1.
Sembawang Air Base
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Sembawang Air Base is a military airbase of the Republic of Singapore Air Force located at Sembawang, in the northern part of Singapore. The base motto is Dare and Will, after the Japanese capture of Singapore during World War II, the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service took over the two RAF stations of Sembawang and Seletar. Singapore was split into north-south spheres of control, and the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force took over RAF Tengah and it was not until September 1945 that the two airfields reverted to British control following the Japanese surrender. The base was renamed Sembawang Air Base in 1971 when it was handed over to the Singapore Air Defence Command, from 1971 to 1976, under the auspices of the Five Power Defence Arrangements, Sembawang housed British, Australian and New Zealand forces. In 1983, the became a full-fledged rotary-wing air base when the first resident helicopter squadron –120 Squadron – was permanently relocated from Changi Air Base. Currently, there are approximately 100 helicopters based in Sembawang Air Base, almost all are operating in support of the Singapore Army, recently added to the base are the AH-64D Longbow Apache attack helicopters. Data current as of October 2006, RSAF web page on Sembawang Air Base Background history of R. N. A. S
2.
Kestrel
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The name kestrel is given to several different members of the falcon genus, Falco. Other falcons are more adapted to hunting in flight. In addition, kestrels are notable for usually having a lot of brown in their plumage, kestrels can hover in still air, even indoors in barns. Because they face towards any slight wind when hovering, the kestrel is called a windhover in some areas. Unusually for falcons, plumage often differs between male and female, although as is usual with monogamous raptors the female is larger than the male. This allows a pair to fill different feeding niches over their home range, kestrels are bold and have adapted well to human encroachment, nesting in buildings and hunting by major roads. Kestrels do not build their own nests, but use nests built by other species, most species termed kestrels appear to form a distinct clade among the falcons, as suggested by comparison of mtDNA cytochrome b sequence data and morphology. This seems to have diverged from other Falco around the Miocene–Pliocene boundary, approximately during the Gelasian, the main lineage of true kestrels emerged, this contains the species characterized by a malar stripe. This too seems to have evolved in Africa and subsequently spread across the Old World until they reached Australia some time during the Middle Pleistocene and this group contains several taxa found on Indian Ocean islands. The American kestrel is the only New World species termed kestrel, have taken up living in some cities in England
3.
Republic of Singapore Air Force
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The Republic of Singapore Air Force is the air arm of the Singapore Armed Forces. It was first established in 1968 as the Singapore Air Defence Command, in 1975, it was renamed the Republic of Singapore Air Force. In January 1968, the British announced the imminent withdrawal of all their troops east of Suez by the end of 1971, the predecessor to the RSAF, the SADC, was formed in September 1968. The SADCs immediate task was to set up the Flying Training School to train pilots, qualified flying instructors were obtained through Airwork Services Limited, a UK-based company specialising in defence services. Basic training for pilots was carried out using two Cessna light aircraft hired from the Singapore Flying Club, finally, the first batch of six pilot trainees were sent to the United Kingdom in August 1968 to undergo training in various technical disciplines. The training was based on the Hawker Hunter, the SADCs first air defence fighter, the following month, another pioneer group of technicians, this time from the rotary wing, were sent to France to begin their technical training on the Aérospatiale Alouette III helicopter. In 1969, a number of local RAF technicians were released to join the fledging SADC, eight Cessna 172K aircraft – the SADCs first – arrived in May 1969 to be used for basic pilot training. By December, the first batch of students completed the course, of these, six were sent to the UK to receive further training. On their return to Singapore in 1970, they were ready to operate the newly acquired Hawker Hunter fighter aircraft. The pace of training pilots and ground crew picked up gradually, on 1 August 1969, Minister for the Interior and Defence, Lim Kim San, inaugurated the Flying Training School at Tengah Air Base. The inauguration of FTS brought SADC closer to its goal of fulfilling the heavy responsibility of defending Singapores airspace. The subsequent arrival of the BAC Strikemasters in 1969, used for advanced flying training. The first batch of locally trained fighter pilots were trained at the FTS, amongst this batch was 2LT Goh Yong Siang, who later rose to the appointment of Chief of Air Force on 1 July 1995. Gradually, the SADC had its own pilots, flying instructors, air traffic controllers, when Britain brought forward its plan to withdraw its forces by September 1971, the SADC was suddenly entrusted with a huge responsibility and resources. Britains former air bases – Tengah, Seletar, Sembawang and Changi – were handed over to the SADC, as well as its air defence radar station, in 1973, the SADC procured Shorts Skyvan search-and-locate aircraft and Douglas A-4 Skyhawk fighter-bombers. With a reliable mix of fighters, fighter-bombers, helicopters and transport aircraft, on 1 April 1975, the SADC was renamed the Republic of Singapore Air Force. One of its first commanders was LTC Ee Tean Chye, wars involving Singapore Air Force, 2004-2008 Multi-National Force – Iraq. Aircraft participated in the Iraq War and returned home after two or three months deployment in the Persian Gulf without any ground troops involved, Singapores withdrawal was acknowledged on 23 December 2008
4.
Boeing AH-64 Apache
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The Boeing AH-64 Apache is an American four-blade, twin-turboshaft attack helicopter with a tailwheel-type landing gear arrangement and a tandem cockpit for a two-man crew. It features a nose-mounted sensor suite for target acquisition and night vision systems and it is armed with a 30 mm M230 chain gun carried between the main landing gear, under the aircrafts forward fuselage. It has four hardpoints mounted on stub-wing pylons, typically carrying a mixture of AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, the AH-64 has a large amount of systems redundancy to improve combat survivability. The Apache originally started as the Model 77 developed by Hughes Helicopters for the United States Armys Advanced Attack Helicopter program to replace the AH-1 Cobra, the prototype YAH-64 was first flown on 30 September 1975. The U. S. Army selected the YAH-64 over the Bell YAH-63 in 1976, after purchasing Hughes Helicopters in 1984, McDonnell Douglas continued AH-64 production and development. The helicopter was introduced to U. S. Army service in April 1986, the first production AH-64D Apache Longbow, an upgraded Apache variant, was delivered to the Army in March 1997. Production has been continued by Boeing Defense, Space & Security, American AH-64s have served in conflicts in Panama, the Persian Gulf, Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Israel used the Apache in its conflicts in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, British and Dutch Apaches have seen deployments in wars in Afghanistan. Following the cancellation of the AH-56 Cheyenne in 1972, in favor of projects like the U. S, the Army wanted an aircraft better than the AH-1 Cobra in firepower, performance and range. It would have the maneuverability for terrain following nap-of-the-earth flying, to this end, the U. S. Army issued a Request For Proposals for an Advanced Attack Helicopter on 15 November 1972. As a sign of the importance of project, in September 1973 the Army designated its five most important projects as the Big Five. Proposals were submitted by Bell, Boeing Vertol/Grumman team, Hughes, Lockheed, in July 1973, the U. S. Department of Defense selected finalists Bell and Hughes Aircrafts Toolco Aircraft Division. This began the phase 1 of the competition, each company built prototype helicopters and went through a flight test program. Hughes Model 77/YAH-64A prototype first flew on 30 September 1975, while Bells Model 409/YAH-63A prototype first flew on 1 October 1975, after evaluating the test results, the Army selected Hughes YAH-64A over Bells YAH-63A in 1976. Reasons for selecting the YAH-64A included its more damage tolerant four-blade main rotor, weapons and sensor systems were integrated and tested during this time, including the laser-guided AGM-114 Hellfire missile. In 1981, three pre-production AH-64As were handed over to the U. S. Army for Operational Test II, the Army testing was successful, but afterward it was decided to upgrade to the more powerful T700-GE-701 version of engine, rated at 1,690 shp. The AH-64 was named the Apache in late 1981, keeping with the Armys traditional use of American Indian tribal names for its helicopters, in 1983, the first production helicopter was rolled out at Hughes Helicopters facility at Mesa, Arizona. Hughes Helicopters was purchased by McDonnell Douglas for $470 million in 1984, the helicopter unit later became part of The Boeing Company with the merger of Boeing and McDonnell Douglas in August 1997
5.
Singapore National Day Parade
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Singapore celebrated its first National Day as an independent nation in 1966, one year after Singapores separation from Malaysia on 9 August 1965. The first National Day Parade started in the morning at 9,00 a. m. that day, People came as early as 7,00 a. m. in order to get good vantage points. Singapores first President, Mr Yusof bin Ishak and Singapores first Prime Minister, when the parade began,6 military contingents, a mobile column from the SIR, and various schools and civil contingents marched past City Hall and then into the city streets. Three military bands accompanied the parade inspection and later the march past with military music, the Singapore Fire Brigade also took part in this first parade with its firetrucks included in the mobile column. Rounding it all was a lion and dragon dance performance from drum. The following year, the contingents increased to 76, including those of the then established Singapore Armed Forces, street performances by various groups also debuted in that years parade. 1969s parade, the one where the Mobile Column made its first drivepast, on the August 9,1970 NDP edition, the Flypast of the State Flag and the Republic of Singapore Air Force Flypast debuted. A combat simulation performance by Singapore Army personnel was one of the new highlights for that year, the 1971 NDP was the first to include the iconic mobile parade floats from various organizations. Choirs also debuted on that years edition, the 1973 parade was held from the afternoon to early evening for the first time to attract more attendance from the public. The next year, colour broadcasts of the parade on television began, the 1975 parades, held to celebrate Singapores 10th year, were for the first time decentralized into 13 parade venues for more public participation. Almost all of them lasted for an hour and all of them even had route marches on the streets to the participating venues, 1977s parade was a decentralized event like two years before while 1978 would see the parade back at the Padang grounds. 1979s parade was yet another decentralized one, held in high schools. The 1980 parade, held at the National Stadium, almost rained at the start and this was the first parade in which the feu de joie of the Guard-of-Honour contingents made its inaugural appearance. 1981s NDP was the very first parade appearance of the then SPF Civil Defense Command, presently the Singapore Civil Defense Force and they were held in two decentralised venues, Jurong and Queenstown Sports Stadiums for further increase public attendance and participation in the celebrations. 1983 would be the year that the NDP was held in multiple venues. The 1986 edition was the first true evening edition of the parade, 1987s parade, held at the Padang, was the first ever evening event held there and featured the first appearance of the massed military bands of the SAF. The parade returned to the Padang in 1990 to honor the nations silver jubilee year, in 1997, for the first time, there was a National Education Show, where Primary 5 students watch NDP rehearsals. The government set up the electronic voting ticketing system in 2003 in order to tackle the problem of overcrowding, such ticketing system enables citizens to stand a chance at winning the tickets by registering their e-mail addresses or mobile numbers at the NDP website or phonelines
6.
127 Squadron, Republic of Singapore Air Force
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Formed at Sembawang Air Base in 1998, the 127 Squadron was set up to provide the RSAF with much needed help in the heavylift/support role of troop-lift and equipment transportation. And from time to time, the squadrons Chinooks are also used to augment 125 Sqn &126 Sqn in Search & Rescue operations. Within 45 minutes from the time of activation, the squadrons commanding officer—LTC Low Chung Guan along with co-pilot MAJ Andy Lim, the unconscious casualty, Leading Rating Cleary, was subsequently airlifted to National University Hospital in Singapore for medical treatment, whereupon he made a full recovery. Commander Brooks then thanked the RSAF and 127 Sqn for their prompt response, also, during Singapores annual National Day Parade, the Chinooks of 127 Sqn takes on a different, but no less important role by flying the Singapore flag proudly over the parade venue since 2000. 6× CH-47D / 12× CH-47SD Chinooks RSAF web page on 127 Sqn & Sembawang Air Base, archived from the original on 11 October 2008
7.
