Vessels" (Press release). Ministry of Defence of Singapore. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
- "ST Engineering Wins Newbuild Contract for Eight Naval Vessels for the Republic of Singapore Navy" (Press release). ST Engineering. 30 January 2013. Archived from the original on 3 February 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
- "Factsheet - History of RSN's Patrol Vessels". Ministry of Defence of Singapore (MINDEF). 15 June 2005. Archived from the original on 3 July 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
- "DTP Roll of Honour Defence Technology Prize 2007". Ministry of Defence of Singapore (MINDEF). 8 October 2007. Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
- "One dead in naval collision". BBC News. 4 January 2003. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
- Saunders, Stephen (2008–2009). Jane's Fighting Ships (111 ed.). Alexandria, Virginia: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0-7106-2845-9.
- "COSCOM Expands" (PDF). Navy News. Ministry of Defence of Singapore (MINDEF). 2005. p. 5. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
- "ST Engineering Secures PVs Contract". navaltoday.com. 9 April 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
- "RSS Fearless, RSS Brave and RSS Dauntless Retire After Decades of Distinguished Service" (Press release). Ministry of Defence of Singapore. 27 August 2019. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
- "RSS Daring and RSS Resilience Retire After Decades of Distinguished Service" (Press release). Ministry of Defence of Singapore. 19 July 2018. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
- "RSN Warships Sovereignty, Unity and Justice Retire After Close to Two Decades of Distinguished Service" (Press release). Ministry of Defence of Singapore. 3 October 2017. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
- "RSS Independence Retires After Close to Two Decades of Distinguished Service" (Press release). Ministry of Defence of Singapore. 8 March 2017. Retrieved 8 March 2017.