Modern day piracy are still active in SEA especially in the Straits of Malacca(longest in the world).Malaysia,Indonesia and Singapore are worried about a slight increase in no of attacks recently.Most of the attack occurred during the wee hours in the morning and in most cases the pirates managed to hijacked the vessels in exchance for a ransom payment.US and Indian navy has decided to escort their commercial vessels in order to deter such attack.Malaysian Navy/police faces some difficulties whenever they try to react to such attack due to international borders.It is believed that all of the pirates originated from Indonesia and the Indonesian govt.are reluctant to grant access for cross border sea chase.Singapore Navy/coast guard also face the same dilemma.Economic difficulties in Indonesia have forced some of their fishermen into piracy.Action is not been taken seriously by the Indonesian and lack of men/instruments were given as an excuse.There is also some reports that the Indonesian Navy themselves were involved in such attacks.Questions is should the enforcement officers ignored international borders in order to nail this pirates?Maybe UN patrol force?The hunt is on….again.
By: Glenn - 24th April 2002 at 14:25
RE: Piracy a major concern in SOUTH EAST ASIA.
Good points!!
There are simple answers though from a sovereignty point of view for any nation in the firing line.
1. Ocean going patrol vessels. Well armed and equipped for a month’s endurance at a time. These would be deployed far from territorial waters to scout for problems or patrol problem areas, and even escort ships heading in, if the problem gets really bad.
2. Advanced long range martime airborne recon/patrol, unmanned or manned. The best solution for picking up the bandits and their possible hideouts.
3. Commercial vessels could be better armed for the sake of self-defence. Not deck guns, but a better armoury for the crew which would come in handy if boarded by thugs bent on doing harm.
Regards, Glenn.
By: tomel - 24th April 2002 at 13:24
RE: Some home truths!
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 24-04-02 AT 01:39 PM (GMT)]This are images of RMN latest NGPV,first two shall be delivered by 2003.The vessel incorporate a numbers of advance features.Among others the NGPV has some stealth capabilities,traditional funnel is deleted,water sprinkler for heat reducing,advanced 3D radar and other sensor.Range up to 6500nm at 18 knots.The vessel armament/sensor can be upgraded within days due to modular MEKO concepts.Basic armaments:1 x76mm OTOBREDA DP GUN,1 X30mm OTOBREDA CIWS,2 X12.7mm HMG,4 X EXOCET MM40 ITL 70,16 X VLSAM or RAM.In ASW modes in could be equipped with towed array sonar+MU 90 IMPACT/WHITEHEAD torpedos.AAW version can launched ASTER class of missiles.This kind of vessel is very suitable for patrol duties due to low initial cost,modular design,ease of ops,advance features eg.stealth inclining hull/superstructure and CPP.The next 25 vessel will be built totally in Malaysia.RAN should take the next logical step by replacing their aging Freemantle patrol boats.Without suitable boats the Australian govt tend to lost millions of dollars a year to this pirates/fishermen.
Attachments:
By: Ja Worsley - 24th April 2002 at 07:53
RE: Some home truths!
Indonesia inheritaed some of our old Attack Class Patrol Boats, but these were similar to the FCPB’s that we have now.
I mentioned before about the posibility of the Southern Nations (Australia, Chilie and South Africa) forming a Tri-National Policing force based on a standard type (Say the Tenix design) and the pro’s and Cons of such opperations. These three are the biggest nations in the Southern Hemisphere (Argentina is out because of ecconomic problems, same with Brazil).
Last year we had an incursion occure where the RAN was forced to chase the perpertraitors from Australian Territorial waters, over to South Africa and back before we caught them. If we had helo capable ships then this would never have happened. And also highlights the co-opperation between SAN and the RAN, which even during the oppresive years of aphartheid, has always been strong.
What would the members think of such a Policing force in the Southern Oceans of the world? Could something on a similar scale be done with the SOM?
Leave no-one behind!
By: tomel - 24th April 2002 at 01:10
RE: Some home truths!
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 24-04-02 AT 01:15 AM (GMT)]Malaysian NGPV.27 to be built by local company with GNG help.Sorry there is some mistake with this posting.ignore.
Attachments:
By: djcross - 23rd April 2002 at 17:56
RE: Some home truths!
It’s a sad fact of human nature that many would rather steal from others than work. Work is hard. Why do hard things when the easy path is available. In ‘uncivilized’ cultures it’s called piracy, banditry or graft. In the ‘civilized’ world, its called socialism. The tactics are different, but the results still have the lazy benefiting from the labor of the industrious.
By: tomel - 23rd April 2002 at 15:21
RE: Some home truths!
Well for those who thinks that piracy in SEA(Straits of Malacca)does not effect their personal interest,they should think again.I like to stress here that SOM is the busiest in the world.All of the goods from US/ASIA/EU must passed through this narrow passage in order to reach their destinations on time and at cost.If this passage is blocked by whatever reasons, then most goods wiil be more expensive+certain economy shall be destroy(eg.Singapore).Ja,i’m surprised to know that certain FFV have vessel mounted weapons.This kind of ‘terrorism’should be addressed ASAP.To lesser extent illegal fishing also need to be check regularly.I believe RAN are well versed in this area(Indonesian,China even Japan)seems to be the major violators.On the Fremantle class vessel, i strongly support the moves to replace it with the new Tenix design.RMN have similar design armed with twin 40mm Bofors which are to old to perform their duties effectively.This are to be replace by MEKO 100 NGPV(27 units)the first 2 due in 2003.RAN should equipped its fleet with suitable vessels to counter this menace,ANZAC are to big.Forget about carrier,OPV +helos is the solutions+cheap=no loss of national resources.This OPV can be easily converted into corvettes within days thus could provide the needed surface combattants for combat.
By: Ja Worsley - 23rd April 2002 at 07:42
Some home truths!
Very good points Tommel, and something that we have discussed on the other sight that I write for!
I was in the Royal Australian Navy and some of the patrols that we have done has been in relation to piracy acts in the Malacca straight, our FCPB’s regularly go up top on patrols in this area and more often than not come up against a better equiped force opposing them.
Some of the weapons that I personally have seen on FFV’s (Foreign Fishing Vessels), are Otto-Melara 76mm (3″) D.P. guns, Maverick (ASM’s- fitted out to be fired from a ship) and of coarse, Stingers. I have also seen alot of old soviet era weapons that can still do damage.
This is serious concern to our navy, our FCPB’s (Freemantle Class Patrol Boats) are only armed with Bofors 40/60mm Guns on the forward deck and two .50cal mg’s. The 81mm Mortar that originally was mounted aft, was removed along time ago.
This heightens the debate over a replacement Patrol Boat carring a helo aft, should the government really want to push the tide of priacy back, then clearly the only real opption is to precure the Tenix design. Tenix have been active on this replacement for the past 20 years, since they were part of ADF Australia. Since the opening up of the military sector of buisness here in Australia, Tenix has been at the spearhead of every major defence contract.
If you wish to view the tenix offer for the replacement, or any other product that they have on offer (e.g. Malaysia’s boats being built by Tenix) then here is the web site.
Couple this offer with an increase in SH-2G(A)’s and a fleet of say 6 RQ-4A Globalhawks (of which there is a new Maritime Patrol Version being built with the ability to carry a weapons load, no word yet on weapons fit, but posibily designated the RQ-4B) and Australia will be able to do much more in the war against piracy!
Leave no-one behind!
Sign In
April 23, 2002 at 6:37 am