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Tentera Singapura
Founded12 March 1957
Country Singapore
BranchArmy
Size72,000 (active, including 35000 conscripts)[citation needed]
300,000+ (reserve)[citation needed]
Part ofSingapore Armed Forces
Motto(s)Yang Pertama Dan Utama
('First and Foremost')
EngagementsIndonesia–Malaysia confrontation,[1][2][3]
Iraq War
Operation Enduring Freedom (as part of NATO-led ISAF)
Commanders
Chief of ArmyMajor General Ravinder Singh
Notable
commanders
Lieutenant General Winston Choo

The Singapore Army (Chinese: 新加坡陆军部队, Malay: Tentera Singapura; Tamil: சிங்கப்பூர் தரைப்படை) is the branch of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) responsible for land operations. It is the largest of the three armed services and heavily reliant on a conscript army, comprising the majority of Singapore's Operationally Ready National Servicemen (NSmen).

Capabilities

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U.S. and Singapore soldiers enter a Stryker at the end of an exercise at Fort Wainwright.

The mission of the Army is to deter aggression, and should deterrence fail, to secure a swift and decisive victory. In peacetime, the Army is to be ready and capable of conducting a spectrum of operations to protect Singapore's national interests and the well-being of its citizens.[4]

The Singapore Army focuses on leveraging technology and weapon systems as "force-multipliers". The Singapore Army is capable of conducting amphibious operations with a highly developed logistics force, across all three services of Army, Navy and Air Force, as seen in the relief work in Aceh, Indonesia, after the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.

Singapore Army

Components
Organisation
History and Traditions
Military history of Singapore
Equipment
Weapons of the Singapore Army
Personnel
Singapore Armed Forces ranks

Aside from hardware, the Singapore Army heavily invests in its "software". Largely made-up of tertiary-educated conscripts and professional regulars, its soldiers are highly-educated, well-trained and technically proficient.[5]

To equip all soldiers with practical fighting experience, large-scale exercises, up to division level are conducted several times a year, exposing almost every fighting unit to full-spectrum, full-scale war scenarios. Some of these exercises also involve the air force and navy, in order to familiarise its troops with its combined arms, tri-service operations. Due to space constraints, such exercises are usually conducted overseas unilaterally. Reservists take part in overseas exercises regularly and there is persistent pressure on units to improve their operational readiness.[5] Bilateral training and exchanges are also common between friendly nations. The Singapore Army also professionally conducts "tough, realistic and safe training in order to fulfill the Army’s mission." [4]

The Singapore Army is currently undergoing the transformation into a 3rd Generation fighting force.[6] The SAF's evolution into its 3rd Generation involves combining advances in technology and training while using networking to integrate the tri-services into an integrated fighting force. This will provide even greater operational-readiness and flexibility during war and peace time.

Organisation

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The Army is headed by the Chief of Army (COA), currently Major General Ravinder Singh. Assisting him are the Chief of Staff-General Staff (COS-GS) BG Tung Yui Fai,[7] and the Commander, Army Training and Doctrine Command (Brigadier General Lim Hock Yu).[8] The senior Sergeant Major of the Army is SWO Tang Peck Oon.[9] There are also six functional departments and an NS Affairs Department (NSAD) dealing with National Service issues, collectively known as the General Staff and an Inspectorate. The six functional departments handle personnel, intelligence, operations, logistics, plans and training respectively. Each department is headed by an Assistant Chief of the General Staff (ACGS). Also advising the COA are the Senior Specialist Staff Officers (SSSOs): Infantry, Guards, Armour, Commando, Artillery, Engineers and Signals.[10][11]

Combat Arms

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The army consists of the following Combat Arms, which are integrated with one another to form the Divisional and Non-divisional assets:

These are bolstered by Combat Service Support Units which consist of the following:

  • Army Intelligence
  • Army Medical Services
  • Army Maintenance and Engineering Support
  • Army Supply and Transport
  • Singapore Armed Forces Ammunition Command

Divisions

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Combined-Arms Divisions

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The main components of the Army are its 3 active Combined-Arms Divisions[14]: 3rd, 6th and 9th Div.[15] They include both active and reserve units, all of which can be mobilised in phases.

Each division comprises:

  • 1 Armoured Recce Battalion
  • 1 Armoured Brigade (3 Armoured Battalions, 1 Engineer Company, 1 Signal Company, 1 Reconnaissance Company)
  • 2-4 Infantry Brigades (3 Infantry Battalions, 1 Engineer Company, 1 Signal Company, 1 Reconnaissance Company)
  • 1 Signal Battalion
  • 2 Artillery Battalions
  • 1 Combat Engineers Battalion
  • 1 Air Defence Battalion
Name Headquarters Commander Type
3rd Division Jurong Camp I Brigadier General Perry Lim Combined Arms
6th Division Mandai Hill Camp Brigadier General Yeo See Peng Combined Arms
9th Division Selarang Camp Colonel Chia Choon Hoong Combined Arms

