List of Royal Brunei Navy ships explained

This list of Royal Brunei Navy ships includes all ships and associated aquatic vessels; current and former of Brunei Darussalam, grouped by their various classes, that belong to, operated by, and commissioned into service in the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN),[1] since its formation on 14 June 1965, when it was initially known as the Boat Section of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF).[2]

Current RBN fleet

The current fleet of the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) consists of the following types and classes of ships. All are surface vessels, the RBN does not operate any submarines or submersibles.

Surface combatants

Patrol vessels

Darussalam class offshore patrol vessel

See main article: Darussalam-class offshore patrol vessel. The is a class of four offshore patrol vessels constructed for the RBN,[1] and commissioned starting in 2011.[3] [4] [5] At 80abbr=off0abbr=off length with a displacement of 1625tonne, they are the largest and most capable ships of the RBN, and often participate in international naval exercises.

pennant
no.
nameMMSIcall
sign
builderlaunchedcommissioned
06508111122[6] V8DELurssen Werft,
Bremen-Vegesack
07508111123[7] V8DF
08508111124[8] V8DG
09508211110[9] V8DL[10]
Ijtihad class patrol boat

See main article: Ijtihad-class patrol boat. The consists of four fast patrol boats[3] built by Lürssen Werft, Germany. They were delivered to Brunei in 2009,[1] and commissioned into the RBN in 2010.[11] At 41m (135feet) length with a displacement of 2620NaN0, they patrol the coast of Brunei, and sometimes participate in joint naval exercises.

pennant
no.
nameMMSIcall
sign
builderlaunchedcommissioned
17508111118[12] V8DALurssen Werft, Bremen-Vegesack2009March 2010
18508111119[13] V8DB2009March 2010
19508111120[14] V8DC2009August 2010
20508111121[15] V8DD2009August 2010
As-Siddiq class patrol vessel

See main article: Fearless-class patrol vessel. In the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), the replaced their earlier after the Swifts were transferred to the Police Coast Guard of Singapore. ST Marine was given the contract to build the Fearless class ships for Singapore on 27 February 1993.[16] From early 2017, the RSN started to decommission their Fearless class vessels (one was stricken in May 2003 following damage caused by a collision with a container), though four vessels were subsequently modified as Sentinel-class maritime security and response vessels and remain in service with the RSN.

The two RBN vessels;[17] RSS Brave (95), decommissioned on 27 August 2019, and RSS Gallant (97), decommissioned on 11 December 2020, were refurbished and given as a present to the Royal Brunei Navy in March 2023. They are now known in RBN service as (meaning 'truthful') and .[18] They have a length of 55m (180feet), with a displacement of 5000NaN0.[19]

pennant
no.
namelaunched
(RSN)
commissioned
(RSN)
commissioned
(RBN)
notes
[20] [21] previously in service with the Republic of Singapore Navy as RSS Brave (95) until its decommissioning on
[22] [23] previously in service with the Republic of Singapore Navy as RSS Gallant (97) until its decommissioning on [24]

Fast attack craft

Waspada class fast attack craft

See main article: Waspada-class fast attack craft. The is a class of fast attack crafts that was built for the RBN by Vosper Thornycroft in England in the late 1970s. Three vessels were built; one remains in service, while two were donated to the Indonesian Navy as patrol craft.

KDB Mustaed

See main article: KDB Mustaed. The fast interceptor boat, KDB Mustaed (21), is the only one of its kind in the RBN; it is in active service.[1] [3]

Amphibious ships

Landing craft

Four landing craft vessels in two classes are operated by the RBN Support Squadron. Their purpose is to support other units from all branches of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF); they are primarily tasked with the movement of light and heavy vehicles and personnel of the Royal Brunei Land Force (RBLF) through the rivers of Brunei.[1] There are two classes of landing craft:

Damuan class

See main article: Damuan-class landing craft. The are a class of two vessels of the RBN Support Squadron.[1] [3]

pennant
no.
namebuilderlaunchedcommissionedstatus
31KDB DamuanCheverton Workboats,
Cowes, England
19761976decommissioned
32KDB Puni19771977commissioned as in-port scuba diver tender
Serasa class

See main article: Serasa-class landing craft. The are a class of two vessels operated by the RBN Support Squadron.[1] [3] They have a length of 36.5m (119.8feet), with a displacement of 220to.

pennant
no.
nameIMO
number
builderlaunchedcommissioned
33KDB Serasa9143659 [25] Transfield Shipbuilding, Henderson, Western AustraliaAug 19967 May 1997
34KDB Teraban9143661 [26] Aug 19967 May 1997

Auxiliary ships

Launch boat

Used as tugboat and dive tender.

Miscellaneous vessels

Decommissioned RBN vessels

The following types and classes were previously commissioned into the fleet of the RBN; but are now decommissioned. The RBN was originally known as Boat Section of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces in 1965, this unit was subsequently renamed Boat Company in 1966. In 1971, the Boat Company was then reorganised as (ALP AMDB), or the First Sea Battalion, Royal Brunei Malay Regiment (FSB RBMR). On 1 October 1991, it became a fully independent service branch, becoming the RBN.[2]

Fast attack craft

RBN / TLDB
class
prefix & name,
pennant no.
notes
Pahlawan classfirst ship of the Boat Section of the RBAF, the forerunner of the Royal Brunei Navy, commissioned in 1968, becoming flagship for the unit, originally identified as AMDB 100

both were donated to Indonesian Navy

Hovercraft

In 1966, several hovercraft of type SR.N5 were acquired and put into service, and SR.N6 were acquired in 1968.[29] The two crafts were used to maintain national security and provide transportation across rivers. The medium-sised hovercraft was utilised not only to protect the national security of the State of Brunei but also for search and rescue missions and to get access to difficult-to-reach areas like the Temburong District.[30]

Warden class

The RBMR was the first to use the Westland Saunders Roe SR.N5 (also known as the Warden class) in 1966 as part of its military expansion. The first craft costs around B$650,000 and has a maximum speed of, was ordered from World Wide Helicopters. SR.N5 could accommodate fifteen soldiers along with a pilot. It was capable of traveling up to at its maximum speed of .

All Warden class hovercraft built by the British Hovercraft Corporation for the RBN are now decommissioned.

Patrol vessels

RBN
class
prefix & name
(pennant no.)
notes, ref.
[31] KD Saleha (P11)
KD Masna (P12)
KD Nor'ain (P13)
coastal patrol craft (CPC) built by Vosper Thornycroft in England, originally identified as AMDB 111, AMDB 112, and AMDB 113,[32] the first two were commissioned in 1971


built by Vosper Thornycroft in Singapore, all three coastal patrol craft (CPC) were decommissioned 2016-2017[33]


[34]
ordered from Singapore in 1965, three riverine patrol boats were delivered in 1966. Throughout their service, the boats underwent changes to accommodate the evolving requirements of the government. The boats were used to patrol coastline, as well as its intricate system of interior canals and rivers. The boats served for more than fourteen years before being decommissioned in 1980.[35]
P22 is preserved on static display outside the Royal Brunei Armed Forces Museum as a museum ship[36]

