Royal Brunei Navy

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Flag of the Royal Brunei Navy.
Flag of the Royal Brunei Navy.

The Royal Brunei Navy (Malay: Tentera Laut Diraja Brunei, abbreviated TLDB) is the naval defence force of Brunei Darrussalam. It is a small but relatively well-equipped force whose main responsibility is to conduct search and rescue missions and to deter and defend the Brunei waters against attack mounted by sea borne forces[1].

The Royal Brunei Navy was established on the 14 June 1965, the second unit created after The Royal Brunei Armed Forces. The RBN is based in Muara, which is situated 4 km from Muara Town with the majority of the crews being Malays. Since 1977, The Royal Brunei Navy has been equipped with missile gun boats and other coastal patrol craft. All the ship's names are prefixed KDB as in Kapal Diraja Brunei (Royal Brunei Ship in Malay). The Royal Brunei Navy has been commanded by Col (L) Joharie bin Hj Metussin since 14 June 2002[1].

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[edit] History

The Royal Brunei Navy was formed on 14 June 1965, four years after the formation of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces. It was initially known as Boat Section of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces. Its strength was only 18 in number, including one officer from the First Battalion who had attended a basic military course in Malaya in 1961 until 1964. This Boat Section was equipped with a number of aluminium boats, known as Temuai in Malay and Fast Assault Boats (FABs)[2].

The role of the Boat Section was solely to provide transportation of infantry elements to the interior of Brunei. As the organization expanded with the aid of stable economic growth, the Boat Section was renamed the Boat Company in 1966[2].

The Boat Company received 3 River Patrol Boats in 1966. These boats are named KDB Bendahara, KDB Maharajalela and KDB Kermaindera. All the ships were crewed by Bruneians, led by a qualified Commanding Officer. In the same year, the strength of the Boat Company was enhanced with Hovercraft Vessels type SR.N5, followed by SR.N6 in 1968[3].

The first Fast Patrol Craft vessel was accepted in 1968 and named KDB Pahlawan. It became the first Flag Ship for the Boat Company[3].

The Boat Company was reorganised as the Angkatan Laut Pertama, Askar Melayu DiRaja Brunei (ALP AMDB or the First Sea Battalion, Royal Brunei Malay Regiment in Malay). It was one of the larger branches of Askar Melayu DiRaja Brunei. During that time, the estimated workforce strength of Angkatan Laut Pertama, Askar Melayu DiRaja Brunei was 42 personnel including an officer, while assets consisted of one Fast Patrol Craft Vessel, 3 River Patrol Boats, 2 Hovercraft Vessels, Fast Assault Boats, a few Long Boats and Temuai (aluminium boats)[4].

In 1971, the Angkatan Laut Pertama, Askar Melayu DiRaja Brunei received two more Coastal Patrol Craft, the KDB Saleha and the KDB Masna[5].

The Angkatan Laut Pertama, Askar Melayu DiRaja Brunei was reorganised again on 1st October 1991 as the Royal Brunei Navy due to the growth of the armed forces in Brunei after independence from the United Kingdom[6].

[edit] Roles and Organisation

Roles of the Royal Brunei Navy are therefore:

  • Deterrence against attack mounted by sea borne forces
  • Protection of national offshore resources
  • Maintaining Sea Lines of Communication (SLOC)
  • Surveillance of the 200 nm EEZ
  • Maritime Search & Rescue operations
  • Support of units of the RBAF operational activities
  • Provide support for other security agencies and ministries as ordered by Ministry of Defence of Brunei.

The Royal Brunei Navy is divided into four main components as follows[7]:

  • Fleet
  • Administration
  • Training
  • Logistics

[edit] Current fleet

The current fleet of the Royal Brunei Navy is as follows[8]:

[edit] F2000 Class Corvettes

The Royal Brunei Navy is a small coastal defense force tasked with patrolling Bruneian waters and defending the offshore oil industry. It is currently undergoing a large-scale modernization, with the upgrading of the Muara Naval Base and the purchase of 3 British-built Corvettes from BAE Systems Naval Ships, Scotland. The contract was awarded to GEC-Marconi in 1995 and the Nakhoda Ragam class OPVs were launched in January 2001, June 2001 and June 2002 at the then BAE Systems Marine yard at Scotstoun. These have been completed but have not been delivered from BAE Systems Naval Ships in Scotstoun due to claims by the Royal Brunei Navy that the ships fail to meet the required specifications.

The ships are armed with MBDA Exocet Block II anti-ship missiles and MBDA Seawolf surface to air missiles. The contract dispute is the subject of arbitration[9] [10].

[edit] Muara Naval Base

The administration of Angkatan Laut Pertama, Askar Melayu DiRaja Brunei moved to a new base at Jalan Tanjong Pelumpong Muara in 1974. This base is now known as the Muara Naval Base. The Muara Naval Base serves as the headquarters of the Royal Brunei Navy. The Naval Base was expanded in 1997 to include facilities to support three offshore support vessels[11]. Muara Naval Base is frequently visited by foreign warships, most notable are the frequent visits by Royal Navy ships.

[edit] Joint Exercises and Training

The Royal Brunei Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy co-operate with each other through an annual joint exercise, code-named Exercise Pelican.

Officers and soldiers of the Royal Brunei Navy are also sent overseas for advanced training, generally to Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, UK and United States of America[12].

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b Introduction - Royal Brunei Navy - retrieved 19-04-2007
  2. ^ a b History - Royal Brunei Navy - retrieved 19-04-2007
  3. ^ a b History - Royal Brunei Navy, page 2 - retrieved 19-04-2007
  4. ^ History - Royal Brunei Navy, page 3 - retrieved 19-04-2007
  5. ^ History - Royal Brunei Navy, page 4 - retrieved 19-04-2007
  6. ^ History - Royal Brunei Navy, page 5 - retrieved 19-04-2007
  7. ^ Organisation - Royal Brunei Navy - retrieved 19-04-2007
  8. ^ Fleet - Royal Brunei Navy - retrieved 19-04-2007
  9. ^ Brunei and BAE Systems dispute ship acceptance Jane's 26-04-2005 - retrieved 19-04-2007
  10. ^ BAE Systems, Brunei OPV dispute nears resolution Jane's 08-09-2006 - retrieved 19-04-2007
  11. ^ page 15 GHD Annual Review 2002/2003
  12. ^ Training - Royal Brunei Navy - retrieved 19-04-2007