Several years ago the
Republic of Singapore Navy
retired the RSS Sea Dragon
and five of her sister missile
gunboats (leftmost image)
after over 30 years of service
each. Depending on
economics and staffing, it
might be attractive to
recommission these veterans.
They need not be crewed with 100% Republic of Singapore sailors and officers. The intent was to locate them at strategic points along the Malacca Straits to act as radar pickets. Note that we are NOT assuming pirates are the only threat. Terrorists would likely prefer to sink one ship and have hundreds of extortion payments made by direct deposit.
Republic of Singapore Navy
retired the RSS Sea Dragon
and five of her sister missile
gunboats (leftmost image)
after over 30 years of service
each. Depending on
economics and staffing, it
might be attractive to
recommission these veterans.
They need not be crewed with 100% Republic of Singapore sailors and officers. The intent was to locate them at strategic points along the Malacca Straits to act as radar pickets. Note that we are NOT assuming pirates are the only threat. Terrorists would likely prefer to sink one ship and have hundreds of extortion payments made by direct deposit.
Maybe a speedy pirate can outrun a frigate or even a faster (at least 40
knots) unmanned vessel (above). Of course, the clever pirate must also
evade a corvette's guns. Dramatic as American Iowa class battleships
(top right) were, their 16 inch guns are the wrong tool against pirates.
No pirate can outrace a missile, whether it is launched from a ship, a
helicopter or from shore.
knots) unmanned vessel (above). Of course, the clever pirate must also
evade a corvette's guns. Dramatic as American Iowa class battleships
(top right) were, their 16 inch guns are the wrong tool against pirates.
No pirate can outrace a missile, whether it is launched from a ship, a
helicopter or from shore.