ONCE, TWICE, THREE TIMES INDEPENDENCE

The Republic of Singapore Navy's (RSN's) RSS Independence has been patrolling Singapore's waters for five decades, in three different ships. What are its stories?

RSS Independence.

The name was first given to a Patrol Craft (PC) tasked with the responsibility of defending Singapore, a young nation newly-separated from Malaysia and searching for its own identity.

As the country grew as an international shipping centre, Patrol Vessel (PV) RSS Independence kept the straits safe for the tens of thousands of merchant ships coming to trade at its port. Fifty years on,
RSS Independence continues to instill confidence in the nation's defence.

As the name of the new Littoral Mission Vessel (LMV), RSS Independence also represents Singapore's development into a technological hub. So, what's in a name?

Standing up for our independence

RSS Independence was the first new ship to be acquired by post-Independence Singapore. It was the first of six Independence-class PCs, which would be equipped with modern technologies like automated turrets and radar.

When RSS Independence was commissioned in December 1970, there was an urgent need to staff the ship, together with the fledgling Navy. Major (MAJ) (Ret) Alan Aw, the ship's pioneer Commanding Officer (CO), recalled the extent he went to in order to recruit sailors.

"I went to schools to talk to the students, urging them to join the Navy. I also went to the (Singapore Armed Forces') manpower section to pull in pre-enlistees who were trained in merchant navies," he said.

"We did this so that we could cut short the training time. Later on, we encouraged them to become Regulars. That was how we built up the Navy."

RSS Independence's role then was primarily to patrol and keep Singapore's surrounding waters safe. And keep Singapore safe, it did.

On 31 Jan 1974, four terrorists attempted to blow up the Shell oil refinery on Pulau Bukom in support of the communist north in the Vietnam War, before hijacking a ferry, Laju, and holding its crew hostage.

With their guns trained on the hijacked boat, the crew of RSS Independence kept watch.

"I could see the ferry coming in to do the negotiations. Later, I learnt that (the late) Mr S R Nathan was one of the negotiating officers," said Captain (CPT) (Ret) Philip Tay, who was then CO of the ship.

Despite the tense situation, the crew remained unfazed.

The negotiations eventually fell through peacefully and the hijackers were flown to Kuwait days later.

"We were the first ship on the scene. The arms were manned and we were ready to fire if necessary. For a full three to four days, we stayed within visible distance of Laju." - CPT (Ret) Philip Tay

Growing more independent

As the RSN grew in the decades that followed, so did its fleet of warships. The Fearless-class PVs were designed and built locally, and on 22 Aug 1998, RSS Independence joined the fleet as the final PV of the class.

In replacing the PCs, RSS Independence and its sister PVs carried on their role of patrolling Singapore's surroundings, including Horsburgh Lighthouse, built on Pedra Branca.

RSS Independence's careful watch even led to the saving of lives. On 22 Sep 2015, it received a distress signal: a Malaysia-registered boat carrying five crew members had met with an accident.

Military Expert (ME) 2 Jegatheswaran still remembers the incident clearly: "We were doing our normal patrolling off Pedra Branca when we spotted a fishing trawler that had capsized."

"We immediately went over and saved the crew. We brought them on board our ship and gave them medical assistance. The look on their faces, their relief, was something I'll never forget," said the Marine System Supervisor. He spent six years serving on board RSS Independence, and was part of its last crew when it was decommissioned on 8 Mar 2017.

The PV was also known for being the platform on which junior naval officers would cut their teeth. ME4 Tan Ho Eng, RSS Independence's first Coxswain, found himself becoming a father figure to its young crew: "The junior officers came here to clock experience, before moving on to the bigger ships. That's why I had to maintain high standards for them as Petty Officers."

Like a proud father, he reminisced about his early days as the first key appointment holder assigned to the ship. "As a pioneer, I had the privilege of seeing the ship gradually filled with crew and preparing for operational readiness. We had REDCON (Readiness Condition) training to build up the crew's knowledge in the operating systems."

He added: "The responsibility level was high because I had to make sure that everything was in order before the CO and Executive Officer arrived."

The sun never sets on RSS Indy

As the ensigns were being lowered from one RSS Independence for the last time at Tuas Naval Base on the evening of 8 Mar, another RSS Independence was getting ready to raise the same ensigns once again.

On 5 May, the third RSS Independence, the LMV, was commissioned by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. It is the first of the newest Independence-class vessels faster and smarter ships with sharper warfighting capabilities.

In addition to being configurable with mission modules to suit a wide spectrum of operations, one of the ship's key design features is the Integrated Command Centre (ICC).

Previously, the Bridge, Combat Information Centre and Machinery Control Room were located in different parts of a ship. Now, the three are co-located in the ICC. This will integrate and synergise the management of navigation, engineering and combat functions.

The ship can take on a range of missions ranging from security operations in peacetime to conventional warfighting, said pioneer CO Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Tay Choong Hern.

As the first to "test-sail" the ship, RSS Independence's crew had the unique responsibility of contributing to its design to improve ease of operation. This was part of the ship's "designing the support" philosophy.

LTC Tay explained: "The pioneer crew was brought in at the final stage of the construction (to do) what we call 'general fitting'. For example, we might say, 'We think this would be better placed here because this is how we will operate.'"

Communication Cluster Chief ME2 Iris Leow agreed: "As the first of the class, we are the ones who have to run through everything (and) modify them to make things better. Subsequent ships will then have an example to follow."

So what's in a name? RSS Independence has proven that it is one which leaves a lasting legacy.

What does the word "independence" mean to you?

"The word signifies that we are now independent and on our own, and we have to look after our own defence." - CPT (Ret) Philip Tay, CO of Patrol Craft (1973-1975)

"Independence came to Singapore at a price. As the saying goes, we are masters of our own destinies. The defence of Singapore is in our hands." - LTC (Ret) Lim Hock Chye, pioneer CO of Patrol Vessel (1998- 2000)

"When it comes to defence, we have to be self-reliant. The word 'independence' represents this: As a country, we have to be self-reliant." - MAJ Chew Kwok Tiong, last CO of Patrol Vessel (2015-2017)

"From the days as a colony to when we fought for freedom, and then to our leaving Malaya to become an independent state, every Singaporean has a part to play in safeguarding our independence." - ME2 Jegatheswaran, last crew member of Patrol Vessel (2011-2017)

"It reminds me of Singapore's independence and all the things the ships are doing out at sea to ensure a safer Singapore." - ME2 Iris Leow, pioneer crew of Littoral Mission Vessel

"It is the reason we sail and what we fight for. It also serves as a reminder that this purpose has never changed throughout the generations, from the Navy's early days till today." - LTC Tay Choong Hern, pioneer CO of
Littoral Mission Vessel