Tuesday, February 27, 2024

Tejas Misfire During Vayusakti 24

During the recent Indian Air Force Air Power Demo dubbed Vayusakti 2024 in Pokhran Test Range.

The exercise involved all the mainstay of current IAF fleet involving fighters, UAVs, transport and helicopters. The aircrafts were put through its paces and showed its prowess to the foreign dignitaries and diplomats whom were present. 

However during one of the sequence the indigenously built HAL Tejas 1A launched an R73 IR air to air missile, only to miss the intended target (drone). 

This can be clearly seen in the YouTube videos from minutes 50.54 to 51.09 with the commentors stating " the missile came close to the target, in real situation it would have been blown off by the proximity fuze".

India still has a long way to go in indigenous defence technology and a lot of catching up to do. Despite the fact the missile was Russian origin, the launch platform is still Indian and so was the pilot.

Improving quality in training and production for both men and machine needs to be addressed seriously.


 

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

14th February, 1941


AN article I wrote about 2nd Lt Adnan, which was featured in Defence Advisor Magazine 2006.


Colours of Courage: Real Story of Men of C Company, 1st Royal Malay Regt at Point 226 During Battle of Bukit Chandu 13-14th February, 1942


“The bloods of patriots needs to nourish the tree of liberty from time to time”                                                 Thomas Jefferson


The trenches on the hill of Bukit Chandu humid and damp, air filled with stench of decomposing bodies, cordite stink and acrid smoke. The gloomy atmosphere and temporary silence which seems deafening does not help to ease the anxiety faced by the men of 7th Platoon, C Coy 1st Battalion Royal Malay Regiment. 


The index finger of the remaining men held tightly firm around the trigger of the venerable Enfield 303 the standard infantry rifle of World War 2. These men have been without ration or replenishment for two days in a row but they stood their ground.  The Japanese have systematically cut off vital supply line to this unit and currently choking the men of C Coy 1st Malay into submission. The heat is unbearable, sweating profusely, each salty drops stings the eyes blurring temporarily their vigilance. Amidst these unforgiving conditions the soldiers held on, accurately firing rounds of shot burst in order to conserve ammunition to any enemy movement, and inflicting heavy tolls on the Japs. Around 700 yards from their post the Japanese pleaded them to surrender, later taunted them of what they will do with their distinctively razor sharp samurai sword if they don’t. However nothing deterred the resolve and high spirit of these formidable men in defending this patch of land. Each soldiers peering through the canopy of the jungle, aware of their area of responsibility, through “stand to” procedures in tight perimeter defense. 


Amongst these men stood a lone figure, distinguishable by a single pip on each shoulder straps of his khaki uniform, denoting an officer of the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. Disregarding his safety and constantly exposed to enemy fire he was moving around the perimeter to each soldier giving words of encouragement and assuring his men he will not abandon them.


His name will forever be etched in history an epitome of patriotism, he is 2nd Lt Adnan Saidi born 1915 in a small village in Kajang to a poor but loving family.  Educated to be a teacher but later opted to join the army at the tender age of 18 to answer the call for few good men to fill up the ranks of newly formed Malay Regiment Experimental Company in Port Dickson. 


The Malay Regiment was founded in 1933 an according to its first Commanding Officer Major S Bruce OBE, MC with the objective of “to find out how Malays would react to military discipline”.  By 1937 the performance of Malay Experimental Company was so impressive that it was expanded into a full fledged regular battalion staffed by Malays officers at Platoon level. Six days before the Japanese invasion of Malaya, a 2nd Battalion was formed. Both this battalions were rushed off to Singapore to form the Malay Infantry Brigade together with Bedfordshire Regiment of British Army. 


The Malay Regiment baptism of fire came on the 13th of February, 1942 when contact was made with the crack 18th “Chrysanthemum” Division of Japanese Imperial Army at 1400hrs along the Pasir Panjang Ridge. The Japanese supported up by aerial and artillery bombardment penetrated the area held by B Coy of 1st Malay. However the Japs breakthrough was at a high cost and only successful when tanks were brought in to penetrate the line. B Coy later retreated with some troops captured the majority perished fighting till the end. 


The Japs encroached further inland, the task of holding them was given to C Coy commanded by Capt Rix. In light of this new development C Coy was ordered to move to a new defense position Point 226 Opium Hill (Bukit Chandu). Bukit Chandu was a key defense position for two important reasons. It was situated on high ground overlooking the island to the north; and secondly, if the Japanese gained control of the ridge, it gave them direct passage to the Alexandra area. The British army had its main ammunition and supply depots, military hospital and other key installations located in the Alexandra area.


