Singapore Naval Base
Encyclopedia
The Singapore Naval Base (as Her Majesty's Naval Base (HMNB) Singapore or HMS Sembawang), situated in Sembawang
at the northern tip of Singapore
, was a Royal Navy
Shore establishment
as well as being a cornerstone of British Defence policy (the Singapore strategy
) in the Far East
between the World Wars.
, as a deterrent to the increasingly ambitious Japanese Empire.
Originally announced in 1923, the construction of the base proceeded slowly at Sembawang
until the Japanese invasion of Manchuria
in 1931. It was completed in 1939 at a staggering cost of £60 million — equivalent to £2½ billion in 2006. The dock covered 21 square miles (54.4 km²) and had what was then the largest dry dock in the world, the third-largest floating dock, and enough fuel tanks to support the entire British Navy for six months.
It was defended by heavy 15-inch naval guns stationed at Johore battery
, Changi
, and at Buona Vista Battery
. Other important batteries of smaller calibre were located at Fort Siloso
, Fort Canning
, and Labrador
. Air defence relied on the Royal Air Force
airfields at RAF Tengah and RAF Sembawang.
Winston Churchill
touted it as the “Gibraltar of the East”.
After the fall of Malaya in 31 January 1942, Singapore came within range of the artillery guns of Imperial Japanese
Twenty-fifth Army positioned within sight of the base in Johor, which was poised to capture Singapore within 2 weeks thereafter
. The base was subsequently captured, largely intact, by units of the advancing Japanese Army and remained in Japanese control through the end of World War II
.
With the surrender of Japan in August 1945, control of the naval base and Singapore
was reverted to British and Commonwealth Forces in September 1945, when allied units of South East Asia Command
under Lord Louis Mountbatten
started to arrive in Singapore.
In line with Royal Navy's tradition of naming their respective naval base and dockyard, the accommodation barracks adjacent to the base became known as HMS Terror
(from 1945 to 1971) in honour of , a Erebus class monitor
armed with twin 15-inch guns, which was based at one time in Singapore before the war. Since 1972, part of the compound is now occupied by the Republic of Singapore Navy
's Naval Diving Unit (NDU)
.
With the complete withdrawal of British forces from Singapore in 1971
, the Naval Base has since been handed over to the Singapore government
, which in 1968 converted it into a commercial dockyard (as Sembawang Shipyard, now part of Singapore Exchange
-listed SembCorp Marine
). However, the British Ministry Of Defence (MoD)
continues to maintain a small logistics base at Sembawang wharf in order to control most of the foreign military activities there, which includes repair, refuel and resupply for ships of the Australian, British and New Zealand navies as well as those from other Commonwealth countries
under the auspices of Five Power Defence Arrangements
(FPDA).
As part of a 1990 agreement (concluded in 1992) between Singapore and the United States
, American military forces
(primarily naval
and air force
) have been making use of Sembawang's base facilities. The Task Force 73/Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific has been headquartered in Sembawang since 1992, providing logistic
support for the U.S. 7th Fleet in its operations in the Pacific and Southeast Asia
.
Apart from the US naval presence, the United States Air Force
has its administration, logistics and support component for the 497th Combat Training Squadron
being based there, while the squadron's flight operations are based out of Paya Lebar Air Base.
to disable the dry dock in late 1944 and early 1945.
Sembawang
Sembawang is an area in the Northern-most portion of Singapore, encompassing the largest land mass within the Sembawang Group Representation Constituency. The incumbent Member of Parliament for the Sembawang Constituency is Khaw Boon Wan. The constituency jurisdiction extends into the Woodlands...
at the northern tip of Singapore
North Region, Singapore
The North Region of Singapore is one of the five regions in the city-state. Comprising 13,500 hectares of land area, it includes eight urban planning areas and has a population of at least 400,000...
, was a Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
Shore establishment
Stone frigate
Stone frigate is a nickname for a naval establishment on land. The term has its origin in Britain's Royal Navy after its use of Diamond Rock, off Martinique, as a 'sloop of war' to harass the French...
as well as being a cornerstone of British Defence policy (the Singapore strategy
Singapore strategy
The Singapore strategy was a strategy of the British Empire between 1919 and 1941. It was a series of war plans that evolved over a twenty year period to deter or defeat aggression by the Empire of Japan by basing a fleet of the Royal Navy at Singapore. Ideally, this fleet would be able to...
) in the Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
between the World Wars.
History
After the Great War, the British government devoted significant resources into building a naval base in SingaporeSingapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, as a deterrent to the increasingly ambitious Japanese Empire.
