Malay Navy In WWII - Casualty Roll

I have been asked by visitors to my blog to assist them to find out information on their loved ones that served in the Malay Navy either in the Royal Navy (Malay Section) or Malayan RNVR. Unfortunately I am not an official archivist and myself only do my research from open sources, so I usually are not able to entertain their requests. Nonetheless I find this naval history website to be a good resource for data on the fighting men and ships in World War II so I suggest that you start your research there.

Nonetheless I have compiled herewith a list of casualties of the Malay Seamen who made the ultimate sacrifice during the war. I am proud but also sad to note that some of our men ultimately died as Prisoner of Wars, especially since the Japanese had given them a chance for freedom during the Singapore Surrender if they had demob. Ultimately they chose to honour their service and uniforms and when into the gallows with their servicemen with their homeland in sight. In this case, I do not list the British seamen who perished together with them as their rolls would be more easily accessible from the British Admiralty, thus here mainly Malay Navy seamen are proudly listed. Nonetheless some listed as NAP or Naval Auxiliary Personnel are merchant navy men who presumably continued to serve on the Armed Merchantmen they were serving in. Do note that casualty dates run to after the end of the war, i.e, 1946 as presumably that is the time the casualty was reported to the Admiralty after the records could be updated. In addition the accuracy of the data is totally dependent on the website. For an explanation to the abbreviations used, please refer to this webpage.

Casualty List Of Royal Navy (Malay Section) and Malayan RNVR in World War II

1941

4 December 1941

Malayan RNVR
GHANI, Bin N, Signalman, SE/X 701 (Malayan RNVR), killed

8 December 1941

Malayan RNVR
MAHMUD, Bin M, Telegraphist, SE/X 496 (Malayan RNVR), MPK
MUHAMMAD, Amin B A J, Able Seaman, SE/X 794 (Malayan RNVR), MPK
SALEH, Bin A, Ordinary Signalman, SE/X 792 (Malayan RNVR), MPK
YAHMAN, Bin H E, Ordinary Telegraphist, SE/X 728 (Malayan RNVR), MPK

9 December 1941

Malayan RNVR
AHMAD, Bin S, Ordinary Seaman, SE/X 658 (Malayan RNVR), MPK
ARIF, Bin H E, Ordinary Seaman, SE/X529 (Malayan RNVR), MPK
HARUN, Bin M A, Able Seaman, SE/X 47 (Malayan RNVR), MPK
JANTAN, Bin S, Ordinary Seaman, SE/X 533 (Malayan RNVR), MPK

11 December 1941

Malayan RNVR
SAYID, Bin M Y, Petty Officer, (Malayan RNVR), MPK

12 December 1941

Malayan RNVR
AHMAD, Bin H, Able Seaman, PG 183 (Malayan RNVR), MPK

16 December 1941
Malayan RNVR
AHMAD, Bin S, Able Seaman, PG 219 (Malayan RNVR), MPK

1942

17 January 1942

RN Malay Section
JAMIL, Bin S, Leading Seaman, MN 54 (Malay Section), MPK

19 January 1942

HMS Pelandok
YAHAYA, Bin M Y, Ordinary Seaman, MN 1278 (Malay Section), MPK

RN Malay Section
SULAIMAN, Bin A B, Stoker, MN 612 (Malay Section), MPK

21 January 1942

RN Malay Section
QASIM, Bin W, Able Seaman, MN 1122 (Malay Section), MPK

26 January 1942

HMS Kelana
JA'AFAR, Bin U, Telegraphist, MN 585 (Malay Section), MPK

RN Malay Section
ABU, Bakar B M, Able Seaman, MN 200 (Malay Section), MPK
HASHIM, Bin U, Able Seaman, MN 556 (Malay Section), MPK
KOMING, Bin U, Petty Officer, MN 198 (Malay Section), MPK

HMS Sylvia
ABU, Baker B H A, Petty Officer, MN 281 (Malay Section), MPK

31 January 1942

HMS Fanling
RAZAQ, Bin S, Engine Room Artificer 1c, MN 765 (Malay Section), MPK

HMS Pelandok
HARUN, Bin H, Ordinary Seaman, MN 1262 (Malay Section), MPK
MUHAMMAD, Abbas B I, Ordinary Seaman, MN 1318 (Malay Section), MPK

RN Malay Section
MUHAMMAD, Nur B A, Ordinary Seaman, MN 1260 (Malay Section), MPK

10 February 1942

HMS Sylvia
AHMAD, Surji B M N, Telegraphist, MN 327 (Malay Section), MPK
MUHAMMAD, Isa B K S, Ordinary Seaman, MN 1317 (Malay Section), MPK

11 February 1942

HMS Kilat
HUSAIN, Bin B, Able Seaman, MN 1138 (Malay Section), MPK

13 February 1942

HMS Giang Bee, ship loss
FOO, Chee B, Chief Cook, NAP, MPK
LIM, Foo S, General Servant, NAP, MPK