Boeing CH-47 Chinook
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The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is an American twin-engine, tandem rotor heavy-lift helicopter. Its primary roles are troop movement, artillery placement and battlefield resupply and it has a wide loading ramp at the rear of the fuselage and three external ventral cargo hooks. With a top speed of 170 knots the helicopter was faster than contemporary 1960s utility helicopters and attack helicopters, the CH-47 is among the heaviest lifting Western helicopters. Its name is from the Native American Chinook people, the Chinook was designed and initially produced by Boeing Vertol in the early 1960s, it is now produced by Boeing Rotorcraft Systems. It is one of the few aircraft of that era – along with the fixed-wing Lockheed C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft – that remain in production and frontline service, with over 1,200 built to date. The helicopter has been sold to 16 nations with the U. S. Army, in late 1956, the United States Department of the Army announced plans to replace the Sikorsky CH-37 Mojave, which was powered by piston engines, with a new, gas turbine-powered helicopter. Turbine engines were also a key feature of the smaller UH-1 Huey utility helicopter. Following a design competition, in September 1958, a joint Army–Air Force source selection board recommended that the Army procure the Vertol medium transport helicopter, however, funding for full-scale development was not then available, and the Army vacillated on its design requirements. Vertol began work on a new tandem-rotor helicopter designated Vertol Model 107 or V-107 in 1957, in June 1958, the U. S. Army awarded a contract to Vertol for the aircraft under the YHC-1A designation. The YHC-1A had a capacity for 20 troops, three were tested by the Army for deriving engineering and operational data. However, the YHC-1A was considered by most of the Army users to be too heavy for the assault role, the decision was made to procure a heavier transport helicopter and at the same time upgrade the UH-1 Huey as a tactical troop transport. The YHC-1A would be improved and adopted by the Marines as the CH-46 Sea Knight in 1962, the Army then ordered the larger Model 114 under the designation HC-1B. The pre-production Boeing Vertol YCH-1B made its initial hovering flight on 21 September 1961, in 1962 the HC-1B was redesignated the CH-47A under the 1962 United States Tri-Service aircraft designation system. It was named Chinook for the Chinook people of the Pacific Northwest, the CH-47 is powered by two Lycoming T55 turboshaft engines, mounted on each side of the helicopters rear pylon and connected to the rotors by driveshafts. Initial models were fitted with engines rated at 2,200 horsepower each, the counter-rotating rotors eliminate the need for an anti-torque vertical rotor, allowing all power to be used for lift and thrust. The ability to adjust lift in either rotor makes it sensitive to changes in the center of gravity. If one engine fails, the other can drive both rotors, the sizing of the Chinook was directly related to the growth of the Huey and the Armys tacticians insistence that initial air assaults be built around the squad. The Army pushed for both the Huey and the Chinook, and this focus was responsible for the acceleration of its air mobility effort, improved and more powerful versions of the CH-47 have been developed since the helicopter entered service
8.
AGM-114 Hellfire
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It was originally developed under the name Heliborne, Laser, Fire and Forget Missile, which led to the colloquial name Hellfire ultimately becoming the missiles formal name. It has multi-mission, multi-target precision-strike ability, and can be launched from air, sea. The Hellfire missile is the primary 100-pound class air-to-ground precision weapon for the forces of the United States. The Hellfire can be deployed from rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft, waterborne vessels, most variants are laser guided with one, AGM-114L Longbow Hellfire, being radar guided. The development of the Hellfire Missile System began in 1974 with the U. S. Army requirement for a tank-buster, production of the AGM-114A started in 1982. The Hellfire II, developed in the early 1990s is a missile system with several variants. Predator, Reaper and AH665 Tiger, UCAVs carry the Hellfire II, but the most common platform is the AH-64 Apache helicopter gunship, which can carry up to 16 of the missiles at once. It also works in adverse weather and battlefield obscurants, such as smoke, each Hellfire weighs 47 kilograms, including the 9 kilograms warhead, and has a range of 8,000 metres. The AGM-114R Romeo Hellfire II entered service in late 2012 and it uses a semi-active laser homing guidance system and an integrated blast fragmentation sleeve warhead to engage targets that previously needed multiple Hellfire variants. It will replace AGM-114K, M, N, and P variants in U. S. service, in October 2012, the U. S. ordered 24,000 Hellfire II missiles, for both the U. S. armed forces and foreign customers. The Joint Common Missile was to replace Hellfire II by around 2011, the JCM was developed with a tri-mode seeker and a multi-purpose warhead that would combine the capabilities of the several Hellfire variants. In the budget for FY2006, the U. S. Department of Defense canceled a number of projects that they no longer warranted continuation based on their cost effectiveness. A possible new JCM successor called the Joint Air to Ground Missile is under consideration, the only known operational air-to-air kill with a Hellfire took place on 24 May 2001. A civilian Cessna 152 aircraft entered Israeli airspace from Lebanon, with unknown intentions, an Israeli Air Force AH-64A helicopter fired upon the Cessna, resulting in its complete disintegration. In 2008, the usage of the AGM-114N variant caused controversy in the United Kingdom when it was reported that these thermobaric munitions were added to the British Army arsenal, thermobaric weapons have been condemned by human rights groups. The UK Ministry of Defence refers to the AGM-114N as an enhanced blast weapon, in January 2016 the Wall Street Journal reported that one training missile without a warhead was accidentally shipped to Cuba in 2014 after a training mission in Europe. The dummy missile was later returned, a US official said that this was an inert dummy version of the Lockheed system, known as a Captive Air Training Missile. It is stripped of its warhead, fuse, guidance equipment, AGM-114A Basic Hellfire Target, Tanks, armored vehicles
9.
Hydra 70
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The Hydra 70 rocket is a 2. 75-inch fin-stabilized unguided rocket used primarily in the air-to-ground role. It can be equipped with a variety of warheads, and in recent versions. The Hydra is widely used by US and allied forces, competing with the Canadian CRV-7 which is physically interchangeable. The Hydra 70 is derived from the 2. 75-inch Mk 4/Mk 40 Folding-Fin Aerial Rocket developed by the United States Navy for use as an aerial rocket in the late 1940s. The Mk 40 was used during the Korean and Vietnam wars, being used to close air support to ground forces from about 20 different firing platforms. The main change made to produce the Hydra was the Mk.66 motor which uses a new propellant that offers more thrust,1,335 pounds-force 1,415 pounds-force. To improve stability during the time while the fins are still opening, today, the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior and AH-64D Apache Longbow, as well as the Marine Corps AH-1 Cobra, carry the Hydra rocket launcher standard on its weapon pylons. The family of Hydra 702.75 inch rockets perform a variety of functions, the war reserve unitary and cargo warheads are used for anti-materiel, anti-personnel, and suppression missions. The Hydra 70 family of folding-fin aerial rockets also includes smoke screening, illumination, Hydra 70 rockets are known mainly by either their warhead type or by the rocket motor designation, Mk 66 in US military service. In the U. S. Marine Corps, either the M260 or M261 launchers are employed on the AH-1 Cobra and future AH-1Z Viper, the M260 and M261 are used with the Mk 66 series of rocket motor, which replaced the Mk 40 series. The Mk 66 has a reduced weight and provides a remote fuze setting interface. Hydra 70s have also been fired from UH-60 and AH-6 series aircraft in US Army service. S, Marine Corps because they were not compatible with the Mk 66 rocket motor. The Hydra 70 rocket system is used by the U. S. Navy. Hydra 70 warheads fall into three categories, Unitary warheads with impact-detonating fuzes or remote-set multi-option fuzes, cargo warheads with air burst-range, with setable fuzes using the wall-in-space concept or fixed standoff fuzes. The most common warhead for the Hydra 70 rocket is the M151 10-Pounder, NOTE, Though some of the warheads described were designed for the older Mk 40 rocket motor, but most likely could work with the Mk 66 motor if upgraded or modernized models were not available. However, this would not be necessary, as vast quantities of upgraded models exist today, weight,13.6 pounds Length,41.7 inches Burn time,1. 05–1. Roketsan Cirit is a similar missile compatible with 70 mm rocket launchers, saudi Arabia Singapore South Korea Thailand United Arab Emirates U. S. Army Aviation and Missile Command CRV-7 FFAR rocket 2.75 in SNEB rocket FZ air-to-ground rockets 70mm/2.75 Zuni 5 in Hydra 70. Hydra-70 Rockets, From Cutbacks to the Future of Warfare, Defense Industry Daily, hydra-70, Warheads energetics, Weapon Systems, General Dynamics
10.
30 mm caliber
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The 30 mm caliber is a specific size of autocannon ammunition. Such ammunition includes NATO standard 30×173mm and 30×113mmB rounds and Soviet 30×165mm rounds which are used around the world. 30 mm ammunition is not used against personnel, but rather as an anti-materiel or armor-piercing round. Rounds of this size can be effective against armored vehicles as well as fortified bunkers, the most modern anti-aircraft gun systems in use by Russia are 30 mm caliber. The U. S. military uses 30 mm weapons in their A-10 Thunderbolt II and it was going to be used in the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle until the project was cancelled. 30 mm ammunition generally comes in three varieties, armor-piercing, high-explosive, and training rounds, armor-piercing and high-explosive cartridges usually also possess incendiary characteristics
11.
M230 chain gun
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The Hughes M230 Chain Gun is a 30 mm, single-barrel automatic cannon developed by Hughes and now manufactured by Alliant Techsystems. It is an electrically operated chain gun, a weapon that uses electrical power to cycle the weapon between shots. In 1972 Hughes Helicopters began a research effort to design a single machine gun to fire the U. S. Armys M5020 mm round. By April 1973, the program had fired test rounds in more powerful 30 mm WECOM linked ammunition, the linked ammunition version was intended for the AH-1S Cobra, but was later dropped. The M230 Chain Gun is the Area Weapon System on the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter and is used on the MH-60L Direct Action Penetrator. The M230 is mounted on the chin turret and it uses a 2 hp electric motor to fire 30 mm linkless ammunition at a rate of 625 rounds per minute. The practical rate of fire is about 300 rounds per minute with a 10-minute cooling period as the gun is air cooled, the gun has a positive cook-off safety for open bolt clearing, and double ram prevention. Spent casings are ejected overboard through the bottom of the gun, the mount on the AH-64 uses secondary hydraulics to move the gun. Elevation is provided via a hydraulic actuator located on the guns centerline just forward of the pivot point. The gun is spring-loaded to return to its stowed position with the barrel angled up about eleven degrees in the event of a loss of hydraulic power. This allows the gun, which is mounted below the copilot station and this prevents the gun from entering the pilots stations and becoming a hazard. The Apache is capable of carrying up to 1,200 rounds for the gun in a known as the 12-PAK designed and manufactured by Meggitt Defense Systems. However, utilization by the US Army of an internal fuel tank. The ammunition is loaded into the AH-64D Longbow Apache by armament personnel using an aircraft-mounted motorized loader, the AH-64A requires specialized ground support equipment for loading. The M230 rounds are not backwards compatible with weapons designed for the ADEN or DEFA rounds, the M788 rounds can be distinguished by the blue band near the nose, the M789 by a yellow stripe atop a black band and the M799 a red stripe atop a yellow band. The M799 HEI round is not used by the US Army due to the danger of a round exploding in the gun barrel. S, the M789 HEDP is the primary tactical round of the Apache AH-64 helicopter, widely used in current combat operations. The Apache’s ability to provide air support with minimal collateral damage led to increased use. The M789 is typically used in the M230, each round contains 21.5 g of explosive charge sealed in a shaped-charge liner
12.
