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] It 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).[2]
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.[3][4] The naval base was gradually reduced after Singapore gained independence in 1965 and it was ultimately handed over to Singapore in 1968.[4] The base was then converted into a commercial dockyard, known as Sembawang Shipyard Pte Ltd.[4]
As a repair and logistics support facility, the BDSSU 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][3]
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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.