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US warship arrives in S'pore for Southeast Asian deployment

Vulcann

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Vulcann

Vulcann

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From CNA:

 

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singap...hea/642440.html

 

US warship arrives in S'pore for Southeast Asian deployment

 

POSTED: 18 Apr 2013 3:06 PM

UPDATED: 18 Apr 2013 10:35 PM

TREND

 

uss-freedom--1-.jpg

USS Freedom, the first of up to four American warships Singapore will host, docked at Changi Naval Base on Thursday 18 April, 2013. (photo by Dylan Loh, Channel NewsAsia)

SINGAPORE: A US warship designed to fight in coastal areas arrived Thursday in Singapore for its Southeast Asian deployment, underlining President Barack Obama's new strategic focus on Asia.

 

The deployment of the USS Freedom comes at a time of heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula and as China publicly flexes its naval muscle in the South China Sea, where it has competing territorial claims with some Southeast Asian states.

 

US Navy officials said the Freedom, a new class of vessel called the littoral combat ship (LCS), sailed into Changi Naval Base at around 11:00 am (0300 GMT) in Singapore, a long-standing US ally that assists in logistics and exercises for forces in Southeast Asia.

 

The ship, the US Navy's first LCS which is designed to fight close to the shore, will be deployed for the next eight months in the region, where it will participate in naval exercises and visit other ports.

 

Regional security expert Ian Storey said the Freedom's deployment signals Washington's commitment to ensuring freedom of navigation in the region, which hosts some of the world's busiest shipping lanes.

 

"The forward deployment of these ships is part the US pivot, rebalancing away from Iraq and Afghanistan and towards Asia," said Storey, a senior fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore.

 

"It demonstrates to US allies and friends that it is committed to maintaining a strong presence in the region to ensure stability. In naval terms, it also underpins the US' commitment to ensuring freedom of navigation," he told AFP.

 

US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta announced last year that Washington will shift the bulk of its naval fleet to the Pacific by 2020 as part of a new strategic focus on Asia, where China is an emerging power.

 

China is embroiled in a maritime dispute with four Southeast Asian countries -- Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam -- over territorial claims in the South China Sea.

 

Beijing claims nearly the entire sea, including areas much nearer to the other claimants. Manila and Hanoi have been the most vocal in criticising China over alleged heavy-handedness in enforcing its claims.

 

While not a claimant, Washington has said it has an interest in the area to ensure freedom of navigation.

 

"We plan on spending most of our time here in Southeast Asia. This will be Freedom's neighbourhood for the next eight months," said US Navy Commander Timothy Wilke, the ship's commanding officer.

 

"We are eager to get out and about, work with other regional navies and share best practices during exercises, port visits and maritime security operations."

 

Singapore has agreed to the rotational deployment of up to four LCS. This means the vessels will not be permanently based in the country and crews will live aboard during ship visits.

 

Euan Graham, a maritime security expert at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, said Beijing "is obviously cautious about any enhancement of the US military presence around the South China Sea".

 

But he added that China also understands that Freedom's presence is "not a major step-change in the naval balance in the region".

 

China however would be keen to learn about the performance of the ship, a versatile vessel that can be used for surface warfare as well as to hunt for mines and submarines and is suitable to maritime regions like Southeast Asia, Graham said.

 

He said the timing of Freedom's deployment also counters perceptions that US budget cuts would "undermine the sustainability of the US forward presence" in Asia.

 

USS Freedom is the first of up to four American warships Singapore will host. US Ambassador to Singapore David Adelman said the second is expected within 20 months.

 

While analysts point to USS Freedom's tour of duty in Southeast Asia as proof of more American muscle in a region prone to territorial conflicts, Adelman called it a "new chapter" in an "increasingly important part of the world".

 

It's also another chapter capturing close ties between the US and Singapore.

 

"Here in Singapore, the United States continues to have the assets to do what we've always done, which is partner with our friends and important allies here. And I think the USS Freedom is 'Exhibit A' to our continuing commitment to security here in Southeast Asia," said Adelman.

 

- AFP/CNA/xq/ir

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Strat

Strat

6th Gear

from Wiki, looks like this ship has a lot of problems.... just last month its engine shuts down in the middle of the ocean. :o

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Vulcann

Vulcann

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any inbound aircraft carrier?

 

Have but in and out via our CNB (Changi Naval Base) together with the rest of the CSG (Carrier strike group former known as carrier battle group) and not permanently stationed here.

 

The group normally comprises one or two flat-tops, missile cruisers/destroyers, nuclear sub/s, supply ships and mission-required vessels.

 

They normally stop over for supplies and R&R.

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Vulcann

Vulcann

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(edited)

from Wiki, looks like this ship has a lot of problems.... just last month its engine shuts down in the middle of the ocean. :o

 

New vessels, or rather new weapon systems, normally suffer from mechanical faults.

 

Issue is whether big or small.

 

The much-touted F35 also have its fair share of problems.

 

And we are thinking of buying this jet some more [sweatdrop] [sweatdrop]

Edited by Vulcann
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Gee

Gee

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oni saw once when took ferry southbound few years back.

seemed then, the aircraft carrier was alone.

strange.

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Adrianli

Adrianli

Hypersonic

Ya, watch this ship on NGC. But reading the wiki, this ship has lots of problems from hull crack to engine problems. :o

 

This is an experimental ship, not sure why they send this here.

 

 

Yeah, love the firescout heli thou. Where to buy one ah??? [laugh]

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Strat

Strat

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Ya, watch this ship on NGC. But reading the wiki, this ship has lots of problems from hull crack to engine problems. :o

 

This is an experimental ship, not sure why they send this here.

 

 

Yeah, love the firescout heli thou. Where to buy one ah??? [laugh]

 

 

maybe ebay have one for sale ... [:p]

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Adrianli

Adrianli

Hypersonic

oni saw once when took ferry southbound few years back.

seemed then, the aircraft carrier was alone.

strange.

 

Singapore Straits too small for a battle group to travel in convoy. So usually alone when sail out from CNB. But dont worry abt its own defenses!!! They have very mean defensive weapons!!!

 

Only out in the vast oceans can an aircraft carrier show its capabilities. Like a ferrari/lambo along SG streets. Come Autobahn or NSH, woooohoooooo.

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Jamesc

Jamesc

Hypersonic

It looks like an upsized version of one of our old missile gun boats or coastal patrol craft.

Yeah they copied our old design

 

but our latest design is better than theirs.

 

Ours is really a Transformer.

 

:D

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Vulcann

Vulcann

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oni saw once when took ferry southbound few years back.

seemed then, the aircraft carrier was alone.

strange.

 

The smaller escorts are normally berthed not far so maybe not so prominent.

 

Trust me they are around the neighbourhood...

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