The first`Mexicans' of SAF, SAF formative years

Next, part 2.

<<The comrade flies away in the distant edge>>
"Mexicans" create the army

The primary problem of the newborn was a problem Defence : relations with Malaysia and Indonesia were strained, as has been stated above, and the whole army Singapore with slightly more than a thousand officers and soldiers and was of two infantry battalions, consisting mainly of Malays, including command personnel. In addition, Singapore has been stationed Malaysian team. Given the impact on the company's commander political leaders as Syed Jaafar Albar, Secretary General of UMNO and categorical opponent of the independence of Singapore, there was a risk that the independence expected at the source. In order to defend the country had almost nothing to build a new PC army.

Goh Keng Swee, came as Defence Minister, appealed to the former Israeli Ambassador in Thailand Mordechai Kidron, and it arrived in Singapore with proposals on the organization of military instruction. Israel had at the time a wealth of experience in guiding the armed forces of young (yound nations of)Africa and Asia, has successfully resisted numerically prevoshodaschemu hostile environment, and resort to it for help, it was quite natural. According to Hezi Carmel, of the Mossad, arrived in Singapore with Kidron, Goh Keng Swee believed that only Israel can cope with the task. However, the Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew want to first seek to establish the India and Egypt, the leaders of the Non-Aligned Movement, but neither Lal Bahadur Shastri nor Gamal Abdel Nasser sent nothing but congratulations on the occasion of independence. Switzerland, whose acquisition model is a model <armii rezerwistov> responded that Singapore, we prefer not to the armed forces. Former Sovereign, Britain, served at the time in the armed forces of Malaysia, wriggled out of the same assistance to Singapore in order not to damage their interests in the region. The proposals Kidron was given green light, but without publicity. Even more damage relations with its Malaysian Muslim minority, and all the more so with the Muslim Malaysia and Indonesia, nobody wanted. Looking at a map to see why.


Evaluate scope. Singapore-692.7 square kilometres, including small islands, Malaysia, 329.750 km 2, Indonesia-1,919,440 sq. km. The population at the time of independence : Singapore-2 million (2005-4.4 million, of which about 900,000 foreigners, the ethnic composition of citizens : Chinese 77%, Malay 14%, Indian 8%), Malaysia - 9.3 million (2005 - 23.9 million), Indonesia-105 million (2005-242 million).

Despite this gap in the area and people, enthusiasts in the government of Singapore believed in the young country, the same view was shared by both Israel and ambitious plans have implemented. Chief of the General Staff of lDF Yitzhak Rabin appointed Curator of the Singapore General Rehavam Ze'evi (Gandhi), who was then the deputy head of the Operations Branch. Zeevi secretly visited Singapore, upon his return was to prepare for the development of military doctrine in the light of the Israeli practices and the realities of the new nation, and in the autumn of 1965 in Singapore arrived first delegation of military advisers from the eight officers, divided into two working groups.

The first group, led by Colonel operational management Yaakov Elazari, with the establishment of the Ministry of Defence and the staff of the army. They were designed by Gandhi as a combined system, in order to avoid inflating the command staff and the duplication of the functions of civil and military authorities. Gandhi had given Singapore the time and saw the opportunity to implement their ideas on < Ideal army > that for a variety of reasons have not been able to establish in Israel. A second group, led by Lieutenant Colonel Yehuda Golan commanding before the 13rd battalion Golani brigade and the school commanders offices formed infantry and developing leadership, guidance and training programmes House, memory and officer courses. To remain secrecy they are called < Mexicans > , < when they arrived, dark-comlexioned and moustached, I solved, that by them exactly will approach this name, to avoid excess noise > says Lee Kuan Yew, a few years later, in an interview with British journalists.

Yehuda Golan at a later time

Priority number one was <Training of instructors> : a sufficiently large trainers body, which could have trained soldiers and officers subsequent appeals. In February 1966 the first of three months preparatory instructors course conducted, in the absence of suitable accommodation, in the elementary school in Jurong. Forty students were recruited from the police, the Singapore Volunteer Corps (militia led by the British colonial administration), before two battalions of soldiers, as well as from the Ministry of Education. In June, 300 cadets selected from 2,500 volunteers, many of whom were officials of the Civil Service, have embarked on the first rank in the rate SAFTI (Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute), the Training Center Armed Forces of Singapore (WBU), which was built in a few months Pasir Laba. During the year under the leadership of Lieutenant Golan they were trained to be young warrior, a course of squad commanders and later officers course. Israeli instructors, and remember to this day remained in folklore Singapore army as a modern personal relations (especially in comparison with the British officers), but harsh and demanding professional. Before cherished patches reached 117 cadets of the 300, the rest rejected as inappropriate for an army. those passed during the last phase formed the backbone of commissioned new units. The course was very intense, and when the unusual mustre students tried to complain, Defence Minister Goh Keng Swee fully supported instructors and the students promised double burden in the event of further complaints. Complaints ceased.


Spectators at the graduation parade of commanders, 5 July 1967. The nearest to us, Defense Minister Goh Keng Swee. His back, second from left in the second row, Lt. Col. Yehuda Golan. By that time already < Mexicans> could not be concealed.

Goh Keng Swee, for many years served as the Minister of Finance, one of the fathers of the Singapore economic miracle, has been the main force prodwigarmer the powerful People's Army in the government of Singapore. His own military career was service with the rank of corporal in Singapore volunteer corps,which ignominious capitulated before the Japanese in February 1942. But, in spite of the lack of military experience (or vice versa, as a result of that), he infected his enthusiasm to others. I remembered then Colonel Elazari : <Even Lee Kuan Yew was not certain that Singapore will be able to stand on their own feet in terms of defence. I was only was confident to Dr. Goh Keng Swee>. He was responsible for inviting Israeli advisers, and it is the key to success, as already mentioned above. July 16 1967-go year in the first outlet commissioned parade in SAFTI, Goh Keng Swee said : <Singapore for the first time faced with a major project of this kind, and the trainers and staff SAFTI overcame inexperience with diligence and hard work. They are lucky that their services were skill and knowledge of the Defense Army of Israel. All of them, instructors and advisers, I would like to express our respect for the remarkable achievements in such a short time>.


Goh Keng Swee inspect the first opertional officers of SAFTI, 16 July 1967.

