Welcome Aboard Mariners Alike - Malaysia Rule The Waves

its hard to describe how a man could left everything he had on land and went out to sea...
its even harder to describe how bright the stars at night and how fresh the cool morning air when you are in the middle of the ocean...
the hardest thing is to describe how close you are to death and how god could took your life at any time...
come to sea and see for yourself...

GOD SPEED AND FAIR WINDS


come to sea and see for yourself

this blog is dedicated to mariners,navigators and seafarers alike, merchant or naval for others to had a glimpse of what we do and what we faced in the vast blue oceans.

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Saturday, December 31, 2011

A Layman Defence Note : Keperluan Kapal Pengangkut Logistik Negara - Dari Mahawangsa ke Absalon

entri kapal perang...bila mau beli baru eh...??

Malaysia...sebuah negara littoral dgn pantai dan wilayah laut yg luas dilihat mempunyai kapabiliti logistik maritim yg terbatas dlm angkatan lautnya...dgn dua buah kapal Multi Purpose Command and Support ship buatan Korea yg kini menjadi satu2nya mainstay logistik armada negara...

KD Mahawangsa dan KD Sri Inderasakti kini mendukung tanggungjawab tersebut...dan kehilangan KD Sri Inderapura dalam kebakaran masih lagi menjadi igauan angkatan laut negara...

Memperlihatkan jumlah kombatan permukaan yg semakin bertambah...keperluan kapal2 logistik ini semakin kritikal...sebagai platform yg menyokong operasi rondaan dilaut dr segi pengisian bahan api dan pembekalan...selain sebagai nadi ulang bekal antara pangkalan tentera laut di semenanjung dan Malaysia Timur...dan juga sebagai platform bg operasi pendaratan amfibia...


Sebelum pergi lebih jauh...mari kita tgk aset logistik RMN yg masih dlm perkhidmatan....


KD Mahawangsa escorting MV Bunga Mas Enam of MISC Berhad...long before BM5 were introduced


KD Mahawangsa dgn no pennant 1504 merupakan Multi Purpose Command and Support Ship yg dibina di Korea oleh  adalah kapal seberat 4300 tonne dgn kapasiti 600 orang tentera....ruangan kargo yg mampu menampung 1000 meter padu kargo...geladak kenderaan seluas 680 meter persegi selain mampu membawa 10 unit kontena berukuran 20 kaki....

Ditauliahkan kedalam perkhidmatan RMN pd tahun 1983...kapal ini mempunyai fasilitas utk pendaratan helikopter....selain tanjakan bg geladak kenderaan disebelah kiri dan kanan buritan.


KD Sri Inderasakti...she relieved KD Mahawangsa in Aden for escort duties...after MT Bunga Melati Dua and 5 hijcaking incident...


KD Inderasakti mempunyai kapasiti yg hampir sama dengan KD MAHAWANGSA...walaupun dibina oleh limbungan yg berbeza...struktur kapal seperti kedudukan funnel..kren dan geladak penerbangan adalah perbezaan ketara kedua2 kapal ini...


Selepas insiden kebakaran KD Sri Inderapura...aset terbesar dalam angkatan laut negara...byk desas-desus mengenai wujudnya keinginan kerajaan dan RMN sendiri utk memiliki kapal pengangkut logistik yg mampu memenuhi keperluan semasa dan akan dtg armada....

Pelbagai spekulasi kedengaran....seperti pembelian kapal LHD Dokdo dari Korea....LPD Makassar class dari Indonesia dan lain2 lagi....

LHD DOKDO - REALISTIK KEPERLUAN DAN KEMAMPUAN RMN


Dokdo class LPH - massive amphibious assault platform..


Tanya lah sesiapa pun...jika diberi pilihan utk pengganti LST ex-Newport class yg terbakar...pasti rata2nya memilih LPH Dokdo dari Korea...berdasarkan saiz dan kapasitinya..selain terdapat petanda2 strategik yg menunjukkan kecenderungan pemilikan kapal mega tersebut...

Buka la mana2 forum militer dan blog militer yg ade di Malaysia nih....hampir 85% dari mereka2 yg komen akan mengusulkan atau menyokong pembelian LPH Dokdo....baik kerana sistem persenjataannya...mahupun kapasiti dan kapabiliti serangan amfibia dan kemudahan bg menempatkan pesawat VTOL dan juga sejumlah besar helikopter maritim...

Namun realitinya...kapal sebesar itu x mampu utk dioperasikan angkatan laut negara....ingin sy nyatakan disini sblm pergi lebih jauh...segala penulisan adalah pendapat sy sendiri..dgn bantuan rujukan dan rumusan realistik...