See also

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Royal Brunei Navy organisation. MinDef.gov.bn. Royal Brunei Navy Headquarters, Muara Naval Base. Defence Information Technology Unit, Ministry of Defence, Brunei Darussalam. 2015. 6 January 2024.
  2. Web site: Royal Brunei Navy history. Navy.MinDef.gov.bn. Royal Brunei Navy Headquarters, Muara Naval Base. Defence Information Technology Unit, Ministry of Defence, Brunei Darussalam. n.d.. 6 January 2024. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20181023223656/http://www.RBN.MinDef.gov.bn/Site%20Pages/History.aspx. 23 October 2018.
  3. Web site: Royal Brunei Navy – Assets. Navy.MinDef.gov.bn. Royal Brunei Navy Headquarters, Muara Naval Base. Defence Information Technology Unit, Ministry of Defence, Brunei Darussalam. n.d.. 6 January 2024.
  4. Web site: Waleed PD Mahdini. 12 August 2011. KDB Darulaman completes RBN's trio of maritime assets. BruSearch.com. Borneo Bulletin. 14 December 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20141214163023/http://www.brusearch.com/news/96203. 14 December 2014.
  5. Web site: Royal Brunei Navy celebrates 46th anniversary at International Defence Exhibition BRIDEX 2011. ArmyRecognition.com. Army Recognition. 8 July 2011. 5 January 2024.
  6. Web site: Brunei Gov Vessel I395768 – KDB Darussalam. VesselTracker.com. VesselTracker.com GmbH. 5 January 2024.
  7. Web site: Brunei Gov Vessel I390911 – KDB Darulehsan. VesselTracker.com. VesselTracker.com GmbH. 5 January 2024.
  8. Web site: Brunei Gov Vessel I689990 – KDB Darulaman. VesselTracker.com. VesselTracker.com GmbH. 5 January 2024.
  9. Web site: Brunei Gov Vessel I1764784 – KDB Daruttaqwa. VesselTracker.com. VesselTracker.com GmbH. 5 January 2024.
  10. Web site: Rabiatul Kamit. 9 September 2014. HRH commissions new ship. BT.com.bn. Brunei-Muara. The Brunei Times, Brunei Times Sdn Bhd.. 14 December 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20141214165305/http://www.bt.com.bn/news-national/2014/09/09/hrh-commissions-new-ship. 14 December 2014.
  11. Web site: Remembering Brunei's naval ships. AsiaOne.com. The Brunei Times / Asia News Network. 18 January 2011. 27 March 2020. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20171029112527/https://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest+News/Asia/Story/A1Story20110118-258884.html. 29 October 2017.
  12. Web site: Brunei Gov Vessel I284457 – KDB Ijhtihad. VesselTracker.com. VesselTracker.com GmbH. 5 January 2024.
  13. Web site: Brunei Gov Vessel I301824 – KDB Berkat. VesselTracker.com. VesselTracker.com GmbH. 5 January 2024.
  14. Web site: Brunei Gov Vessel I366861 – KDB Syafaat. VesselTracker.com. VesselTracker.com GmbH. 5 January 2024.
  15. Web site: Brunei Gov Vessel I1924947 – KDB Afiat. VesselTracker.com. VesselTracker.com GmbH. 5 January 2024.
  16. Web site: Factsheet - History of RSN's Patrol Vessels. MinDef.gov.sg. Ministry of Defence of Singapore (MINDEF). 15 June 2005. 18 July 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20170703062804/https://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/news_and_events/nr/1998/aug/22aug98_nr/22aug98_fs.html. 3 July 2017.
  17. Web site: Assets . 2024-06-06 . navy.mindef.gov.bn.
  18. Web site: Berita Parajurit, vol 9 – Patrol Vessel Handing Over, Taking Over ceremony between Republic of Singapore Navy and Royal Brunei Navy. MinDef.gov.bn. Bolkiah Garrison, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei. Defence Information Technology Unit, Ministry of Defence, Brunei Darussalam. 9. 28–31. 31 May 2023. 8 January 2024.
