British Defence Singapore Support Unit: Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 19:21, 13 October 2020
| British Defence Singapore Support Unit | |
|---|---|
| Part of Singapore Naval Base | |
| Sembawang in Singapore | |
| Type | Naval facility |
| Site information | |
| Owner |  United Kingdom |
| Operator |  Royal Navy |
| Garrison information | |
| Occupants | Naval Party 1022 |
The British Defence Singapore Support Unit (BDSSU) is a British naval facility located in Sembawang, Singapore. A remnant of a larger naval base, known as HMNB Singapore, the facility provides fuel and other supplies to Royal Navy ships in the region, as well as those of other countries.[1]
History
The facility has its origins in the larger HMNB Singapore (also known as HMS Terror), a naval base which was established by the United Kingdom during World War Two as a cornerstone of its Singapore Strategy.[2][3] The naval base was gradually reduced after Singapore gained independence in 1965 and it was ultimately handed over to Singapore in 1968.[3] The base was then converted into a commercial dockyard, known as Sembawang Shipyard Pte Ltd.[3]
Present
The British Defence Singapore Support Unit (BDSSU) is the only permanent Royal Navy presence to remain at the former naval base, which is maintained by Naval Party 1022 under the auspices of the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA).[4] As a repair and logistics support facility, it was underutilized by the Royal Navy until 2018, when the UK began a strategic return to the Asia-Pacific.[5] The consequent resurge in activity saw the facility supporting HMS Sutherland, HMS Albion, HMS Argyll and HMS Montrose within a 12-month period — the largest deployment of British warships to the region since the Korean War.[6][2]
In 2019, as part of an initiative to re-engage with the world after Brexit, the UK began evaluating options for a military base in the Far East.[6] Singapore was among the options under consideration.[6][7]
References
- ^ "Director of Overseas Bases". gov.uk. Ministry of Defence. 18 December 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
- ^ a b "HMS Montrose Arrives in Singapore". Royal Navy. 7 February 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
- ^ a b c "Sembawang Naval Base". Singapore infopedia. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
- ^ Dharmasingham, Ash. "East of Suez: A British Strategy for the Asian Century: Part Six. Malaysia and Singapore" (PDF). Kings College London. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
- ^ Waters, Conrad. World Naval Review 2020. Seaforh. ISBN 978-1-5267-6062-3.
- ^ a b c Thayer, Carl (17 January 2019). "After Brexit: Global Britain Plots Course to Return to the Far East". The Diplomat. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
- ^ Tossini, J. Vitor (1 March 2019). "A look at the considered locations for new British military bases overseas". UK Defence Journal. Retrieved 13 October 2020.