Sambung balik...kenapa saya mengatakan Dokdo x mampu dioperasikan negara...?

Kapal bersaiz 199m panjang dan 31m lebar dgn berat 18 800MT ini adalah platform serangan amfibia dgn kemampuan utk menempatkan 200 kenderaan tempur atau 720 anggota marin bersama2 6 main battle tank  dan 7 amphibious assault vehicle dgn tambahan 2 LCAC dan 15 helikopter maritim...

Kemampuan kapal ini mmg x dinafikan...namun realitinya...fasilitas dlm negara selain keperluan utk mempunyai sejumlah besar krew utk mengoperasikan kapal dan pesawat yg akan ditempatkan di kapal ini menjadi tanda tanya....dlm keadaan kerajaan mempunyai pendapatan yg x seberapa...pemilikan Dokdo adalah diluar kemampuan buat masa sekarang...selain fokus terutama RMN adalah utk menambah dan meningkatkan keupayaan kombatan permukaannya yg sedia ada...

adalah logikal dimana RMN menumpukan proses penambahan dan peningkatan keupayaan aset kombatan permukaan buat masa sekarang dimana ini merupakan petanda penting bg sesebuah armada utk beroperasi dgn efektif...logika nya...adalah tidak masuk akal utk RMN mengoperasikan sebuah kapal pengangkut tanpa perlindungan secukupnya dari kombatan2 yg lain...disebabkan faktor kapal pengangkut itu sendiri yg merupakan teras bg sesebuah operasi tentera laut...selain sifatnya yg lebih defensif dari segi persenjataan berbanding kapal perang permukaan lain...serta merupakan sasaran paling utama yg perlu dimusnahkan dlm satu2 pertempuran kerana kemampuannya utk mengangkut sejumlah besar anggota dan kelengkapan dlm satu2 serangan...

tanpa pengiring yg secukupnya atau kredibel...kapal pengangkut tersebut bakal menjadi sasaran mudah bagi musuh...

dlm masa kini...perolehan kapal sebegini dpt dispekulasikan sbg dalam perancangan jangka masa panjang...malah adalah tidak keterlaluan jika dikatakan...sepanjang masa perancangan tersebut...akan wujud lebih banyak option yg lebih baik dari segi harga dan juga kapabiliti selain dari option2 sedia ada pd masa sekarang...yg mungkin menjadi tarikan RMN berdasarkan keperluan dan kemampuan negara...

apa yang pasti...aset yg diperlukan perlulah bersifat multirole..sesuai dgn kemampuan perbelanjaan negara..dan pada masa yg sama...memenuhi keperluan pertahanan negara dari pelbagai aspek...dan bukan sebagai aset menunjuk2...



ABSALON - KEARAH PLATFORM LOGISTIK PELBAGAI GUNA

L16 Absalon and L17 Esbern Snare


dua kapal pengangkut pelbagai guna milik Tentera Laut Denmark...HMDS Absalon (L-16) dan HMDS Esbern Snare (L-17) adalah contoh terbaik dalam memenuhi keperluan logistik ketenteraan...

kedua2 kapal ini dibina dari asas sebuah frigate yg memperlihatkan rupa bentuk kapal ini yg menyerupai sebuah kombatan permukaan...dgn penambahan ruangan kosong  dipanggil flex deck yg bertindak sebagai ruangan bg menempatkan 55 kenderaan tempur termasuk 7 MBT dan juga penginapan bg anggota tentera sehingga 300 orang atau bertindak sebagai sick bay dgn menempatkan modul hospital...

terdapat juga keupayaan utk kapal ini melaksanakan operasi menyemaian/pemusnahan ranjau laut dgn menempatkan modul kontena digeladak yg dinyatakan..geladak penerbangan boleh menempatkan dua buah helikopter pd satu2 masa...

keupayaan tempur Absalon adalah setaraf dgn kombatan permukaan biasa dgn adanya modul dipanggil StanFlex (Standard Flex) yg boleh menempatkan persenjataan prinsipal seperti misil anti pesawat dan misil anti perkapalan...bersama2 persenjataan sekunder yg kebiasaannya terdapat pada kapal2 perang seperti frigat dan korvet...

pengunaan modul ini sangat kos efektif dan ia digunakan oleh hampir semua kapal perang Denmark dimana modul ini boleh ditukar ganti seperti Lego membolehkan sesebuah kapal perang diubahsuai atau dinaiktaraf dalam masa yg singkat...kos naiktaraf sistem dan persenjataan yg dilakukan oleh Denmark terhadap salah satu class kapal perang mereka adalah pada 1 billion Euro...berbanding perbelanjaan yg dibuat oleh negara2 eropah lain dgn kos 2.2 billion Euro..