It was here C Coy of 1st Malay found itself, in the most precarious position completely surrounded on all flanks, C Coy was tasked with the dreaded mission of all “rear guard” action, which is to hold off Japanese onslaught long enough to enable the British & Commonwealth troops to make good of their escape. The Japanese have finally met their match, used to seeing fleeing Commonwealth troops in a hasty retreat, since their landing in Kota Bahru on 6th of December, 1941, the Japanese commander were dumbfounded to find stiff resistance beyond human endurance. Bombed and strafed by aircraft, pounded by barrage of continuous artillery fire, the men of C Coy did not falter.


The Japanese 18th Chrysanthemum Division commander Lt General Renya Mutaguchi sent out a recon element to probe the defenses of the Malay Regt, peering through his binocular the recon leader could see the grim faces of the men of C Coy, and a peculiar insignia on their collar tab of which the Japanese have not seen in their intelligence dossier, 2 tigers flanking a circle and topped with a crown, and he could barely read the word “taat setia” the motto of The Royal Malay Regiment. The Japanese knew it would be impossible to launch a head on assault against these formidable troops that they are facing for the first time, they resorted to the most unchivalrious method of all, deception. The Japanese disguised as Indian troops moved within striking distance of the Malays defensive position however unknown to the Japs the Malays were aware of the ploy. 2nd Lt Adnan a cool headed leader who do not crack under pressure was able to sense something was amiss when these Indian soldiers were marching in a file of 4 (standard Japanese infantry march) instead of 3 of the British & Commonwealth soldiers. 2nd Lt Adnan now manning the infantry support weapon Lewis machine gun capable of firing 600 rounds a minute waited patiently for the disguised Japs to enter its “kill zone”. Once they were in the zone, Adnan ordered “serang” (attack) followed by intense crackle of gunfire, each soldiers given a field of view by virtue of “stand to” mowed the Japanese. Adnan rapidly firing the Lewis machine gun made a mince meat of the Japs, combined with the accurate firing from the rest of the platoon, they rained down hell on the Japanese with devastating precision.  


There was no way for Japs to return fire, complete shaken by that ordeal the survivors retreated, some sliding down the slope others limped back to their position. However most of the Japs were decimated in a matter of minutes, it was the single highest casualties yet for the Japanese in Malaya. 


The barrel of the Lewis gun is glowing in red after firing hundreds of rounds without a pause under the scorching heat. The rest of the platoon took time to clear jammed rounds in the chambers of their rifle as fast as they could while their comrades kept guard. The men could now see a plume of black smoke arising in between the canal separating them from D Company,1st Malay the Japs in their desperate attempt to subdue the Malays have resorted to flooding the oil in the canal and setting them on fire. Choking and desperately grasping for air, their lungs filled with burning sensation, the men of C Coy knew the next attack by the Japs is imminent.


After 2 hours of lull in the fire fight and being beaten by C Coy, the Japs are filled with incessant rage on the heavy casualties this troops atop of Bukit Chandu has inflicted on them. The Japs counter attacked with intensity throwing in everything they got. The battle was raging in utter madness, the first line of advancing Japanese troops were cut down by Malays returning fire, the second , the third as well, still the Japanese due to numerical superiority pressed on, supported as usual by air strikes and artillery fire. The situation is hellish atop Pt 266 Bukit Chandu, the C Coy commander Capt Rix perished along with some of his troops. 2nd Lt Adnan is now the overall commander of what is left of the company, the Japs closing in from every direction swarm into their perimeters. The Malay having expended every single round did not retreat instead engaged in a bloody close in hand to hand combat. Sometime during this period while men of C coy was fighting feverishly, two well aimed shots lodged into Adnan, while he was busy beating off the Japs with bayonet. He fell shouting the words his platoon adopted as motto just before the war, “biar putih mata, jangan putih tulang” (death before dishonour). The men on seeing their gallant leader fall, fought on but fatigued by sheer physical exhaustion of bayoneting the Japs continuously, most fell where they stood, others a handful of them surrendered. 


The ordeal of the men did not stop there the surviving 6 men were stripped of their uniform and taken POW. Adnan lying mortally wounded was dragged earth gravels ripping the skins which was not covered by his uniform, kicked repeatedly in the ribs with the pointed end of the combat boots it punctured his lungs, heaving and panting heavily disorientation sets in, all while his head was battered with rifle butt again and again, Adnan could barely hear his men urging him “mengucap tuan” (say his final words to god), he uttered the sacred words choking and vommiting blood before finally passing out. The scavenging Japanese soldiers raged by the casualties Adnan has inflicted, pulled his head backwards and slit his throat repeatedly in a final act of savagery before manhandling his body into a gunny sack. Tied upside down on a cherry tree near where he fell, his motionless body was bayoneted for 2 days by every Japanese soldier who passed Pt 226. 