Singapore Armed Forces
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The Singapore Armed Forces is the military arm of the Total Defence of the Republic of Singapore, as well as the military component of the Ministry of Defence. The SAF has three services, the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Navy, the SAF protects the interests, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Singapore from external threats. The SAF relies heavily on a pool of conscripts in the active and reserve forces. It has a strength of around 71,600 personnel and is capable of mobilising over a million reservists. National Servicemen make up more than 80% of its defence system. The SAF was formed in 1966, Singapores military role stems from its strategic geographical location, an asset exploited by both local settlers and foreign colonists alike. Archaeological excavations have discovered remnants of fortresses and other forms of military fortifications in pre-colonial Singapore. Sir Stamford Raffles, founder of modern Singapore, chose Singapore in 1819 to establish a new British colony with the security concerns of the British in the Far East in mind against the Dutch. Thus, Singapore, which attained Crown Colony status, played a role in British military interests for decades, particularly in the years leading up to the First. The Motto of the SVA is In Oriente Primus, which is still in use today by the formations of the Singapore Army. In 1915 it helped to suppress the mutiny of the Sepoys in Singapore, during World War II, the SSVF took part in the Battle of Singapore but most of its members were captured on 15 February 1942 when their positions were overrun by Japanese forces. After the end of the war, the SSVF was re-constituted in 1948, subsequently in 1961, SMF was renamed to Singapore Armed Forces. When Singapore achieved independence in 1965, its military consisted of two infantry regiments, commanded by British officers and made up of mostly non-Singaporean residents. Britain pulled its military out of Singapore in October 1971, leaving only a small amount of British, Australian. The last of the British soldiers left Singapore in March 1976, the New Zealand troops were the last to leave Singapore, in 1989. At that time, Singapore enlisted the assistance of Israel. Trainings such as jungle warfare were jointly studied so that the Singaporean army may engage in possible combat conflict on the soils of neighbouring countries, the army procured battle tanks from Israel before neighbouring Malaysia acquired theirs, having an edge for a highly effective fighting armed forces. Singapore Armed Forces Day is commemorated by the SAF annually on 1 July, deterrence and diplomacy have been the fundamental tenets of Singapores military defence policy
13.
Network-centric warfare
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Network-centric warfare, also called network-centric operations or net-centric warfare, is a military doctrine or theory of war pioneered by the United States Department of Defense in the 1990s. Also in 1996, the Joint Chiefs of Staff released Joint Vision 2010, the term network-centric warfare and associated concepts first appeared in the Department of Navys publication, Copernicus, C4ISR for the 21st Century. The ideas of networking sensors, commanders, and shooters to flatten the hierarchy, reduce the operational pause, enhance precision, and increase speed of command were captured in this document. As a distinct concept, however, network-centric warfare first appeared publicly in a 1998 US Naval Institute Proceedings article by Vice Admiral Arthur K. Cebrowski and John Garstka. Network-centric warfare was followed in 2001 by Understanding Information Age Warfare, jointly authored by Alberts, Garstka, Richard Hayes of Evidence Based Research, UIAW pushed the implications of the shifts identified by network-centric warfare in order to derive an operational theory of warfare. Starting with a series of premises on how the environment is sensed, the physical domain is where events take place and are perceived by sensors and individuals. Data emerging from the domain is transmitted through an information domain. Data is subsequently received and processed by a domain where it is assessed and acted upon. The process replicates the observe, orient, decide, act loop first described by Col. John Boyd of the USAF, the last publication dealing with the developing theory of network centric warfare appeared in 2003 with Power to the Edge, also published by the CCRP. Power to the Edge is a speculative work suggesting that modern military environments are far too complex to be understood by any one individual, organisation and this would imply a major flattening of traditional military hierarchies, however. Power To The Edges radical ideas had been under investigation by the Pentagon since at least 2001, in UIAW, the concept of peer-to-peer activity combined with more traditional hierarchical flow of data in the network had been introduced. Network-centric warfare/operations is a cornerstone of the ongoing effort at the Department of Defense initiated by former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. It is also one of the five goals of the Office of Force Transformation, see Revolution in Military Affairs for further information on what is now known as defense transformation or transformation. The US DOD has mandated that the Global Information Grid will be the primary technical framework to support US network-centric warfare/network-centric operations, under this directive, all advanced weapons platforms, sensor systems, and command and control centers are eventually to be linked via the GIG. The term system of systems is used to describe the results of these types of massive integration efforts. The topic Net-Centric Enterprise Services addresses the applications context of the GIG, a number of significant U. S. military programs are taking technical steps towards supporting network-centric warfare. These include the Cooperative Engagement Capability of the United States Navy and this is part of the principle of joint warfare. The tenets of network-centric warfare are, Tenet 1, A robustly networked force improves information sharing, Tenet 2, Information sharing and collaboration enhance the quality of information and shared situational awareness
14.
Seletar Airport
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Seletar Airport is a civilian airport located at Seletar, in the northeastern region of Singapore, and is managed by the Changi Airport Group. Originally, the airport was completed in 1928 as a flying Royal Air Force station and was also Singapores first international airport. There had been a proposal to extend its runway to 2,000 metres, however, after considerations by the Singapore Government and the CAAS, they decided to build a Budget Terminal in Singapore Changi Airport instead. RAF Seletar was a Royal Air Force station in Singapore between 1928 and 1971, plans for establishing an airfield, flying boat and naval base in Singapore were first agreed by the RAF in 1921. In 1923, two sites in the region of the island were approved. The first planes to arrive at the base were four Supermarine Southampton seaplanes on 28 February 1928, RAF Seletar served as a civil airport from 1930 before the opening of Singapores first civil airport at Kallang on 12 June 1937. With the threat of war in the area, the RAF started building up their forces in the Far East in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Seletar airfield was the target of carpet bombing when Japanese navy bombers conducted the first air raid on Singapore and it was abandoned when the Japanese took Johore Bahru, which brought their artillery in range of the airfield. These units stayed until Jan–Feb 1942, soon before the surrender to the invading Japanese, from 1942 through 1945, a number of IJN squadrons were based or transited through Seletar mainly, for training. Among the units known to be based at Seletar during this time were 936th Kōkūtai, the 601st Kōkūtai was also stationed there for training in early before its destruction on board Japanese aircraft carriers during the Battle of Philippine Sea in June. Seletar’s present runway was built during the Japanese Occupation, among the many squadrons based there during this time were Nos 60,81 and 205 Sqns of the RAF. The base was also the home of 390 MU – the Maintenance Base for the whole of the Far East Air Force, all three Squadrons were involved with support of operations in North Borneo during the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation. The helicopter squadrons provided a search and rescue service for the Singapore area, the station was also, at that time, home to 209 Squadron, equipped with Single and Twin Pioneer aircraft. Auster aircraft were flown during the Emergency and Confrontation periods in troop/enemy spotting patrols. In December 1966, three Andover CC Mk1 arrived to replace the ageing Vickers Valetta C1 aircraft of 52 Sqn.52 Squadron was later reformed in March 1967 after the arrival of a three aircraft. By now, Confrontation had finished and with no purpose the squadron moved to Changi in 1968 before being disbanded in January 1970. The RAF station closed at the end of March 1971 and Seletar was handed over to the Singapore Air Defence Command, the Short Sunderland flying boats started in RAF service from Seletar on 22 June 1938 with 230 Sqn, a sister squadron of 205 Sqn. Seletar Airport now operates as a general aviation airport, mainly for chartered flights, currently, the airport is open 24 hours a day, has a single runway with 27 aircraft stands, has 100 square metres of warehouse space and can handle 840 tons of freight per day
15.
Kuantan
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Kuantan is the state capital of Pahang, Malaysia. It is near the mouth of the Kuantan River and faces the South China Sea, Kuantan is the ninth largest city in Malaysia. The National Physical Plan 2005 identified Kuantan as one of the future growth centres, Kuantan is considered the social, economic and commercial hub for the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia due to its strategic location. Rapid development has transformed and modernised Kuantan, recently, the introduction of Malaysias first Special Economic Zone at Kuantan is designed to boost the regional economy, tourism and growth. Kuantan in the first century was a part of Chih-Tu empire, in the 11th century, this piece of land was conquered by another small empire called Pheng-Kheng before being taken over by the Siamese during the 12th century. During the 15th century, Kuantan was ruled by the Malacca Empire, Kuantan is said to have been founded in the 1850s. The word Kuantan was mentioned by Abdullah bin Abdul Kadir circa 1851/2 as below. On Thursday night came a boat from Kuantan. Then they told the ships crew theres a pirate ship at Tanjung Tujuh, forty of them and at Pulau Kapas, in its early days, it was known as Kampung Teruntum. The village was situated at the mouth of Teruntum River which is in front of the current hospital and it was established by Haji Senik, early primary economic activities included fishing and small businesses. The main evidence of the establishment of the village is the cemetery that is situated near Taman Esplanade in front of the current Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan. Towards the late 19th century, arrival of Chinese miners and traders saw the establishment of a township in Kuantan and nearby tin mining areas such as Gambang, similar to what occurred in other states in Peninsular Malaysia, rubber plantations attracted Indian settlers as well. The sinking of HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse took place off the coast of Kuantan on 10 December 1941, the Pahang state government shifted the administrative centre of Pahang from Kuala Lipis to Kuantan in 1955. Kuantan will see new developments including, Relocation of the state administration centre to its proposed site in Bandar Indera Mahkota. Kuantan Port City consist of Kuantan Port expansion, Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park, Kuantan Waterfront Resort City at Tanjung Lumpur. Kuantan features a tropical rainforest climate under the Köppen climate classification, usually, the area experiences two seasons per year, i. e. the Dry and Hot season and the Rainy season. The Dry and Hot Season occurs when seasonal south-west winds blow from Sumatra toward the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia but are blocked by the Titiwangsa Mountain Range, the temperature may reach 40 degrees Celsius. The Rainy season usually occurs between October to March, during this season, the north-east winds bring rain to Kuantan. It can get very cloudy with an amount of rainfall
16.
Malaysia
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Malaysia is a federal constitutional monarchy located in Southeast Asia. Peninsular Malaysia shares a land and maritime border with Thailand and maritime borders with Singapore, Vietnam, East Malaysia shares land and maritime borders with Brunei and Indonesia and a maritime border with the Philippines and Vietnam. The capital city is Kuala Lumpur, while Putrajaya is the seat of the federal government, with a population of over 30 million, Malaysia is the 44th most populous country. The southernmost point of continental Eurasia, Tanjung Piai, is in Malaysia, located in the tropics, Malaysia is one of 17 megadiverse countries on earth, with large numbers of endemic species. Malaysia has its origins in the Malay kingdoms present in the area which, from the 18th century, the first British territories were known as the Straits Settlements, whose establishment was followed by the Malay kingdoms becoming British protectorates. The territories on Peninsular Malaysia were first unified as the Malayan Union in 1946, Malaya was restructured as the Federation of Malaya in 1948, and achieved independence on 31 August 1957. Malaya united with North Borneo, Sarawak, and Singapore on 16 September 1963 to become Malaysia, less than two years later in 1965, Singapore was expelled from the federation. The country is multi-ethnic and multi-cultural, which plays a role in politics. About half the population is ethnically Malay, with minorities of Malaysian Chinese, Malaysian Indians. The constitution declares Islam the state religion while allowing freedom of religion for non-Muslims, the government system is closely modelled on the Westminster parliamentary system and the legal system is based on common law. The head of state is the king, known as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and he is an elected monarch chosen from the hereditary rulers of the nine Malay states every five years. The head of government is the prime minister, since its independence, Malaysia has had one of the best economic records in Asia, with its GDP growing at an average of 6. 5% per annum for almost 50 years. The economy has traditionally been fuelled by its resources, but is expanding in the sectors of science, tourism, commerce. Today, Malaysia has a newly industrialised market economy, ranked third largest in Southeast Asia, the name Malaysia is a combination of the word Malay and the Latin-Greek suffix -sia/-σία. The word melayu in Malay may derive from the Tamil words malai and ur meaning mountain and city, land, malayadvipa was the word used by ancient Indian traders when referring to the Malay Peninsula. Whether or not it originated from these roots, the word melayu or mlayu may have used in early Malay/Javanese to mean to steadily accelerate or run. This term was applied to describe the current of the river Melayu in Sumatra. The name was adopted by the Melayu Kingdom that existed in the seventh century on Sumatra
17.