Absalon mempunyai 5 slot StanFlex utk modul penembakan peluru berpandu...boleh menempatkan 8-16 peluru berpandu anti kapal AGM 84 Harpoon Block II dan misil anti pesawat lancaran menegak RIM 162 ESSM/RIM-7 Sea Sparrow...mejadikan kapal perang pengangkut ini mampu utk beroperasi secara ofensif tanpa pengiring seperti kapal2 pengangkut lain yg lebih bersifat defensif....

walaubagaimanapun...kapal pengangkut ini  mempunyai keupayaan pendaratan unit amfibia yg terhad dimana tiada flood deck utk kegunaan lancang pendarat atau hoverkraf...selain kapal ini perlukan jeti bg memunggah kenderaan tempur dan anggota tentera..selain fasilitas penerbangan yg terhad..namun konsep nya yg membolehkan satu platform mempunyai peranan pelbagai adalah amat kos efektif dan genius...

Absalon dan konsepnya dilihat sesuai dgn doktrin pertahanan negara yg menuju kearah Jointness dlm mana2 operasi kombat...Absalon merupakan contoh terbaik dimana satu platform mampu utk melaksanakan pelbagai tugasan.Keupayaan yg pelbagai ini adalah bonus kepada armada RMN scr khas nya dan kepada MAF amnya.

Hampir semua operasi yg berkaitan dgn peperangan maritim boleh dilaksanakan dgn Absalon dan pd masa yg sama pemilikan Absalon dpt memenuhi byk kekurangan yg wujud dlm RMN..


JOINT SUPPORT SHIP - LOGISTIK DAN SUPPORT DISATUKAN




berbeza dengan Absalon...JSS adalah program kapal pengangkut logistik dan bantuan yg proper...dgn hull design sedia ada tanpa persenjataan prinsipal seperti kombatan permukaan tetapi lebih menekankan keupayaan pelbagai diatas satu platform bg menyokong operasi armada...

konsep JSS juga mendapat tempat di hati angkatan laut Netherlands dimana konsep semua dalam satu adalah lebih ekonomikal dari segi kos selain rekabentuk yg digunakan datang dari rekabentuk kapal2 dagang yg sedia ada...selain keperluan utk menggantikan kapal sokongan sedia ada yg lebih berkemampuan utk menyokong dua kapal LPD (Landing Platform Dock) HNLMS ROTTERDAM dan HNLMS JOHANN DE WITT yg bertindak sebagai kapal pengangkut amfibia.....

terdapat juga rekabentuk dan konsep JSS yg turut menekankan keupayaan serangan amfibia dengan geladak penerbangan yg lebih luas serta fasilitas hangar yg lebih besar..flood deck utk melancarkan lancang pendarat selain fasilitas2 utk kegunaan logistik dan support seperti refueling point...

walaupun keperluan Netherlands adalah berbeza dan JSS lebih menekankan keupayaan ulang bekal dan sokongan kombat sebagai keupayaan utama...adalah x mustahil bg RMN utk memiliki kapal seperti JSS yg pelbagai guna...dgn keupayaan sokongan logistik dan ulang bekal....dan pada masa yg sama mampu melaksanakan serangan amfiba....

KESIMPULAN


dlm ketidaktentuan senario global dan ekonomi masa kini...selain kewangan yg terhad utk pertahanan negara...pemilihan platform permukaan pelbagai guna dilihat lebih dinamik, walaupun aset2 seperti ABSALON dan JOINT SUPPORT SHIP dikira lebih tinggi kos pembuatannya....akibat dari penyatuan dua hingga tiga keupayaan tempur pada satu platfrom...

walaubagaimanapun..keupayaan pelbagai pd aset2 yg dinyatakan ini memberikan added bonus kpd RMN bg membolehkan angkatan laut negara ini dapat beroperasi dgn lebih efektif.

apapun...contoh2 yg diberikan diatas x semestinya akan digunakan oleh RMN....jika ia dipilih...terdapat byk spesifikasi..dari segi saiz dan keupayaan yg diperlukan MAF dan memenuhi keperluan RMN yg akan membezakan platform milik negara dan platform yg dinyatakan diatas....

semoga tahun baru 2012 akan membuka lembaran yg lebih baik utk RMN....

