British Defence Singapore Support Unit

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]

British Defence Singapore Support Unit
Sembawang in Singapore
HMS Illustrious at the facility in 2013.
BDSSU
Location in Singapore
Coordinates1°27′46.8″N 103°49′59.7″E
TypeNaval facility
Site information
Owner United Kingdom
OperatorStrategic Command
Controlled byDirector of Overseas Bases
ConditionOperational
Site history
Built1938 (1938) (as HMNB Singapore)
In use1938 – present
Garrison information
Current
commander		Tim Hutchins
OccupantsNaval Party 1022

History

1938–2010
Main article: Singapore Naval Base

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 the World War II as a cornerstone of its Singapore strategy.[3][4] In 1924, the Battle of Singapore resulted in the base being taken over by the Japan. However, after the surrender of Japan in 1945, the base was returned to British control.[4]

After World War II, the naval base was gradually reduced in size after Singapore gained independence in 1965 and it was ultimately handed over to Singapore in 1968.[4] The base was then largely converted into a commercial dockyard, known as Sembawang Shipyard Pte Ltd.[4] However, some facilities were retained and maintained by ANZUK, an alliance between Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom to defend Singapore and Malaysia after the United Kingdom withdrew its forces from the East of Suez.[5] ANZUK was replaced by the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA), which included both Malaysia and Singapore, in 1971.[5] The BDSSU was one such facility maintained by the UK in order to support its FPDA commitments.[6]

2010–present

In November 2013, the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious visited the facility and was equipped with humanitarian aid and supplies destined for the Philippines in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan. Over 500 tonnes of equipment and stores were supplied to the ship in what the Royal Navy described as the "most ambitious storing that a Royal Navy ship has attempted to do within 24 hours" since the Falklands War in 1982.[7][8]

As a repair and logistics support facility, the BDSSU was underutilized by the Royal Navy until 2018, when the UK began a strategic return East of Suez.[9] The consequent re-surge 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 in the 1950s.[10][3] During this period, the facility provided more fuel than all of the naval bases in the United Kingdom.[11]

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 in 2019.[10] Singapore was among the options under consideration.[10][12]

In November 2020, Tim Hutchins became the unit's commander, succeeding Commander Paul Bastiaens.[13] At the time of his appointment, the unit comprised 33 personnel, consisting of UK service personnel and civilian contractors. An average of 120 vessels had also visited the unit over the past five years — primarily from the FPDA navies and the United States Navy — making it one of the busiest UK military-operated ports for frigate and destroyer movements.[13] His appointment came as the unit prepared to support the 50th anniversary Exercise Bersama Lama exercise held by the FPDA, which will see the first-time involvement of HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) and the UK Carrier Strike Group.[13]

See also

References
  1. "Director of Overseas Bases". gov.uk. Ministry of Defence. 18 December 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  2. 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.
  3. "HMS Montrose Arrives in Singapore". Royal Navy. 7 February 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  4. "Sembawang Naval Base". Singapore infopedia. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  5. "R.N.A.S. Sembawang". Fleet Air Arm Bases. Royal Navy Research Archive. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  6. "Eye on Sembawang: Flourishing in the far north". Yahoo! News. 8 April 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  7. "HMS Illustrious en route to the Philippines". GOV.UK. 22 November 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  8. "HMS Illustrious picks up stores for Philippines aid". GOV.UK. 21 November 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  9. Waters, Conrad (October 2019). World Naval Review 2020. Seaforh. ISBN 978-1-5267-6062-3.
  10. Thayer, Carl (17 January 2019). "After Brexit: Global Britain Plots Course to Return to the Far East". The Diplomat. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  11. "HMS Montrose Visits Singapore". Royal Navy. 20 February 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020. With three major British warships using the wharves last year, the small facility provided more fuel than all the home naval bases.
  12. 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.
  13. "New Commander of Singapore team prepares for carrier's Far East mission". Royal Navy. 25 November 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
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