The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) are participating in a bilateral naval exercise, named Exercise Singsiam, taking place from November 2-12, 2015.
Exercise Singsiam is a biennial exercise that was first held in 1981. Hosted by the RSN, the opening ceremony was co-officiated by Colonel Edwin Leong, Commanding Officer of the RSN’s Missile Corvette Squadron and Rear-Admiral Sittiporn Maskasem, Commanding Officer of the RTN’s Frigate Squadron Two, at Changi Naval Base on November 2, 2015.
Following a shore planning phase at Changi Naval Base, the two navies conducted a sea phase in the Strait of Malacca and the Andaman Sea. A Formidable-class frigate RSS Intrepid with an embarked S-70B naval helicopter, a Victory-class missile corvette RSS Vigour and an Archer-class submarine RSS Archer from the Republic of Singapore Navy participated in the exercise. The Royal Thai Navy deployed a Naresuan-class frigate HTMS Naresuan, a Chao Phraya-class frigate HTMS Saiburi, two S-70B naval helicopters and one Dornier-228 maritime patrol aircraft. The exercise will conclude with a closing ceremony in Phuket on November 12.
Exercise Singsiam, the 18th in its series, has expanded in scope and complexity over the years to include anti-air and anti-submarine warfare serials. The exercise underscores the close and long-standing defence ties between Singapore and Thailand, and has enhanced mutual understanding and interoperability between the two navies.
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Source/Image: MINDEF