Changi Air Base
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Changi Air Base or Changi Air Base, formerly RAF Changi, is an airfield military airbase of the Republic of Singapore Air Force located at Changi, in the eastern tip of Singapore. Together, the two airfields house 121 Squadron,112 Squadron, No 145 Squadron, the Field Defence Squadron, the Air Logistics Squadron, the air base badge carries the motto, Together in Excellence. First completed as a British artillery camp in 1940, it was used together with the nearby Changi Prison for housing many of the Allied prisoners-of-war after the fall of Singapore in 1942. The airfield facility became a Royal Air Force station and was renamed RAF Changi in 1946 after the Japanese surrender, imprisoned Japanese troops were then made to improve the runways, reinforcing the north-south runway for military aircraft and adding perforated steel plates to the east-west runway. Completed post war, RAF Chia Keng — a GCHQ radio receiving station, was a station of RAF Changi until the British Forces withdrawal from Singapore. Upon the withdrawal of British forces from Singapore, RAF Changi was renamed as Changi Air Base and was handed over to the SADC on 9 Dec 1971. Thereafter, the received its first flying squadron of SADC - the Alouette Squadron. With the arrival of the first Shorts Skyvans in 1973, SADC began to form the 121 Squadron at Changi Air Base, the novel The Sound of Pirates by former RAF airman Terence Brand is based in the 1960s both on the airfield and in the surrounding areas. The east-west runway was almost erased from the map, currently surviving as a taxiway to the area which has remained operational as part of Changi Air Base. Following the opening of the new Changi Air Base on 29 November 2004, the flying squadrons now are,112 Squadron with 4 Boeing KC-135R Stratotankers, &,121 Squadron with 4 Utility Transport Aircraft and 5 Maritime Patrol Aircraft versions of the Fokker F50. Data current as of October 2006, history of RAF Crest Badge and Information of RAF Changi Memories of Singapore - RAF Changi
18.
New Year's Day
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New Years Day, also called simply New Years or New Year, is observed on January 1, the first day of the year on the modern Gregorian calendar as well as the Julian calendar. In pre-Christian Rome under the Julian calendar, the day was dedicated to Janus, god of gateways and beginnings, other global New Years Day traditions include making New Years resolutions and calling ones friends and family. Mesopotamia instituted the concept of celebrating the new year in 2000 BC, celebrated new year around the time of the vernal equinox, the early Roman calendar designated March 1 as the new year. The calendar had just ten months, beginning with March and that the new year once began with the month of March is still reflected in some of the names of the months. September through December, our ninth through twelfth months, were positioned as the seventh through tenth months. Roman legend usually credited their second king Numa with the establishment of the months of January and February and these were first placed at the end of the year, but at some point came to be considered the first two months instead. The January Kalends came to be celebrated as the new year at some point after it became the day for the new consuls in 153 BC. Romans had long dated their years by these consulships, rather than sequentially, still, private and religious celebrations around the March new year continued for some time and there is no consensus on the question of the timing for January 1s new status. Once it became the new year, however, it became a time for family gatherings, in AD567, the Council of Tours formally abolished January 1 as the beginning of the year. These days were also astronomically and astrologically significant since, at the time of the Julian reform, March 25 had been understood as the spring equinox and December 25 as the winter solstice. Medieval calendars nonetheless often continued to display the months running from January to December, among the 7th century pagans of Flanders and the Netherlands, it was the custom to exchange gifts on the first day of the new year. This custom was deplored by Saint Eligius, who warned the Flemish and Dutch, make vetulas, little deer or iotticos or set tables at night or exchange New Year gifts or supply superfluous drinks. Because of the leap year error in the Julian calendar, the date of Easter had drifted backward since the First Council of Nicaea decided the computation of the date of Easter in 325, by the sixteenth century, the drift from the observed equinox had become unacceptable. In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII declared the Gregorian calendar widely used today, the Gregorian calendar reform also restored January 1 as New Years Day. Although most Catholic countries adopted the Gregorian calendar almost immediately, it was gradually adopted among Protestant countries. The British, for example, did not adopt the reformed calendar until 1752, until then, the British Empire – and its American colonies – still celebrated the new year on 25 March. Most nations of Western Europe officially adopted 1 January as New Years Day somewhat before they adopted the Gregorian Calendar, in Tudor England, New Years Day, along with Christmas Day and Twelfth Night, was celebrated as one of three main festivities among the twelve days of Christmastide. There, until the adoption of the Gregorian Calendar in 1752, Pope Gregory acknowledged 1 January as the beginning of the new year according to his reform of the Catholic Liturgical Calendar
19.
Bell 212
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The Bell 212 Twin Huey is a two-blade, twin-engine, medium helicopter that first flew in 1968. The 212 is marketed to civilian operators and has a configuration, with one pilot. In cargo configuration the 212 has a capacity of 220 ft³. An external load of up to 5,000 lb can be carried, based on the stretched fuselage Bell 205, the Bell 212 was originally developed for the Canadian Forces as the CUH-1N and later redesignated as the CH-135. The Canadian Forces took delivery of 50 starting in May 1971, at the same time the United States military services ordered 294 Bell 212s under the designation UH-1N. By 1971 the 212 had been developed for commercial applications, among the earliest uses of the 212 in civil aviation was by Helicopter Service AS of Norway to be used in support of offshore oil rigs. Today the 212 can be used in logging operations, maritime rescue. The 212s main rotor is powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T-3 Twin-Pac made up of two coupled PT6 power turbines driving a common gearbox and they are capable of producing up to 1,800 shp. Should one engine fail the remaining engine can deliver 900 shp for 30 minutes, or 765 shp continuously, many aircraft still fly with the modification. In 1979, with the purchase of eight by the Civil Air Authority, the ICAO designator for this aircraft as used in a flight plan is B212. Bell developed the Model 212 further with the Bell 412, the difference being the composite four-blade main rotor. The last Bell 212 was delivered in 1998, Bell Model 212 - Bell Helicopters company designation for the UH-1N. Twin Two-Twelve - Civil utility transport version and it can carry up to 14 passengers. Agusta-Bell AB212 - Civil or military utility transport version, built under license in Italy by Agusta. Agusta-Bell AB. 212ASW - Anti-Submarine Warfare variant of AB.212 Bell Model 412 - Bell 212 with a four-bladed semi-rigid rotor system, Eagle 212 Single - Single engine variant with a Lycoming T53-17 or T53-BCV engine produced by Eagle Copters of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Fighting Helicopters of the 20th Century, graham Beehag Books, Christchurch, Dorset, England. Combat Helicopters, France, Histoire & Collections, the Bell UH-1 Huey at Greg Goebels AIR VECTORS
20.
Bell UH-1 Iroquois
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The Bell UH-1 Iroquois is a utility military helicopter powered by a single turboshaft engine, with two-blade main and tail rotors. The UH-1 was the first turbine-powered helicopter to enter production in 1960 for the United States military, the Iroquois was originally designated HU-1, hence the Huey nickname, which has remained in common use, despite the official redesignation to UH-1 in 1962. The UH-1 first saw service in operations during the Vietnam War. The Bell 204 and 205 are Iroquois versions developed for the civil market, in 1952, the U. S. Army identified a requirement for a new helicopter to serve as medical evacuation, instrument trainer, and general utility aircraft. The Army determined that current helicopters were too large, underpowered, in November 1953, revised military requirements were submitted to the Department of the Army. Twenty companies submitted designs in their bid for the contract, including Bell Helicopter with the Model 204, on 23 February 1955, the Army announced its decision, selecting Bell to build three copies of the Model 204 for evaluation with the designatation XH-40. Powered by a prototype Lycoming YT53-L-1 engine producing 700 shp, the XH-40 first flew on 20 October 1956 at Fort Worth, Texas, with Bells chief test pilot, Floyd Carlson, at the controls. Two more prototypes were built in 1957, and the Army had previously ordered six YH-40 service test aircraft, in March 1960, the Army awarded Bell a production contract for 100 aircraft, which was designated as the HU-1A and officially named Iroquois after the Native American nations. The helicopter quickly developed a nickname derived from its designation of HU-1, the reference became so popular that Bell began casting the name on the helicopters anti-torque pedals. The official U. S. Army name was almost never used in practice, after September 1962, the designation for all models was changed to UH-1 under a unified Department of Defense designation system, but the nickname remained. The Army indicated the need for improved follow-on models even as the first UH-1As were being delivered, Army testing of the UH-1B started in November 1960, with the first production aircraft delivered in March 1961. Bell commenced development of the UH-1C in 1960 in order to correct deficiencies of the armed UH-1B. Bell fitted the UH-1C with a 1,100 shp T53-L-11 engine to provide the power needed to all weapons systems in use or under development. The Army would eventually refit all UH-1B aircraft with the same engine, a new rotor system was developed for the UH-1C to allow higher air speeds and reduce the incidence of retreating blade stall during diving engagements. The improved rotor resulted in better maneuverability and a speed increase. The increased power and a larger diameter rotor required Bells engineers to design a new boom for the UH-1C. The longer tail boom incorporated a wider chord fin on the tail rotor pylon. Bell also introduced a hydraulic control system for redundancy as well as an improved inlet filter system for the dusty conditions found in southeast Asia
21.
Search and rescue
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Search and rescue is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger. The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, International Search and Rescue Advisory Group is a UN organization that promotes the exchange of information between national urban search and rescue organizations. The duty to render assistance is covered by Article 98 of the UNCLOS, there are many different definitions of search and rescue, depending on the agency involved. Canadian Forces, Search and Rescue comprises the search for, and provision of aid to, persons, ships or other craft which are, or are feared to be, in distress or imminent danger. United States Coast Guard, The use of resources to assist persons or property in potential or actual distress. One of the worlds earliest well-documented SAR efforts ensued following the 1656 wreck of the Dutch merchant ship Vergulde Draeck off the west coast of Australia, survivors sought help, and in response three separate SAR missions were conducted, without success. All 5 crew members of an oil barge, which had run aground on Penfield Reef, were saved before the barge sank, in 1983, Korean Air Lines Flight 007 with 269 occupants was shot down by a Soviet aircraft near Sakhalin. The Soviets sent SAR helicopters and boats to Soviet waters, while a search, South Korean, and Japanese ships and aircraft in international waters, but no survivors were found. In July 2009, Air France Flight 447 was lost in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, an international SAR effort was launched, to no avail. A third effort nearly two years later discovered the site and recovered the black boxes. In early 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 crashed under mysterious circumstances, many nations contributed to the initial SAR effort, which was fruitless. 3mn to date on fuel and food in its own effort. The search for Flight 370 has become the largest SAR so far with the largest budget, mountain rescue relates to search and rescue operations specifically in rugged and mountainous terrain. Ground search and rescue is the search for persons who are lost or in distress on land or inland waterways, some ground search teams also employ search and rescue dogs. Urban search and rescue, also referred to as Heavy Urban Search and Rescue, is the location and rescue of persons from collapsed buildings or other urban and industrial entrapments. Due to the nature of the work, most teams are multi-disciplinary and include personnel from police, fire. While earthquakes have traditionally been the cause of US&R operations, terrorist attacks, combat search and rescue is search and rescue operations that are carried out during war that are within or near combat zones. Air-sea rescue refers to the use of aircraft and surface vessels, to search for. This treaty contains the definition of high seas, at Article 1, International Search and Rescue Advisory Group is a UN organization that promotes the exchange of information between national urban search and rescue organizations
22.
