RSS Intrepid (69) is the second named ship of the Formidable-class of guided-missile stealth frigates serving the modern Republic of Singapore Navy. The class is led by RSS Formidable and includes four other sisters making up six total ships. With stealth features and advanced systems and processing at the heart of the design, the Formidable-class certainly lives up to its name. The group has been used to succeed the aging units of the Sea Wolf-class, a type of Cold War-era missile gunboat.
RSS Intrepid's construction involved French shipbuilder DCNS as well as the local concern of ST Engineering (Marine). She was launched on July 3rd, 2004 and formally commissioned on February 5th, 2008 (along with sisters RSS Steadfast and RSS Tenacious on the same day).
As built, the warship has a displacement of 3,200 tonnes and an overall length of 376.7 feet with a beam of 53.5 feet and a draught of 19.7 feet. Installed power is a CODAD ("COmbined Diesel-And-Diesel") arrangement involving 4 x MTU 20V8000 M90 engines outputting 12,200 horsepower each and 4 x ISM V1708 diesel generators of 1,150 horsepower each. Maximum speed in ideal conditions reaches 27 knots and range is out to 4,200 nautical miles.
Aboard is a crew of 71 plus an additional nineteen making up the air wing section. The air wing is up to two Sikorsky S-70B "Seahawk" model equipped for missions such as at-sea cargo delivery, Search And Rescue (SAR), and submarine/ship hunting. A full service hangar is attached to the stern-based flight deck. The hangar itself can house both helicopters leaving the helipad available for a possible third bird.
The warship is equipped to handle surface, undersea, and aerial threats at range. To achieve this, she carries 8 x RGM-84C "Harpoon" anti-ship missile launchers with 24 reloads, 2 x 8-cell Sylver A50 Vertical Launch System (VLS) for the MBDA Aster 15/30 surface-to-air missile, 2 x 8-cell Sylver A43 VLS for additional Aster 15 SAMs, and 2 x B515 triple torpedo tubes to handle the stock of EuroTorp A244/S Mod 3 torpedoes. More conventional firepower is had from the single 76mm OTO-Melara Super-Rapid firing turreted deck gun over the forecastle. 2 x 25mm Mk 38 Mod 2 "Typhoon" weapon stations are also fitted for short-ranged threats and close-in defense is further enhanced by the fitting of 4 x 12.7mm CIS 50MG heavy machine guns.
RSS Interpid exudes future with its design appearance which includes enclosed protrusions and mastworks, slab-sided panels, and unbroken hull line, and low profile extensions. The main deck gun sits overlooking the bow with a missile section directly aft. Aft of this is the bridge section with its pyramidal enclosed mast. The taller main mast is set closer to midships and is also of an enclosed design. The smoke funnels are integrated into the aft section of the hull superstructure and designed to keep heat signatures as low as possible. Steel is used heavily throughout the construction of this warship.
In 2008, the ship was charged with the first test-fire of the French Aster 15 SAM weapon and this was successfully conducted off the shores of the French city of Toulon. In 2012, she took part in Combined Task Force 151, a fighting force assembled to combat ongoing piracy in the Somalia region. This marked the first combat-centered deployment for the vessel and she was able to actively launch an S-70 helicopter in an operational-level manner during her commitment. She returned to home waters in mid-December of that year. The warship took up another such deployment in March of 2014.
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Offshore Bombardment
Offshore bombardment / attack of surface targets / areas primarily through onboard ballistic weaponry.
Land-Attack
Offshore strike of surface targets primarily through onboard missile / rocket weaponry.
Maritime Patrol
Active patroling of vital waterways and maritime areas; can also serve as local deterrence against airborne and seaborne threats.
Airspace Denial / Deterrence
Neutralization or deterrence of airborne elements through onboard ballistic of missile weaponry.
Fleet Support
Serving in support (either firepower or material) of the main surface fleet in Blue Water environments.
376.7 feet (114.82 meters) Length
53.5 feet (16.31 meters) Beam
19.7 feet (6.00 meters) Draught
3,530 tons Displacement
4 x MTU 20V 8000 M90 engines developing 12,200 horsepower with 4 x ISM V1708 diesel generators developing 4,610 horsepower driving 2 x Shafts in Combined Diesel And Diesel (CODAD) arrangement. Propulsion
8 x RGM-84C Harpoon anti-ship missile launchers (24 reloads).
4 x 8-cell Sylver A50 Vertical Launching System (VLS) (MBDA Aster 15/30 missiles).
1 x 76mm OTO Melara turreted deck gun
2 x B515 triple torpedo tubes
2 x 25mm Mk 38 Mod 2 "Typhoon" Weapon Station
4 x 12.7mm CIS 50MG heavy machine guns
1 x Sikorsky S-70B Seahawk navy helicopter or similar.
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Image from the United States Department of Defense DVIDS image database.
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Image from the United States Department of Defense DVIDS image database.
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Image from the United States Department of Defense DVIDS image database.
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