Military history of Singapore facts for kids
Singapore has a long history of its own armed forces and people serving in them, going all the way back to when it was a British colony.
Contents
Early Days: Singapore's First Defenders
After some serious riots between Chinese groups in May 1854, a private group called the Singapore Volunteer Rifle Corps was formed. These riots were so bad that the police needed help from the military, marines, and even convicts to bring back order. Over 500 people died, and 300 houses were burned. The volunteer group eventually became very small and was closed down in December 1887.
In February 1888, the group was restarted as the Singapore Volunteer Artillery Corps (SVA). This was a big deal because it was the first unit in the entire British Empire to use the new Maxim Gun. These guns arrived in 1889, paid for by donations from the Sultan of Johor, local communities, and important business people.
In 1901, the SVA changed its name to the Singapore Volunteer Corps (SVC). This was because it had many different parts, including artillery (big guns), infantry (foot soldiers), engineers, and rifle sections. During World War I, the SVC helped stop the Sepoy Mutiny of 1915, where 11 volunteers sadly lost their lives. The first group of foot soldiers was formed at Raffles Institution by volunteers on May 15, 1901.
In 1922, the SVC joined with other volunteer groups from Penang, Malacca, and Labuan to form the Straits Settlements Volunteer Force (SSVF). By 1928, the SSVF's foot soldiers were organized into four battalions (large groups of soldiers). The first two battalions were made up of members from the Singapore Volunteer Corps, totaling 1,250 men. The SSVF also included artillery, engineers, an armored car company, and three ambulance units.
Singapore During World War II
The SSVF played a part in defending Singapore during World War II. As tensions grew in the 1930s, more and more people from different backgrounds – Europeans, Malays, Chinese, Indians, and Eurasians – joined the SSVF. This force included naval (sea), air force, special operations, and home guard units.
On December 25, 1941, Lieutenant Colonel John Dalley created a special group called Dalforce. This group was also known as the Singapore Overseas Chinese Anti-Japanese Volunteer Army. It was an irregular fighting unit made up of Chinese people from Singapore. They fought so fiercely that they were nicknamed "Dalley's Desperadoes." By the time the Japanese invaded, Dalforce had 4,000 resistance fighters.
The SSVF, including its four battalions of foot soldiers, fought in the Battle of Singapore in 1942. Most of its members were captured on February 15, 1942, when their positions were taken over by the enemy.
Key Battles in Singapore
After World War II: Building a New Force
After the Japanese occupation ended, the Singapore Volunteer Corps (SVC) was brought back in 1949.
In 1954, the larger SSVF was disbanded. The Singapore Volunteer Force (which was the old SVC) then became part of the Singapore Military Forces (SMF). This force helped with defense during the Malayan Emergency.
Facing the Indonesian Confrontation
From 1963 to 1966, Indonesia had a policy called Konfrontasi (Confrontation). Indonesia was against the formation of Malaysia, which included Singapore at the time. This conflict involved armed attacks, bomb blasts, and secret operations. Indonesian volunteers carried out many raids on targets within the Federation of Malaysia, including Singapore.
One serious attack was the MacDonald House bombing on March 10, 1965. Two Indonesian saboteurs planted a bomb, killing two people and injuring thirty-three. The saboteurs were caught and later executed. This event caused tension between Singapore and Indonesia for some time. Later, Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's first Prime Minister, visited the graves of the marines, which helped to improve relations between the two countries.
During this time, the First and Second Battalions of the Singapore Infantry Regiment (1 SIR and 2 SIR) were sent to different parts of Malaya to fight the saboteurs. Local defense in Singapore was handled by the Singapore Volunteer Corps and the Vigilante Corps.
On February 28, 1965, a group from the 2 SIR was ambushed at Kota Tinggi. Eight soldiers were killed right away, and a ninth was captured and later died. A counter-attack led by then 2LT Daljeet Singh resulted in seven Indonesian fighters being killed and several more captured. The conflict ended when President Sukarno was removed from power in October 1965.
Singapore's Own Armed Forces
In 1961, the Singapore Military Forces (SMF) was renamed the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).