One of the main principles drawn future officers from their Israeli teachers and the remaining basis < philosophy of the command > WBU now, the principle < command by example >. In a speech at the graduation parade in 1970, Minister Lim Kim San summed up this philosophy : < to command - this not only to give orders, but also to conduct. To conduct after oneself, to show an example, to indicate the way. To be in front of its soldiers >. Another important principle is the development of high personal awareness and motivation among employees, instead of blindly follow orders from the sticks.

Here one should dwell on the crucial point, noted in the memoirs whether Of Lee Kuan Yu: "Israelis were competent in the transfer of military habits, they also trained us for that military doctrine, on which these habits were based. Their methods of instruction were complete opposite of the British. Englishmen created the 1st and by 2-oy SPP (the 1st and 2-1 battalions of Singapore infantry regiment - D.G.) gradually, beginning the instruction of officer corps from the platoon commanders, company commanders and finally after 15 - 20 years of service, commanders of battalions and Lieutenant Colonels. Israelis from the very beginning insisted so that our officers would learn from them and would imitate to the function of instructors as fast as possible. What they not made, their actions were studied and were duplicated by their Singapore associates, from the platoon commanders and mouth to the chief of the General Staff ". The methods of Israelis actually caused surprise and even neglect of British officers, stationed on the island and who observed from the side the process of instruction. The explanation of the difference between two approaches can be found in the parting words of the chief of the General Staff Of Yitzhak Rabin to the first group of the advisers before the departure into Singapore: "we do not intend to convert Singapore into the Israeli colony. Your task -is to teach to their military profession, to place them on the feet so that they would govern their army. It will be your success, if in the specific stage they can take control in their hands and govern army independently ". Even at the very beginning of the work of advisers, into the 1966 , Rabin visited Singapore and remained contented by the rates of the instruction of local executive body. To it did also produce impression the personality of Lee Kuan Yew and his very positive attitude toward Israel.

In accordance with this high-speed approach after only yr after the first release SAFTI was opened SATO (School of Advanced Training for Officers) - the school of the increased level of instruction for the officers, that prepared the commanders of company and battalion component. The first of eleven cadets approached the occupations during September 1968. The following step became discovery during February 1970 of commanding staff college (Singapore Command and Staff College - SCSC), higher educational institution of armed forces. Its graduates, who studied both the applied, and theoretical aspects of military science, could occupy the posts of the commanders of brigades and work in the Defense Ministry and the staffs of different level. From the second-half 1970 , the post of senior instructor, and then the actual commander of college occupied by Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Ben-Eliezer (Fouad) former commander of the subdivision Of shaked and future political figure and the Minister of Defense of Israel. He headed college prior to the middle 1973, and the first generation of the senior officers of the SAF was prepared under his management.

After instruction by Israelis of the first seargent and officer personnel the creation of draftable(NS) army follow the Israeli model began: 2 years of service term and 10 years of yearly reservist training, which made it possible in short periods to mobilise the large trained forces with not numerous population. "after separation from Malaysia we solved, that more than all countries we were similar in Israel, Finland and Switzerland. We selected an Israeli example in order to convert each youth in our country into the defense unit ", did state Lee Kuan Yew at the congress of socialist international in Zurich into the 1967. For achievement of this purpose during March by 1967 Singapore parliament accepted "law about the national service", and government conducted wide election campaign, since Chinese, who compose three fourths of population of Singapore, did not traditionally love army and military service, in contrast to the Malays. "from grow prettier steel does not make nails, a good fellow does not go in as soldiers", as says Chinese proverb.

During July, 9000 first recruits were called, of them 900 soldiers selected for the service for the complete two-year-old period and completed by them two new regular battalions, rest because of the shortage into that moment of executive body were transferred into the reserve and the auxiliary police formations - Special Constabulary and Vigilante Corps, the fulfilled functions national guards and civil defense. With the expansion of army this system was abolished, and all draftees began to pass 2-2.5 years of the service term, depending on speciality and rank, with the subsequent reservist service. The soldiers of the first collection did not manage English to a sufficient degree (during the first stage army it were considered by Singapore management including as the means of job placement of the uneducated young people); therefore for Israeli instructors it was necessary to use translators. This somewhat interfere with the training process, but temporary difficulties were successfully overcome. Of new army was required professionals in the different regions, and the schools of training for artillerymen, communications men, military engineers and military physicians were opened in 1967-1968.


Minister of Defense Goh Keng Sweei and Major General Rehavam Ze'evi on the discovery of the school of troops of connection(Signals?), on 22 July 1967. Two Founding Fathers of SAF: Doctor Goh and General Ghandi.


Ibid.: "Army makes you an officer. Connection(Communication/Signal) makes you a commander ". The Major of troops of connection of IDF gives explanations to Minister of Defense.

During January 1968 the event, which radically influenced the building of SAF, occurred: Harold Wilson's office declared the removal of British troops from Singapore toward the end 1971, within the framework of the general reduction of military presence "to the east of Suez". The withdrawal of the 35 thousandth garrison, which included naval and air bases, was not only has heavy economic impact (British expenditures for the content of bases they composed of about 20% of the gross national product of Singapore), but also it placed before Singapore the problem of a independent defense much earlier than the calculated time: the previously British of policy promised the retention of "defense umbrella" above the old colony to the middle of the 70th. As a result the high-speed rates of the creation of army it was necessary to whip even faster, but the successes of the first stage they had hope, that to the withdrawal of Britons Singapore will be capable is capable to protect itself. The additional source of enthusiasm became the results of the six day war, in the course of which IDF completely destroyed the armies of three adjacent countries, having lustrously demonstrated Israeli military doctrine in practice. "otherwise our soldiers could lose confidence in Israeli instructors" does note Lee Kuan Yew in his memoirs.

In 1968 major portion of the first delegation of advisers finished its work and returned to Israel, including Lieutenant Colonel Yehuda Golan. The replacement arrived , in much larger composition, approached the second stage of building of SAF: to a sharp increase in the quantity of parts and subdivisions of land army and to the creation of the air force and Navy.