thanx for the escort


the story of a watchkeeping officer - Same Thing..Different Number...

entri tahun baru....yang lain semua sama...

looks like KL is under heavy air attacks....damn..



everyone is celebrating new year....semua berpusu2 ke tempat2 awam utk menonton konsert artis x berapa nak cerdik...melihat tembakan bunga api yang dahsyat....merempit dgn motosikal...show off kereta convert...show off kereta mahal...clubbing dari malam sampai ke pagi....dan macam2 lagi aktiviti hedonisme....

aku...

duduk kat kedai mapley...sambil menaip entri ini dan menonton Aston Villa menggugat pertahnanan Chelsea...yeah..ASTON VILLA babeh....go for goal...

anyway....SELAMAT MENYAMBUT TAHUN BARU-2012....saya pasti,..ramai yg berazam macam2 utk tahun baru ini.....

tp pada saya...azam x penting...yg penting...execution....kalau buat azam gempak dan power tapi hapa pun xdak x guna juga....kan..

hahahhaaaa....

apapun..semoga transisi tahun dalam dekad baru dan milenia baru ini akan membawa lebih kebaikan.....

yg pasti...ramai akan mati pada tahun ini....sure lah...sebab tahun2 lepas pun ramai yang mati....

HAPPY NEW YEAR

-come to sea and sit on the hot seat for yourself-

Sunday, December 18, 2011

the story of a watchkeeping officer - the one who keep the seas safe

entri LIMA 2011....segmen maritim..all systems go...!!


KD Kelantan - im not planning to join this ship...hahaha


LIMA 2011 were also the center stage for maritime exhibition...although not as hot as the air show...the presence of special forces from the RMN...the MMEA...and the Police force...together with the bulk of national and international warship laying at anchor quietly at Awana Porto Malai does attracted flocks after flocks of visitors to the exhibition...

The center stage of maritime exhibition are the demonstration by the youngest maritime law enforcement agency...the Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency or the MMEA...

Eurocopter Dauphin - MMEA

the demo were basically a show off assets and capabilities...and it seems that..MMEA is progressing steadily after 5 years of establishment...

Then the combined demonstration by the RMN...MMEA..the Marine Police and the Fire Department...whom shows the coordination between these agencies in combatting piracy...and also another show of force and capabilities by all the agencies...but the most interesting part were the helicopters from the 3 agencies...the Super Lynx...Dauphin and the Ecuruil...

Super Lynx - PASKAL on spie rig..

I am quite dissapointed that it seems the navy were a bit left out in the demo...and most of the demo were played by the MMEA and Police....the navy..especially PASKAL played a small part...maybe they wanna stay low only...

RMN CB-90H...

but after looking at the coordinators of the demo...whom are personnels from the navy itself...coordinating movement of the helicopters and the speed boat...giving instructions to representative from each agencies make me proud..that they are much more capable than what we think of...if they are good behind the scenes...then they would be better on the scenes....

my bro at USS Curtis Wilbur...

Other attractions includes ships visit...where every day...2 warship will come alongside the Awana cruise terminal...and visitors are allowed to come onboard to have a look see...to take photos and to grab some momento...

The USS Curtis Wilbur were alongside on the first day...together with a Bangladeshi warship....then followed by Korean destroyer ROKS Kang Kam Chan....but the center of attraction were our own RMN warships...the frigate KD Jebat..the NGPV KD Kelantan and 2 of our MCMV the KD Ledang and KD Kinabalu....

the...err..fire fighting boat...from the Fire Dept..

LIMA 2011 also showcase the RMN 2nd submarine...KD Tun Razak....but it is not open to public for some reason...but momento were available on the jetty for visitors...

I spent most of my 1st and 2nd day at Porto Malai...since the air exhibition were not accessible to civillian just yet...but it is worth it...

It shows that....our nation is strong...and we should be proud of our armed forces and our civil defence agencies...

KD Tun Razak - 2nd subs...not that big though...

I for myself now have confidence in MMEA since they are the one who will be answering my distress and emergency calls at sea...and they are the one who will come for a rescue...with all the shining helos and the daring rescue swimmer...i can say that these guys are ready for anything....

For the Navy...especially PASKAL...their quality,abilities and capabilities are well known and they have proven a lot that they are the best...thanx for the escort....

this concludes my writings on LIMA 2011....will look forward to come again to Langkawi..for LIMA 2013....


