British Defence Singapore Support Unit
| 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]
References
- ^ "Director of Overseas Bases". gov.uk. Ministry of Defence. 18 December 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
- ^ "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.