South China Sea
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The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Karimata and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around 3,500,000 square kilometres. The areas importance largely results from one-third of the worlds shipping sailing through its waters, the sea and its mostly uninhabited islands are subject to competing claims of sovereignty by several countries. These claims are reflected in the variety of names used for the islands. South China Sea is the dominant term used in English for the sea, and this name is a result of early European interest in the sea as a route from Europe and South Asia to the trading opportunities of China. In the sixteenth century Portuguese sailors called it the China Sea, the International Hydrographic Organization refers to the sea as South China Sea. The Classic of Poetry, Zuo Zhuan, and Guoyu classics of the Spring and Autumn period also referred to the sea, Nan Hai, the South Sea, was one of the Four Seas of Chinese literature. There are three other seas, one for each of the four cardinal directions, during the Eastern Han dynasty, Chinas rulers called the Sea Zhang Hai. Fei Hai became popular during the Southern and Northern Dynasties period, usage of the current Chinese name, Nan Hai, became gradually widespread during the Qing Dynasty. In Southeast Asia it was called the Champa Sea or Sea of Cham. The majority of the sea came under Japanese naval control during World War II following the acquisition of many surrounding South East Asian territories in 1941. Japan calls the sea Minami Shina Kai South China Sea and this was written 南支那海 until 2004, when the Japanese Foreign Ministry and other departments switched the spelling 南シナ海, which has become the standard usage in Japan. In China, it is called the South Sea, 南海 Nánhǎi, in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, it was long called the South China Sea, with the part within Philippine territorial waters often called the Luzon Sea, Dagat Luzon, by the Philippines. However, following an escalation of the Spratly Islands dispute in 2011, a PAGASA spokesperson said that the sea to the east of the Philippines will continue to be called the Philippine Sea. In September 2012, Philippine President Benigno Aquino III signed Administrative Order No, states and territories with borders on the sea include, the Peoples Republic of China, the Republic of China, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore, and Vietnam. Major rivers that flow into the South China Sea include the Pearl, Min, Jiulong, Red, Mekong, Rajang, Pahang, Pampanga, the International Hydrographic Organization defines the limits of the South China Sea as follows, On the South. From Fuki Kaku the North point of Formosa to Kiushan Tao on to the South point of Haitan Tao, the Mainland, the Southern limit of the Gulf of Thailand and the East coast of the Malay Peninsula. The sea lies above a drowned continental shelf, during recent ice ages global sea level was hundreds of metres lower, the South China Sea opened around 45 million years ago when the Dangerous Ground rifted away from southern China. Extension culminated in seafloor spreading around 30 million years ago, a process that propagated to the SW resulting in the V-shaped basin we see today, extension ceased around 17 million years ago
23.
Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma
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The Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma is a four-bladed, twin-engine, medium-size utility helicopter developed and marketed by Aérospatiale and Eurocopter. It is an enlarged and re-engined version of the original Aérospatiale SA330 Puma, in civilian service, a next generation successor to the AS332 was introduced in 2004, the further-enlarged Eurocopter EC225 Super Puma. In 1974, Aérospatiale commenced development of a new transport helicopter based on its SA330 Puma. The project was announced at the 1975 Paris Air Show. External distinguishing features from the SA330 include a ventral fin underneath the tail boom, a pre-production prototype, the SA331, modified from a SA330 airframe with Makila engines and a new gearbox, flew on 5 September 1977. The first prototype of the full Super Puma made its flight on 13 September 1978. The development of the military and civil variants was carried out in parallel, in 1981, the first civil Super Puma was delivered. In 1980, the AS332 Super Puma had replaced the older SA330 Puma as Aerospatiales primary utility helicopter, Indonesian Aerospace has also manufactured both the SA330 and AS332 under license from Aerospatiale for domestic and some overseas customers. A wide variety of specialised Super Puma variants followed the basic transport model into use, including dedicated Search and rescue, Military Super Pumas have been marketed as the AS532 Cougar since 1990. As a fallback option to the NHIndustries NH90, a Mark III Super Puma was also considered for development. This move is aimed to cut time and cost by simplifying production to a single baseline configuration that shall then be customised to meet the needs of both civil and military customers. The monocoque tail boom is fitted with tail rotor strike protection, the retractable tricycle landing gear is designed for high energy absorption qualities. Along with the doors,12 windows around the cabin area are jettisonable for emergency exits. A hatch in the floor to access the cargo sling pole is present in the cabin, as is individual stowage space for airborne equipment. The flight control system of the Super Puma uses a total of 4 dual-body servo units for pitch control of the cyclic, collective, and tail rotor, according to Airbus Helicopters, the avionics installed upon later variants has ensured a high level of operational safety. A navalised variant of the Super Puma has also manufactured for performing anti-submarine warfare. For the anti-surface role, it can be armed with a pair of Exocet anti-ship missiles, VH-34 is the Brazilian Air Forces designation for the helicopter used to transport the President of Brazil. Two modified Super Pumas were used as the main presidential helicopters, having been configured to carry up to fifteen passengers, the VH-34 model was progressively supplemented and later replaced by the VH-36, the later EC725
24.
125 Squadron, Republic of Singapore Air Force
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The 125 Squadron Puma is a helicopter squadron base at Sembawang Air Base, Republic of Singapore Air Force, the squadron goes by the motto of Swift In Support, with the Puma as the squadrons motif. Formed in February 1985, the 125 Squadron consisted of the newly purchased Super Pumas and this was the Republic of Singapore Air Forces third helicopter squadron, after 120 Sqn and 123 Sqn. The pilots for the new helicopters were drawn from the two squadrons and led by Major Chia Sin Kwong, were sent to France to undergo a conversion course. The first Super Puma made its way to Singapore in July 1985, the guest of honour for the ceremony was the then Chief of General Staff, Major-General Winston Choo. Based at Sembawang Air Base, the Super Pumas brought to the RSAF a new dimension in its operational capabilities. Prior to the acquisition of the CH-47 Chinook, SAF relied on the squadrons Super Puma helicopters to transport its vehicles and troops around on various detachments. During Singapores National Day, the Super Pumas take on a different, since 1986, they have been active participants of the parade, either flying the Singapore flag proudly or simply being part of the flypast. A Super Puma crashed landed on the compound at Sembawang Air Base, in 2010, current Commanding Officer LTC Ong Jack Sen and the squadron celebrated the 25th anniversary of Super Puma operations in the RSAF. 22× AS332M Super Puma Notes RSAF web page on 125 Sqn & Sembawang Air Base
25.
Singapore Cable Car
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The Singapore Cable Car is a gondola lift providing an aerial link from Mount Faber on the main island of Singapore to the resort island of Sentosa across the Keppel Harbour. Opened on 15 February 1974, it was the first aerial ropeway system in the world to span a harbour, however, it is not the first aerial ropeway system to span the sea. For instance, Awashima Kaijō Ropeway in Japan, built in 1964, although referred to by its operators as a cable car, the listed system is in fact a bi-cable gondola lift and not an aerial tramway. A round-trip ticket currently costs SGD29 for adults and SGD18 for children, the Singapore government came up with the idea of a cable car to Sentosa from Mount Faber in 1968 as part of its masterplan for tourism projects in the country. Four years later in 1972, construction on the S$5.8 million system commenced, during its opening, the system had 43 cabins which required manual opening and closing of doors by cabin attendants. This was increased to 51 cabins in 1976, the show Hawaii Five-O was filmed on the system in the late seventies, while the worlds first Mass Weddings on the cable cars was introduced in the late 1970s. In 1988, the system celebrated its 10 millionth rider and it played hosts to the contestants of the Miss World Pageant when it was held in Singapore in 1989, as well as the sportsmen and officials who were there for the Southeast Asian Games in 1990. The systems cabins were replaced in 1994 at a cost of over S$11 million, the new cabins totalled 80, and effectively doubled the systems capacity to 1400 passengers per hour in either direction from 700 passengers previously. The upgrade took 25 days to complete, during which time the system suspended operations, a year later in 1995, the system welcomed its 20 millionth rider, and quickly reached its 25 millionth visitor just two years later in 1997. The stations at Mount Faber and Sentosa were also upgraded in the same year, in November 1999, the Singapore cable car system did another worlds first with its glass-bottomed cabins at a cost of S$30,000 each. 6 more of these cabins were added in December 2000. For a week from March 16,2004, the system conducted the Surviving the Sky Challenge as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations,34 two-man teams from around Asia attempted the challenge to see who could survive the longest in the cable car for 24 hours a day. A S$36 million upgrade of the system started on September 14,2009. All the cabins are now metallic black cars with chrome trimming, there are 67 bigger cabins, including World’s First 7* VIP Cabin. The two cables were raised cable by 30m to facilitate the bigger cabins, to stand 120 m above sea level, seating capacity was also increased to eight passengers per cabin from six. There are also new flip-up seats and a new music system, the Sentosa Line, an intra-island cable car was opened on 14 July 2015 and 890 metres in length, and the older line is now called the Mount Faber Line. Both lines are not physically linked up, and hence visitors need to walk 3 to 5 minutes from the original Sentosa station to the Imbiah Lookout station. The new line links Siloso Point to the Merlion station, with the Merlion station also providing a link with the Sentosa Express, the new S$78 million line has 51 eight-seater cabins and is able to move about 2,200 people per hour in one direction
26.
Singapore Cable Car disaster
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The Singapore cable car disaster was a deadly event on the Singapore Cable Car system that occurred at about 6 p. m. As a result, two cabins plunged 55 metres into the sea, killing seven people, the oil rig was being towed away from Keppel Wharf when it became entangled in the cable and caused it to snap. It also left thirteen people trapped in four other cabins between Mount Faber and Sentosa, the disaster was the first involving death or injury since the cable car system opened in February 1974. The Singapore Police Force, the Singapore Fire Service and all three services of the Singapore Armed Forces were involved in the rescue operation. It was headed by Mr Philip Yeo, the then Second Permanent Secretary, the overall operation was directed by Colonel Lee Hsien Loong, Chief of Staff. There were fears that the oil rig could drift further and cause more damage, the problem was worsened by a combination of strong currents and the rising tide. To prevent the rig from moving, four tugs put lines aboard and worked to, the Naval Diving Unit of the Republic of Singapore Navy was assigned to conduct the underwater search for the passengers in the two cabins which had plunged into the sea. It took the three hours before they recovered four bodies from the cabins. On land, the Army established an operations HQ and medical facilities at the wharf-side. In the air, the 120 Squadron of Republic of Singapore Air Force was tasked to rescue the people who were trapped in the four cabins. Though an extremely risky measure, it was considered the fastest and safest way as the cabins might have plunged into the sea at any moment. He was blown off on the first attempt but on the attempt, he reached the door of the cabin, unlocked it. He came out with the first passenger strapped to his body by a harness, the winch operator pulled both of them to safety. The riskiest rescues were undertaken by a Royal Australian Navy Lieutenant Geoff Ledger, overall, the entire rescue mission took three and a half hours of risky hovering in pitch black darkness and high wind conditions to accomplish. A Commission of Inquiry was appointed by the President of the Republic of Singapore on 5 February 1983 into the disaster, the Commission conducted the Inquiry in public for 55 days from 23 May to 12 August 1983 and submitted its report on 30 December 1983. The report blamed the collision on the negligence of several parties, including the master, chief officer, the Port of Singapore Authority, the shipyard and the oil rigs operators were also cited. The Commission made recommendations for safety measures to be taken to prevent a similar occurrence in the future. Seven die as two cable cars plunge into sea - from The Sunday Times SGInfopedia
27.
