Republic of Singapore Navy

Republic of Singapore Navy
Angkatan Laut Republik Singapura  (Malay) 新加坡共和国海军部队 (Chinese) சிங்கப்பூர் கடல் படை (Tamil)
Crest of the Republic of Singapore Navy
Founded	5 May 1967
Country	Singapore
Branch	Navy
Size	6 submarines 6 frigates 6 corvettes 3 littoral mission vessel + 5 (U/C) 11 patrol vessels 4 amphibious transport docks 4 mine countermeasures vessels 2 types of unmanned surface vehicle
Part of	Singapore Armed Forces
Engagements	Operation Thunderstorm International Force – East Timor Operation Flying Eagle Multi-National Force – Iraq Combined Task Force 150 Combined Task Force 151
Commanders
Chief of Navy	RADM Lai Chung Han
Insignia
Commissioning Pennant
Naval Ensign

The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) is the naval component of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), responsible for the defence of Singapore against sea-borne threats and protection of its sea lines of communications. Operating within the crowded littoral waters of the Singapore Strait, the Singapore Navy is regarded as one of the best in the region and works closely with the Malaysian Navy and Indonesian Navy to combat piracy surrounding their coasts.

All commissioned ships of the RSN have the prefix RSS standing for (Republic of Singapore Ship).

The Republic of Singapore Navy traces its origins to the Royal Navy in the 1930s with only two patrol craft. The Straits Settlements Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve was established on 20 April 1934 and in 1941 became the Singaporean division of the Malayan Volunteer Reserve during World War II.

In 1948, the Malayan Force was raised by the Singapore government and was later granted the title of the Royal Malayan Navy in 1952 in recognition of its services in action during the Malayan Emergency.

On 16 September 1963, Singapore was admitted as a state of Malaysia under the terms of confederation and the Royal Malayan Navy was renamed the Royal Malaysian Navy. The Singapore division of the Malayan Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve was formally transferred from the command of the Royal Navy to the Malaysian Navy on 22 September 1963, becoming the Singapore Volunteer Force (SVF).

On 9 August 1965, Singapore seceded from Malaysia to form an independent and sovereign nation within the Commonwealth of Nations. The fledgling navy had only two wooden ships then, namely RSS ''Panglima'' (90' Motorized Fishing Vessel built for the RN in 1944 and sent to Singapore in 1948) and RSS Singapura (a captured Japanese minelayer). Panglima was replaced with another wooden vessel in 1956 with the same name. On 22 January 1966, the SVF was renamed the Singapore Naval Volunteer Force.