Muara Naval Base | |
---|---|
Pangkalan Tentera Laut Muara | |
Part of Royal Brunei Armed Forces | |
Muara, Brunei-Muara District, BT1328 in Brunei Darussalam | |
Coordinates | 05°01′56″N115°04′54″E / 5.03222°N 115.08167°E |
Type | naval base, naval headquarters |
Site information | |
Owner | Government of Brunei |
Operator | Royal Brunei Navy |
Controlled by | Ministry of Defence Brunei Darussalam |
Open to the public | no |
Condition | operational |
Website | Navy.MinDef.gov.bn |
Site history | |
Built | 1974 |
In use | 1974–present |
Garrison information | |
Current commander | Capt Sarif Pudin Matserudin (acting) |
Occupants | Fleet of the Royal Brunei Navy |
Muara Naval Base (Malay : Pangkalan Tentera Laut Muara) is a naval base which serves as the headquarters and main operating base for the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN; Tentera Laut Diraja Brunei, TLDB). [1] It is situated approximately 4 kilometres (2 miles ) from Muara Town, Brunei-Muara District, in the sultanate of Brunei Darussalam. [2] [3] The naval base is located near the mouth of the Brunei River, which flows into the Brunei Bay. [4]
During World War II, then occupied Muara was previously used by the Japanese Navy as a naval base until the country was liberated by the Australian 9th Division. [5] The Boat Section of the Royal Brunei Malay Regiment (the forerunner to the Royal Brunei Navy), specifically, the administration of First Sea Battalion, was relocated to its current location at Muara in 1974. [6] Among many international visitors to the naval base, the United States Navy (USN) warship USS Robert E. Peary (FF-1073) was berthed at Muara Naval Base in 1989. [7] In 1991, Brunei ordered three Nakhoda Ragam-class corvettes, which were planned to be based at the naval base. [8] However, due to a contractual dispute with their manufacturer, all three ships of the class were never commissioned into the navy. [9]
In 1997, the base's upgrade project costed B$140 million, in which it included the construction of a new 314 metres (1,030 feet ) long quay, shiplift, and renovation of its existing facilities. [2] The project was carried out in order to facilitate the three new Darussalam-class offshore patrol vessel. [10] Between 2007 and 2012, ammunition and explosive storage bunkers were constructed not far from the base, at Kampong Kapok. [2] [11]
Another B$44.6 million project was started in July 2011, to provide new accommodation facilities for the base's personnel, workshops, technical buildings, and car parks. [2] [12] During BRIDEX 2011 (the 2011 iteration of the Brunei Darussalam International Defence Exhibition), the Royal Brunei Navy celebrated its 46th anniversary at the naval base (and jointly at the BRIDEX International Conference Centre), [13] in which twenty-four warships from ten countries were invited to attend. [2] [13]
On 29 May 2013, as part of a state visit to Negara Brunei Darussalam, President of Singapore Tony Tan visited the Muara Naval Base. [14] On 23 February 2014, a 172 metres (564 feet) long roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) car carrier Trans Future 2 collided with KDB Berkat (18) and another Ijtihad-class patrol boat while in port. [15] [16] Later in May, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah landed his Sikorsky S-70 at the naval base in which he visited the KDB Afiat (20) and witnessed a naval exercise. [17] Later that year on 11 November, the 20th annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT Brunei 2014) between the United States and Brunei began at the naval base. [18] [19]
On 12 November 2018, the 24th annual CARAT began at the naval base, in which it involved several exercises in the South China Sea with USNS Fall River (T-EPF-4). [20] The 25th annual CARAT was once again held at the naval base on 31 October 2019. [21]
Three naval divisions are based in the naval base:
The Royal Brunei Navy, abbrev: RBN is the naval defence force of Brunei Darussalam. It is a small but relatively well-equipped military force whose main responsibility is to conduct search and rescue missions, and to deter and defend the Brunei waters against attack mounted by seaborne forces.
The Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF); Malay: Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei, (ABDB), is the collective term for all of the military forces or service branches of the sultanate of Brunei Darussalam. The RBAF consists of three primary military branches; the Royal Brunei Land Force, the Royal Brunei Navy, and the Royal Brunei Air Force.
The Brunei Darussalam International Defence Exhibition and Conference (BRIDEX), originally Brunei Darussalam International Defence Exhibition, was a biennial defence and security exhibition and conference held in Negara Brunei Darussalam. Involving all three service branches of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, it started in 2007, and was launched by the Ministry of Defence Brunei Darussalam (MinDef).
The Darussalam-class offshore patrol vessel is a class of four offshore patrol vessels in Brunei Darussalam, constructed for the Royal Brunei Navy. They are the largest and most capable ships of the Royal Brunei Navy, and often participate in international naval exercises. The lead ship in the class is KDB Darussalam (06).
