The Victory-class corvettes are multi-purpose corvettes based on the MGB 62 design by Germany's Lürssen shipyard for the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN). The six ships were commissioned between 1990 and 1991 and form the Eighth Flotilla of the RSN.
History
In the 1960s and 1970s, the RSN was primarily concerned with coast guard duties. From the late 1970s, however, pressure from senior naval officers led to planning for expanded naval responsibilities and capabilities in a strategic change in Singapore's defence posture, as the Navy sought to redefine its purpose and project power in the region for deterrence.[1][2] Singapore's growing regional trade led to a top-level review of the RSN's mission, with the navy assigned the role of defending Singapore's sea lines of communication (SLOCs). Before the introduction of the MCVs, the RSN's principal strike craft, made up by Sea Wolf-class missile gun boats (MGBs), were equipped to handle surface and air threats, but not underwater submarine threats. The corvettes, equipped with variable-depth sonar and lightweight torpedoes, were the first class of ship in the RSN to have anti-submarine capabilities to counter the threat from the increased number of submarines passing through the Malacca Strait, with Soviet submarines having been tracked passing through entirely submerged.[3][4] As part of a subsequent expansion programme, the RSN ordered a squadron of missile corvettes from Lürssen Werft in 1983.[5] The first, RSS Victory, was built and launched in Germany while the remaining five were built locally by Singapore Shipbuilding & Engineering (now Singapore Technologies (ST) Marine), providing the RSN with the ability to move beyond the seaward defence of Singapore to fulfil a strategic role in the protection of vital SLOCs.
The MCVs have undergone various enhancements to better deal with evolving threats and to tackle technology obsolescence. In 1996, the corvettes were fitted with two sets of 8-cell Barak I launchers, a second fire control radar on the platform aft of the mast and an optronic director on the bridge roof. Rudder roll stabilisation was also retrofitted to improve sea-keeping qualities.[6] In 2009, it was announced that the corvettes would undergo a Life Extension Programme.[7] In 2012, the class was upgraded with a single ScanEagleUAV, RSS Valiant being the first to be so outfitted.[8] However, this upgrade saw the removal of their anti-submarine capabilities, which now reside with the Formidable-class frigates and their organic S-70B Seahawk naval helicopters.[9]
Besides its primary role as the RSN's strike platform, the MCVs have participated in a variety of key exercises and operations during peacetime. RSS Vigour was deployed to the South China Sea in support of search efforts for the missing Malaysian AirlinesFlight MH370 in 2014, while RSS Valour was similarly involved in the multinational search operations for Air Asia Flight QZ8501 in 2015. RSS Valour was deployed to support security operations for the DPRK-USA Singapore Summit.[10]
In 2018, the Ministry of Defence announced that all six corvettes would be replaced by new Multi-Role Combat Vessels from 2025 onwards.[11]
Vessels
The OTO Melara 76mm Super Rapid gun mounted on the Victory-class corvette - RSS Valour