ML.1063, ship loss
AHMAD, Bin S, Able Seaman, MN 345 (Malay Section), MPK

HMS Pelandok
TAMBI, Bin M D, Ordinary Seaman, MN 1141 (Malay Section), MPK

HMS RelauMUSTAFA, Bin M, Deck Serang, NAP, killed

HMS Scorpion

HMS Scorpion, ship loss
ABDUL, Rahman B Y, Able Seaman, MN 713 (Malay Section), MPK
ABDULLAH, Aziz B S, Leading Signalman, MN 527 (Malay Section), MPK
ABU, Bakar B H, Leading Seaman, MN 58 (Malay Section), MPK
AHMAD, Bin H L, Able Seaman, MN 734 (Malay Section), MPK
ARSHAD, Bin Z, Leading Telegraphist, MN 322 (Malay Section), MPK
DIN, Bin H, Able Seaman, MN 357 (Malay Section), MPK
IBRAHIM, Bin M D, Able Seaman, MN 1194 (Malay Section), MPK
MAT, Zin B U, Able Seaman, MN 999 (Malay Section), MPK
MUHAMMAD, Ali B U, Able Seaman, MN 407 (Malay Section), MPK
MUHAMMAD, Bin S, Leading Signalman, MN 356 (Malay Section), MPK
MUHAMMAD, Daud B S, Able Seaman, MN 736 (Malay Section), MPK
MUHAMMAD, Husain B P, Able Seaman, MN 873 (Malay Section), MPK
MUHAMMAD, Noh B G, Signalman, MN 672 (Malay Section), MPK
MUHAMMAD, Saleh B I, Able Seaman, MN 1103 (Malay Section), MPK
OTHMAN, Bin H M N, Telegraphist, MN 971 (Malay Section), MPK
ROSLI, Bin N, Able Seaman, MN 529 (Malay Section), MPK
SULAIMAN, Bin P, Able Seaman, MN 1001 (Malay Section), MPK
TAJ-UD-DIN, B I, Able Seaman, MN 748 (Malay Section), MPK
UMAR, Bin A, Signalman, MN 1129 (Malay Section), MPK

14 February 1942

HMS Dragonfly

HMS Dragonfly, ship loss
AHMAD, Bin S, Telegraphist, MN 871 (Malay Section), MPK
BATJAN, Bin M A, Signalman, MN 1126 (Malay Section), MPK
JAMAL-UD-DIN, Bin Y, Telegraphist, MN 1042 (Malay Section), MPK
JOHAR, Bin U Y, Able Seaman, MN 1221 (Malay Section), MPK
MUHAMMAD, Hanis B Y A A, Leading Signalman, MN 376 (Malay Section), MPK
MUHAMMAD, Nur B N, Able Seaman, MN 656 (Malay Section), MPK
MUHAMMAD, Sam B B, Telegraphist, MN 1140 (Malay Section), MPK
MUHAMMAD, Sani B A G, Able Seaman, MN 724 (Malay Section), MPK
QAMR-UD-DIN, Muhammad, Leading Seaman, MN 104 (Malay Section), MPK
RAFI, Bin M, Leading Telegraphist, MN 420 (Malay Section), MPK
RAMLI, Bin H A K, Able Seaman, MN 1220 (Malay Section), MPK
SADA, Hari B H S, Able Seaman, MN 782 (Malay Section), MPK
UNGKU, Onn B A M, Signalman, MN 1116 (Malay Section), MPK

HMS Grasshopper

HMS Grasshopper, ship loss
BAKARIA, Bin H A S, Able Seaman, MN 515 (Malay Section), MPK
ISMAIL, Bin P, Yeoman of Signals, MN 127 (Malay Section), MPK
JAMAL-UD-DIN, Bin H A, Telegraphist, MN 1058 (Malay Section), MPK
MUHAMMAD, Nur D B I, Able Seaman, MN 1077 (Malay Section), MPK
YUSUF, Bin H S, Able Seaman, MN 694 (Malay Section), MPK

Kranji, Singapore evacuation
IBRAHIM, B A, Telegraphist, MN 1085 (Malay Section), MPK

HMS Li Wo, ship loss
MUHAMMAD, Yusuf B J, Able Seaman, MN 571 (Malay Section), MPK
RAJA, Anwar B R M, Signalman, MN 590 (Malay Section), MPK

Malayan RNVR, Singapore evacuation
AHMAD, Bin S, Ordinary Telegraphist, E/X 793 (Malayan RNVR), MPK
ANANG, Bin R, Telegraphist, SE/X 345 (Malayan RNVR), MPK
MUHAMMAD, Nur B A, Ordinary Seaman, SE/X 525 (Malayan RNVR), MPK
UMAR, Bin H H, Ordinary Signalman, SE/X 716 (Malayan RNVR), MPK
USMAN, Bin B N, Leading Telegraphist, SE/X 346 (Malayan RNVR), MPK

HMS Pelandok, Singapore evacuation
ABDUL, Hamid B C, Able Seaman, MN 1169 (Malay Section), MPK

RN Malay Section, Singapore evacuation
ABU, Bakar B A R, Ordinary Seaman, MN 1393 (Malay Section), MPK
MUHAMMAD, Kilan B M, Leading Seaman, MN 783 (Malay Section), MPK
MUHAMMAD, Tabal B M Y, Able Seaman, MN 508 (Malay Section), MPK
MUHAMMAD, Tahir B H, Able Seaman, MN 1167 (Malay Section), MPK

HMS Vyner Brooke, ship loss
AHMAD, B (initial only) H R, Able Seaman, MN 673 (Malay Section), MPK
AWANG, Adam B A N, Able Seaman, MN 1175 (Malay Section), MPK
HUSAIN, Bin M, Able Seaman, MN 655 (Malay Section), MPK
LI, Wong C, Cassab, NAP, MPK
MA'ANOR, Bin M, Able Seaman, MN 1016 (Malay Section), MPK

