Singapore has commissioned the first two of its four German-built Invincible-class diesel-electric submarines on 24 September, marking a major milestone in its effort to recapitalise its submarine fleet.
The RSS Invincible and RSS Impeccable have officially entered service with the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) following a ceremony at Singapore’s Changi Navy Base, marking the first time the service has operated new-build submarines.
The submarines, previously known as the Type 218SG class, were built by Germany’s Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems’ (TKMS) and are a bespoke design for operations in the shallow and busy tropical waters surrounding Singapore.
“Custom-built for Singapore’s needs, these submarines possess state-of-the-art capabilities, including high levels of automation, significant payload capacity, enhanced underwater endurance, and optimised ergonomics,” the Singapore Ministry of Defence said.
Specifications released previously put the length of the submarines at 70 metres in length with a displacement of 2,000 tons surfaced and 2,200 tons submerged. The diesel electric propulsion system is powered by a pair of fuel cells and backed up by an air-independent propulsion system.
The Invincible-class is also fitted with eight torpedo tubes for heavyweight torpedoes, and there are rumours that they can also be used to deliver special forces for covert operations, although Singapore is typically tight-lipped about any such capabilities.
The submarines have improved ergonomics that take into account the size and stature of Singaporeans, such as having the screens at the operators’ consoles being placed at more comfortable heights and valves and controls placed where they can be reached more easily.
Singapore has previously bought four second-hand Challenger- and two Archer-class submarines acquired from Sweden. These were formerly Sjöormen and Västergötland-class submarines that were heavily modified for use in Singapore’s tropical waters.
Two of the Challenger-class submarines were retired from service in 2015 following the introduction of the Archer-class boats, and the commissioning of the new submarines will see the last two of the former class retire in the coming months.
The Invincible had been transported to Singapore from the TKMS shipyard in Kiel, Germany on board a chartered commercial heavylift vessels August, a month after the Impeccable had made the same journey.
Singapore announced an initial order for two submarines, then designated as the Type 218SG by TKMS, in 2014 with a further two ordered in 2017.
The two remaining Invincible-class submarines, Illustrious and Inimitable, have been launched in Germany in December 2022 and April 2024 respectively, and are expected to return to Singapore by 2028.
Singapore was the second Southeast Asian nation to operate submarines and has built up a cadre of submariners and built up its knowledge of submarine operations in the Malacca Strait and South China Sea since its first boats started operations in 1999.
The economy of Singapore is heavily dependent on the maritime trade, with its location astride the heavily trafficked shipping routes running through the South China Sea to the Malacca Strait meaning that its port is one of the busiest in the world.