In 1969 regular Singapore army counted 6 infantry battalions, brought to two brigades; occurred the putting together of reservist parts. In the same year under Lieutenant Colonel Asher's management gift, infantry battalion commander, who received the medal Of "itur A- Lake" for combat in Jerusalem in the course of six day war, were carry out the first studies of brigade level, the included debarkation infantries from the light floating crafts on coast. With the development of plan the experience of Japanese and British troops in World War II was taken into account. For this part of the preparation answered Lieutenant Colonel Moshe Shefi, the instructor of the course of company commanders. As the observer during the studies was present Major General Yitzhak Hofi, the division head of the instruction of general staff of IDF.


Spectators at the parade of the "day of armed forces", on 1 July 1969. The third to the left in the first row - commander of central military district Rehavam Ze'evi. New post, new concerns, pursuit of the terrorists, but Gandi he did not forget its creation and regularly attended Singapore. You will you’re your attention also to the Israeli Colonels and Lieutenant Colonels in the first and second row. Israeli military mission in Singapore at that moment grew to 45 officers

continue with part 2:

Many of the Israeli advisers, especially among the senior officers, already had together with the combat and commander's experience a wide experience in the instructing, organizations of training process and command by training of subdivisions. This preliminary experience had great significance, taking into account the time frame presented for creating the valuable warheads of SAF and the rapid method of training personnel. Lieutenant Colonel Asher mentioned above gift commanded in the time of his career the course of squad leaders, by the base KMB of the brigade Of Golani, he was officer- instructor in the school of infantry specialties, instructor and deputy commander of the course of Komrot and chief instructor of officer school of IDF. From 1968 through 1970, he answered for the infantry direction of Singapore project together with the Lieutenant Colonel Yitzhak Zayd, which was by the instructor of the course of Komrot, by the commander of central base KMB by the instructor of commanding staff school of IDF. Creation toward the end 1970 of the first Singapore division became the visual result of their work.


Minister Lim Kim San converses with the officers after graduation parade in the camp Of Taman Jurong, on 2 March 1968. To the right - Lieutenant Colonel Yitzhak Zayd

Besides standard infantry ,SAF required the subdivisions of special designation. Adviser for their creation and instruction was Lieutenant Colonel Amos Ne'eman, parachutist, who participated in the operations of retribution and the debarkation in the crossing of Mitle, the commander of landing razvedroty(airborne), specialist for the diversionary operations and the reconnaissance and the commander of the subdivision of Kharuv. Furthermore, he served as military adviser in Ethiopia and instructor in the course of company commanders. Ne'eman arrived in Singapore into the 1969, and in the same year of 20 officers and junior commanders, selected into SAFTI (preliminary selection was carry out by local officers previously), approached the course of instructors within the framework of separate "regular subdivision". At the end of course they obtained under the command 80 recruits, and into the 1971, toward the end of Lieutenant Colonel Ne'eman 's mission, subdivision was renamed into the battalion of Commandos. At the same time personnel obtained red berets traditional for the Airborne landing force members. The course of commandos included parachute, helicopter and amphibious forces, orientation in the locality and survival, reconnaissance and diversionary preparation, the mine matter. With 1971 on 1973 a certain number of officers passed advance courses in the schools of American Rangers and British marines. In the second-half of the 70s, several infantry battalions were intensified by officers and sergeants of commandos, and on their base was created Guard brigade, expanded toward the end of the 90th into the division of the quick response(Rapid dedloyment). Today into the composition of commandos enters one regular and one reservist battalion, and also the company of special operations, basic profile of which is anti-terror.

Copying the Israeli example touched on initial military training. Practically simultaneously with the introduction of draftable(NS) army in 1967 , the secondary school students began lessons on NVP on the standard of the Israeli "youth battalions" OF GADNA (gdudey of noar), including the visits of military parts and acquaintance with the army life. As the methodology benefits were used training pamphlets of GADNA, specially translated into the Chinese Language. In 1969 according to the type GADNA on the basis of skautskoy organization was created in national school with the land, sea and air departments, where the students of secondary and upper classes could more acquainted with different branches of service and subsequently select them for their army service. In 1975, opened also the "school VSS for the boys" - Singapore Armed Forces Boys` School (SAFBS), in which the adolescents from fourteen years can be trained both on the command and in the technical direction, on the model of Israeli military boarding schools and college of armament service.

Speaking about staffing of armed forces for Israeli model, one cannot fail to mention about this known special feature of Israeli army as the required service in it of women. At the moment of creation of SAF, the only supporter of this idea was the Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, drugiye (other?) ministers, including Goh Keng Sweei, did not support this undertaking; therefore women served in the army only on voluntary noncompensated service and only on the administrative or medical posts. From 1971, women they began to assume into the military police, the first female officer course was carry out in 1972, the solution to partially adopt Israeli experience and to open before the women of the post of the instructors of combat specialties was accepted into 1986, and in the 1988 were opened to technical specialties.

Besides purely military aspect, army, just as in Israel, was fulfilled the important social function: joining different population into a united nation. In Israel the Jews from different countries spoke in the different languages and had very different cultural luggage, the presence of the differences between them was frequently problem. However, in Singapore not only the Chinese, Malays and Hindus adhered to their own religions, traditions and means of life, lived apart and were not mixed up with each other, but even descendants from the different regions of China settled in the different blocks and spoke on the different dialects. People realized themselves partly their community, but not general state or people. Army was that tool, with the aid of which Lee Kuan Yew and its companions-in-arms intended to create united Singapore patriotism and united Singapore nation, by an example of them served in IDF. Of course life introduces correctives into the the good the intention: for example, Malay minority, in spite of complete civil equality, it discriminates on the military service in so far as concerns separately secret and strategic directions, somehow crew of SAF, the reconnaissance, the highest command posts and so forth officially this is explained by the unwillingness to place the Malays before the dilemma of "dual loyalty". In the early years of existence of SAF the proportion of Malay draftees numbered understated relative to Chinese because of the fears before the potential "fifth column". But, according to the large calculation, founding fathers attained their, and Singapore army actually became the powerful uniting factor for the new "nation in the formation".

End of Part 2
To be cont'd

This post has been edited by gary1910 on Mar 30 2007, 04:47 PM

Thanks for taking time to translate gary1910... this article is quite revealing as it uncovers new facts such as Rabin's visit to Singapore in the 60s as well as Eliezer's appt

a most anticipated addition to your original post, thanks Gary

Thanks for the translation. Very interesting article and old photos.