15 February 1942

Malayan RNVR, Singapore evacuation
ABU, Bakar B A, Ordinary Seaman, SE/X 829 (Malayan RNVR), MPK
ADNAN, Bin A, Able Seaman, (Malayan RNVR), MPK
ARIF, Bin I, Ordinary Telegraphist, SE/X 878 (Malayan RNVR), MPK
GHOUTH, Bin W, Ordinary Telegraphist, PG 288 (Malayan RNVR), killed
HUSAIN, Bin H, Ordinary Seaman, SE/X 652 (Malayan RNVR), MPK
ISNIN, Bin C, Able Seaman, SE/X 569 (Malayan RNVR), MPK
WAHID, Bin L, Ordinary Seaman, SE/X 482 (Malayan RNVR), MPK

HMS Pelandok, Singapore evacuation
AWANG, Bin H T, Ordinary Seaman, MN 1327 (Malay Section), MPK

16 February 1942

HMS Dragonfly, ship loss
MUHAMMAD, Jani B A, Able Seaman, MN 238 (Malay Section), DOW

Malayan RNVR, Singapore evacuation
QASIM, Bin N, Leading Seaman, SE/X 491 (Malayan RNVR), MPK

ML.1062, ship loss
ISMAIL, Bin A, Able Seaman, MN 545 (Malay Section), MPK

17 February 1942

RN Malay Section, Singapore evacuation
SHAUb, Bin H A R, Leading Seaman, MN 664 (Malay Section), MPK

20 February 1942

HMS Kedah, Singapore evacuation
ALI, Bin H I, Leading Seaman, MN 28 (Malay Section), MPK

21 February 1942

ML.1062, ship loss
ABDUL, Maj I B A, Leading Seaman, MN 874 (Malay Section), MPK

22 February 1942

Malayan RNVR
MUHAMMAD, Ali B A, Able Seaman, SE/X 426 (Malayan RNVR), MPK

3 March 1942

Malayan RNVR
NYAT, Bin A, Petty Officer, SE/X 166 (Malayan RNVR), MPK

15 March 1942

HMS Pelandok, as POW
MUHAMMAD, Sham B M D, Ordinary Seaman, MN 1327 (Malay Section), died

16 March 1942

HMS Pelandok, Singapore evacuation
ABDUL, Jamal B M S, Ordinary Signalman, MN 1398 (Malay Section), MPK

15 April 1942

RN Malay Section, as POW
HASAN, Bin Q S, Signalman, MN 992 (Malay Section), died

25 April 1942

Malayan RNVR
DAUD, Bin S, Ordinary Seaman, SE/X 755 (Malayan RNVR), MPK

13 May 1942

Malayan RNVR
WONG, Yong T, Leading Cook (O), (Malayan RNVR), MPK

Friday, 4 September 1942

RN Malay Section
ARSHAD, Bin A, Able Seaman, MN 1247 (Malay Section), died as POW

1 October 1942

RN Malay Section, as POW
RAHMAT, Bin S, Able Seaman, MN 1096 (Malay Section), died

2 November 1942

HMS Pelandok, as POW
JA'AFAR, Bin B, Ordinary Seaman, MN 1427 (Malay Section), died

15 December 1942

Malayan RNVR, as POW
ABDUL, Latif B I, Ordinary Seaman, SE/X 620 (Malayan RNVR), died

1943

1 January 1943

RN Malay Section
AHMAD, Bin I, Able Seaman, MN 463 (Malay Section), killed

23 February 1943

Royal Navy
MUHAMMAD, Yusuf B A, Able Seaman, MN 1145 (Malay Section), killed

3 March 1943

ML.1063IBRAHIM, Bin M, Signalman, MN 928 (RN Malay Section), killed

9 May 1943

RN Malay Section
ABDUL, Hamid B J, Leading Seaman, MN 159 (Malay Section), killed
10 May 1943

RN Malay Section
BUJANG, Bin J, Able Seaman, MN 1226 (Malay Section), killed

25 September 1943

HMS PelandokJUSOH, Bin G, Stoker, MN 888 (RN Malay Section), killed

30 October 1943

HMS Pelandok
SHADAR-UD-DIN, Bin J, Able Seaman, MN 710 (RN Malay Section), killed

12 November 1943

RN Malay Section
UMAR, Bin M, Ordinary Seaman, SE/X 814 (Malayan RNVR), killed

13 December 1943

RN Malay Section
ABDULLAH, Bin A H, Ordinary Seaman, MN 1340 (Malay Section), killed

1944

Saturday, 1 January 1944

ML.1063RAHMAT, Bin S, Able Seaman, MN 254 (Malay Section), MPK

HMS Pelandok, as POW
MUHAMMAD, Sayid B M K, Ordinary Telegraphist, MN 1341 (Malay Section), died

RN (Malay Section), as POW
AHMAD, Bin A, Leading Seaman, MN 323 (Malay Section), died
Thursday, 20 January 1944

Malayan RNVR
UMAR, Bin A, Ordinary Seaman, SE/X 549 (Malayan RNVR), died

Tuesday, 1 February 1944

HMS Pelandok, as POW
BASU, Bin H Q, Able Seaman, MN 1068 (Malay Section), died

Wednesday, 1 March 1944

Malayan RNVR
YUSUF, Bin M, Ordinary Seaman, SE/X 818 (Malayan RNVR), MPK

Friday, 3 March 1944

RN (Malay Section)
SHAUKAT, Ali B M G, Signalman, MN 898 (Malay Section), died

Saturday, 15 April 1944

RN (Malay Section), as POW
AHMAD, Bin H R, Able Seaman, MN 280 (Malay Section), died

