SINGAPORE: Deploying heavily armed, grey-hulled warships to tackle every maritime security threat along important sea lanes is akin to taking a hammer to every problem, defence experts said, adding that increasingly complex challenges call for more measured responses at sea.
Earlier this month, the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) launched its first Sentinel-class offshore patrol vessel, christened Sentinel. It is the first of four government vessels built to meet a broader spectrum of maritime security operations.
Their calibrated capabilities will allow Singapore to respond to incidents in a measured and proportionate manner, giving the government “more options” at sea, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) said during the vessel’s launch.
They offer an alternative to conventional warships, said Mr Nicholas Lim, senior fellow and coordinator of defence and military relations at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) in Nanyang Technological University.
Unlike the standard grey hull on most combatant and auxiliary surface ships that keeps them camouflaged against the marine backdrop, the offshore patrol vessels sport white hulls.
“You cannot deploy your grey-hulled warships for everything. It’s like you’re using a hammer for every single problem,” said Mr Lim.
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