Originally announced in 1923, the construction of the base proceeded slowly at Sembawang
Sembawang
Sembawang is an area in the Northern-most portion of Singapore, encompassing the largest land mass within the Sembawang Group Representation Constituency. The incumbent Member of Parliament for the Sembawang Constituency is Khaw Boon Wan. The constituency jurisdiction extends into the Woodlands...
until the Japanese invasion of Manchuria
Manchuria
Manchuria is a historical name given to a large geographic region in northeast Asia. Depending on the definition of its extent, Manchuria usually falls entirely within the People's Republic of China, or is sometimes divided between China and Russia. The region is commonly referred to as Northeast...
in 1931. It was completed in 1939 at a staggering cost of £60 million — equivalent to £2½ billion in 2006. The dock covered 21 square miles (54.4 km²) and had what was then the largest dry dock in the world, the third-largest floating dock, and enough fuel tanks to support the entire British Navy for six months.
It was defended by heavy 15-inch naval guns stationed at Johore battery
Johore battery
The Johore Battery was a set of three large naval guns installed in Changi, Singapore, by the British in the second half of the 1930s, to defend the approaches to the Naval Base at Sembawang.- History :...
, Changi
Changi
Changi is an area at the eastern end of Singapore. It is now the site of Singapore Changi Airport/Changi Air Base, Changi Naval Base and is also home to Changi Prison, site of the former Japanese Prisoner of War Camp during World War II which held Allied prisoners captured in Singapore and Malaysia...
, and at Buona Vista Battery
Buona Vista Battery
The Buona Vista Battery was the site of two 15" guns that were constructed during the late 1930's as part of the Singapore defenses.-History:...
. Other important batteries of smaller calibre were located at Fort Siloso
Fort Siloso
Fort Siloso is the sole restored coastal gun battery from the twelve such batteries which made up "Fortress Singapore" at the start of World War II...
, Fort Canning
Fort Canning
Fort Canning is a small hill slightly more than 60 metres high in the southeast portion of the island city-state of Singapore, within the Central Area that forms Singapore's central business district...
, and Labrador
Fort Pasir Panjang
Fort Pasir Panjang or Labrador Battery is located within the lush Labrador Park at the southern tip of Singapore island. It was one of the 11 coastal artillery forts built by the British in the 19th century to defend the western passageway into Keppel Harbour against piracy and foreign naval powers...
. Air defence relied on the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
airfields at RAF Tengah and RAF Sembawang.
Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
touted it as the “Gibraltar of the East”.
After the fall of Malaya in 31 January 1942, Singapore came within range of the artillery guns of Imperial Japanese
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
Twenty-fifth Army positioned within sight of the base in Johor, which was poised to capture Singapore within 2 weeks thereafter
Battle of Singapore
The Battle of Singapore was fought in the South-East Asian theatre of the Second World War when the Empire of Japan invaded the Allied stronghold of Singapore. Singapore was the major British military base in Southeast Asia and nicknamed the "Gibraltar of the East"...
. The base was subsequently captured, largely intact, by units of the advancing Japanese Army and remained in Japanese control through the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
With the surrender of Japan in August 1945, control of the naval base and Singapore
Operation Tiderace
Operation Tiderace was the codename of the British plan to retake Singapore in 1945. The liberation force was led by Lord Louis Mountbatten, Supreme Allied Commander of South East Asia Command...
was reverted to British and Commonwealth Forces in September 1945, when allied units of South East Asia Command
South East Asia Command
South East Asia Command was the body set up to be in overall charge of Allied operations in the South-East Asian Theatre during World War II.-Background:...
under Lord Louis Mountbatten
Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma
Admiral of the Fleet Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas George Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, KG, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, DSO, PC, FRS , was a British statesman and naval officer, and an uncle of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
started to arrive in Singapore.
In line with Royal Navy's tradition of naming their respective naval base and dockyard, the accommodation barracks adjacent to the base became known as HMS Terror
HMS Terror
Nine ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Terror:*HMS Terror was a 4-gun bomb vessel launched in 1696, and captured and burnt by the French in 1704.*HMS Terror was a 14-gun bomb vessel launched in 1741 and sold in 1754....
(from 1945 to 1971) in honour of , a Erebus class monitor
Erebus class monitor
The Erebus class of monitors of the Royal Navy consisted of two ships: HMS Erebus and HMS Terror.* HMS Erebus was built by Harland and Wolff, Govan. She was laid down 12 October 1915, launched on 19 June 1916 and commissioned in September 1916...
armed with twin 15-inch guns, which was based at one time in Singapore before the war. Since 1972, part of the compound is now occupied by the Republic of Singapore Navy
Republic of Singapore Navy
The Republic of Singapore Navy is the naval component of the Singapore Armed Forces , responsible for the defence of Singapore against sea-borne threats and protection of its sea lines of communications. Operating within the crowded littoral waters of the Singapore Strait, the RSN is regarded as...
's Naval Diving Unit (NDU)
Naval Diving Unit (Singapore)
The Naval Diving Unit is a Special Forces unit of the Republic of Singapore Navy, and is regularly tasked in salvage operations, underwater mine demolition and commando-type warfare.-Recruitment:...