Sunday, 23 April 1944

HMS Pelandok, as POW
SA'AT, Bin M A, Ordinary Seaman, MN 1332 (Malay Section), died

Monday, 1 May 1944

RN (Malay Section)
ZAQARIA, Bin M Y, Able Seaman, MN 1064 (Malay Section), MPK

Tuesday, 30 May 1944

RN (Malay Section)
JANTAN, Bin C, Ordinary Seaman, MN 1409 (Malay Section), MPK

Thursday, 15 June 1944

RN (Malay Section), as POW
ABU, Hasan B A A S, Ordinary Seaman, MN 1311 (Malay Section), died

Monday, 26 June 1944

(Harukiku Maru) Japanese steamship, as POW
HASAN, Bin M, Leading Signalman, MN 881 (Malay Section), MPK
Saturday, 1 July 1944

HMS Pelandok, as POW
ABDULLAH, Bin Y I, Ordinary Seaman, MN 1320 (Malay Section), died

Sunday, 2 July 1944

Kranji
HUSAIN, Bin M, Able Seaman, MN 1218 (Malay Section), died

Monday, 3 July 1944

RN (Malay Section)
JA'AFAR, Bin A, Able Seaman, MN 1200 (Malay Section), MPK

Saturday, 15 July 1944

HMS PengawalISHAQ, Bin A, Stoker, MN 108 (Malay Section), MPK

Tuesday, 1 August 1944

HMS Pelandok, as POW
ABDUL, Ghani B M -U -D, Able Seaman, MN 660 (Malay Section, died

RN (Malay Section), as POW
ABIL, Bin A, Able Seaman, MN 901 (Malay Section), died
RAJA, Sikandar B R H A, Leading Seaman, MN 711 (Malay Section), died

Sunday, 6 August 1944

HMS Pelandok
UNGKU, Khalid B D, Ordinary Signalman, MN 1133 (Malay Section), died

Friday, 1 September 1944

RN (Malay Section)
SAYID, Ahmad B S I A, Telegraphist, MN 1004 (Malay Section), MPK

Monday, 18 September 1944

Malayan RNVR, as POW
USMAN, Bin J, Petty Officer, SE/X 169 (Malayan RNVR), died

Sunday, 1 October 1944

HMS Penghambat
TALIB, Bin A T, Able Seaman, RN (Malay Section), died

Tuesday, 10 October 1944

Malayan RNVR
YUSUF, Bin A, Leading Seaman, SE/X 83 (Malayan RNVR), MPK
Tuesday, 24 October 1944

RN (Malay Section), as POW
ABDUL, Rahman B E, Able Seaman, MN 415 (Malay Section), died

Tuesday, 31 October 1944

RN (Malay Section)
MUHAMMAD, Bin Q, Stoker, MN 100 (Malay Section), MPK

Wednesday, 1 November 1944

Malayan RNVR
JAFAR, Bin H S, Able Seaman, SE/X 493 (Malayan RNVR), MPK
USMAN, Bin A A, Able Seaman, SE/X 313 (Malayan RNVR), died

Sunday, 5 November 1944

RN (Malay Section)
MUHAMMAD, Bin A, Able Seaman, MN 358 (Malay Section), MPK

Sunday, 19 November 1944

RN (Malay Section)
ALI, Bin, Able Seaman, MN 8 (Malay Section), POW, died

Thursday, 30 November 1944

Malayan RNVR
MUHAMMAD, Amin B H A, Ordinary Signalman, SE/X 616 (Malayan RNVR), MPK

1945

Monday, 1 January 1945

RN (Malay Section), as POW
BAHROM, Bin P, Able Seaman, MN 223 (Malay Section), died

Friday, 5 January 1945

HMS Pelandok, as POW
AHMAD, Bin A, Able Seaman, MN 495 (Malay Section), died

Wednesday, 31 January 1945

HMS Pelandok, as POW
BUJANG, Bin L, Leading Seaman, MN 53 (Malay Section), died

Friday, 2 February 1945

HMS Pengail, as POW
KAMARI, Bin H A H, Signalman, MN 1047 (Malay Section), died

Wednesday, 21 February 1945

Malayan RNVR
HARUN, Bin B, Leading Signalman, SE/X 18 (Malayan RNVR), killed
Saturday, 24 February 1945

RN (Malay Section)
MUHAMMAD, Nur B T K, Telegraphist, MN 950 (Malay Section), MPK

Monday, 19 March 1945

HMS Pelandok, as POW
ABU, Bakar B U, Able Seaman, MN 385 (Malay Section), died

Sunday, 25 March 1945

Malayan RNVR
HARUN, Bin T, Ordinary Seaman, SE/X 902 (Malayan RNVR), killed

Tuesday, 27 March 1945

Kranji
IBRAHIM, Bin H, Telegraphist, MN 965 (Malay Section), MPK

RN (Malay Section)
UMAR, Bin A, Telegraphist, MN 961 (Malay Section), died

Wednesday, 28 March 1945

Malayan RNVR, as POW
ALIAS, Bin H, Ordinary Seaman, SE/X 838 (Malayan RNVR), died

Wednesday, 4 July 1945

RN (Malay Section), as POW
ABDUL, Jalil B H, Leading Seaman, MN 245 (Malay Section), died

Wednesday, 18 July 1945

Malayan RNVR, as POW
DULLA, Bin A, Ordinary Seaman, SE/X 816 (Malayan RNVR), died