Other Divisions

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Name Headquarters Commander Type
2 People's Defence Force Clementi Camp Brigadier General Lam Shiu Tong Island Defence Task Force
21st Division Colonel Nelson Yau Army Operational Reserve
25th Division Brigadier General Benedict Lim Army Operational Reserve

Non-divisional units

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  • 1 Military Intelligence Battalion (1MIBN - 1st Military Intelligence Bn)
    Motto: "First In" (Disbanded and Reorganised in 2010)
  • 1 Active Commandos Battalion (1CDO - 1st Commando Bn) and
    1x Reserve Commando Battalion Motto: "For Honour and Glory"
  • Unknown number of the elite "Special Operations Forces (SOF)" trained by United States Special Forces Operational Detachment- DELTA Force and Naval Diving Units whose members undergo training conducted by the United States Navy SEALS.[citation needed]

Motto: "We Dare"

  • 1 Aggressor Company - Under TRADOC/ATEC, this Company bases itself on the Aggressor Orbat and varies slightly from the normal Infantry Company, with a platoon specialising in Armour Simulation using normal vehicles. They are the 'Red' opposing Force for ATEC evaluations. Also known as OPFOR.[citation needed]
  • 1 Armour Aggressor Company - Focuses on playing the same OPFOR role in exercises with Armour formations. [citation needed]
  • 1 Medical Response Force Unit (MRF) - Counter Chemical and Biological Warfare Unit (approximately large company sized), composed of three platoons of specially trained Combat Medic Specialists. Motto: "Against All Adversity"
  • 1 Heavy Tank Battalion - 48 SAR with 30+ Leopard 2A4
  • 1 Special Operations Task Force - A Special Operations Command-type unit consisting of the NDU, Commandos and the SOF
  • 1 Army Developmental Force (1 ADF) - A regular guards battalion-size unit for experimental training and doctrine development. Also provide SAF with an experienced and operational force at all times. Suitable for low-intensity conflict, anti-terroism, peacekeeping operations etc.

Equipment

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Leopard 2SG of the Singapore Army upgraded with AMAP Composite Armour by IBD & ST Kinetics
The AMX-13 (SM-1)
The Bionix AFV at Singapore Airshow 2008
Spider LSV with SPIKE ATGM launcher extended
The SSPH1 Primus at the SAF Open House
The SLWH Pegasus at the SAF Open House
Type Quantity
Main battle tanks ~212
Leopard 2SG (120mm Rheinmetall L44 main gun) >132[16] (includes 30 spare tanks, excludes 14 Bergepanzer BPz3 Büffel ARVs[17])
Centurion Mk 3/Mk 7 (105mm L7 main gun) >80 [18]
Light tanks 362
AMX-13SM1 340[17] (retiring in phases)
AMX-10PAC90 22[17] (in reserves)
Mechanized infantry Combat Vehicles / IFVs ~1,022
AMX-10P 22[17] (in reserves)
Bionix II (30mm Bushmaster II chain gun/New armour) 200[17]
Bionix 25 (25mm M242 Bushmaster chain gun) 200[17]
Bionix 40/50 (CIS 40mm AGL + STK 50MG) 300[17]
Terrex AV-81 ~300
Armoured Personnel Carriers/Reconnaissance Vehicles 1,335
M113A2 ULTRA 40/50 (CIS 40mm AGL + STK 50MG) 950[17]
M113A2 ULTRA OWS (25mm M242 Bushmaster chain gun) 50[17]
Cadillac Gage V-100/150/200 30/40/200 (total 270 in reserves), 50 V-200s in use by the RSAF[17]
MaxxPro Dash MRAP 15 in Afghanistan as part of International Security Assistance Force[17]
Multiple Rocket Launchers 18
High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) 18[17]
XM31 Unitary HE GMLRS Pod 32 (192 rockets)[17]
Mortars ~62
81 mm ~?
Soltam M-65 120 mm towed mortar 50 (in reserves)[17]
Soltam M-66 160 mm towed mortar 12 (in storage)[17]
Howitzers ~400
25 pounder Mk II 12 (Ceremonial gun)
Soltam M-68 155mm/L33 Towed Howitzer 45 (in storage)[17]
Soltam M-71S 155mm/L39 Towed Howitzer 38 (in storage)[17]
M-114A1 155 mm Towed Howitzer 16 (in storage)[17]
FH-88 155mm/L39 Towed Howitzer 54 (48 retired, 6 sold to Indonesian Army)[17]
FH-2000 155mm/L52 Towed Howitzer 72[citation needed]
GIAT LG1 105mm/L30 Towed Howitzer 37 (in storage)[19]
SSPH Primus 155mm/L39 Self-Propelled Howitzer (SSPH-1) 48 (not including 2× command post & 4× recovery vehicle)[17]
SLWH Pegasus 155mm/L39 Heli-portable Lightweight Howitzer 54[citation needed]
Artillery-locating radar 10
AN/TPQ-36 Firefinder radar 4[17]
AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder radar 3[17]
ARTHUR 3[17]
Armoured Engineers ~56
FV180 Combat Engineer Tractor 36[17]
M60 Armoured Vehicle Launched Bridge (AVLB) 12[17]
M728 Combat Engineer Vehicle (CEV) -165mm Demolition Gun 8[17]
Bionix Counter-Mine Vehicle (Trailblazer) ~?
Aardvark JSFU (Joint Service Flail Unit) ~?
Field Engineers ~?
Vehicle Launched Bridge (VLB) ~?
Foldable Longspan Bridge (FLB) ~?
Projected Line Charge (PLC) ~?
Bionix AVLB ~?
Bridging Engineers ~?
M3G Float Bridge ~?
All-Terrain Tracked Vehicles ~700
Bronco ATTC (GPMG armed/120mm Super-Rapid Mortar) ~400 [citation needed]
Bandvagn 206 (GPMG armed) ~300
Unmanned Vehicles ~?
Skyblade Mini-UAVs ~?
Anti-Tank Rockets/Missiles ~4,000 [citation needed]
Carl Gustav recoilless rifle ~?[20]
SPIKE-LR 1,000[21]
Matador ~3,000[citation needed]
Guards Vehicles ~400
Spider LSV with twin SPIKE ATGM ~200[citation needed]
Spider LSV ~200[citation needed]
Direct Fire Weapons ~400,000 [citation needed]
SAR 21 ~150,000 [citation needed]
SAR-21 Grenade Launcher ~?
M16S1 local variant of M16A1 produced under license ~200,000[22]
CAR-15 Carbine version of the M-16 ~5,000[22]
M203 grenade launcher ~20,000 [citation needed]
Ultimax 100 ~20,000 [citation needed]
FN MAG 7.62 mm General Purpose Machine Gun ~10,000 [citation needed]
CIS 12.7 mm HMG ~3,000 [citation needed]
Sig-Sauer P226 9 mm Pistol ~?
H&K MP-5N 9 mm SMG ~2,000
FN P90 5.7 mm SMG ~500
FN Five-seven 5.7 mm Pistol ~500 [citation needed]
PGM Mini-Hecate 8.6 mm Long-Range Sniper Rifle ~100
H&K PSG-1 7.62 mm Semi-Automatic Sniper Rifle ~?
Accuracy International L96A1 7.62 mm Sniper Rifle ~?
Accuracy International L115A1 8.6 mm Long-Range Sniper Rifle ~?
Steyr SSG 69 7.62 mm Sniper Rifle ~?
Brügger & Thomet APR308 7.62 mm Sniper Rifle ~?
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See also

