Article Posted on : - Aug 19, 2010

Launch of the submersible rescue vehicle DSAR at the Submarine Escape and Rescue (SMER) exercise.

SINGAPORE (BNS): The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and the navies from its Pacific region counterparts (Australia, Japan, the Republic of Korea and the United States ) have commenced the Submarine Escape and Rescue (SMER) exercise codenamed Pacific Reach at the Changi Command and Control Centre and a sea phase held in the South China Sea.

SMER 2010, the fifth in the series, will be held from 17th to 25th August, 2010.

Military observers from 13 countries, namely Canada, China, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Pakistan, South Africa, Sweden, Thailand, the United Kingdom and Vietnam will also participate in the exercise.

"Exercise Pacific Reach serves as a platform to foster cooperation on submarine escape and rescue, as well as to enhance multilateral relations among the submarine operating countries. As more countries acquire or enhance their submarine capabilities in the region, it is also important that we build and maintain a strong network for multilateral submarine rescue collaboration,” RSN's Fleet Commander, Rear- Admiral Joseph Leong, said.

RSN is participating in the exercise with a Landing Ship Tank, RSS Endeavour, a submarine, RSS Chieftain, a submarine rescue support vessel, MV Swift Rescue and a submersible rescue vehicle (Deep Search and Rescue Six).

Other participating naval assets include an auxiliary support ship, USNS Safeguard, from the US Navy and a Japanese submarine JDS Arashio.

In 2000, the RSN had hosted the first Exercise Pacific Reach, involving navies from Japan, the Republic of Korea and the United States.