Tuesday, 11 September 1945

HMS Pelandok, as POW
ABDUL, Wahab B S, MN 316 (Malay Section), died

12 October 1945

Malayan RNVR
MAMAT, Bin H B, Ordinary Seaman, SE/X 556 (Malayan RNVR), MPK

Sunday, 2 December 1945

HMS Pelandok
RAJA, Muhammad H B R A, Signalman, MN 388 (Malay Section), died

Saturday, 15 December 1945

RN (Malay Section)
ABDUL, Manap B A R, Able Seaman, MN 1183 (Malay Section), died

Monday, 24 December 1945

HMS Sulara
ABDUL, Rahman B M N, Leading Telegraphist, MN 990 (Malay Section), died

Thursday, 27 December 1945

HMS DragonflyMUHAMMAD, Ali B S, Able Seaman, MN 680 (Malay Section), as POW, died

1946

Tuesday, 1 January 1946

Malayan RNVR
RAHMAN, Bin S M, Able Seaman, SE/X 649 (Malayan RNVR), MPK

Tuesday, 8 January 1946

RN (Malay Section)
JANTAN, Bin Y'A, Able Seaman, MN 13 (Malay Section), MPK

Saturday, 12 January 1946

HMS Grasshopper
JANTAN, Bin M, Able Seaman, (Malayan RNVR), died

Tuesday, 22 January 1946

Malayan RNVR
MAT, Haris B L, Leading Seaman, SE/X 460 (Malayan RNVR), MPK

Tuesday, 5 February 1946

RN (Malay Section)
HASAN, Bin Y, Leading Signalman, MN 548 (Malay Section), killed

Thursday, 4 April 1946

Malayan RNVR
DIN, Bin H, Able Seaman, S/EX 320 (Malayan RNVR), killed

Tuesday, 16 April 1946

Malayan RNVR
MANAN, B (initial only) J, Ordinary Telegraphist, SE/X 746 (Malayan RNVR), MPK

Sunday, 22 September 1946

HMS Pengawal
ABDULLAH, Sani B A, Able Seaman, MN 974 (Malay Section), died

Thursday, 16 August 1945

RN (Malay Section)
MUHAMMAD, Tahir B A, Able Seaman, MN 27 (Malay Section), MPK

Sunday, 19 August 1945

RN (Malay Section)
SALAM, Bin S, Able Seaman, MN 1131 (Malay Section), MPK

Tuesday, 21 August 1945

HMS Grasshopper, as POW
MUHAMMAD, Darus B U, Able Seaman, MN 778 (Malay Section), died

Monday, 27 August 1945

RN (Malay Section), as POW
AHMAD, Bin Q L, Leading Telegraphist, MN 1083 (Malay Section), died

note : updated 8/Dec/2016

So Who Owns The Ouessant Actually?

There has always been a question mark from the general public on the actual ownership of the Agosta 70 class submarine Ouessant used in the training of the Malaysian submariners in France. The confusion arises because early reports on Malaysia's acquisition of the Scorpene Submarines stated that package included the purchase of the Ouessant. Nonetheless the actual training agreement with DCI (Défense Conseil International) and their submarine training unit, NAVFCO in 2003 actually calls for the training of 156 submariners in NAVFCO Submarine school in Centre d’Instruction Naval (CIN) Brest, France for the formation and training of a submarine corps. This includes physical training on board the Ouessant, rehabilitated by DCN in 2004 after deactivation by the French Navy in 2001, by a crew detached from the navy to man the submarine while she is being used in the initial training of the Malaysian submariners. Thus this makes the submarine unique in being civilian owned but maintained by military personnel in France. So it is no surprise that she flies the French flag while transitting Brest in 2007 as in the picture above. Unfortunately this fact is only well documented in a French website but should be easily translated in the net.

As for the future of the Ouessant after the end of the Submariner's training this year, the current RMN CNO Datuk Seri Abdul Aziz Jaafar in an interview last April by Defence Site KLSR emphatically stated that she will not come back to Malaysia to serve in the navy. This is because Ouessant is almost 30 years old so it will be very hard to get spare parts for operational use and Malaysia also does not have skillful personal to maintain and service her. Nonetheless the CNO left open the possibility that she may return as a museum ship as she has significant historical value for RMN and is an important part of the RMN’s effort to establish submarine fleet. Nonetheless whether any money can be made available for this venture in the budget-tightening situation the armed forces is facing remains to be seen. Maybe the Perak State Government can include this in their proposed Lumut Waterfront project that includes a maritime museum complex. What do you say?

Malaysia Takes Delivery Of Its First Submarine

Malaysia has taken formal delivery of its first submarine KD Tunku Abdul Rahman at the French naval base in Toulon, on Saturday. This major milestone for the RMN follows the completion, in late December 2008, of KD Tunku Abdul Rahman's final sea trials demonstrating remarkable operational and combat system capabilities. These trials included successful firings of Black Shark heavyweight torpedoes and missiles.KD Tunku Abdul Rahman is scheduled to arrive at the Sepanggar naval base in July this year. The second of the series, KD Tun Razak, is scheduled for delivery in late 2009.

Manned by Malaysian crews of just 31, the boats offer an endurance of 45 days for a displacement of 1,550 tonnes and a length overall of 67.5 metres. The submarine can dive to a depth of between 100m and 200m and is armed with six torpedo tubes which can fire simultaneously, anti-ship surface missiles and anti-submarine torpedoes, with a capacity of 10 torpedoes and 30 mines.