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References

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Notes
  1. ^ "1957 - Our First Battalion". MINDEF. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  2. ^ "1963 - Konfrontasi". MINDEF. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  3. ^ "1963 - Pioneering Spirit of 2 SIR". MINDEF. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  4. ^ a b "The Singapore Army- About Us". MINDEF.
  5. ^ a b Tim Huxley, Defending the Lion City, Allen & Unwin, 2000, p.65.
  6. ^ "The 3rd Generation SAF". MINDEF.
  7. ^ http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/mindef_websites/atozlistings/army/About_Us/Org_Structure.html
  8. ^ http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/publications/cyberpioneer/news/2011/mar/28mar11_news.html
  9. ^ http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/mindef_websites/atozlistings/army/army_news/News_Archive/2011/Apr2011/SMA_COC.html
  10. ^ http://app.sgdi.gov.sg/listing.asp?agency_subtype=dept&agency_id=0000000370
  11. ^ http://app.sgdi.gov.sg/listing.asp?agency_subtype=dept&agency_id=0000000383
  12. ^ Armour
  13. ^ Artillery
  14. ^ http://app.sgdi.gov.sg/listing.asp?agency_subtype=dept&agency_id=0000000376
  15. ^ See also http://web.archive.org/web/20091027094953/http://geocities.com/mindef123/Army.html, and Huxley, Defending the Lion City, 2000, p.123-6
  16. ^ "The Leopard 2A4 Main Battle Tank: More Bite and Firepower for Our Armour". Retrieved 1 March 2008.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z "SIPRI arms transfer database". Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Information generated in 17 June 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  18. ^ Christopher Langton (Editor). The Military Balance 2005-2006 (Military Balance). New York: Routledge. ISBN 0-415-37393-X. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help), page 296. This covers the numbers, not the gun replacement and new codename.
  19. ^ "105mm LG1 MkII - Contracts, Orders & Sales". Deagel.Com. 1 August 2010. Retrieved 5 June 2010.
  20. ^ Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
  21. ^ International Institute for Strategic Studies (2010). The Military Balance 2010. United Kingdom: Taylor and Francis. ISBN 9781857435573. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  22. ^ a b Terry J. Gander; Ian V. Hogg (1996). Jane's Gun Recognition Guide. Harper Collins. ISBN 9780004709796.
Bibliography
  • Tim, Huxley. Defending the Lion City: the Armed Forces of Singapore. Publisher: Allen & Unwin Pty LTD, 2000. ISBN 1-86508-118-3.
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Category:Singapore Army