Edit - has there ever been any official release of photos of our early military advisors? It has been mentioned in articles - but no photos.
As far as I know, we ourselves are not suppose to disclose about certain things (advisors) we see.

This post has been edited by bcoy on Mar 30 2007, 10:26 AM

Part 3

<<On the earth, in the skies and at sea>>
Armament and development of the pioneer troops

As far as the armament of new army is concerned, in spite of the enthusiasm of Singapore officers and their tendency to imitate in its instructors everything, anything, up to the Israeli marches for its parades (first parades they were carried out precisely so), advisers they were guided by purely professional motives; therefore proposals to arm Singapore soldiers the machine pistol of Uzi were by Israelis rejected, since Uzi it was suitable only for close battle. Later so were rejected the assualt rifle of Galil' as still not completed, and small arms of SAF became American M16 (into the 1970 it began their license local production). However, as the means of the fire support of infantry by the good according to the set of the parameters proved to be Israeli 60mm and 81mm mortars of the production of firm of Soltam, and they were accepted to the armament of the army of Singapore. Subsequently Singapore industry arranged the production of these mortars on license.

In the beginning 1968, after the statement of the British Government about the withdrawal of military presence, it was decided to make a qualitative jump in strengthening of the defense capability of Singapore and to create tank troops. During November 1968 was formed subdivision VCU - Vehicle Commando Unit, in composition of which 36 officers of infantry units, troops of connection(Signals), logistics and reserve passed preliminary course on the driving, signals, to the basic of mechanics and to maintenance of technology. Wife of one of the Israeli advisers conducted for them also the basic course of Hebrew, and during December 1968 officers left for Israel for training of the light tanks AMX-13, taken from the armament of IDF after six day war, and the study of the course of tank specialties. Instruction was passed to the unusual for Singapore conditions of winter, desert and under the management of noted for their exactingness instructors of tank troops IDF (word combination "Israeli instructors" rarely it is used in the Singapore sources without the epithets "demanding", "strict", "severe", etc.). After four months of theoretical lessons, day and night driving, field service firings, tactical exercises, field repairs, sandstorms and skirmishes with Bedouins, who stole scrap metal from the served as targets captured tanks, on 30 April 1969 took place graduation ceremony. During May the officer group, which received for the stories about its adventures nickname "camels", returned to Singapore and compiled the plans of instruction and trainings for future tankers.


"Camels" study materiel, Israel, beginning of 1969

In the same month Israeli- Singapore relations rose to the highest diplomatic level: in Singapore Israeli embassy was opened. The rank of the Israeli military mission also increased, and Colonel Yaakov Elazari replaced by Brigadier General Uri Rom, served as tank brigade commander and the commander of the tank school.(Yakov Elazari are engaged the post of the chief of staff of central region and after retirement in the title of Brigadier General he again became military adviser in Singapore, now already in the particular order). Besides Rom's Uri a new branch of service consultant arrived with the special visit of Major General Avraham Adan (Bren), chief armored corps officer of IDF.

During July 1969, from Israel, SAF obtained the first batch AMX-13s, during September the second, in all was a set of 72 tanks. At the parade on 9 August, in Independence Day and 150th anniversary of the base of Singapore, passage of column of 18 AMX-13s, it became a large surprise for Malaysia, which did not have tanks at that moment. The demonstration of military power arrived it in time and cooled some hot heads, since during May 1969 , in Malaysia the collisions between the Chinese and the Malays flared up, and danger again arose, that the Malay nationalists will attempt by using the Armed Forces to force the return Singapore to the composition of federation. As he said in his report to the Defense Council Goh Keng Swee: "Sole bright spot in the entire gloomy history with the racial disorders in Kuala Lumpur is that the positive effect, which produced by our armored subdivisions to the Malay political circles". The Israeli advisers were honorable guests on the main rostrom.


Unloading first AMX-13, July 1969. The arrival of tanks was stored in the secret before Independence Day.


Column of AMX-13s at the historical parade

After the end of parade, the advisers helped the "camels" to conduct on base VCU an additional training series for the adaptation of the obtained knowledge to the specific local conditions, and during September the course of tank commanders was opened. During July 1970, two companies of recruits finished the course of tank specialties, and was created the first tank brigade, armed by AMX-13 and wheeled APC V-200 Commando in motorized infantry. In the following year the first brigade maneuvers passed and tank school was opened.


Exponential maneuvers of tank troops of SAF, 1974. The system of tactical designations is copied from the Israeli.

Singapore, until now, is one of the largest users AMX-13 and is armed with of approximately 350 machines, stocked up, besides Israel, from India and France. Beginning with 1988, entire batch of AMX-13s were modernized by the Singapore industry: AMX-13 SM1 obtained Diesel engine, automatic transmission, hydropneumatic suspension, improved system of the fire control, new means of communications set, intensive armoring(uparmouring).

In addition to this, in 1975 from India , stocked up 63 Centurions Mk.3 and Mk 7, and into 1993-94 additional party of these tanks was acquired from Israel, which copied of Centurions from the regular units in 1992, and their total quantity grew to 80-100, according to different sources (part of them it indicates the total quantity as 60). In contrast to AMX-13, the presence of Centurions never acknowledged by Singapore officially, and in the government information sources there is nothing in regard to this. However, non-government sources they indicate that with the aid of the Israeli specialists all Centurions were modernized on the Israeli standard, including 105mm L7 gun, diesel engine, and also, supposedly, and dynamic protection(reactive armour?), was called local name "Tempest" they were used in the course of the regular training of the army of Singapore in Taiwan and Brunei (limited territory of Singapore it makes it necessary to carry out large-scale maneuvers on the ranges of friendly countries, by arrangement). About this reports, in particular, British researcher Tim Huxley in his book "Defending the Lion City: The Armed Forces Of Singapore ". There is no official confirmation of this information, as it was already said.

