123 YEARS OF STEEL

The Singapore Artillery turned 123 years old on 22 Feb, making it the oldest formation in the Singapore Armed Forces. This is the story of its journey, from using the Maxim Gun in 1888 to the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) in 2011.

The Singapore Artillery has certainly come a long way as it continues to provide precise and timely fire support for the Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF's) combined arms operations.

At the opening of the School of Artillery in 1967, Singapore's first Defence Minister, the late Dr Goh Keng Swee, said: "The tempering of steel is a lengthy process and men of steel you must be; anything less has no place in the Singapore Artillery."

In celebrating 123 years of steel, the gunners have proven that they continue to remain relevant in the wide spectrum of operations that the SAF undertakes today.

With a habit of regularly introducing new systems into their arsenal of guns, it is no wonder that their motto is In Oriente Primus ("First in the East" in Latin).

And things are certainly looking good for the Singapore Artillery.

Chief of Artillery Colonel (COL) Tan Chong Lee summed up the road ahead for the formation at the recent Men of Steel Challenge, a race which gathered gunners from all over Singapore in commemoration of the formation's 123rd anniversary. "It is good that we have seen a lot of transformation during the past two years. From a mix of mortar and gun units to gun-centric units, we are now on the verge of going into rocket systems with the introduction of the HIMARS."

Artillery Milestones

1888
The Singapore Artillery started out as the Singapore Volunteer Artillery (SVA), consisting of only 96 men. Back then, the soldiers operated the 7-inch Rifled Muzzle Loading Gun and the 0.405 calibre Maxim Gun, and their main role was to support internal security.

1923
King George V of England granted the title "Royal" to the SVA and it was renamed the Singapore Royal Artillery (Volunteer) (SRA (V)).

1948
The First Singapore Regiment Royal Artillery (1 SRRA) was formed to tackle the threat of the communist insurgence during the Malayan Emergency. The unit was trained in handling 6-inch coastal guns, the 25-pounders, the 4.2-inch mortars, and the 3.7-inch anti-aircraft guns.

1963
The SRA (V) was redesignated as the 10th Singapore Volunteer Artillery (Territorial Army) (10 SVA (TA)). The unit was equipped with the 25-pounder which has a maximum range of 12.25km.

1966
10 SVA (TA) was reorganised into 20th People's Defence Force Artillery (20 PDF (Arty)).

1967
20 PDF (Arty) was renamed 20th Singapore Artillery Battalion. The 120mm Standard Mortar was the main equipment of the artillery and had a maximum range of 6.5km and a maximum firing rate of six rounds per minute. The late Dr Goh Keng Swee, then Minister of Interior and Defence, was appointed Honorary Colonel of the Singapore Artillery.

1973
The SAF purchased the M-68 155mm Gun Howitzer and the first 155mm gun battalion, 23rd Singapore Artillery Battalion (23 SAB), was formed.

1974
All artillery units were redesignated with the suffix "Battalion Singapore Artillery". Refurbished M114 155mm Howitzers were delivered to Singapore and put under the charge of 23rd Battalion Singapore Artillery (23 SA).

1982
The 155mm M-71 Gun Howitzer has a maximum range of 23.5km and can fire four rounds per minute. In 1989, it was upgraded and renamed M-71S and could be deployed within two minutes, whereas its predecessor required 12 minutes.

1988
The first Singapore-made 155mm towed gun, the FH-88, was introduced into service. Developed and manufactured by Ordnance Development Engineering, the FH-88 is a 39-calibre long-range field artillery system. The FH88 Gun Howitzer has a maximum range of 30km and is capable of firing six rounds per minute. It was also a momentous occasion for the formation as they celebrated their 100-year anniversary.

1995
The FH-2000, a 52-calibre long-range weapon system, was designed with improved automated sub-systems to meet firepower requirements and enhance battlefield survivability. The gun requires a crew of eight to operate, and features a hydraulics system that makes it easier to deploy and fire. It is also self-propelled and has a maximum firing range of 40km.

2003
The tracked Singapore Self-Propelled Howitzer, also known as the Primus, was commissioned. The 39-calibre weapon provides several key operational advantages, including enhanced mobility, firepower and survivability. It requires only four men instead of eight to operate, and has a maximum firing range of 30km.

2005
Named after the winged horse in Greek mythology, Pegasus, the Singapore Light Weight Howitzer was the world's first heli-transportable 155mm gun. The self-propelled gun is the result of a joint initiative by the SAF, the Defence Science & Technology Agency and Singapore Technologies Kinetics.

2010
The inaugural HIMARS live firing was conducted in 2010. The HIMARS, with its ability to engage targets up to 70km away and to fire a full load of six Multiple Launch Rocket Systems rockets within 45 seconds, is set to come home from the United States this year. It is the first artillery rocket system to be introduced to the Singapore Artillery and requires less than 20 seconds to be prepared for firing.