INTREPID VOYAGERS

Since the launch of the Republic of Singapore Navy's (RSN) first frigate, the RSS Formidable, PIONEER has been showcasing the various capabilities of the new vessels and their role in the 3rd Generation SAF. But have you ever wondered what it is like to spend a hundred days on the high seas aboard the Navy's cutting-edge warship?

Smooth sailing?

Sailing the oceans for three-and-a-half months might seem like a dream voyage for the romantic.

However, life on board a Navy vessel is no leisurely cruise - unlike what some military-themed movies suggest.

Firstly, there are endless drills. Fire drills, firing drills, hands to life-raft stations, you name them, they do them.

Secondly, the sea state ('waves', in landlubber parlance), which is feared by the saltiest of sea dogs. I refer not to those piddly waves one sees between the mainland and Pulau Ubin, but six-metre-high behemoths churned up by moderate gale-force winds.

These two factors were enough to strike a good deal of apprehension in CPL Tan Wei Jie, a gunner on RSS Intrepid.

Sea state aside, CPL Tan was also understandably reluctant to leave his family behind.

"I had trouble accepting the fact that I would soon be leaving the comforts of my home for a considerable period of time," said the Full-time National Serviceman (NSF).

Nevertheless, "backing out was not an option," said CPL Tan, crediting his resolve to his parents and friends.

"I'm very happy I put my misgivings aside, for this trip has turned out to be one of the most significant milestones of my life!"

His crewmate and fellow NSF, PTE Bernard Ng, was a lot more gung-ho before the sailing.

"My friends thought me insane to wrestle for a position on a frigate bound for France!" exclaimed the Communications Specialist.

PTE Ng went on to explain his philosophy. "Conforming to the predictability of everyday life in Singapore was getting rather tiresome. I needed an escape route, a new perspective and a different experience."

The plethora of new experiences was indeed a major plus, but there is only so much work one can do before a break is richly deserved.

Which begs the question: what does one do during lull periods on board a frigate?

Land ho! RSS Intrepid entering the harbour at Toulon, France.

The sun, sand, sea and PSP!

If a ship should encounter difficulties and needs to be abandoned, life-rafts save the day.

But there will be times when one might wish to abandon ship from sheer boredom, even when everything is smooth sailing.

Not so in the RSN. Navy folk know the importance of playing hard after a four-hour watch or an exercise.

Movies, the PSP (PlayStation Portable) game console, DOTA (Defence of the Ancients, a popular multiplayer computer game) - you name it, the crew of RSS Intrepid has it.

"We even had a DOTA competition between the officers and the specialists!" said CPL Tan. "I enjoyed it tremendously!"

Keeping fit is also a major preoccupation during any long deployment. While the frigate is no luxury cruise liner with its own swimming pool, the crew members found ways and means to conduct sports activities on the various decks (a deck is akin to a storey of a building).

"The Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) is the most pressing concern on our minds when we return to Singapore," said Coxswain MWO Nirmal Singh.

This worry might be somewhat misplaced. As it turns out, the flight deck, originally designed for the Frigate's organic helicopter, found a secondary use as a running track!

MWO Singh, a 32-year RSN veteran (or 'sea dog', as he prefers to be called) also outlined the list of sports which were conducted on the Intrepid while out at sea.

"We play table tennis and badminton, futsal and sepak takraw, and we work out at the gym too!"

LTC Phang calling on Capitaine de Vaisseau (CV) Dominique Balmitgere, Commander Toulon Naval Base.

Food, glorious food!

Feeding this flurry of physical activity are four chefs, two of whom were nicknamed 'Mr Sun' and 'Mr Moon'.

According to MWO Singh, they are so called because "they are always up before sunrise to prepare breakfast, lunch, dinner and supper. When the moon is out, they clean up the galley and then retire to their cabin."

"As a true sailor, I always eat what they prepare!" he added proudly.

The above statements spoke more for the chefs' commitment, but as Leading Gunner SSG Suresh testified, the daily spread on board RSS Intrepid was also of a very decent standard.

"In fact, some of us even return to ship to have our meals before going on shore leave," he said. "The local fare at foreign ports may be interesting, but I am still not quite as comfortable with the food out there."

In contrast to the unfamiliar cuisine one might have to come to terms with at ports-of-call, the cooking from the Intrepid's chefs is "pretty Singaporean". This was made possible by spending a month loading up on supplies and rations before RSS Intrepid departed Singapore.