In parallel with the tank troops, artillery was developed . At the moment of the proclamation of independence the Singapore army had herself only obsolete British 25 pounder guns. In the 1967, created the artillery school and the first Singapore artillery battalion, which received to the armament 120mm mortars of Israeli firm Soltam. At first mortars were transferred by the forces of calculation or were towed at the two-wheeled motion; beginning with 1971, with the creation of the battalion of self-propelled mortars, them began to mount on APC V-200, and from 1973 to M113. During the 70th the quantitative and qualitative growth of the power of the Singapore artillery was conducted: in 1973 it was stocked up by 45 155 mm of the M-68 field gun-howitzers of production of Soltam, in 1976 , about 20 American 155 mm of the M114 howitzers , from the of USA, in 1979 , from 40 to 50, according to different sources, the gun-howitzers M-71, development of Soltam on the basis of M-68, in 1980 , 12 heavy 160mm mortars M-66 from the same firm. 155mm of the howitzer of Israeli production were the basis of SAF artillery prior to the beginning of the 90s, when on the basis of M-71, Singapore industry unrolled the production of its own howitzer FH-88, and then FH-2000, with a length of the stem of 52 calibers. In spite of adoption to the armament of these instruments, and also of newest 155mm SPH "Primus" and French light 105- mm Giat LG1 (for the division of the quick response), modernized in 1993, M-71S continue to remain in the arsenal. The license production 120mm of mortars for the infantry and the subdivisions of self-propelled artillery was also expanded.

To be cont'd

This post has been edited by gary1910 on Mar 30 2007, 04:05 PM

Cont'd with Part 3


M-71 of Singapore artillery, 1981

Together with the strong land army Singapore needed strong aviation. With aviation questions dealt by Colonel Adam Tzivoni, the former head of the planning and weapons branch in the Israeli air force. Under his management in 1969 were acquired eight French helicopters " Alouette 3", which composed the first subdivision of Singapore airforce, created the flying and technical schools on air base of RAF of Tengah. The first trainer aircraft were eight aircraft "Cessna-172K". In 1970-1971, from Britain, stocked up 20 "Hunter" Fighters, 16 trainer aircraft "Strikemaster", and also 35mm AA gun and 28 "Bloodhound" SAMs. Initial batch of pilots passed training in France and Britain and they became instructors for the following pilots, under the general Israeli management. Additional aid rendered the retired senior officers of RAF, hired on the contract. In the 1972, airforce of Singapore obtained 27 more "Hunters" and Italian SF260 Trainers. From U. S. Navy was stocked up more than 50 "Skyhawks", which passed modernization to level A –4S and which formed in 1974-1976 two new squadrons.


Opening of flight school, on 1 August 1969

Third component of armed forces, which required creation practically from zero, was the navy fleet. In the 1965, the Singapore voluntary Navy (Singapore Naval Volunteer Force) had three obsolete ships: the former Japanese mine layer "Vakataka" and two armed vessel, the used for the protection of coastal waters from the pirates and smugglers. New contemporary fleet was created according to the plan and under the management of the Captain Tsvi Tirosh, zamnachal'nika of the operations branch of the staff, Navy of Israel. Tirosh, the future deputy of the commander of Navy, stood into the 60s in chapter commissions, which developed "Gabriel" ASM , Israeli rocket and patrol boats. In 1969 began the first course in the Singapore school of Seamen on the island of Sentosa, which consisted of 160 cadets; instruction was conducted together with the New Zealand officers. In the same year,the launched of the first of six new high-speed patrol boats "RSS Independence", British building. The second launch was also built in Britain, the remaining ships of a series were constructed in Singapore. In the beginning of the 70s, began into service the missle boats of the type "Sea Wolf", first two were built in Germany, subsequent four - in Singapore. Missle boats were armed "Gabriel -.I" anti-ship missile, which were used by Navy of Israel in 1969 and showed outstanding results in the naval battles of the Yom Kippur War, and 57mm Bofors guns . In the 1980s in the process of modernization which added the "Harpoon" anti-ship missile and "Mistral" SAM. Launches of the type "Sea Wolf", until now, stand in arsenal of the 185 squadron, navy of Singapore and will be replaced with the arrival of a series of the newest frigates URO of the type "Formidable".

The second stage of building of SAF was completed toward the end 1971. Then entered the force on 1 November 1971 security agreement about defense (ANZUK), concluded between Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Singapore and had as a official goal the "protection of Malaysia and Singapore from external attack" to a certain extent to substitute British garrison, but the government of Singapore preferred not to rely on the agreement, especially as one of the potential enemies were Malaysia, participant in the agreement. Her own army served as more reliable protection from this threat, and at the end 1971 began the third stage of building, which was prolonged prior to the beginning 1974.

The third stage consisted in the creation of combined arms units, further increase in the level of executive body and strengthening of aviation, fleet, artillery and tank troops. From the Israeli advisers, who served in Singapore during this period, besides the already mentioned above Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, who headed commanding staff college of SAF, it is possible to name the Chief of Israeli military mission Brigadier General Ephraim Poran (it replaced Brigadier General Uri Rom in the beginning 1972) and Lieutenant Colonel Vardi, who guided the armour development. But for Lieutenant Colonel Vardi it was necessary to interrupt his mission and urgently return to Israel due to the beginning of the Yom Kippur War in order to command and control in the battle of the “Barak” brigade after the heaviest losses at the Golan heights and the loss of the brigade commander.

It was executed in 1974 missions of Israeli advisers developed the concept of defense, placed the basis of new contemporary army, airforce and fleet, trained the nucleus of command and instructor personnel and set up basis for further professional and technical development of all the pioneer troops. The armed forces of Singapore solidly stood on their feet, by them no longer was required the mentor, and the Israeli military presence, which was begun in 1965 from eight officers and reached their peak in 1969 with forty five people, during April 1974 it was reduced.

"Israelis laid emphasis on instruction in military habits and creation of high motivation in soldiers. SAF did not learn from the "Mexicans" to parades and refinement of military form " written by Lee Kuan Yew.


Israeli reservists bear weapon similarily

The small number of officers remained on the coordination posts with the Defense Ministry and the General staff of Singapore, but the basic military collaboration between two states was displaced to support and growth of qualitative superiority of SAF over adjacent armies with the aid of the Israeli technologies, output of Israeli defense industry for the Asian markets, and subsequently and to the joint technological developments in the military sphere. In the course of time Singapore became one of the "intimate" friends of Israel and important strategic partner.

End of Part 3
To be cont'd.

This post has been edited by gary1910 on Mar 30 2007, 04:59 PM

This just happens to be a convenience way to sling the carbine.

Comfortable, easy to put on and remove.

