Sepangar Bay to be strategic base
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Sepangar Bay to be strategic base
KOTA KINABALU: MalaysiaÂ’s new naval base at Sepangar Bay will become a strategic regional base to accommodate not only submarines but also cater for the needs of bigger class foreign vessels, including aircraft carriers.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the base would be fully operational in mid-2009 with the acquisition of the French-made Scorpene submarines.
He said the RM1bil base, which also has a naval air station, had been in operationsince Aug 31 last year, when the Labuan Region Two Command headquarters from Sabah and Sarawak moved there.
“So far, we have expended RM660mil and RM330mil more will be spent to complete the entire base facilities,” he said, adding that it would be home to about 2,000 to 2,500 personnel once it was fully operational.
“This is our main and strategic base covering the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea.
“We are locating our main assets here,” he said.
On the training of 145 Malaysian submariners in France, Najib said it was progressing smoothly.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/6/12/nation/17993653&sec=nation
Malaysia really wanted to play host to foreign navies with carriers or they have their own carrier ambition? The topic of having a light aircraft carrier have frequently been brought up by Malaysian military officers in the past. -
South China Sea is going to be quite happening.
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Spratly anyone?
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please let them dream up a light carrier ..... so that money would be diverted from more pressing needs ....
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please let them dream up a light carrier ..... so that money would be diverted from more pressing needs ....
actually they meant that base could support friendly nation carrier... -
South China Sea (and to a lesser extent Sulu Sea) are strategic sea lanes for transporting oil and materials to China, Korea and Japan, hence it is logical to have a base in that region. I don't think M'sia wants or can afford an aircraft carrier (to carry fighter planes) or even a large helicopter carrier. Maybe a fleet of LST like our Endurance class is what they are planning for (they do have a shortage in modern LST/supply ship in their fleet). The Chakri Naruebet is a good example of white elephant and what not to buy. If they aren't planning on their own LST, the question is which navy's aircraft carrier are they thinking of hosting. Probably not US. Hmm..maybe Russian? Which other navy has aircraft/helicopter carriers?
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The Royal Navy and French. Some of the European powers too, but they never send them off for very long term deployment as far as here.Originally posted by OldBird69:South China Sea (and to a lesser extent Sulu Sea) are strategic sea lanes for transporting oil and materials to China, Korea and Japan, hence it is logical to have a base in that region. I don't think M'sia wants or can afford an aircraft carrier (to carry fighter planes) or even a large helicopter carrier. Maybe a LST like our Endurance class is what they are planning for. The Chakri Naruebet is a good example of white elephant adn what not to buy. Question is which navy's aircraft carrier are they thinking of hosting. Probably not US. Hmm..maybe Russian? Which other navy has aircraft/helicopter carriers? -
OH NOES. THey be stealing our clients!
No lar they build a base there to expand their naval capabilities in that region. Maybe they hide more ships there where we cant see as well. -
doublepost
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they are probably wary of PRC naval expansion. while keeping naval asset further distance from the south.
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Malaysia is a contender in the race to take the Spratlys. It's a forward deployment.Originally posted by Arapahoe:they are probably wary of PRC naval expansion. while keeping naval asset further distance from the south. -
Another boost to ASEAN's forward military posture.
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another target for singapore to bomb
ok out of point. -
Read the news about Australian Navy procurement with power projection. Talks about navy expansion here in asia..... Sizzling !Originally posted by LazerLordz:Another boost to ASEAN's forward military posture.
I wonder if New Zealand is going to procure any fighters or they are going to wait until PLAN park their aircraft carrier in the pacific. -
The world can be at a world war, and life goes on in New Zealand. Unless sheep and cows suddenly become rare commodities. Heh.
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Who the heck even wants to care about NZ? No strategic value whatsoever.Originally posted by Arapahoe:Read the news about Australian Navy procurement with power projection. Talks about navy expansion here in asia..... Sizzling !
I wonder if New Zealand is going to procure any fighters or they are going to wait until PLAN park their aircraft carrier in the pacific. -
Asset will be diverted to Aus Flank if cold war turn south.Originally posted by Fingolfin_Noldor:Who the heck even wants to care about NZ? No strategic value whatsoever. -
And? Unless Antarctica suddenly gains importance, NZ is going to be useless lump of rock. No natural resources even worth looking. Given their isolation, they are more likely to sign some peace treaty with whoever takes control of Australia just so they don't die out due to some naval blockade or something. Saves them money and blood.Originally posted by Arapahoe:Asset will be diverted to Aus Flank if cold war turn south. -
With the RAN in the fold, ASEAN's naval projection and sphere of influence can potentially contain any rogue PLAN adventure down south.Originally posted by Arapahoe:Read the news about Australian Navy procurement with power projection. Talks about navy expansion here in asia..... Sizzling !