East Timor
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East Timor or Timor-Leste, officially the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, is a sovereign state in Maritime Southeast Asia. It comprises the half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse. The countrys size is about 15,410 km2, nine days later, it was invaded and occupied by Indonesia and was declared Indonesias 27th province the following year. The Indonesian occupation of East Timor was characterised by a highly violent decades-long conflict between separatist groups and the Indonesian military, in 1999, following the United Nations-sponsored act of self-determination, Indonesia relinquished control of the territory. East Timor became the first new state of the 21st century on 20 May 2002 and joined the United Nations. In 2011, East Timor announced its intention to gain status in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations by applying to become its eleventh member. It is one of two predominantly Christian nations in Southeast Asia, the other being the Philippines. In Indonesian, the country is called Timor Timur, thus using the Portuguese name for the island followed by the word for east, the official names under the Constitution are Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste in English, República Democrática de Timor-Leste in Portuguese and Repúblika Demokrátika Timór-Leste in Tetum. Humans first settled in East Timor 42,000 years ago, descendants of at least three waves of migration are believed still to live in East Timor. The first is described by anthropologists as people of the Veddo-Australoid type, around 3000 BC, a second migration brought Melanesians. The earlier Veddo-Australoid peoples withdrew at this time to the mountainous interior, finally, proto-Malays arrived from south China and north Indochina. Hakka traders are among those descended from this final group, Timorese origin myths tell of ancestors that sailed around the eastern end of Timor arriving on land in the south. Some stories recount Timorese ancestors journeying from the Malay Peninsula or the Minangkabau highlands of Sumatra, austronesians migrated to Timor, and are thought to be associated with the development of agriculture on the island. Thirdly, Proto-Malays arrived from south China and north Indochina, before European colonialism, Timor was included in Chinese and Indian trading networks, and in the 14th century was an exporter of aromatic sandalwood, slaves, honey, and wax. It was the abundance of sandalwood in Timor that attracted European explorers to the island in the early 16th century. During that time, European explorers reported that the island had a number of small chiefdoms or princedoms, the Portuguese established outposts in Timor and Maluku. Effective European occupation of a part of the territory began in 1769, when the city of Dili was founded. For the Portuguese, East Timor remained little more than a trading post until the late nineteenth century, with minimal investment in infrastructure, health
28.
Association of Southeast Asian Nations
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ASEAN covers a land area of 4.4 million square kilometres, 3% of the total land area of Earth. ASEAN territorial waters cover an area three times larger than its land counterpart. Member countries have a population of approximately 625 million people,8. 8% of the worlds population. In 2015, the organisations combined nominal GDP had grown to more than US$2.8 trillion, if ASEAN were a single entity, it would rank as the sixth largest economy in the world, behind the USA, China, Japan, India and Germany. ASEAN shares land borders with India, China, Bangladesh, East Timor, and Papua New Guinea, and maritime borders with India, China, Palau, both East Timor and Papua New Guinea are backed by certain ASEAN members for their membership in the organisation. As set out in the ASEAN Declaration, the aims and purposes of ASEAN are, To accelerate economic growth, social progress, to promote regional peace and stability. To promote collaboration and mutual assistance on matters of common interest, to provide assistance to each other in the form of training and research facilities. To collaborate for the better utilisation of agriculture and industry to raise the standards of the people. To maintain close, beneficial co-operation with existing international organisations with similar aims, ASEAN was preceded by an organization formed in 1961 called the Association of Southeast Asia, a group consisting of the Philippines, Malaysia, and Thailand. The creation of ASEAN was motivated by a fear of communism. ASEAN grew when Brunei Darussalam became its sixth member on 7 January 1984, ASEAN achieved greater cohesion in the mid-1970s following the changed balance of power in Southeast Asia after the end of the Vietnam War. The regions dynamic economic growth during the 1970s strengthened the organization, on 28 July 1995, Vietnam became ASEANs seventh member. Laos and Myanmar joined two years later on 23 July 1997, Cambodia was to have joined at the same time as Laos and Burma, but its entry was delayed due to the countrys internal political struggle. It later joined on 30 April 1999, following the stabilization of its government, however, the proposal failed because of heavy opposition from the US and Japan. Member states continued to work for integration, and ASEAN Plus Three was created in 1997. This law would act as the framework for the ASEAN Free Trade Area, AFTA is an agreement by member nations concerning local manufacturing in ASEAN countries. The AFTA agreement was signed on 28 January 1992 in Singapore, after the East Asian Financial Crisis of 1997, a revival of the Malaysian proposal, known as the Chiang Mai Initiative, was put forward in Chiang Mai, Thailand. It called for integration of the economies of ASEAN as well as the ASEAN Plus Three countries, China, Japan
29.
Royal Malaysian Air Force
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The Royal Malaysian Air Force was formed on 2 June 1958 as the Royal Federation of Malaya Air Force. However, its roots can be traced back to the Malayan Auxiliary Air Force formations of the British Royal Air Force in then colonial British Malaya, today, the Royal Malaysian Air Force operates a unique mix of modern American, European and Russian-made aircraft. The Malaysian air forces trace their lineage to the Malayan Auxiliary Air Force formations of the Royal Air Force raised in 1934. They later transformed into the Straits Settlements Volunteer Air Force and the Malaya Volunteer Air Force formed in 1940, the latter was re-established in 1950 in time for the Malayan Emergency and contributed very much to the war effort. On 2 June 1958, the MVAF finally became the Royal Federation of Malaya Air Force, the first aircraft for the fledgling air force was a Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer named Lang Rajawali by the then Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman. Several Malayans serving with the Royal Air Force transferred to the Royal Federation of Malaya Air Force, the role played by TUDM was limited initially to communications and the support of ground operations against Communist insurgents during the Malayan Emergency. TUDM received its first combat aircraft with the delivery of 20 Canadair CL41G Tebuans, TUDM also received Aérospatiale Alouette III helicopters, to be used in the liaison role. With the formation of the Malaysian Federation on 16 September 1963, new types introduced into service included the Handley Page Herald transport and the De Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou. TUDM received Sikorsky S-61A-4 helicopters in the late 1960s and early 1970s which were used in the transport role, TUDM gained an air defence capability when the Australian Government donated 10 ex-Royal Australian Air Force CAC Sabre fighters. These were based at the Butterworth Air Base, the RAAF maintained two Mirage IIIO squadrons at the Butterworth Air Base as part of its commitment to the Five Power Defence Arrangements. These squadrons were withdrawn in 1986, although occasional deployments of RAAF aircraft continue, with the withdrawal of British military forces, TUDM underwent gradual modernisation from the 1970s to the 1990s. The Sabres were replaced by 16 Northrop F-5E Tiger-IIs, a reconnaissance capability was acquired with the purchase of two RF-5E Tigereye aircraft. TUDM also purchased 88 ex-US Navy Douglas A-4C Skyhawks, of which 40 of the airframes were converted/refurbished by Grumman Aircraft Engineering at Bethpage into the A-4PTM, TUDM has traditionally looked to the West for its purchases, primarily to the United States. In 2003 a contract was signed for eighteen Su-30MKMs for delivery in 2007 to fulfill a requirement for an order of multi-role combat aircraft. A requirement for a further eighteen MRCAs remains unfulfilled, TUDM is also looking for an AWACS aircraft, although no firm orders have been placed. On 8 December 2005, four Airbus Military A400M aircraft were ordered to enhance the airlift capability, the first Malaysian A400M is delivered in March 2015. In late 2006, the Government signed a contract to purchase eight Aermacchi MB-339CMs to add to the eight MB-339AMs already in service, in March 2007, then-Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Najib Razak notified the public that the MiG-29s would continue in service until 2010. Later that year, Najib announced the Nuri helicopter, in service since 1968 with 89 crew members killed in 15 accidents, would be phased out by 2012 and replaced by the Eurocopter EC725
30.
Sri Lanka Air Force
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The Sri Lanka Air Force is the air arm and the youngest of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces. It was founded in 1951 as the Royal Ceylon Air Force with the assistance of the Royal Air Force, the SLAF played a major role throughout the Sri Lankan Civil War. The SLAF operates more than 160 aircraft and has a trained strength of 27,400 airmen and 1,300 officers. The Commander of the Air Force is the head of the Sri Lanka Air Force. Early administration and training was carried out by RAF officers and other personnel, the first aircraft of the RCyAF were de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunks used as basic trainers. By 1955 the RCyAF was operating two flying squadrons based at RAF Negombo, the first helicopter type to be added to the service was the Westland Dragonfly. These were supplemented in the 1960s with various aircraft, most notably American Bell JetRanger helicopters. The RAF headquarters, Air HQ Ceylon, was disbanded on 1 November 1957, in 1959 de Havilland Vampire jet aircraft were acquired. However, the RCyAF did not put them into use and soon replaced them with five Hunting Jet Provosts obtained from the British. By 1970 these were in storage, the Royal Ceylon Air Force first went into combat in 1971 when the Marxist JVP launched an island-wide insurrection on April 5. The Ceylon Armed Forces were caught off guard, police stations island-wide, responding rapidly the RCyAF deployed its limited aircraft, at first to resupply besieged police stations and military outposts and patrol around major cities. The Jet Provosts were taken out of storage and put into service three days, carrying out attacks on insurgents. The RAFs heavy transports flew in six Bell 47G helicopters purchased from the United States. In 1987 the air force had a strength of 3,700 personnel. The force had grown gradually during its years, reaching a little over 1,000 officers. On March 31,1976 the SLAF was awarded the Presidents Colour and that same year SLAF detachments, which later became SLAF stations, were established at Wirawila, Vavuniya and Minneriya. With the closure of Air Ceylon in 1978, its Hawker Siddeley HS748 transport aircraft was taken over by the SLAF. By the early 1980s the Provosts and all of the Soviet aircraft had taken out of active service and placed in long-term storage
31.
Alauda
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Alauda is a genus of larks found across much of Europe, Asia and in the mountains of north Africa, and one of the species endemic to the islet of Raso in the Cape Verde Islands. Further, at least two species are known from the fossil record. The current genus name is from Latin alauda, lark, pliny the Elder thought the word was originally of Celtic origin. The genus Alauda has four extant and at least two extinct species, formerly, many other species have also been considered to belong to the genus
32.
