KD Mahawangsa

KD Mahawangsa
Career
Name:	KD MAHAWANGSA
Ordered:	October 1981
Builder:	Bremer Vulkan
Commissioned:	16 May 1983
Status:	in active service, as of 2015
General characteristics
Type:	Support ship
Displacement:	4,300 long tons (4,369 t) full load
Length:	100 m (328 ft 1 in)
Beam:	15 m (49 ft 3 in)
Draught:	4.75 m (15 ft 7 in)
Propulsion:	2 x Deutz KHD SBV6M540 diesel, 5,986 bhp (4,464 kW), (4.31 MW), 2 shafts, cp props, bow thruster
Speed:	16.8 knots (31.1 km/h; 19.3 mph)
Range:	4000 nm at 14 kt
Capacity:	600 troops 1,000 m³ cargo space 10 × 20-foot containers 680 m² vehicle space
Complement:	136 + 75 passengers
Sensors and processing systems:	Fire control: CSEE Naja optronic directors Navigation: Kelvin Hughes 1007,I-band.
Electronic warfare and decoys:	ESM: Thales DR 3000,intercept
Armament:	• 2 × Bofors 57 mm gun • 2 × 20 mm anti-aircraft guns
Aviation facilities:	Aft helicopter platform

KD MAHAWANGSA is a Royal Malaysian Navy's 4,300 ton multi-role support ship based at Lumut Naval Base in Perak, Malaysia. It was named in honor of Merong Mahawangsa, the founder of the Old Kedah. KD stands for Kapal DiRaja which means His Majesty's Ship in the Malay language.

Service history

The ship has been dispatched to aid victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake,^[1] rushed humanitarian aid the Afghan refugees in 2001 ^[2] and delivered armoured infantry vehicles from 4th Infantry Brigade (Mech) as part of peacekeeper forces for Operation Astute during the 2006 East Timor crisis.

In her roles as a command ship, KD MAHAWANGSA has been involved in several joint exercises with foreign navies, such as the joint Malaysia-Thailand Naval exercises called THALAY LAUT,^[3] the Starfish exercises under the Five Power Defence Arrangement and the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) series of exercises held with the U.S. Navy. The closing ceremony for CARAT Malaysia 2004 was held aboard the KD MAHAWANGSA, anchored off the island of Tioman.

In September 2008 the KD MAHAWANGSA was sent to the Gulf of Aden after the hijacking of two MISC oil tankers by Somali pirates.^[4]

References

External links

• KD MAHAWANGSA at Royal Malaysian Navy Homepage

Ships of the Royal Malaysian Navy    Submarines Perdana Menteri Class KD Tunku Abdul Rahman KD Tun Abdul Razak Frigates Gowind Class TBA Lekiu Class KD Jebat KD Lekiu Corvette Kasturi Class KD Kasturi KD Lekir Laksamana Class KD Laksamana Hang Nadim KD Laksamana Tun Abdul Jamil KD Laksamana Muhammad Amin KD Laksamana Tun Pusmah Mine Countermeasures Vessels Mahamiru Class KD Mahamiru KD Jerai KD Ledang KD Kinabalu Offshore Patrol Vessels Kedah Class KD Kedah KD Pahang KD Perak KD Terengganu KD Kelantan KD Selangor Hydrographic Survey Vessels Perantau Class KD Perantau KD Mutiara Fast Attack Vessels Perdana Class KD Perdana KD Serang KD Ganas KD Ganyang Handalan Class KD Handalan KD Perkasa KD Pendekar KD Gempita Jerung Class KD Jerung KD Todak KD Paus KD Yu KD Baung KD Pari Sri Tiga Class KD Sri Tiga KD Sri Gaya Auxiliary Vessels Others TLDM Bunga Mas Lima TLDM Bunga Mas Enam Miscellaneous Vessels Combat Support Ship KD Sri Indera Sakti KD Mahawangsa Training Ship KD Hang Tuah KLD Tunas Samudera MV Fajar Samudera MV STS Puteri Mahsuri KD Gagah Samudera KD Teguh Samudera Tugboat KTD Penyu KTD Sotong KTD Kepah