I wonder if New Zealand is going to procure any fighters or they are going to wait until PLAN park their aircraft carrier in the pacific. -
the south pacific is a trade route, PRC depend resources from Brazil, Argentine freight carriers travel from US to australia into Asia . Naval projection is rarely about land isn't it is more about shipping lane. hypothetically if there is a trade embargo. n PRC say "up yours" I am escorting my commercial lane.Originally posted by Fingolfin_Noldor:And? Unless Antarctica suddenly gains importance, NZ is going to be useless lump of rock. No natural resources even worth looking. Given their isolation, they are more likely to sign some peace treaty with whoever takes control of Australia just so they don't die out due to some naval blockade or something. Saves them money and blood. -
Why bother with those countries if Australia is taken? Australia has oil, food, etc. etc. and most importantly Uranium? They have a sizable mining industry!Originally posted by Arapahoe:the south pacific is a trade route, PRC depend resources from Brazil, Argentine freight carriers travel from US to australia into Asia . Naval projection is rarely about land isn't it is more about shipping lane. hypothetically if there is a trade embargo. n PRC say "up yours" I am escorting my commercial lane.
Besides, Naval Projection across the Pacific is difficult at best unless the Chinese take control of say Pearl Harbour. The US Navy can run down all the way to S. America and simply indulge convoy hunting. For the Chinese to project power that far would simply require too much fuel and manpower to maintain. It is a very very long logistical train. -
PLAN maybe have planned for that (this is akward lol) but PLAN is not a blue water navy yet.
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nobody is talking about war heating up, protecting commercial lane to ensure continuing expansion of its economies, PRC have interest in the Panama canal as they own some port terminal, the procure arigculture grains from S.A. these are vital lane.Originally posted by Fingolfin_Noldor:Why bother with those countries if Australia is taken? Australia has oil, food, etc. etc. and most importantly Uranium? They have a sizable mining industry!
Besides, Naval Projection across the Pacific is difficult at best unless the Chinese take control of say Pearl Harbour. The US Navy can run down all the way to S. America and simply indulge convoy hunting. For the Chinese to project power that far would simply require too much fuel and manpower to maintain. It is a very very long logistical train.
if we come to the day where PRC have to walk in aus for resources the world we know is at a very different place. -
Actually, if China can get its act together, it doesnt NEED Australias, food, oil and mining industry. It already has more than it can handle.
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Read the news about Australian Navy procurement with power projection. Talks about navy expansion here in asia..... Sizzling !
They have a rather transparent procurement process. That is not the case for most of Asia though. Singapore is secretive. You`ll only smell it when it`s baked and ready to be served. The Malaysians are hazy and confused mostly about what they want to get due to political inteference and deep-seated corruption. The Indonesian processes are leaky due the sheer size of the country and the political apparatus. The Burmese are even more secretive than we are. But I suspect that the country`s intelligence agencies are probably littered with foreign and internal agents.
What is more interesting about the Australian navy`s plans and the transparency it has gone about actualizing it is the trail-blazing that it is doing for other countries in the region or the scenarios she thinks that she will be in. It is likely that many countries in SEA have already extrapolated similar scenarios.
The new RAN ships will only be coming online next decade. Is this a picture of what the navies in SEA will be like ;albiet the RAN has other global responsibilities as well? The RSN has already 6 Formidables in the water equipped with Asters. The last AA saw ST Marine showcasing even larger stealthy ship designs with larger tonnages. Both Malaysia and Indonesia are keen on increasing the capabilities of thier respective navies as well.
Of course, this pales in comparison to the defence build-up in North East Asia. But as they say, history always repeat itself. The ancient crop of ex-WW2 leaders are just about gone. Future crop of leaders in our region would be less than coy to flex thier military muscle or even strain them to the point of conflict. This can already be seen in some instances.
Is the RAN and therefore SEA preparing for a potential conflict in East Asia which would pull all these countries in big or small ways? Interesting times.