The submarine service marks the gradual progress of the Royal Malaysian Navy towards a world-class navy, also in line with the wish to transition into the 4-dimensional warfare (surface, underwater, space and electronic) capability. Thus KD Tunku Abdul Rahman has now gone into history as the first submarine to be commissioned into the Royal Malaysian Navy and will sail home manned fully by our own submariners. Congratulations to the crew of the submarine on their having surpassed all obstacles and challenges in qualifying to become the crew of the nation's first submarine.

In The Finest Traditions Of The Navy

M o t t o
Malem Fero Malis: 'I bring evil to the evil.'

It is in the mists of time that sometimes it may be lost the reason why a naval ship is so named, especially since some navies like the Royal Navy as a tradition to rename their important ships with historic ships’ names in not only to commemorate their bravery but also with the hopes of continuing the fighting tradition of their predecessors. Many may not know it but the naming of the our new generation patrol vessels can trace their origins to the armed merchantmen that fought their Japanese navy ships despite overwhelming odds, and the most famous amongst them the HMS Kedah has oftentimes became the leading ship of the class. Thus it is through this tradition from the Royal Navy can our foremost stone frigate the KD Malaya trace the roots of her name to one of most important battleships of her era that bravely fought not in one but two world wars, thus no one can say the name was given in a vain glorious effort to mark our nation’s antecedent name but more to continue the tradition of venerating historic ships names to express the hopes that our fledgling navy would continue to uphold the fighting qualities the name embraces.

HMS Malaya was one of five great fifteen inch gun, oil burning super dreadnoughts of the 1912 Queen Elizabeth class and was named after the British colony that paid to build her at a cost of almost three million Sterling Pounds. This division of large, fast, heavily armoured ships, powered by oil and carrying heavier guns than on any previous dreadnought, played a decisive role in the Battle of Jutland, the apex battle between the Royal Navy and the Imperial German Navy in World War I. The dominant naval weapon of the era was the great gun: the long barrelled naval cannon that fired a heavy shell down a rifled tube, lofting the spiralling projectile thousands of yards to plunge onto an enemy ship, piercing and penetrating heavy armour to burst inside turrets or hull, spreading fire, devastation, chaos and death. The new ships could deliver a knockout punch with their large guns; it remained to provide them with armour and speed. In these ships there was no skimping in armour; key areas such as the waterline and turrets were covered by thirteen and a half inches of solid steel. These ships could now deliver and take a punch but speed was wanted as the standard twenty one knots of a British dreadnought was not sufficient to overtake a fleeing enemy and bring them to battle. Armour would not be sacrificed for speed and the solution is oil fuel as it burns more fiercely than coal and gives more heat and steam created under more pressure drove the shafts and turned the propellers quicker thus achieving speeds of 26 knots. Immeasurably superior to any earlier battleship, they continued to form the backbone of British naval strength well into the Second World War. And HMS Malaya was present at the surrender of the German High Seas Fleet as a reminder that Malaya as one of the Dominion states had made her contribution to the war at sea. In World War II she served in the Mediterranean in 1940, escorting convoys and operating against the Italian fleet. Latterly she served escorted convoys in the Atlantic and from the UK to Malta and Cape Town until summer 1943. Malaya was withdrawn from service at the end of 1944 and placed in reserve and served as an accommodation ship. Sold on 20 February 1948 to Metal Industries, she arrived at Faslane on 12 April 1948 for scrapping.

Point of a German 12inch shell which struck HMS Malaya in the Battle of Jutland, 31st May 1916.

The name Malaya was again resurrected after the war when the name was given to a LCT Mk3 that was inducted into service into the Malayan Naval Force on 18 April 1949, after conversion into a training and accommodation ship before entering service to serve as a training ship as the MS Malaya. The name was later transferred to an operational and training base built at Woodlands Singapore that was known as the HMMS Malaya in 1952 and was transferred to the newly independent Malaya in 1958 until being renamed as Kapal Diraja Malaya in 1961 after the navy dropped the old HMMS as a relic of colonialism. In 1984, KD Malaya that was serving as a support unit finally moved from Singapore to Lumut. Now serving as Fleet Headquarters, KD Malaya is still expected to be in the thick of action when the situation heats up even though she is now a stone frigate rather than a fire breathing combat ship that was her namesake, and therefore will carry on the fighting traditions as befitting the name.

Finally She Becomes A Museum

After five years of being decommissioned in 19 December 2003 and being used as a static training ship while awaiting her fate, I am happy to note that the Royal Malaysian Navy has finally decided to hand over the Ex Rahmat frigate to the Perak State Department to be developed into a museum ship as part of an historical monument and recreational site for Lumut that will be declared as a Naval Town in April. This will be in line with the Perak Sultan's command to keep the ship within the state. Privatised to a local company, the plan is to be implemented in three phases, the first of which involves renovating the frigate into a maritime museum incorporating a boutique hotel, bistro, hanging bridge and jetty at a cost of Ringgit 2.1 million to be berthed at the Lumut Waterfront while phase two will involve developing a RMN museum, Rahmat square and shopping complex.

Although on a personal basis I find the plan for turning part of the ship into a boutique hotel and bistro incomprehensible and abhorrent for the status of such a ship, I guess this is the commercial revenue pay-off to be given to the private company that is investing in the project. I do hope however that Rahmat the museum ship itself will emphasise the contributions that she has made for the more than thirty years that she has been in service to the nation, and underline the fact that she is the first Frigate that was purpose built and designed to Malaysian needs, and the result was so good she inspired frigate derivatives used by other navies including Thailand. She was also the first ship to be fitted with surface to air missile system, making the RMN the first navy in the region to be so-equipped. I re-produce herewith her specifications and I hope you enjoy some of her early pictures to boot.

