Story by Ed Sim
The RSS Invincible and RSS Impeccable have officially entered service with the RSN following a ceremony at Singapore’s Changi Navy Base, in a ceremony attended by Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Defence Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen.
Both submarines had been transported to Singapore from builder Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems’ (TKMS) shipyard in Kiel, Germany on board chartered commercial heavylift vessels in July and August.
Singapore’s defence ministry says that the four Invincible-class diesel-electric submarines have been custom-built by TKMS for the RSN’s needs and are designed for operations in the shallow and busy tropical waters surrounding Singapore.
Colonel Fong Chi Onn, commander of the RSN’s 7th flotilla, says that these bespoke requirements have come from 25 years of experience in operating submarines in local and regional waters.
Among the factors that had to be taken into account during the design for the submarines is the increased salinity and warmth of local waters, he added.
Singapore has previously operated second-hand Challenger- and Archer-class submarines acquired from Sweden. These were formerly Sjöormen and Västergötland-class submarines that were heavily modified for use in Singapore’s tropical waters.
Singapore’s Ministry of Defence says that the Invincible-class boats possess state-of-the-art capabilities, including high levels of automation, significant payload capacity, enhanced underwater endurance, and optimised ergonomics.
The Invincible-class submarines measure 70 metres in length and displace 2,000 tons surfaced and 2,200 tons submerged. They are fitted with eight torpedo tubes for heavyweight torpedoes and are believed to be able to deliver specials forces for covert operations.
Col. Fong said that the improved ergonomics take into account the size and stature of Singaporeans, such as having the screens at the operators’ consoles being placed at more comfortable heights and valves and controls placed where they can be reached more easily.
The boats have also been designed from the outset to accommodate female submariners among its crew of 28, and improved accommodation facilities mean that the crew no longer have to share bunks.
Singapore announced an initial order for two submarines, then designated as the Type 218SG by TKMS, in 2014 with a further two ordered in 2017.
The two remaining Invincible-class submarines, Illustrious and Inimitable, have been launched in Germany in Dec 2022 and Apr 2024 respectively, and are expected to return to Singapore by 2028.
The Southeast Asian island nation is located at the end of Peninsular Malaysia at the maritime choke point where the busy shipping routes that run through the South China Sea meets the Malacca Strait.
As such, Singapore’s economy is highly dependent on the maritime trade that passes through its port, which is one of the busiest in the world, and defending its sea lines of communications has always been one of its military priorities.
Singapore was the first Southeast Asian nations to operate submarines and has built up a cadre of submariners and built up its knowledge of submarine operations in the Malacca Strait and South China Sea since its first boats started operations in 2004.