The Malay Regiment fought on for 2 days without supply, completely surrounded on all flanks, pounded from both land and air against daunting odds, unwearied by constant challenge and mortal danger, they held on and fought till the last bullets. Out of ammunition they did not abandon their post instead chose to engage in a bitter hand to hand combat, all but 6 made the ultimate sacrifice. 


The men of D Company fought on as well but disengaged when orders came from Lt Gen Perceival (Far Eastern General Officer Commanding) to surrender. Here to exemplary courage and honour was displayed by the Malay Regiment, Lt Ibrahim Sidek, 11th Platoon Leader of D Company, 1st Malay, ordered by the Japanese to strip his uniform, refused even under threat of death, the young Lieutenant was later executed for refusing the second time.


C Coy of 1st Malay numbering less than 100 men faced the crack 18th Chrysanthemum Division totaling 8000 men. 2nd Lt Adnan inspiring initiative, indomitable courage conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity during the battle was above and beyond the call of duty. His actions and of his men on that fateful day will forever be remembered in the annals of military history as defiance in the face of impossible odds. Legend has it that Lt Gen Renya Mutaguchi uttered “if there were 10 men like him (Adnan) we might need 10 more divisions”

History might have been different if more battalions of these men were formed before World War 2, this is evidenced in the words of Noel Barber, the author of Sinister Twilight, the Malay Regiment was described thus:


“ it was a living and dying illustration of the folly of not having raised more such local forces before the war in which men could defend what was their homeland”


2nd Lt Adnan would have been proud to know that his beloved regiment has grown into 25 battalions out of which 2 battalions (12th & 19th) are Mechanized Infantry and another 2 Airborne (9th & 17th). The battle honours of this regiment since Bukit Chandu is a testament to the dedication of men who fill up its rank Congo, Bosnia, Somalia, First Emergency and Second Emergency. His name was aptly applied to the latest Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) used by the Mechanized Infantry. The spirit and legacy of 2nd Lt Adnan Saidi lives on and forever embodied in the colours (panji) of Royal Malay Regiment, the colours of courage.

 

Wednesday, February 7, 2024


In 2022 social media went viral with the picture of a Dad rushing into the parade square to lift up his fatigued son. While the action of the Dad is commendable, as any father would have done the same.


However that's not the point, the prevailing issue is the need/rationale for enforcement agencies like KPDNEP and many "non military" organisation to carry out drills and passing out parade.


Marching/Drills/Parade are synonymous with the military and has a strong tactical, operational and historical underpinning to it. Prior to discussing Drills/March one needs to understand the basis for it, which is purely Command & Control at the basic level.


Soldiers are entrusted to perform extraordinary feat usually under fire, therefore commanding/instructing them without a moment to deliberate or hesitate is the order of the day. They have to move like clockwork to perform their mission.  Especially during 18th/19th century pre industrial revolution, where orders for soldiers either to form a square with pikes out to defeat enemy cavalry or line abreast to meet the enemy artillery.


Secondly "steps per minute" precisely calculated by Sergeant Major with a "pace stick" to ensure synchronization. Again this is very much related to function and historic reasons. All infantry soldiers based on commonwealth structure marches at a pace of 120 steps per minute.


During Battles of Napoleonic era, this are the standard steps where the infantry marches with "line abreast" or " three in line" formation to meet the enemy or "movements to contact ". 


Whereas"light infantry/fusiliers/rifle" Regiments marches at 140 steps per minute. These are "flanking troops " entrusted to protect the flanks of the infantry. When the main column turns to attack, being either at the outer most right/left of the formation, they need to march slightly faster as they need to cover more distance within the same time.


Cavalry again similar concept, their horses "trot or gallops" at different pace. The Hussars are slightly slower than the Lancers or Dragoons. Hussars can fight dismounted, whereas Dragoons/Lancers are "shock troopers" earmarked to destroy enemy lines. Even their horse breeds are different, one is for stamina, whereas the other for sturdiness/speed. 


Hence there are strong reasons, for Drills/Marches/Parade, which can be translated in modern terms to ensure"force structure integrity". 


Additionally it has to satisfy "Form Follow Function", for instance the Navy does not "Hentak Kaki" for the reason of not to rock the boat so much. The Air Force if possible, wants to do away with drills/marches and concentrate on operations. Marines and Special Forces takes pride, that drill/marches forms only a fraction of their time as opposed to fitness, exercise and live ammo drills.