Part 4
<<As rocket is arranged, you should know about this>>
Israeli technologies on the guard of Singapore

The basic interest for the army of Singapore is the technological regions, in which Israel traditionally occupies the leading positions in the world: in electro-optics, remotely manned system, rocket(missile?), avionics, the system of electronic reconnaissance and REB(ECM?), system of control and communications, the modernization of ground-based and air platforms, simulators.

The substantial part of the Israeli technological "presence" relates to air component of armed forces. Thus, in the eighties Singapore accepted to the armament "Scout" UAV, in 1998 replaced by 40 "Searcher Mk2" UAVs ,productions IAI. Then on the basis of the acquired Israeli technology (firm EMIT Aviation Consultancy) company Singapore Technologies began the development of her own apparatuses "Sparrow", "Blue Horizon" and "Firefly", the latter could become basis for the cruise missile of ground-based and sea basing. Also conducted jointly with the Israeli specialists development "Golden Eagle" UAV. There are data about the use by Singapore airforce of Israeli missiles "air-to-air" "Python-3" and "Python-4".

During the 90s, carry out the modernization of the batch of F –5 fighters, found in the arsenal airforce of Singapore from the 70s , that includes the installation of new radar and navigation system. Major portion of the works on the integration of systems carried out by Israeli firm El'bit. In the collaboration with the same firm, and also with IAI, Singapore ST Aero developed the packet of modernization for F -5 fof Turkish and Brazilian airforces. To 10 Singapore F –16D block 52 in the process of their production in USA was installed with additional Israeli equipment, including equipment ECM, supposedly SPS-3000 from Elisra. Newest F –16D block 52+ are equipped with one of the versions of the complex ASPS ECM of the same firm, and also with sighting and navigation containers of system Litening , a product of Raphael. The aircraft of sea patrolling "Fokker 50 maritime Enforcer" were also equipped with Israeli system ECM. Israel supplied night vision devices for the helicopters, apparatuses for radar warning and terminals of tactical data. Furthermore, Singapore stocked up Israeli training systems for airforce, such as tactical simulator "Hotshot" and the system of finalizing aviamanevrov and selection of flights in the real time "EHUD" of firm BVR Systems, and also equipment for the range of air it was combat into Siabu, Indonesia, which is used by Singapore pilots. Together with the Israeli specialists was conducted the development of reconnaissance satellite on the basis of the technologies of an Israeli series of satellites "Ofeq".


F –16D block 52 of airforce of Singapore with the Israeli equipment

In the arsenal of the navy of Singapore found "Gabriel -.I" and "Gabriel -.II" anti-ship missiles of production IAI, "the Barak -.I" SAM of the joint development IAI and Raphael, surveillance mini- boat with remote control, the "Protector" USV of production Raphael, the artillery and machine-gun stabilized installations "Typhoon" and "the Mini- Typhoon" of the same company, and also a large quantity of electronic systems of Israeli production, in particular the system of the electronic reconnaissance NS-9010c, NS-900á and Ns-9005 ECM system firm Elisra, the system of electro-optics (optronic director) MSIS firm El- Op, the combat information system of firm El'bit, the system of the electronic reconnaissance C-m, system REB Shark/ran-1101, kombinirovannaya system of electronic reconnaissance and REB Sews/ran-1110, multipurpose electro-optical system "TOPLITE" and system of setting passive the interferences of production Raphael, search radar and fire control radar El/M-2228 SGRS, El/M-2238 STAR and El/M-2221 STGR firm El'ta.


Covette "RSS Victory" with Israeli electronics & "Barak” SAM.

Land army uses Israeli mortars and artillery instruments, in detail described above, the "Spike" ATGM of Israeli (Raphael) and further local production, the remotely controlled turrets of the armament (Overhead Weapon Stations - OWS) product of Raphael, the system of monitoring, communications and combat control, orientation and aim designation, intelligence gathering by electronic means. Are conducted joint developments in the region of the integrated systems C4ISR (Command, Control, Communication, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) and the systems of tactical communications


Modernized M113 Ultra with 25- mm by the gun Of bushmaster on OWS Raphael

It is separately necessary to speak about intelligence gathering by electronic means as a whole, being been one of the most important tools of modern war. Speaking about the systems of air, ground-based and sea basing, Australian military analyst Desmond Ball writes: "Singapore is possibilities in the region of intelligence gathering by electronic means, especially the systems, acquired in Israel in last decade (1985-1995), and also some systems of their own development, are some of the quite advanced in the world and give to Singapore the greatest in Southeast Asia combat efficiency in the electronic warfare". In past since then the already one decade of the possibility of Singapore in this region only they were strengthened, in many respects because of the technical collaboration with Israel.

It must be noted that the substantial part of the Israeli defense export into Singapore is classified, and many deliveries and joint projects (especially the projects of the army technological subdivisions of two countries) are not noted even by unofficial monitoring sources. In some Israeli defense firms "Singapore" it is separate direction together with the profile divisions, and information about its work usually is not advertised. However, as far as total volumes are concerned, for 2000 , the sum of the signed contracts comprised was more than two billion dollars. According to the index "Trend Indicator Value" the international institute SIPRI, that notes changes in the world weapons export and basing on the comparative technical characteristics of armaments, but not on the financial volumes, Singapore occupies the first place in the Israeli defense export during period 1994-2004, passing USA, India and China.

For the duration of the 90s, Israel, according to the estimation of military experts, occupied the third on the importance place among the suppliers of military equipment into Singapore. This place acquires an even larger weight, if one considers that in the first places find the suppliers of such platforms, in production of which Israel is not the competitor: USA - combat aircraft and helicopters, and Sweden - submarines. It is noted that additional advantage in the competitive ability of Israeli systems is the assignment of the initial codes of software, in contrast to the American practice, which considerably facilitates further modifications for the appearing changes and new requirements.

In the 1997, created the Israeli- Singapore fund SIIRDF (Singapore-Israel Industrial R&.D Foundation) for encouraging the joint projects in the region of high technologies. In the time of its existence the fund financed projects for the sum total of 50 million dollars. Singapore investments into Israeli khaytek(projects) through the venture companies, beginning from 2000, are valuated at 100 million dollars yearly. Not only the developments, which have military application, but also projects in the field of biotechnology, production of semiconductors, polygraphy, agriculture, etc., finance; however, major portion of the means is in the technology of the "dual purpose". Many joint defense productions work according to diagram "Israeli technologies - Singapore financing". Besides the already mentioned above directions, Israeli and Singapore specialists conduct joint operations in the fields of computer safety and cryptography, Singapore army are allowed to consultation in different spheres, somehow aviation psychology, night operations, anti-terror so forth between the reconnaissance departments of two countries is conducted in the regular exchange of information.

