KRI Bung Tomo (357) explained

KRI Bung Tomo (357) is a Bung Tomo-class corvette in service with the Indonesian Navy. She was originally built for the Royal Brunei Navy and launched as KDB Jerambak in 2002.[1] Bung Tomo is the lead ship of her class.

Namesake

Awang Jerambak was a warrior known to be an excellent war leader and the brother of Awang Alak Betatar, Sultan of Brunei.[2]

Class background

The Bung Tomo-class corvettes are three vessels built by BAE Systems Marine (now BAE Systems Maritime – Naval Ships). The contract was awarded to GEC-Marconi in 1995 and the ships, a variant of the F2000 design, were launched in January 2001, June 2001 and June 2002 at the then BAE Systems Marine yard at Scotstoun, Glasgow. The customer refused to accept the vessels and the contract dispute became the subject of arbitration. When the dispute was settled in favour of BAE Systems, the vessels were handed over to Royal Brunei Technical Services in June 2007.[3]

In 2007, Brunei contracted the German Lürssen shipyard to find a new customer for the three ships. In 2013, Indonesia bought the vessels for or half of the original unit cost.[1]

The ships were originally armed with MBDA Exocet Block II anti-ship missiles and MBDA Seawolf air-defence missiles. The main gun is an OTO Melara 76 mm; the ship also carries two torpedo tubes, two 30 mm remote weapon stations and has a landing spot for a helicopter. As of 2018, the MBDA Seawolf missile was out of service there was plans to replace it with the VL Mica.[4]

Construction and career

KDB Jerambak was launched on 22 June 2002 and commissioned into the Indonesian Navy on 11 July 2014.[5] [6] She originally had the hull number 30 but were later changed to 357. She was never commissioned in the Royal Brunei Navy.

On 12 July 2018, KRI Bung Tomo arrived in Kochi Port, India for a two-day visit.[7] Bung Tomo and KRI I Gusti Ngurah Rai visited Muara Port, Brunei from 8 to 11 December 2018. Both ships conducted PASSEX with before departing for Jakarta, Indonesia.[8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Used 'alutsista': Warships that safeguard Indonesian waters. Novan Iman. Santosa. The Jakarta Post. 2020-10-23. 2022-02-13.
  2. Book: Saunders, Graham . A History of Brunei . 2013-11-05 . Routledge . 978-1-136-87394-2 . 18 . en.
  3. News: September 2007. Shipyard deadlock ends. September 2007 News. Ships Monthly. dead. 2007-12-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20071221210705/http://www.shipsmonthly.com/auto/newsdesk/20070710103927ships.html. 2007-12-21.
  4. Web site: Nakhoda Ragam Class Offshore Patrol Vessel. 2007-12-26. Industry Projects. Naval Technology.
  5. Web site: Janes Latest defence and security news. 2020-08-06. Janes.com. en.
  6. Web site: Jerambak. 2022-02-13. Caledonian Maritime Research Trust.
  7. News: Indonesian Naval ship KRI Bung Tomo arrives at Kochi port. The Economic Times. 2020-08-06.
  8. News: 11 December 2018. Indonesian Navy Ships Arrive in Brunei Darussalam For Goodwill Visit. Ministry of Defence Brunei Darussalam. 6 August 2020.