.
With the complete withdrawal of British forces from Singapore in 1971
East of Suez
The phrase East of Suez is used in British military and political discussions in reference to imperial interests beyond the European theatre ....
, the Naval Base has since been handed over to the Singapore government
Government of Singapore
The Government of Singapore is defined by the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore to mean the Executive branch of government, which is made up of the President and the Cabinet of Singapore. Although the President acts in his personal discretion in the exercise of certain functions as a check...
, which in 1968 converted it into a commercial dockyard (as Sembawang Shipyard, now part of Singapore Exchange
Singapore Exchange
Singapore Exchange Limited is an investment holding company located in Singapore and providing different services related to securities and derivatives trading and others. SGX is a member of the World Federation of Exchanges and the Asian and Oceanian Stock Exchanges FederationSingapore Exchange...
-listed SembCorp Marine
SembCorp Marine
Sembcorp Marine Limited is part of SembCorp Industries, an Asian company based in Singapore. It is listed on the Singapore stock exchange or SGX and is part of the Straits Times Index there...
). However, the British Ministry Of Defence (MoD)
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
continues to maintain a small logistics base at Sembawang wharf in order to control most of the foreign military activities there, which includes repair, refuel and resupply for ships of the Australian, British and New Zealand navies as well as those from other Commonwealth countries
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
under the auspices of Five Power Defence Arrangements
Five Power Defence Arrangements
The Five Power Defence Arrangements are a series of defence relationships established by a series of bilateral agreements between the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Singapore signed in 1971, whereby the five states will consult each other in the event of external aggression...
(FPDA).
As part of a 1990 agreement (concluded in 1992) between Singapore and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, American military forces
United States armed forces
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
(primarily naval
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
and air force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
) have been making use of Sembawang's base facilities. The Task Force 73/Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific has been headquartered in Sembawang since 1992, providing logistic
Military logistics
Military logistics is the discipline of planning and carrying out the movement and maintenance of military forces. In its most comprehensive sense, it is those aspects or military operations that deal with:...
support for the U.S. 7th Fleet in its operations in the Pacific and Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
.
Apart from the US naval presence, the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
has its administration, logistics and support component for the 497th Combat Training Squadron
497th Combat Training Squadron
The 497th Combat Training Squadron is a United States Air Force unit. Its present assignment is to Paya Lebar Airbase, Singapore, where its mission is to provides operational and logistical support to U.S...
being based there, while the squadron's flight operations are based out of Paya Lebar Air Base.
Installations
Admiralty IX Floating Dry Dock
A large floating dry dock was located at the base.King George VI Graving Dock
The graving dock was completed in February 1938 and was more than 300 meters in length and was the largest dry dock in the world at the time. With the impending capture of Singapore by the Imperial Japanese Army in 1942, the dry dock gates were blown off and machinery destroyed. The dock was subsequently repaired and used throughout the war and was subjected to Allied air attacksBombing of Singapore (1944–1945)
The Bombing of Singapore was a military campaign conducted by the Allied air forces during World War II. United States Army Air Forces long-range bomber units conducted 11 air raids on Japanese-occupied Singapore between November 1944 and March 1945...
to disable the dry dock in late 1944 and early 1945.
See also
- Japanese occupation of SingaporeJapanese Occupation of SingaporeThe Japanese occupation of Singapore in World War II occurred between about 1942 and 1945 after the fall of Singapore on 15 February 1942. Military forces of the Empire of Japan occupied Singapore after defeating the combined Australian, British, Indian and Malayan garrison in the Battle of Singapore...
- Bombing of Singapore (1944–1945)Bombing of Singapore (1944–1945)The Bombing of Singapore was a military campaign conducted by the Allied air forces during World War II. United States Army Air Forces long-range bomber units conducted 11 air raids on Japanese-occupied Singapore between November 1944 and March 1945...
- British military historyBritish military historyThe Military history of Britain, including the military history of the United Kingdom and the military history of the island of Great Britain, is discussed in the following articles:...
- British Far East CommandBritish Far East CommandThe Far East Command was a British military command which had 2 distinct periods. These were firstly, 18 November 1940 – 7 January 1942 succeeded by the American-British-Dutch-Australian Command , and secondly, 1963 – 1971 succeeded by Australia, New Zealand, and United Kingdom Force...
- Eastern Fleet
- Far East Strategic ReserveFar East Strategic ReserveThe British Commonwealth Far East Strategic Reserve was a joint military force of the British, Australian, and New Zealand armed forces...
- SembCorp MarineSembCorp MarineSembcorp Marine Limited is part of SembCorp Industries, an Asian company based in Singapore. It is listed on the Singapore stock exchange or SGX and is part of the Straits Times Index there...