  19. News: Rahmat. Ridzwan. 10 March 2023. Brunei to induct ex-Singapore Fearless-class patrol boats. Janes.com. Janes. 6 January 2024.
  20. Web site: 2023-03-21 . HIS MAJESTY THE SULTAN AND YANG DI-PERTUAN OF BRUNEI DARUSSALAM GRACED THE COMMISSIONING CEREMONY OF PATROL VESSEL KDB AS-SIDDIQ . 2024-06-06 . www.mindef.gov.bn.
  21. Web site: Cdr Pg Mohd Faren bin Pg Mohd Noor . 2023-03-21 . KDB AS-SIDDIQ . 2024-06-06 . navy.mindef.gov.bn . 2.
  22. Web site: 2023-12-14 . Crown Prince commissions KDB Al-Faruq . 2024-06-06 . borneobulletin.com.bn.
  23. Web site: 2023-12-13 . HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE HAJI AL-MUHTADEE BILLAH, THE CROWN PRINCE AND SENIOR MINISTER AT THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE, GRACED THE COMMISSIONING CEREMONY OF PATROL VESSEL KDB AL-FARUQ . 2024-06-06 . www.mindef.gov.bn.
  24. Final two patrol vessels RSS Freedom and RSS Gallant retire after decades of distinguished service. MINDEF.gov.sg. Ministry of Defence of Singapore. 11 December 2020. 6 January 2024. 11 December 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201211141213/https://www.MINDEF.gov.sg/web/portal/mindef/news-and-events/latest-releases/article-detail/2020/December/11dec20_nr. live.
  25. Web site: KDB Serasa, IMO 9143659. BalticShipping.com. 2024. 4 January 2024.
  26. Web site: KDB Teraban, IMO 9143659. BalticShipping.com. 2024. 4 January 2024.
  27. CHMSKB – Form 3B Trip – Chung Hua Middle School's Photo Gallery. photograph. Chunghuakb.edu.bn. Chung Hua Middle School. 2009. 6 January 2024.
  28. News: Two Brunei assets join search and rescue for missing tourists, crew. BorneoToday.net. Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. Borneo Today. 30 January 2017. 24 September 2021. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170131104055/https://www.BorneoToday.net/two-brunei-assets-join-search-and-rescue-for-missing-tourists-crew/. 31 January 2017.
  29. Web site: 2nd Commander – YDM Pehin Datu Juragan Laila Diraja Dato Seri Pahlawan Colonel (B) Haji Kefli bin OKLS Haji Razali. Navy.MinDef.gov.bn. Royal Brunei Navy Headquarters, Muara Naval Base. Defence Information Technology Unit, Ministry of Defence, Brunei Darussalam. n.d.. 7 January 2024.
  30. Web site: CDR PG MOHD FAREN . In the wake of the Navy WESTLAND SR.N5 HOVERCRAFT: A LEGACY NOT SOON FORGOTTEN . 2024-06-06 . navy.mindef.gov.bn . 21.
  31. News: Sa-Buah Lagi Kapal Ronda Untok A.M.D.B.. Another patrol vessel for A.M.D.B.. PelitaBrunei.gov.bn. ms. Pelita Brunei. 28 June 1972. 1. 6 January 2024.
  32. News: Pelancharan dua buah kapal ronda untok A.M.D.B.. The launch of two patrol boats for A.M.D.B.. PelitaBrunei.gov.bn. ms. Pelita Brunei. 23 September 1970. 12. 6 January 2024.
  33. News: Achong Tanjong. 17 November 2017. End of road for KDB Perwira. Borneo363.rssing.com. Borneo Bulletin Online. 6 January 2024. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20221025125151/https://borneo363.rssing.com/chan-61976226/article4537.html?zx=814. 25 October 2022.
  34. News: Lawatan penuntut2 St. John ka-khemah AMDB. Pupils from St. John's School visit AMDB. Pelita Brunei. ms. Berakas. Pelita Brunei. 22 January 1969. 6. 6 January 2024.
  35. Web site: IN THE WAKE OF THE NAVY BENDAHARA CLASS 1966-1980 . 2024-06-06 . navy.mindef.gov.bn . 20.
  36. Web site: Vacation800328. 5 July 2019. Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) Museum (Bandar Seri Begawan) - 2020 all you need to know before you go (with photos). Tripadvisor.com. Tripadvisor LLC. 6 January 2024.