Naturally, there were others with more adventurous tastes, and the various stopovers offered budding gourmet CPL Tan an experience of a lifetime.

His personal favourite? Kebabs from Toulon, France.

"Amazingly, these are more delicious than those from Turkey! They aren't cheap - at 4.50 (about $9.50) - but I will usually get one whenever I set foot on shore, even if I have had a meal on board."

"Libertymen, free gangway!"

Having a chance to roam exotic lands is perhaps an overused selling point among navy recruitment campaigns the world over. However, for the crew of the Intrepid, it was something very real.

While the seven-week stop at France was arguably the most popular stop, it was the port call at Djibouti which had the most impact on many crew members.

"We managed to catch a glimpse of what rural Africa is like. It really reminded me how lucky I am to live in a country like Singapore," said CPL Tan.

SSG Chia Boon Keng, Leading Communications Specialist, also left Djibouti with similar sentiments, and a resolve to complain less when he returned home to Singapore.

"This stop forced me to take a step back and examine what I have been blessed with in my life," said SSG Chia.

Others described interesting everyday occurrences which would probably cause jaws to drop back in Singapore.

In its element: Rough seas pounding the Intrepid in the Mediterranean Sea.

Complex electronics control the Intrepid's weapons systems.

"The most amazing thing I saw was cars parked parallel, bumper-to-bumper on a steep slope. Watching the drivers steer out from their lots without damaging the cars around them, that was sheer skill!" recalled MSG Gan Soon Yam, during one of his trips around Toulon.

Let's rock 'n roll

"Going through a sea state of six was horrible," said SSG Suresh, who had seen a maximum of sea state four during his previous stint on board a Patrol Vessel.

Contrary to what some might believe, not everyone can get used to a ship's rocking, even after many years of exposure to such conditions. Sea sickness can strike the most seasoned of sailors, and it is a literally gut-wrenching experience. Some even go to the extent of calling it a debilitating 'illness'.

While one cannot control biological responses, 'mind over matter' does apply to a certain extent.

"I cope with the sea state by not concentrating too much on the motion itself and focusing on my work. Sometimes, eating sour foods such as sng buay (sour plums) can help reduce the nausea," advised SSG Suresh.

An empty stomach only makes matters worse! PTE Tan recommends filling one's stomach to "maintain the energy to execute your job when the ship is rolling and pounding."

"Rest will also minimise the disorientation," added PTE Ng.

Of course, when all else fails, there are always seasick pills, though they remain a last resort due to the drowsiness they may cause.

CPL Tan reported being "terribly seasick" once, and started keeping seasick pills handy from then on.

"I seldom had to use them though - just having them ready works well enough most of the time!" he quipped.

Aster missiles being loaded in preparation for their inaugural firing.

Mission accomplished

Despite the heaving seas and strong winds, the RSN's inaugural firing of the Aster Surface-to-Air missile was a success. Commanding Officer LTC Phang Soon Fatt attributed this success to his crew's 'dare and do' spirit.

"We experienced very rough seas and bad weather which made the firing more challenging, as well as the occasional mechanical defect. It was the team's sheer hard work, both during the preparations and on the voyage, which helped us to accomplish the mission."

Strengthening defence relations was another aspect of the mission accomplished.

"I felt that I have gained much knowledge from hearing about the practices and cultures of different navies," said SSG Suresh.

For MWO Singh, the interactions with foreign navies were even more significant.

"Many years ago, all we had were small boats. I felt quite shy to interact with folks from the larger navies!" he joked.

"Today, on board the frigate, I am so proud of our Navy for coming such a long way since then. Sailors from other navies actually want to find out more about the RSN!"

Home sweet home

Home is something even the most weathered mariner looks forward to - the smell of land and, more importantly, the loving embrace of family members.

The sailors PIONEER spoke to were no exception, from 'old sea dog' MWO Singh to the young and adventurous PTE Ng.

As fellow Singaporeans, you might have rightly guessed that the Intrepid's crew also sorely missed local hawker food!

"The first thing I will be doing when I get back, is to eat any local delicacy. The nearest hawker centre will be my first stop!" vowed PTE Ng.

But for now, he will have to make do with what 'Mr Sun' and 'Mr Moon' are cooking up