After Singapore became independent on August 9, 1965, it had some difficult relationships with its neighbors, Malaysia and Indonesia. Because of this, defense became a top priority. The Prime Minister at the time, Lee Kuan Yew, asked Goh Keng Swee to lead the new Ministry of Interior and Defence. In 1966, Singapore decided to start National Service (mandatory military training for young men). This was seen as the best way to protect the country.
The first groups of officers and specialists were trained by instructors from Israel. They graduated from the Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute (SAFTI) in 1967. With these new leaders, the army grew from two groups of foot soldiers to two larger brigades between 1967 and 1970.
The Air Defence Command, now called the Republic of Singapore Air Force, was formed in 1968 with help from the Royal Air Force. The first pilots learned to fly at Tengah Air Base and then went to the UK for fighter training.
The Maritime Command, now the Republic of Singapore Navy, was first based at Sentosa. Later, permanent facilities were built at the Brani Naval Base (which no longer exists). Singapore bought two gunboats from Britain and Germany in 1969. Later, Singapore started building its own ships. It also bought minesweepers and tank landing ships from the United States.
Building Singapore's Defense Industry
In 1967, the Sheng-Li Holding Company was set up under the Ministry of Defence. Its goal was to help Singapore create its own defense industry. By the 1970s, Singapore was making small arms (like the M-16) through Chartered Industries of Singapore (CIS). It also made ammunition for small arms, mortars, and artillery through Chartered Ammunition Industries. These were for both local use and export.
Sheng-Li Holdings later became Singapore Technologies (now ST Engineering) in 1989. This company is the parent of ST Kinetics. Today, ST Kinetics makes Singapore's own SAR-21 rifle and Bionix AFV (an armored fighting vehicle). Other weapons designed or owned by Singapore, like the Ultimax 100 machine gun and FH-2000 artillery gun, were also produced.
Singapore's Role in Helping Others
Singapore's armed forces also help in times of peace, both at home and abroad.
Helping During Emergencies in Singapore
- 1974: An attack on an oil refinery and the hijacking of a ferry boat called Laju.
- 1983: The Singapore cable car crash.
- 1986: The Collapse of Hotel New World.
- 1991: The hijacking of Singapore Airlines Flight 117.
- 2013: A riot in the Little India area.
Providing Aid Around the World
Singapore often sends help when other countries face disasters.
- 1999: Medical support after the 1999 Jiji earthquake in Taiwan.
- 2004: Helping after the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.
- 2005:
- Providing supplies for Hurricane Katrina in the US.
- Helping after the 2005 Nias–Simeulue earthquake.
- 2006: Helping after the 2006 Yogyakarta earthquake in Indonesia.
Joining Peacekeeping Missions
The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) takes part in many United Nations peacekeeping missions.
- UNTAG in Namibia (1989)
- UNIKOM in Kuwait (1991)
- UNTAC in Cambodia (1993)
- INTERFET in East Timor (1999)
- UNTAET in East Timor (2000)
- UNMEE in Ethiopia and Eritrea (2002)
- UNMISET in Timor-Leste (2002)
Peacekeeping in East Timor
From May 2001 to November 2002, the SAF joined a UN-backed force to help keep peace in East Timor. Singaporean commandos were sent as part of the UN Peacekeeping group. They provided security for villagers to make sure armed groups could not enter. This was the first time the SAF sent combat peacekeepers who carried weapons. This mission was called Operation Blue Heron and ended in 2003.
Helping in Afghanistan (Operation Blue Ridge)
The SAF was deployed for six years, from 2007 to 2013, in Afghanistan as part of Operation Blue Ridge. During this mission, the SAF sent teams for construction engineering, medical and dental support, and radar to find weapons. They also sent drone units to help the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). Their goal was to train Afghan security forces and help Afghanistan rebuild its government.
Fighting ISIS (International Intervention)
Since 2014, the SAF has sent medical teams, counter-terrorism trainers, and intelligence planners to support the international group fighting ISIS. The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) also sent its KC-135R tanker aircraft to help.