A Yarrow Mark 1 frigate, Rahmat was the first major purpose-built warship for the Royal Malaysian Navy. She was laid down in 1966 and was originally called the KD Hang Jebat. However her name was later changed to Rahmat due to superstitious reasons after she had a run of unfortunate events in the 1970's. At the time of delivery, Rahmat was a capable ship by the standards then prevalent in South East Asia (SEA), with a high level of automation and a design emphasis on simplicity that reduced manning requirements. She was initially delivered in 1972 with a quadruple Sea Cat Surface to Air Missile(SAM) launcher, therefore making the Royal Malaysian Navy one of the first navies to be SAM-equipped in SEA. The third Bofors 40mm then replaced the outdated launcher in 1983 during a modernisation re-fit where the director was also removed, thereby altering her original appearance. On board, there is also a provision for the embarkation of a helicopter with the incorporation of a McGregor hatch over the well deck. Originally configured as an ASW frigate, she was used as the navy's second training vessel in the same squadron as KD Tuah. Decommissioned in 2004, she is now playing a role as a static training ship while awaiting conversion to a museum ship.

Displacement: 1250 tons standard, 1600 tons full load
Dimensions: 93.9m x 10.4m x 4.5m
Guns: 1 x 114mm/45 Vickers Mk 5 DP, 3x 40mm/70 Bofors. (Range : Main 19 Km/12.5 Km, Aux : 12 Km/4 Km)
ASW: 1 x Mk10 Limbo Mortar (3 tubes) (Range : 900 metres)
Electronics: Sewaco-MA combat data system, Signaal LW.02, Decca 626, Kelvin Hughes MS32 Radars, One radar for the WM22 gun fire-control system, Graseby Type 174 and Type 170B sonars, ESM system with UA-3 warning and FH-4 jamming elements, 2 UK Mk1 rail chaff launchers, Link Y
Propulsion: Rolls Royce Olympus TM1B gas turbine at 20626hp or Crossley/SEMT-Pielstick SPC2V diesel at 4000hp to two shafts, controllable pitch propellers
Speed: 26 knots, range 9656 Km at 16 knots
Crew: 140
Aircraft: Platform Aft

KD Rahmat In 1970

KD Rahmat In 1971

KD Rahmat in 1972

From The Pirate's Mouth

To those of you who had wanted our government and our navy to go in with guns blazing as what the French did in their rescue of their yatchs, then this interview with one of the Kingpin's of the Somalian pirates would serve to illuminate what holds in wait if we had just done that to rescue our two larger tankers, whether it was successul or otherwise. At least consider the fact that our merchantmen still has to move in such waters after the inicident, and our government cannot afford to provide convoy escorts forever that would be especially needed if we had gone in like what some had wanted to. The possiblities of reprisal would have required at least that. Read on and try to understand that.

The Evil Solution

Young and desperate, Somali pirates aren't afraid to commit heinous acts of destruction, says one of their leaders.

Rod Nordland

Newsweek Web Exclusive

Somali pirates last September captured a Ukrainian cargo ship, the MV Faina, loaded to the gunnels with heavy weaponry, including 33 Russian-designed T-72 battle tanks. Since then, American and Russian naval vessels have been shadowing the ship at its anchorage off the fishing village of Hindawao, 300 miles north of Mogadishu. This month there were reports that the ship's owners had agreed on ransom terms, but the Faina and its crew are still being held. NEWSWEEK's Rod Nordland interviewed Shamun Indhabur, who is thought to be the leader of the pirates who took the Faina, and the Sirius Star, a Saudi supertanker with $100 million worth of oil aboard. The interview was conducted by satellite telephone to the bridge of the Faina, through Somali translator Abukar al-Badri. Excerpts:

NEWSWEEK: What is your background, and how did you capture the MV Faina?

Shamun Indhabur: I was a fisherman before I turned to piracy, a crewmember of a small fishing boat. We used to capture lobsters and sharks. When we hijacked MV Faina it was early morning 24 September 2008, in Somali waters. We took it after 60 minutes of fighting between the crewmembers and our gunmen and eventually the captain decided to surrender after we fired some rockets to warn them that we were close to destroying the ship if they didn't surrender. The captain tried to escape, but he didn't succeed. He had a pistol and he refused to surrender until we were close to killing him. When we intercepted the ship and saw the shipment [of arms], then we thought it was going to Somalia and belonged to the Ethiopians [whose army is supporting the transitional government in Somalia], but the captain told us that it was going to South Africa. Then later we saw that it was going to southern Sudan, after we forced the captain to show us the manifests.

What's the situation on board the Faina now?

The middlemen tried to steal some of the money we agreed on [estimated at more than $3 million]. And now we can't trust them. They're trying to take the money, and we are the criminals. We can't accept that.

How are your ransoms paid?

We get the money two ways. A boat takes the money from Djibouti, then a helicopter takes the money from the boat, then it drops the money in waterproof cartons on assigned [small] boats. Then we collect it, check if it is false or not, then we release the ship. The other way we get the money is a boat from Mombasa.

Isn't it dangerous for middlemen to be carrying so much money into a lawless place like Somalia?I've heard some of them have been killed doing it, is that true?

The pirates are different groups. Those in Puntland may have problems with the middlemen and sometimes kill them.

Why has there been such an increase Somali piracy?