So KPDNEP, could well spend its time and resources in analysing, brainstorming, and enforcing price controls, fight against cartel especially during this economically challenging times, rather than drills.


Apart from that, government should stop this ridiculous culture of giving uniform, military rank insignia, camo, swords to civil/govt/non military agencies and make a mockery of it.This should be exclusive to military and military alone. What's the point of having stars on shoulders and peak cap but with a tiny beard resembling a goat.  To attain the desired outcome you must match it with discipline, it cannot be half hearted efforts. If you want to wear the coveted "green/biege" beret you need to earn it and go through hell for it,  merely wearing it would reveal inadequacy.


Finally focus on your core areas/mission statement. If you job is to assist the public to control price, what's the reason for military like attire, march and drill, you would further alienate the people. Additionally the marching looks "lopong" anyway, since its half hearted efforts to please the DG,KSU or Minster to tap into their ego, that's all.


During this trying time prudence in spending is crucial, stop all other "bull shits" not related to your core functions/duties.


Even the best investigation unit in the world, the FBI doesn't have a uniform, save for a lowly "rain jacket" with the simple words FBI adorn at the back.


Military leaders should do more in ensuring tradition, uniforms and culture remains exclusive within their domain, not diluted by other pretenders.


2nd Lt Baharin Abd Jalil PGB


Operation HENTAM....Sarikei, Sarawak.

June 1971, 1st Battalion Rangers

"Satu-tiga.....satu-satu ganti"....swishhh....the call came from company HQ to 3rd platoon led by 2nd Lt Baharin Abdul Jalil.....again it was transmitted.....Satu-Tiga....satu-satu...ganti.....

After a while the respond came over the trusted PRC77 Combat Net Radio......"Satu-Satu.....satu-tiga......Contact.....Contact"....the voice of the platoon commander 2nd Lt Baharin responded almost yelling over the radio as sounds of gunfire at close range crackled nearby......

The word Contact....said it all.... the platoon has bumped into the CTs and actively in combat when the radio call came over....

2nd Lt Baharin as he was outnumbered 3:1 requested artillery support to a Grid Reference based on alphabetics that denotes predetermined number.......

"satu satu .....minta bantuan Sheldrake.....ke golf romeo.......juliet-echo-tango-tango-whiskey-charlie".......ulang...juliet-echo-tango-tango-whiskey-charlie".....gun fires were intermittent making it difficult to make out the transmission..

Coy HQ knew that Artillery support is required immediately for the outgunned and outnumbered platoon....but fire support will take some time to reposition the gun batteries......

Knowing the dire situation...2nd Lt Baharin had two option....being pinned down and get slaughtered or charge head on come what may......together with his lead section 2nd Lt Baharin charged heads on against the enemy. The rest of the platoon providing covering fire.....the assault with textbook leap frog tactics .....dumbfounded the enemy due to the ferocity of the Rangers engagement and tenacity......

The CTs numbering close began to 50 retreat...2nd Lt Jalil and another Rgr who were the two point men in front killed close to 14 CTs between them during this operation...making it one of the highest kills ever in Malaysian Army history......

Fot his courage and leadership in combat 2nd Lt Baharin Abd Jalil at a young age of 20 was bestowed the Panglima Gagah Berani......he retired from the Army and beloved Ranger Regt as a Major.....


The nation salutes you sir......

Agi idup agi ngelaban......

He passed away in 2020 due to illness.

Thank you for your service.

 

KM-SAM2 For Saudi

Saudi selects KM-SAM 2 to address the Kingdom's Aerial Threats. Total package are as follows:-

10 x Batteries for U$ 3.5 BIL

Each Battery consists:-

1 x Engagement Control Station (C2)

1 X Multi-Functional Radar (AESA)

4 X Launchers, each with 8 missiles (32) in total.

How much is U$3.5 BIL, well that's the entire Malaysian Defence budget. Its also interesting to note that Lockheed Martin also established an MRO centre to support the unspecified numbers of Patriots in country.

Perhaps Saudi is shying away from the US due to all the "tight regulatory" control on its usage.

The Korean are making wave not only in K-Pop but also in stuffs that destroys...


Wednesday, January 24, 2024

No more Dauphines

US COAST GUARD, to retire its H-65 Dauphines to streamline its rotary wing with only the H-60.

Well perhaps Royal Malaysian Navy, should approach Office of Defence Cooperation (ODC) in US Embassy KL to procure it via Excessive Defense Article (EDA).