KD Hang Tuah

KD "Hang Tuah" is the second of the two modern frigates operated by Tentera Laut DiRaja Malaysia (Royal Malaysian Navy) since the 1970s before the commissioning of newer ships KD "Jebat", KD "Lekiu", KD "Kasturi" and KD "Lekir" in the 1990s.

History and Royal Navy service

"Hang Tuah" was a singleton vessel, originally built for Ghana. It was to be named "Black Star" and function as the flagship of Ghana's navy as well as presidential yacht for Kwame Nkrumah. After Nkrumah was ousted in 1966, the new government cancelled the order due to the excessive cost (around GBP 5 million at that time, equivalent to c. GBP 60 million in 2003). As the vessel was not completely finished, it was kept at anchor for several years and eventually transferred from the Firth of Clyde to Portsmouth Dockyard in April 1972 and then to Chatham Dockyard to be refitted to bring her up to Royal Navy standards.

She was finally commissioned on 16 May 1973 into the Royal Navy as HMS "Mermaid" and after working up, was dispatched to the Far East where she was based in Singapore. Her light armament and minimal sensor fittings made her unsuitable for a role in the European environment but could provide a useful presence in the Far East, undertaking what is now known as 'defence diplomacy' roles. She stood in for HMS "Chichester" (the guardship for Hong Kong) at times and stood by at the end of the Vietnam War in case British nationals had to be evacuated from Saigon. Upon returning home she was involved in an unfortunate collision with the minesweeper HMS "Fittleton" during a NATO exercise that resulted in the deaths of a number of the RNR crew. The "Mermaid" was used to protect UK trawlers during one of the Cod Wars with Iceland in the 1970s over fishing rights. The frigate and the Icelandic gunboat "Baldur" came into close contact on the high seas.

After being paid off she helped to conduct trials on a moving target indicator system that helped radar to pick out targets moving against the clutter generated by the surface of the sea.

In 1977, the "Mermaid" was transferred to the Royal Malaysian Navy as KD "Hang Tuah".

Design

The basic design of the ship was based on the Royal Navy Type 41 / Type 61 hull and machinery but modified to suit the requirements of the Ghanaian Navy. The hull was flush decked, and the exhausts streamlined into a single funnel.

There were extra accommodation areas in the superstructure and the armament was kept relatively simple to keep the cost down. Mounted forward of the bridge was a Mark 19 mounting with twin 4 inch guns, there were four single Bofors 40 mm guns around the upper superstructure, and a Squid A/S mortar mounted aft. Sonar Types 170 and 176 were carried as was a Plessey AWS-1 radar on the foremast and a navigational radar forward of this on a platform.

The ship had a displacement of 2,300 tons as standard, had a maximum speed of 24 knots and a complement of 177 officers and men in Royal Navy service.

Service with Royal Malaysian Navy

In April 1977 she was transferred to the Royal Malaysian Navy and renamed "Hang Tuah" where she replaced an ex-Loch class frigate "Loch Insh" also called "Hang Tuah" (K433), the Malaysian Navy retainind the British pennant number, F76, of HMS "Mermaid". For a number of years she served as the flagship of the Royal Malaysian Navy after joining KD "Rahmat" as the two major assets of the Royal Malaysian Navy.

Present assignment

Presently "Hang Tuah" is serving as a training ship and is assigned to Frigate Squadron 21. The Commanding Officer is Captain Zualkafly bin Haji Ahmad, TLDM.

External links

* [http://www.janes.com/defence/gallery/lima_gallery/gallery/0032.shtml Photo of KD Rahmat]
* [http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/viewship.asp?id=1599 CLYDE-BUILT DATABASE]