In Somalia all the young men are desperate. There is wide unemployment in the country, there are no sources of income. One of the only sources we have had is fishing, and the superpowers and Asian countries sidelined us in our own sea. So at first we started out just to counter illegal fishing, but international forces started to protect them.

Now the European Union is sending an additional naval force. Are you worried about the increased naval presence?

We know the EU and NATO forces are coming, but that is not the solution. The solution is to restore peace in Somalia so that we can have a better life and more job opportunities. I can tell you that sending forces will not stop us going into piracy. They can arrest us if they find us out at sea, they've arrested our friends several times, but that will never deter us from this business. The only thing that can stop piracy is a strong government in Somalia.

The most friendly forces in Somali waters are the U.S. forces. They arrest us and release us, because they know we are not going to hurt them. But the French and the Indians treat us badly and sometimes they don't know what they're doing. The Indians sunk that Thai boat [a fishing vessel reportedly taken over by pirates this month] and said it was pirates, but I tell you there was not a single pirate on that boat.

Are you worried about another attack ashore, such as the one the French conducted, now that the U.N. has approved such attacks?

The French forces made two attacks. They arrested our friends, but French nationals will pay for that. If we get a ship with French nationals, we will punish the crew and they will pay double ransom. We're not worried about another attack [against pirates on land], because now we are on very high alert and they will never succeed with another raid.

You justify piracy against all shipping even though your only complaint was against foreign fishing boats operating in your waters. Does that really make sense?

I justify it as a dirty business encouraged by the foreign forces that were escorting illegal fishing boats and toxic waste dumpers. And if they are escorting fishing boats, they can't escort all commercial shipping, and if we are forced to avoid fishing our waters, then those [commercial] ships are all our fish.

How do you justify attacking pleasure yachts hundreds of miles offshore, or cruise liners, or even any vessel so far from Somalia?

Luxury yachts are what we are looking for, because what we need is money, and if we get a luxury yacht, we make a fortune.

Some ships have started putting armed guards on their vessels. Others have used weapons such as sonic guns, which use beams of loud noise to deter pirates. Does any of that worry you?

It will not protect them. We also have rocket-propelled grenades and we can destroy them. For those with the sonic guns, we hijacked some of them even after they fired the sonic guns. Truly speaking, when we go to sea we are drunk, and we are like hungry wolves running after meat. We don't even know what we are doing until we have boarded.

Some of the leaders of the Islamists now fighting the Somali government have criticized pirates for giving the country a bad name, and for attacking Muslim-owned ships like the Sirius Star.

The Islamists have a memorandum of understanding with us. What they are saying to the media is not their real position. They just want to send a message to their Arab friends who sometimes fund them.

What if the Islamists come back to power?

The Islamists are not homogenous groups, they are heterogeneous. I can guess they'll never come back to power as in 2006, but they can fight one another and create a huge mess. If they did take power, they must restore law and order and create job opportunities for us. If they don't, then piracy will never stop.

How are the Somalipirates organized? Do you all coordinate your actions?

The pirates belong to different groups, but we have umbrella groups. There are two main groups, one in Puntland and the other in south and central Somalia, which is my group. I am a member of the seven top committee members in south and central. We are a group of men with norms and terms, and we respect them.

The pirates holding the Sirius Star have threatened to dump its oil if their demands are not met. Is that a serious threat, and do they realize how much damage that could do not only to Somalia but other countries as well?

Those holding the Sirius Star and the MV Faina I'm aboard now, we are the same group. And we know the risk of spilling the oil shipment. But when evil is the only solution, you do evil. That is why we are doing piracy. I know it is evil, but it is a solution.


URL: http://www.newsweek.com/id/175980

Ops Fajar News

Slowly news of what happens in the Gulf of Aden is made public.

Friday January 16, 2009
Anxious moment for heli crew


LUMUT: Confronted by pirates off the Somalia coast was a nerve-wrecking moment for our navy boys.

Commander Sazalee Shoib, commander of the Super Lynx helicopter unit, was watching over the MISC container vessel Bunga Mas Enam which had stalled due to mechanical problems in November last year.

Below, two skiffs (speedboats) filled with the pirates were already near the vessel with six other skiffs rushing to the scene.

Commander Sazalee said there was a possibility that the pirates carried rocket launchers and other weapons.

Kapt Khalid speaking to Commander Sazalee (left) at the Lumut naval base Thursday. The KD Mahawangsa is seen in the background.

So he kept a safe distance but close enough to show the pirates that he meant business.

“Under the rules of engagement, we are not allowed to fire unless fired upon first,” said Commander Sazalee when met at the naval base here yesterday.

The pirates, probably considering their options, decided not to do anything.

After an hour, they retreated upon seeing the warship KD Mahawangsa.

The KD Mahawangsa had sailed to the Gulf of Aden on Sept 7 last year to escort merchant ships plying the pirate-infested Gulf of Aden.

A filepic of the warship escorting the MISC trade vessel to its destination.

One of its mission was to escort the Bunga Mas Enam and another merchant ship to Djibouti, Soma­lia.

KD Mahawangsa commanding officer Kapt Khalid Jaafar said the container vessel had fallen an hour behind due to the mechanical failure. The vessel’s crew then radioed in to say that eight skiffs were approaching the vessel.

“I decided to send the Super Lynx team (to watch over the vessel) while we make our way back to the vessel,” Kapt Khalid said.

He said it was an anxious moment for him and his crew.

The KD Mahawangsa returned to base here on Dec 17 and was replaced by the KD Sri Inderasakti.