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RSN25 and RSN50 Time Capsule Items
1 May 2017
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Introduction
A time capsule was commissioned for the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN)'s 25th anniversary to preserve artefacts related to significant milestones in the RSN's history. This time capsule was recently opened, revealing artefacts from that era of the RSN.
Similarly, this year, during the RSN's Navy Day celebrations on 5 May 2017, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will seal the RSN50 time capsule. The RSN50 time capsule will be placed in the Navy Museum, and will only be opened when the RSN turns 75 in the year 2042.
RSN25 Time Capsule Items
The RSN25 time capsule items provide insights into the RSN in 1992. The descriptions of selected items can be found in Table 1.
Table 1
Table caption
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Aspirations for the Navy in 2017 | These were the aspirations for the RSN penned in 1992. 25 years later, the RSN has achieved and even surpassed some of them. For example: ●" …formidable coastal and strike capabilities against three-dimensional threats…" ○The Formidable-class frigates with capabilities against three-dimensional threats were acquired in 2007. ●"…some female officers may even be the Commanding Officers of ships and units" ○In 1999, LTC (RET) Tay Poh Ling was the first female naval officer to become a ship Commanding Officer. ●"…our engineers will be capable of designing our very own warships" ○The locally designed and built Fearless-class patrol vessels were commissioned from 1996 to 1998. |
Pictorial History of Brani Naval Base | This book documents in photos the RSN's first naval base, Brani Naval Base. Brani Naval Base on Pulau Brani was opened by founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew on 26 Jan 1974. It was home to the RSN for 26 years until it closed on 12 Oct 2000. Today, the RSN operates two naval bases – one in Tuas and the other in Changi. |
Commemorative Medallion | The RSN was honoured to receive this commemorative medallion from the Singapore Mint during its 25th anniversary in 1992. This year, at 50, the RSN is honoured to have an orchid named after the RSN, in recognition of the RSN's contributions towards international diplomacy. |
RSN Magazine from 1992 | An RSN magazine from 1992. The cover photo shows a Harpoon missile live firing – first conducted by the RSN in 1987 on RSS Sea Hawk, a Sea Wolf-class missile gunboat. The Harpoon missiles are now mounted on the RSN's Victory-class missile corvettes and Formidable-class frigates. The RSN also operates the Barak, Aster and MICA anti-missile / aircraft missile systems. |
Aerial photos of Tuas Naval Base | These photos show Tuas Naval Base before it was developed. Tuas Naval Base was the RSN's second naval base, opened on 2 Sep 1994 by then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong. Today, Tuas Naval Base is home to the RSN's Bedok-class mine counter-measure vessels, Fearless-class patrol vessels and Victory-class missile corvettes. On 5 May 2017, they will be joined by the first Independence-class Littoral Mission Vessel. |
RSN50 Time Capsule Items
The RSN50 time capsule is shaped like a replica of a typical compartment on-board an RSN ship with a watertight door. Like how a watertight door maintains a ships watertight integrity, this time capsule is meant to preserve the "integrity" and timelessness of the artefacts sealed within.
The items to be placed in the RSN50 time capsule highlight the RSN's key achievements since its Silver Jubilee in 1992. This includes achievements in naval diplomacy, deployment structure and engineering and logistics capabilities. The descriptions for selected RSN50 time capsule items can be found in Table 2.
Table 2
Table caption
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Sail Navy 2000 | This is a framed poster of the ports-of-call during Sail Navy 2000, the RSN's first round-the-world voyage. During her maiden deployment starting on Navy Day 2000, RSS Endurance visited nine ports and sailed through the Panama and Suez canals. During the four-month deployment, RSS Endurance sailed over 25,000 nautical miles (46,300 kilometres). |
Replica of the Littoral Mission Vessel | A replica of the Independence-class littoral mission vessel (LMV) symbolising the commissioning of the "flagship of our future navy". The LMVs are locally designed and built, and are highly capable warships designed and equipped with advanced combat capabilities and technologies to strengthen the RSN's capability in the seaward defence of Singapore and to protect our sea lines of communication. The LMVs are expected to fully replace the Fearless-class patrol vessels by 2020. |