Circumstantial evidence shown the importance, given to Singapore by the defense structures of Israel, is the fact that the post of military attache in this country is traditionally considered using a General level staff. The present attache in Singapore is Rear Admiral Elie Mer, that was the Chief of Staff of Navy of Israel and aspirant to the post of commander, can serve grow prettier by illustration to the "intimate" relations of two countries in the military sphere.


Rear Admiral Elie Mer on the nickname Of "Chayni". (in NAVY of Israel they are accepted the title of land army, but here it is given traditional Russian equivalent).

Nickname is given not in vain, appearance is actually Chinese. His parents are Chinese Jews and refugee from Germany, were encountered(escaped?) to China during the second world war. Widely known during January 2002, carried out under his command operation on the seizure of Palestinian vessel "Karine A" with the load of contraband weapon aboard. As the military attache Elie Mer coordinates the joint projects of military developments, is of interests of Israeli defense firms and is the visual aid on the theme "Chinese face and Israeli filling", which in many respects reflects training past and technological present of the army of Singapore. As it was already said, the occupation of this post by Generals and by Admirals indicates the priority with respect to other countries: the posts of military attache in China and India, most important clients of Israeli VPK(defence Industrial?), at the present moment occupy Colonels. In the brackets let us note that this not strict rule, for example, elder brother Elie Mer, Moshe, occupied the post of attache in China, also a Rear Admiral.

Furthermore, that Singapore - one of the important clients and the partners of Israeli defense industry, it is also bridge for its output to the Asian markets for armaments and with reliable "third side" for the transactions with the countries, which do not have a possibility opened and directly to deal with Israel for different political reasons. Strategic arrangement in Southeast Asia makes Singapore with natural center for the base of "advance posts" and the representations, but the Singapore port largest in the world on the annual passing tonnage allows excellent possibilities for perenapravleniya it is cargo, not intended for the strange eyes. Thus, the first defense contacts with China began precisely through Singapore, the very same was channel for the realization of deliveries. According to different sources, sale of weapon to the government of Myanmar and to other regimes, not approved by the world community and which fall under different embargo to the military deliveries, also occurred with the mediation of Singapore. Relations with such traditionally hostile with respect to Israel countries as Indonesia, were adjusted through it.

End of Part 4
To be cont'd.

R Adm Eli Marum, besides being former Chief Navy, was also former CO of Flotilla 13, the super elite Israeli naval commandos. Tough dude

There is also the Taiwan connection in the development RSAF as reported in Taiwanese media which is in chinese.

" Mexican" Part 2 Taiwan Connection, ROC provide pilots for RSAF in the 70s

Part 5

<<Far-Eastern - Support is durable>>
Army of Singapore today

The influence of Israel, and is more accurate the regular consequence of the same reasons as in Israel (small area, small population, the absence of minerals, rate to its own forces), evidently not only in the structure and the military doctrine of Singapore army, but also in what place SAF occupy in the public life of Singapore. SAF - is not only fusion pan for creating of united nation and patriotic training of young people, but also the smithy of personnel for the administrative elite of state. The served officers, especially grant-aided students, who received due to the army formation at the best universities of USA and Great Britain, after retirement begin the second career in the policy, on the administrative and administrative posts. As a result as in Israel, in spite of differences in the political practice between two countries, this leads to the fact that the highest posts increasingly more frequently occupies the "junta" of otstavnikov. In the present government of Singapore three Generals: prime minister and the minister of finances Lee Hsien Loong (son of Lee Kuan Yew), the Minister of Defense Teo Chee Hian and the Minister of Foreign Affairs George Yeo.

Furthermore, that the officers previously are prepared to be leaders not only in the army, but also in the state, army herself is the cornerstone of Singapore doctrine "Total defence": military, civil, economic, social and psychological defense - "five are fingers of one hand". Patriotism and pride for their country, constant professional improvement and readiness for the re-training, the maintenance of the accordion between the national character, which populate Singapore, instruction in the knowledge, necessary with the extraordinary situations, all this serves strengthening Singapore as a whole, in accordance with theory and practice of corporate state. "each participates in the defense of Singapore", as say the slogans of the election campaigns of program "Total defence".


Poster of "Total defence".

Each - but, first of all, armed forces. Yearly expenditures for defense are about 5 billion dollars - record number for Southeast Asia (total expenditures of Indonesia and Malaysia - about 3 billion) and 23rd place in the general world rating (for 2005-1 yr). For the comparison, Israel occupies the 17th. So as in Israel, support is done to qualitative superiority over the potential enemy: technological superiority, scientific and technical developments, continuous modernization and improvement, the level of the formation of personnel and a constant combat readiness. The absence of strategic depth and resources for the lasting war caused the Singapore doctrine of "poisonous shrimp": the restraining of possible aggression by diplomatic and political means and the creation of army,which is sufficient powerful for the putting to serious enemy , desirably inadmissible for it losses. Lee Kuan Yew in the interview for newspaper "New Straits Times" in 2000 explained this concept : "We do not want to go to war with anybody. What for? But we must be able to inflict a very high price ... and then go to the UN. ".

Besides defensive scenarios, the doctrine includes and the offensive: inflicting preventive impacts in the case of sharp aggravation of the situation, the transfer of military actions onto the territory of enemy with the aid of the impact highly mobile parts, the disruption of his plans and the completion of conflict in short periods. According to doctrine, as casus belli are examined not only directly military actions, but also creation of interferences with the strategic interests of Singapore, for example, the overlap of seaways or deliveries of water (large part of its fresh water Singapore is obtained from Malaysia), which can blow up not only economic base, but also normal vital activity of state generally. As in many other Singapore realise, here we also see similarity to the Israeli situation, when IDF joined the battle because of the blockade of the Straits of Tiron by Egypt in 1956 and 1967, and Syrian interferences with Israeli water supply into 1964-1965 ("Battle for the water"). According to Tim Huxley's expression, "Singapore - is not Israel of Southeast Asia, but it clearly gives to understand that it will risk to become them, if the emergency arises emergency".