French language
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French is a Romance language of the Indo-European family. It descended from the Vulgar Latin of the Roman Empire, as did all Romance languages, French has evolved from Gallo-Romance, the spoken Latin in Gaul, and more specifically in Northern Gaul. Its closest relatives are the other langues doïl—languages historically spoken in northern France and in southern Belgium, French was also influenced by native Celtic languages of Northern Roman Gaul like Gallia Belgica and by the Frankish language of the post-Roman Frankish invaders. Today, owing to Frances past overseas expansion, there are numerous French-based creole languages, a French-speaking person or nation may be referred to as Francophone in both English and French. French is a language in 29 countries, most of which are members of la francophonie. As of 2015, 40% of the population is in Europe, 35% in sub-Saharan Africa, 15% in North Africa and the Middle East, 8% in the Americas. French is the fourth-most widely spoken mother tongue in the European Union, 1/5 of Europeans who do not have French as a mother tongue speak French as a second language. As a result of French and Belgian colonialism from the 17th and 18th century onward, French was introduced to new territories in the Americas, Africa, most second-language speakers reside in Francophone Africa, in particular Gabon, Algeria, Mauritius, Senegal and Ivory Coast. In 2015, French was estimated to have 77 to 110 million native speakers, approximately 274 million people are able to speak the language. The Organisation internationale de la Francophonie estimates 700 million by 2050, in 2011, Bloomberg Businessweek ranked French the third most useful language for business, after English and Standard Mandarin Chinese. Under the Constitution of France, French has been the language of the Republic since 1992. France mandates the use of French in official government publications, public education except in specific cases, French is one of the four official languages of Switzerland and is spoken in the western part of Switzerland called Romandie, of which Geneva is the largest city. French is the language of about 23% of the Swiss population. French is also a language of Luxembourg, Monaco, and Aosta Valley, while French dialects remain spoken by minorities on the Channel Islands. A plurality of the worlds French-speaking population lives in Africa and this number does not include the people living in non-Francophone African countries who have learned French as a foreign language. Due to the rise of French in Africa, the total French-speaking population worldwide is expected to reach 700 million people in 2050, French is the fastest growing language on the continent. French is mostly a language in Africa, but it has become a first language in some urban areas, such as the region of Abidjan, Ivory Coast and in Libreville. There is not a single African French, but multiple forms that diverged through contact with various indigenous African languages, sub-Saharan Africa is the region where the French language is most likely to expand, because of the expansion of education and rapid population growth
33.
Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
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Stockholm International Peace Research Institute is an international institute based in Sweden, dedicated to research into conflict, armaments, arms control and disarmament. Established in 1966, SIPRI provides data, analysis and recommendations, based on sources, to policymakers, researchers, media. In 1964, Prime Minister of Sweden Tage Erlander put forward the idea of establishing a research institute to commemorate Swedens 150 years of unbroken peace. A Swedish Royal Commission chaired by Ambassador Alva Myrdal proposed in its 1966 report to establish an institute, later named the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, the Swedish Riksdag decided that the Institute be established on 1 July 1966 with the legal status of an independent foundation. All SIPRI research is based exclusively on open sources, SIPRIs organisation consists of a Governing Board, Director, Deputy Director, Research Staff Collegium and support staff. An Advisory Committee serves as a body to the Institute. The Governing Board takes decisions on important matters concerning the research agenda, activities, organisation, other matters are decided by the Director. The Research Staff Collegium advises the Director on research matters, the staff of about 50 persons is international. The researchers are recruited for a specific period and represent various academic disciplines. Located in Sweden, the Institute offers a platform for researchers from different countries to work in close cooperation. The Institute also hosts guest researchers who work on issues related to the SIPRI research programme, although SIPRI is not a teaching institute, it receives interns whose programmes of study can contribute to and benefit from SIPRIs research. Contacts are maintained with other centres and individual researchers throughout the world. Frequent contacts are maintained with diplomatic missions in Stockholm and with Swedish research centres, Dr Bates Gill served as SIPRI Director from 2007–2012. In September 2012, the Swedish Government appointed the German economist Tilman Brück as his successor, Brück held the position of SIPRI Director from January 2013 to June 2014. In June 2014 the SIPRI Governing Board appointed Dr Ian Anthony as Director for an interim period, the current Director, Dan Smith, was appointed in September 2015. SIPRIs current Deputy Director is Jakob Hallgren, among these the biggest are the Stockholm Forum on Peace and Security and the Stockholm Security Conference. SIPRIs publications and information material are distributed to a range of policy makers, researchers, journalists, organisations. The results of the research are disseminated through the publication of books and reports by SIPRI and commissioned authors as well as through symposia, the Institute has forged its profile by concentrating on present-day realities, providing unbiased facts to states and individuals
34.
Royal Australian Navy
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The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the colonial navies were integrated into a national force. Originally intended for defence, the navy was granted the title of Royal Australian Navy in 1911. Britains Royal Navy continued to support the RAN and provided additional blue-water defence capability in the Pacific up to the years of World War II. Then, rapid expansion saw the acquisition of large surface vessels. In the decade following the war, the RAN acquired a number of aircraft carriers. Today, the RAN consists of 47 commissioned vessels,3 non-commissioned vessels, the current Chief of Navy is Vice Admiral Tim Barrett. The Commonwealth Naval Forces were established on 1 March 1901, two months after the federation of Australia, when the forces of the separate Australian colonies were amalgamated. As a result, the force structure was set at one battlecruiser. On 10 July 1911, King George V granted the service the title of Royal Australian Navy. The first of the RANs new vessels, the destroyer Yarra, was completed in September 1910, in this time the focus of Australias naval policy shifted from defence against invasion to trade protection, and several fleet units were sunk as targets or scrapped. By 1923, the size of the navy had fallen to eight vessels, following the outbreak of the Pacific War and the virtual destruction of British naval forces in south-east Asia, the RAN operated more independently, or as part of United States Navy formations. As the navy took on a greater role, it was expanded significantly and at its height the RAN was the fourth-largest navy in the world. A total of 34 vessels were lost during the war, including three cruisers and four destroyers, after the Second World War, the size of the RAN was again reduced, but it gained new capabilities with the acquisition of two aircraft carriers, Sydney and Melbourne. The RAN saw action in many Cold War–era conflicts in the Asia-Pacific region and operated alongside the Royal Navy and United States Navy off Korea, Malaysia, and Vietnam. Since the end of the Cold War, the RAN has been part of Coalition forces in the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean, operating in support of Operation Slipper and it was also deployed in support of Australian peacekeeping operations in East Timor and the Solomon Islands. The strategic command structure of the RAN was overhauled during the New Generation Navy changes, the RAN is commanded through Naval Headquarters in Canberra. The professional head is the Chief of Navy, who holds the rank of Vice Admiral, NHQ is responsible for implementing policy decisions handed down from the Department of Defence and for overseeing tactical and operational issues that are the purview of the subordinate commands
35.
Singapore Army
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The Singapore Army is the service of the Singapore Armed Forces tasked with land operations. It is the largest of the three Services, the Singaporean army is primarily a conscript army that, in the event of war, mobilises most of its combat power by calling up military reservists. Two infantry regiments formed the nucleus of the Singapore Army and these were established pre-independence, in anticipation of self-rule following British decolonisation. The First Singapore Infantry Regiment was constituted in 1957, under British auspices, the Second Singapore Infantry Regiment followed in 1963. After a fraught merger with the Federation of Malaya and subsequent separation in 1965, in 1972, Parliament passed further legislation to reorganise and consolidate the armed forces disparate commands and administrative functions. Military Deployments May 2007-June 2013, International Security Assistance Force, deployment of close to 500 personnel including Singapore Army soldiers as part of Singapores contributions to multinational stabilisation and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan. Logistical support of forces in the ongoing War on Terror. The stated mission of the Singapore Armed Forces is to deter armed aggression, the Army is also tasked with conducting peace-time operations to further Singapores national interests and foreign policy. These range from disaster relief to peacekeeping, hostage-rescue and other contingencies, the Army views technology as a force-multiplier and a means to sustain combat power given Singapores population constraints. Jointness across three branches of the SAF is integral to the Armys warfighting doctrine, joint operations undertaken with the Navy and Air Force include amphibious landings and critical disaster relief operations in the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. Combat readiness is a linchpin of Army policy, and military exercises up to level are conducted many times yearly, simulating full-spectrum operations, up to. Divisional war games are a combined arms, tri-service affair involving the Republic of Singapore Navy, because training space is limited in Singapore—artillery fire would quickly traverse the island—some military exercises are conducted overseas. Reservists periodically train abroad, their units regularly evaluated for combat readiness, the Army also trains bilaterally with some host nations, and military exchanges are frequent. Training is billed as tough, realistic and safe, with a premium on safety, the Army is headed by the Chief of Army. Assisting him are the Chief of Staff, Army General Staff and Commander, there are six branches of the General Staff, a National Service Affairs Department dealing with National Service issues, and an Inspectorate. The six branches handle manpower, intelligence, operations, logistics, each department is headed by an Assistant Chief of the General Staff. Also advising the Chief of Army are the Senior Specialist Staff Officers of the various formations and they include both active and reserve units that are operationally ready, all subject to mobilization orders in the event of war. 2 Peoples Defence Force is responsible for security, including that of key civilian installations
36.
Singapore Armoured Regiment
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The Singapore Armoured Regiment is a formation of the Singapore Army responsible for armoured warfare. Armour provides mobile firepower support and rapid mobility for the Army by helping to spearhead an advance past the enemies defences, Armour also acts as an active deterrent role towards any possible aggressors towards Singapore. Armour is known to act swiftly as they can be deployed at a moments notice to dominate the battlefield hence their motto, Swift, the Singapore Armys first armoured unit,40 Singapore Armoured Regiment, SAR for short, was formed in November 1968. In that year, the Army decided to both the V-200 Commando vehicles and the AMX-13 tanks. 41 SAB was formed to operate AMX-13 tanks in 1969, and was the first armour unit to be equipped with the tanks, the V-200 Commando vehicles were divided between 40 and 41 SAB to form a mixture between the tanks and armoured infantry. That same year,40 SAB thrilled the crowd at the National Day Parade in a drive past of 18 tanks to salute the President of Singapore. HQ Armour has since organised armour column drive-pasts during the National Day Parades in the years 1978,1982,1984,1993,2002 &2010. In addition to this, during every National Day Parade, men of the formation are given the honour of the Presidential Lance Guards who will form up upon the Presidents arrival and they carry lances with a pennon that features the insignia of the Armour formation attached beneath the spearhead. This tradition is modelled after the knights in armour of old who would form up to protect their king, the AMX-13 which was acquired back in 1969 was upgraded to the AMX-13 SM1 in 1988. In July 1970, with the creation of 4th Singapore Armoured Brigade,40 &41 were re-flagged as 40 SAR &41 SAR respectively,2 further armoured units were created,42 SAR was created in 1971 &46 SAR in 1976. With the inception of full-time national service in 1967,40 SAR received her first mono intake in March 1970 &41 SAR received her first intake in July 1970. In 1973, the acquired the M113 to replace the V-200 Commando. The Regimental Colours of 40,41 and 42 SAR were presented by President Sheares at Selarang Camp on 6 September 1977,46 SAR Regimental Colours was presented to them on 29 October 1991. 48 SARs Regimental Colours was presented by President Tony Tan on 1 July 2013 at the years SAF day parade, in 2006, it was announced that the AMX-13 SM1 Tanks would be replaced with Germanys Leopard 2A4 Main Battle Tanks. The formation also adopted the Black Beret as its official headdress in line with other armour formations worldwide, the black beret is recognised as a traditional symbol or identity of an armoured unit. In the Singapore Armed Forces Best Unit Competition, Only 5 Armour units have won the title of Best Combat unit,41 SAR,42 SAR &40 SAR, there are currently 3 armoured infantry battalions in its operational structure,40 SAR,41 SAR &42 SAR. A fourth battalion,46 SAR, was deactivated in Jan 2011, there is another additional tank battalion,48 SAR. There are also a number of NS Reserve battalions that are activated during reservist recalls, NS SAR units are numbered in three-digit formats to distinguish them from active units
37.
Singapore Artillery
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The Singapore Artillery is a formation of the Singapore Army. It consists of two battalions and currently one active National Service and Reservist battalions. The primary role of the Artillery is to deliver timely, accurate, as the Artillery is an indirect fire support system, the gunners at the weapons do not need to see the targets to engage fire. The location of the targets are provided by the observers as well as elements of target acquisition unit. This information is passed to the command post which commands
38.