-come to Langkawi and experience the heat yourself-

Thursday, December 15, 2011

the story of a watchkeeping officer - flying high in the summer skies....

entri pembakaran Jet A-1....the smells of jet fuel...the roaring jet engine...the burning tarmac...






flight line...the pride of the Royal Malaysian Air Force




December is the month i`ve been waiting for...Its LIMA 2011...the two year aerospace and maritime exhibitions showcasing a full flight line of military jets and aircraft on the tarmac of Langkawi International Airport, military hardware and defence technologies to kill babies at the Mahsuri International Exhibition Center and warships from foreign superpower and from our nation naval forces...laying quietly at the Awana Porto Malai anchorage...

center stage of the air show...the Smokey Bandit of the 17th Sqn...RMAF

The journey to Langkawi took place on the 5th...where me and me family drove from the hectic Federal Republics of Lumut to the Northern Region....

I thanked the government for the efficient highways they build....it was a smooth ride along the way...and it took us 5 hours to reach the Kuala Kedah ferry terminal....

at the jetty...i am quite surprised that they still use the ol Sibu ferry..the long fast ferry that once run along the river of Sarawak....yeah..there are a few new fast ferry....it looks new outside...but to my horror...it looks like a crowded express bus with airlines seats...maybe from scrapped  737 or A310....but what the hell...

hey..maybe someone should start a Ro-Ro service from the Mainland to Langkawi....the current Ro-Ro service is done by barge...yes..a tongkang pulled by an age old tug....for RM300.00 you can bring your car from the mainland to the island....but its not worth it....its dangerous and the possibilities that your car might end up as tukun tiruan is high...better sewa kereta sajaa....

on the tarmac with the Flanker...

anyway...

this year LIMA is the hot bed for RMAF 2nd multi role combat aircraft requirement...where major aircraft consortiums..merge together at Langkawi International Airport to lobby and to show off their product to the Malaysian government....this is much2 different than previous LIMA....3 major aircraft corporation converge in one event...trying to win the hearts of the decision maker....


 the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet

 Dassault Aviation brought along their Dassault Rafale..the so called Omnirole fighter....2 of them where from day one they fly above Langkawi to show their capabilties....

From the Eurofighter GmbH....the Eurofighter Typhoon from the RAF....

the Eurofighter Typhoon

then the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet...and among these rivals are the pride of the RMAF....the latest Su-30MKM Flanker H....the MiG-29N Fulcrum..also known as Taufan Ganas or Smokey Bandits...the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) F-16C....

those are the air show line up....

on the tarmac...more than a dozen aircraft are present for static display....

the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT)....the USN  P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft...the USAF C-17 Globemaster III....are among the massive transport and special purpose aircraft present....

legacy of heroes...Sikorsky S-90

then the helicopters....starting off with the Republic of Singapore Navy SH-60 Seahawk...an organic helicopter units attached to the RSN new Formidable class frigate....the Eurocopter Tigre attack helicopter again making a debut....maybe still trying to lobby the army air wing...

then the workhorse of the Royal Malaysian Navy...the Super Lynx and a legendary Fennec that fired shots in anger towards fukken pirates during Laurel incident....the MMEA Eurocopter Dauphin...the Fire Department Mi-17...the only Soviet era helicopter on display....the army Pasukan Udara Tentera Darat (PUTD) A-109 LOH.....to name a few of our own...and oh...the ol and legendary S-61N Nuri....

RAAF Multi Role Tanker Transport...

also on the tarmac are fast jets from the RMAF...the Su-30MKM...the MiG-29N....the F/A-18D...the MB-339CD....the Hawks....along with the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) Saab-39 Gripen...RSAF F-16 block what i dont remember but looks cool....

RTAF Saab 39 Gripen

civil aircraft...dang....too many of them...some from the Department of Civil Aviation....a few from local private jet operator and local civil agencies....
on the tarmac with RMAF F/.A-18D Hornet...

the exhibition center were open to public on the 9th and 10th December...but i managed to get inside with some strings pulled....i was attracted to the maritime section of the exhibition where shipbuilding giants like Fincantieri and DSME show off their warships design...

the Hawk 208....

and ouh...the French also were in the picture....now we got a hint of how does the so called 2nd generation patrol vessels for the RMN will looks like....but it still scanty2....x konfirm pun....

all in all....although this is the first time i attend the LIMA...it was a mind blasting experience....the excitement of lookin at the fast jets flying at low altitude...pulling up some tricky combat maneuvers....criss-crossing the sky of Langkawi...i feel like a small boy again....

how i adore those beautiful jets and the crazy men who flew em.....

great show by the way...

and ouh...will write on the 2nd part of LIMA 2011...the maritime segment....later lah....

-come to Langkawi and see the action yourself-