Military collaboration with other countries with the retention of the independent political course is important component of the defense capability of Singapore. The technological aspect of this collaboration includes the cooperation of local defense industry with those of Israel, Sweden, France, Australia, USA, Great Britain and the diversification of the bought military equipment; training aspect - training of officers in the American, British and Australian military academies, quartering on a constant basis of training subdivisions of armed forces and army of Singapore in the military bases in USA, Australia, France, Brunei and regular independent and joint exercises in the territory of these countries, and also in Taiwan, Philippines, in New Zealand and Thailand. The absence of areas for its own ranges makes "overseas trainings" vitally important for maintaining the combat readiness. Furthermore, these studies give SAF the possibility to evaluate and to compare their professional level with the level of the armies of the western countries and countries of Asian- Pacific Ocean region.

Political and international aspect concerns participation of SAF in the peacemaking and humanitarian operations in the troops and missions of United Nations in Eastern Timor, Bangladesh, to Cambodia, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, to Guatemala, etc., and the assignment of the military bases of Singapore for the use by armed forces of USA. In Singapore the staff of the management of the supply of the 7th fleet of U. S. Navy , Singapore government for its calculation reconstructed the naval base of Changi for the berthing of American aircraft carriers, on the air base of Paya Lebar was placed the training squadron of USAF - United States Air force. Of course Singapore, as one of world financial, transport and industrial is center, it can design for the fact that the "large players" and without the allied relations will not allow its power liquidation or sharp attack on its safety and economy, since this will affect their own interests. But with this strong ally, as the USA, has the great restrictive effect on the potential enemies of Singapore. From the other side, to Singapore it is important not to be nich'im satellite and to conduct independent foreign policy. Therefore the guarantee of the inviolability of island is her own strong army, capable of discouraging any potential aggressor and rebuff it independently or, at the worst, to be held to the entrance into the affair of "large players".

Since the beginning of the eighties, there was the warming up of the relations of Singapore with the neighbors, including joint exercises with the armies of Malaysia and Indonesia, and also use of a training base of Pekan Baru and Siabu ACMR range on the island Sumatra by Singapore pilots; however, this did not change the views of Singapore management on the need for supporting and strengthening the combat readiness of the armed forces of Singapore. On the contrary, followed official statements about the passage from the doctrine of "poisonous shrimp" to the doctrine of the "hedgehog", that includes strengthening offensive component. However, warming up did not also change the views of neighbors on the need for having strong army, about which testifies a general armaments drive in the region, to greater happiness arms industrial of different countries. Periodically are conducted the "demonstrations of the muscles", as clear example of which can serve the joint maneuvers of the armies of Malaysia and Indonesia with the airborne attack in the near-boundary regions, carry out on 9th August 1991, during the day of the anniversary of the independence of Singapore. If one considers that this stage of studies bore the code name "complete destruction", then hint becomes even more transparent, and completely it is possible to understand, why Singapore Generals do not consider political warming up as an occasion to be weak.

The complementary factor, because of which SAF prefer “to keep their powder dry”, is general political instability in Southeast Asia, in particular the activity of Islamic extremists in Malaysia, insurgent and separatist movement in Indonesia, Thailand, in the Philippines and the mezhetnicheskiye(racial?) conflicts, which are sometimes poured out in the bloody collisions as, for example, mass Chinese pogroms in Indonesia after the financial crisis in1998.

Long-standing efforts for putting of military doctrine into action led to the fact that today the Singapore army is acknowledges by the experts of the most combat-effective in Southeast Asia, due to the large number of prepared reservists (about 300 thousand soldiers and officers, regular army of approximately 60 thousand), of high degree of informatizatsii of all echelons of armed forces and presence of the contemporary combat technology: F -16, Apache Longbow, missile frigates and corvettes, artillery and rifle armament and ammunition of its own production, high-precision weaponry and military electronics of world level. Relying on the foundation of the developed economy, research and technological power, the formed population, the balanced domestic and external policy of governments, strategic connections in the world and region, SAF is reliable guarantee of sovereignty and safety of insular city-state. Yes, these are only theoretical computations, for the army of Singapore, until now, it was not necessary to show itself in the matter, but indeed this is a Singapore concept of deterrence: army must be strong enough that the enemy would not be decided to aggression. Big enough merit the fact that SAF in forty years of their existence rose from the zero level to this step, belongs to Israel. And in Singapore of this is not forgotten, about which constant references about the contribution of Israeli advisers to the building of army in the past and about the continuous collaboration between two countries in the the present testify it.

End of Part 5
To be cont'd.

Part 6

<<We will drink once and will drink two>>
The Epilogue

To finish the story about the military collaboration of Israel and Singapore is possible by quotation from the speech of the Minister of Information George Yeo (now the Minister of Foreign Affairs), said in the 1996 at the seminar "Temasek" on defense questions, which passed through SAFTI: " Many years ago, the Israeli Air Force Commander Major-General David Ivry gave a speech to the Temasek Society. I was in the audience. He was like me today talking about the challenges which small states face. He used a metaphor which I will always remember. He said that if you uncork a bottle of whisky and throw it into a swimming pool, the whisky will gradually mix with the water, and what is inside and what is outside will eventually become one and the same. When that happens, the whisky might have changed the taste of water in the pool but the whisky has lost its identity and therefore its usefulness. The challenge was to keep what is inside the bottle different from what is in the pool.

We can easily achieve this if we do not uncork the bottle. Then providing the bottle does not break, the whisky will remain whisky. But if the bottle is tightly sealed, it has no effect on the pool. It then has no value to the world outside. It has value only being open to the world. "

Two small states, Israel and Singapore, found ways to share with each other in the matter of the defense with their unique bottle in the large world pond.

Moshe Dayan and Goh Keng Svee at a diplomatic reception, Singapore, on 5 May 1979. Toast for the friendship.

The end.

Translated from
http://www.waronline.org/IDF/Articles/tango_magnolia.htm

Using web based online translator, which means some names and quotations from the article maybe distorted.

Bravo Gary! <clap!2x>

Thanx gary1910

Tough to Translate and reformat the article.