Singapore Combat Engineers
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The Singapore Combat Engineers is one of the combat arms of the Singapore Army. The Combat Engineers also construct trenches, drainage systems and other related infrastructure to enhance the survivability of troops during operations. Two young officers, 2LT Gurcharan Singh and 2LT Chng Teow Hua, were selected to attend a basic engineer officers course in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, United States. Upon completion of their course, these two officers, with the Commanding Officer, MAJ George Mitchell, conducted the first Engineer Commanders Course from April to August 1968, the graduate officers and NCOs from the course formed the nucleus of the SCE. In April 1970, the Engineer Headquarters was established with MAJ Mitchell as the Senior Engineer Officer, the EHQ was renamed HQ Singapore Combat Engineer in 1974 and the commanders designation was changed to Chief Engineer Officer. The Formations motto, Advance and Overcome is derived from the Combat Engineers fundamental role in providing mobility for advancing troops by overcoming all obstacles, the gold colour stands for the sterling qualities of the Combat Engineers - their steadfast spirit and durable nature. The black is for their ability to continuous support throughout hours of darkness. The castle is a symbol of the power of the Combat Engineers as seen in the bridges, fortifications, roads. The interlocking bricks show the strength, endurance and high degree of required to accomplish engineer tasks. The bayonet represents the spirit of the Engineers in piercing the enemy defences. On 22 January 1977, the first Combat Engineers Colours were presented to the Combat Engineers formation by the then President Benjamin Henry Sheares at Jurong Town Stadium, the presentation of Colours signifies esprit de corps, pride and identity. The brown base colour represented the harsh terrain that Engineers must always advance through, the sword, wings and anchor depicted the support given to the land, airborne and amphibious forces while the laurel and words formed a golden circle representing unity. It was replaced with a different design in October 1991, the Combat Engineers formation consists of two headquarters, a training institute, five active battalions, and ten reservist battalions. Unlike the usual sections of seven men, a field engineer section consists of eight men. There are two specialists in a section, the commander and the section 2IC. Specialist HQ to the SAF on all matters pertaining to Combat Engineer Operations, responsible for developing core engineer capabilities in terms of Mobility, Countermobility & Survivability. AETC was removed from ETI as of 1997 and re-established as a unit, now officially known as the 38th Battalion. ETI currently comprises Engineer Commander Training School, Engineer Vocational Training School, Division Engineer Training Centre, the motto for ETI is Seek
39.
Singapore Guards
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The Guards are an elite infantry formation in the Singapore Armed Forces specialising in rapid deployment, heliborne and amphibious operations, maneuver warfare and urban combat. Highly mobile, they are the spearhead of the Singapore Army. The formation traces its roots back to the 7th Singapore Infantry Brigade and has been involved in several National. The formation was formed on 1 January 1975 as the 7th Singapore Infantry Brigade, with a personnel strength of four officers. The brigade took command of the Infantry Training Depot on 1 January 1976, on 1 July 1976,7 SIB was declared operational. In view of its role, the ITD was removed from the brigade. On 1 July 1977, SAFGU was renamed as 1st Battalion, a year later on 1 April 1978,8 SIR became 2nd Battalion, Singapore Guards. 7 SIB was accorded their designation as elite troopers on 1 April 1978, the Commando units were moved elsewhere, and 7 SIR returned to the fold. It was renamed 3rd Battalion, Singapore Guards, on 17 December 1991, the 7th Brigade Training School came under the command of the 7 SIB. However, from Sept 1996, all Basic Military Training were taken over by Basic Military Training Centre,11 October 1994 marked the formalisation of Guards as the Guards Formation. On 6 April 1979, a parade was held to present berets with a new cap badge backing to 7 SIB, then-Chief of General Staff, MG Winston Choo, explained that the backing was a designation of the Guardsmens new status as elite troopers. The three battalions received their first Colours 11 June 1983, all Guardsmen wear a Guards tab on their left sleeve. The tab was presented to the Guardsmen on 23 June 1989 in recognition of their elite designation, on 9 June 1994, the distinctive khaki beret was presented to the formation. Whereas previously Guardsmen wore green berets, all Guardsmen since have worn khaki, Guardsmen are tasked to fight in challenging terrain for key objectives, notably in urban locations and fortified terrain. Also adept at warfare, Guards units may be tasked to assail and seize airfields, beach heads, depots as well as enemy strongholds. The Guards spectrum of operations has been extended to include non-war related operations such as HADR operations as well as PSOs, the formations rapid deployability meant they could speedily respond to humanitarian disasters in the region, as was apparent during the Asian tsunami disaster of 2004. The Guards remit also extends to counter-terrorism, in 2008, they were deployed in the search for escaped terrorist Mas Selamat. Guardsmen are infantry proficient in heliborne operations, in addition to establishing landing sites in forward areas, Guardsmen also act as pilot guides in landing zones
40.
Singapore Signals
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When Singapore merged with the Federation of Malaya in 1963, the squadron was absorbed into the Malaysian Armed Forces as the 4th Federal Infantry Brigade Signal Squadron, based at Fort Canning. During the reorganisation of the Malaysian Signals in 1965, the squadron was renamed the 4th Malaysian Signal Squadron, the Signal Formation was presented with the State Colours and Regimental Colours on 22 January 1977 by President Benjamin Sheares. The Signal formation consists of Headquarters Signals and Command Systems, the Signal Institute, Each brigade of the army has a signal company which forms part of the brigades headquarters. The armys three combined arms divisions are served by a respective signal battalion. The C&E Department was later upgraded to a specialist staff HQ, HQ C&E would later be redesignated as HQ Signals on 1 March 1982 and HQ Signals and Command Systems in 2006. In 1988, HQ Signals moved to its present location at Stagmont Camp, the immediate need for institutional signal training for the newly formed Singapore Armed Forces was met with the establishment of the SAFTI Signal Wing on 22 July 1967 at Pasir Laba Camp. As the demand for officers and NCOs continued to grow. In 1983, the School of Signals and the Reserve Signal Training Centre were relocated to Stagmont camp, shortly after its formation in 1966, personnel from 1 SAF Signal Corps were reconstituted as the MID Signal Battalion on 6 February 1967, with Captain Winston Choo as Commanding Officer. Its task was to provide communications to the Ministry Of Interior, following the establishment of MINDEF, the battalion was renamed the MINDEF Signal Battalion and later 1 Signal Battalion in October 1982. Its motto is From Each His Best,6 Signal Battalion was inaugurated on 1 February 1977 as a reserve Signal Support Battalion to the 6th Singapore Division. In 1985, the battalion was placed under the Reserve Signals Training Centre before returning to the command of the 6th Division on its conversion to an arms division in 1991. It currently resides at Mandai Hill camp with HQ 6DIV, and its motto is Swift and Effective. 9 Signal Battalion was formed on 9 October 1978 at Slim Barracks to undertake the responsibility of the training of the 9th Singapore Divisions signal reservists. This responsibility was transferred to the Reserve Signal Training Centre. In 1987, the battalion shifted from Slim Barracks to Selarang Barracks to co-locate with 9th Division headquarters
41.
Republic of Singapore Navy
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All commissioned ships of the RSN have the prefix RSS standing for. 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. On 16 September 1963, Singapore was admitted as a state of Malaysia under the terms of confederation, on 9 August 1965, Singapore seceded from Malaysia to form an independent and sovereign nation within the Commonwealth of Nations. The fledgling navy had two wooden ships then, namely RSS Panglima and RSS Singapura. Panglima was replaced with another vessel in 1956 with the same name. On 22 January 1966, the SVF was renamed the Singapore Naval Volunteer Force, on 5 May 1967, the ensign was hoisted for the first time. A few months later in September, the SNVF was renamed the Peoples Defence Force under the Sea Defence Command, the SDC was again renamed the Maritime Command in 1968. Under its charge, it set out on a program to be able to carry out its seaward defense more effectively. During this period, the Navy saw the addition of six first generation of Independence class patrol vessels in December 1970. The growing constraints and strategic need for a base located nearer to the Singapore Straits necessitated a new base, and the Brani Naval Base on Pulau Brani was formally opened in December 1970. Four patrol vessels, RSS Sea Hawk, RSS Independence, RSS Sovereignty and RSS Daring together with the Marine Police, were able to surround the fleeing ferry, around this time the Navy was commanded by a certain Colonel James Aeria, the first head of the Navy. The RSN came into being on 1 April 1975, when the SAF established its component forces into three services, and has kept the name ever since. Colonel Aeria stepped down from his post as Chief of Singapore Maritime Command, the fleet has expanded massively since 1975 and is now equivalent to the navy of a Nordic nation. It took part in relief missions during the 2004 Asian tsunami. The Singapore Navy has increased its capability to deal with increasingly complex environments both abroad and close to home, in addition, it has engaged in anti piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden and Horn of Africa under international task forces. Wars involving Singapore Navy, 2004–2008 Multi-National Force – Iraq, ships participated in the Iraq War and returned home after two or three months deployment in the Persian Gulf without any ground troops involved. Singapores withdrawal was acknowledged on 23 December 2008, the RSN is led by the Chief of Navy, and he reports directly to the Chief of Defence Force. The CNV is responsible for the RSNs overall operational capabilities and administration and his deputies are the Chief of Staff-Naval Staff, Commander Maritime Security Task Force, Fleet Commander and Master Chief Navy
42.
Naval Diving Unit (Singapore)
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The Naval Diving Unit is a Special Forces unit of the Republic of Singapore Navy, and is regularly tasked in salvage operations, underwater mine demolition and commando-type warfare. The Naval Diving Unit began with the British governments directive to withdraw her forces east of the Suez in 1971, prior to that, a unit called the Far East Fleet Clearance Diving Team was operating from the old Terror Camp premises where NDU now stands. This unit basically supported the strong British naval presence in Singapore, in 1975, the SAF Diving Center became officially known as the Naval Diving Unit. During the initial period, the task of NDU was to carry out simple underwater tasks like hull checks for the Fleet. As the only public diving capability available in Singapore, divers were, the NDU of today has its origins in the mid 80s when it was realised that underwater explosive ordnance disposal and keeping Singapores waterways open were vital. The RSN Fleet had also grown significantly and more divers were now needed to ships in harbour. In NDU, NSFs and regulars are expected to undergo the training before they are qualified to become Frogmen. Recruitment begins with an assessment, whereby NSFs are selected among the thousands that enlist each year. Prior to being selected for the vocational assessment, physical fitness results and medical records are being evaluated. From then on, the few will undergo a battery of tests in the camp, amongst them. Those that meet all of these stringent requirements will then be selected to the NDU, Diver Logo The unit logo shows the various capabilities of the unit. The traditional diver hard hat framed by the National Symbols of the Lion, the background shows a buoyant mine with three mine horns. The lion, tiger and hard hat is in the foreground, symbolising NDUs ability to overcome, the three strips of colour waves represents NDUs ability to operate on land, at sea and from the sky. It is also indicative of the support that NDU provides to the Army, Navy, the logo is a resonant of our motto Nothing Stands In Our Way. The motto was adopted in 1995, Diver Mission To provide solutions to the Navy and the SAF through maritime special operation teams. Diver Creed I will swim faster, run further and fight harder from the sea, air, I will fight with all my might and bravely overcome the enemies in defence of my land. I will be bold and daring with an unwavering will-do attitude, I will carry out my duty with HONOUR and INTEGRITY. I will care for my team mates and I will never leave a comrade behind
1971, an Alouette III of the squadron on detachment to Changi Air Base
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