On Patrol: Pt. 1 – Nine Crew

Taus Navy Base, Republic of Signapore
Slowly the RSS Unity backs out of her berth into the waterway, passing sister patrol vessels and three corvettes bristling with guns and missiles at an adjacent dock. P. J. Lau, the exec, is at the conn. “Starboard 15,” he orders Warrant Officer Dave Wong at the helm. Wong repeats the command, affirming that he has heard it and is implementing it. In each hand he operates a joy stick, a revolving toggle that controls both the direction and the force of water coming out of each of the vessel’s water jets. With just a few quick movements, he can push the Unity to full speed, bring her to instant reverse, or make her dance in circles.

The Republic of Singapore ship, Unity, at action stations.
Unnoticed
“Halfway starboard.” “Halfway starboard,” Wong repeats. “Slow ahead a quarter.” “Roger, slow ahead a quarter.” “Come to 205,” P.J. orders. His command is repeated. “Halfway for engines.” “210 degrees.” “Roger, 210.” A female sergeant, standing watch, interjects: “Starboard, boat going from left to right.” “Roger,” P.J acknowledges. “Tanker to port,” another of the crew on watch warns, even though the 500 ft. long tanker anchored a half-mile off is unlikely to go unnoticed.
Crew
There are nine crew members on the bridge, including a talker, radar and engineering techs, watch standers, Warrant Officer Wong, who is the quartermaster (the one who actually controls the ship’s movements), the exec, and Major Tony Wong, the captain, seated in his chair, taking it all in. Everyone is intent on their jobs- total concentration and lots of action as we thread our way out into the main channel.
Two-Day Patrol
The Republic of Singapore Ship Unity, a 177 ft. fearless class patrol vessel, is heading out on a two-day patrol in the Singapore Strait and the South China Sea. Her main job will be to guard her country and to shepherd vessels plying its waterways and adjacent international waters. I am standing at the back of the bridge photographing, recording, and hoping for at least one gun battle with an attacking pirate vessel. If such a battle were to take place, we are well enough armed to win it. Besides the 76mm Oto Malara on the foredeck, which is capable of firing 120 rounds of high-explosive shells per minute, we have four .50-caliber (12.7mm) machine guns, two on each of wing of the bridge. A Sinbad surface-to-air missile launcher also sits aft near the transom. All in all, we are not to be trifled with, and the local pirates know it. But maybe one won’t. I am here at the invitation of the Singapore Navy to accompany one of their vessels on patrol, and I am hoping, if not for a roaring gun battle a la Captain Hornblower, at least for hot pursuit of some rogue vessel. Well, we shall see.
More from “On Patrol”
On Patrol: Pt. 18 – Safety and Plenty
Since merchant sailors go unarmed, with the exception of Russian and Israeli crews, there is little risk for the pirates.
On Patrol: Pt. 17 – Castaways and Fish Traps
We continue at flank speed. Then the operations center orders us to break off our escort. Slowly we pull ahead of the Haydock and come to fifty degrees.
On Patrol: Pt. 16 – Cover the Flanks
Since merchant sailors go unarmed, with the exception of Russian and Israeli crews, there is little risk for the pirates.
On Patrol: Pt. 15 – Armed Pirates
In the background are snatches of radio transmissions, some from central control, others from different ships. Everything seems garbled.
On Patrol: Pt. 14 – Explosive Escort
In the background are snatches of radio transmissions, some from central control, others from different ships. Everything seems garbled.
On Patrol: Pt. 13 – Comm Checks and Storm Prep
In the background are snatches of radio transmissions, some from central control, others from different ships. Everything seems garbled.
On Patrol: Pt. 12 – Night on the Equator
An hour later, dinner is served to seven of us in the officers’ mess. The mee soto, noodles and vegetables in a spicy chicken broth, is great.
On Patrol: Pt. 11 – Mess Hall
Back on the bridge. It is 1600, four in the afternoon, and a change of watch takes place. Those on duty brief their relief with pertinent information.
On Patrol: Pt. 10 – Endurance, Tolerance, Patience
“What about your father? Is he alive?” “Yeah, he’s around. My dad, until now, still can’t believe what I’m doing. He’s too shocked.”
On Patrol: Pt. 9 – Machine Guns
Hodgepodge Kenis and Sprig leave to go back to work. Kenis appears to be mature and very responsible. Later, I see her manning one of the machine guns on the bridge wing. Spring’s duty station is at the radar repeater on the bridge, where she continually examines and...