The military ranks of Brunei are depicted by the military insignia used by the Royal Brunei Armed Forces. Given its history of being established with help from the British Army, its rank insignia follow the former British influence with adaptations for Bruneian conditions, the RBAF having started as an infantry regiment, with naval and air assets.
Halbi bin Mohammad Yussof, born 22 June 1956, is a Bruneian nobleman, military officer, and politician, who currently serves as a Minister at the Prime Minister's Office and Minister of Defence II. He is a former member of the Legislative Council of Brunei, and previously served as the Minister of Defence II from 2018 to 2022, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports from 2015 to 2018, Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, and Commander of the Royal Brunei Land Force.
The Ministry of Defence Brunei Darussalam, officially abbreviated as MinDef, is a cabinet-level ministry of the Government of Brunei. It is responsible for the national security and its military forces within the sultanate of Brunei Darussalam; the latter collectively known as the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF); Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei, (ABDB). MinDef is Brunei's ministry of defence; and was established on 1 January 1984, when Brunei Darussalam achieved independence from the United Kingdom. The Ministry of Defence leadership presently consists of a minister ; its incumbent is the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, who is also the Supreme Commander of the RBAF / ABDB. A deputy minister is second-in-command at the Ministry of Defence.
KDB Darussalam (06) is the lead ship of her class of offshore patrol vessels. The vessel is in active service in the Royal Brunei Navy.
The Ijtihad class consists of four fast patrol boats built by Lürssen Werft in Germany, and delivered to Brunei Darussalam in 2009. They patrol the coast of Brunei, and sometimes participate in joint naval exercises. The lead ship in the class is KDB Ijtihad (17).
KDB Darulehsan (07) is the second ship of the Darussalam class offshore patrol vessels in the sultanate of Brunei Darussalam. The vessel is in active service in the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN).
KDB Darulaman (08) is the third ship of the Darussalam-class offshore patrol vessels. The vessel is in active service in the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN).
KDB Mustaed (21) is the only ship of its kind in the Royal Brunei Navy. The vessel, a fast interceptor boat, is in active service in the Royal Brunei Navy.
The Serasa class is a ship class of two light landing craft for Brunei Darussalam. Both were laid down by Transfield Shipbuilding for the Royal Brunei Navy in the August 1996. The lead ship is KDB Serasa (33); KDB being the official acronym for Kapal Diraja Brunei in Malay, meaning Royal Brunei Ship. Currently both ships are in active service in support of Royal Brunei Land Force. Both ships were commissioned together on 7 May 1997 at Muara Naval Base, Brunei Darussalam. They are sometimes used to transport supplies, vehicles and personal to specific locations where they are needed.
The Damuan class is a ship class of two utility landing craft for Brunei Darussalam. Both were laid down by Cheverton Workboats in Cowes, England for Brunei Darussalam, to be operated by the Royal Brunei Navy. The lead ship is KDB Damuan (31); KDB is the official acronym for Kapal Diraja Brunei in Malay, meaning Royal Brunei Ship. Currently, both ships are in active service in support of Royal Brunei Land Force. Damuan was commissioned in 1976, while Puni was commissioned in 1977 at Muara Naval Base, Brunei Darussalam.
Officially known as Royal Brunei Air Force Base, Rimba,, commonly known as Rimba Air Force Base, occasionally known as Rimba Airbase, and informally abbreviated Rimba AFB; it is the military headquarters and main operating airbase of the Royal Brunei Air Force. It is located near the Bruneian village of Kampong Rimba, opposite, and sharing its main runway of 3,685 metres with the Brunei International Airport (BIA), at Bandar Seri Begawan, in the Brunei-Muara District of the sultanate of Brunei Darussalam.
Abdul Halim bin Mohd Hanifah is a retired Bruneian military officer who served as the 8th commander of the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) from 2008 to 2013.
Abdul Aziz bin Mohd Tamit is a retired Bruneian military officer and politician who served as the 8th Commander of the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) from 2014 to 2015. He was also the Deputy Minister of Defence.
Bolkiah Garrison also referred to as Bolkiah Camp from its original name, is one of the military bases in Mukim Berakas 'A', Bandar Seri Begawan. It contains the main building for the Ministry of Defence Brunei Darussalam, and is also the headquarters of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces. International defence collaborations, meetings and bilateral exercises are planned and considered within this military base.
Kefli bin Razali is a Bruneian military officer and nobleman who served as the 2nd commander of the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) from 1983 to 1986 and from 1993 to 1995.
Media related to Muara Naval Base at Wikimedia Commons