HMS Spey docks in Singapore after major exercise with Five-Powers allies
The Royal Navy's HMS Spey has docked in Singapore after taking part in a major exercise alongside Commonwealth forces in Southeast Asia.
The Portsmouth-based second-generation River Class Offshore Patrol Vessel took part in Exercise Bersama Lima 24 which saw her crew work alongside serving personnel from Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, and Singapore on air, sea and land elements
Bersama Lima is a key part of the Five-Power Defence Arrangement which works to ensure regional security in Southeast Asia.
Spey's Executive Officer Lieutenant Commander Kris White said: "HMS Spey has a relatively young ship's company, and I know my warfare officers have made connections during Bersama Lima with their Australian, Malaysian, New Zealand and Singaporean counterparts which will last the rest of their military careers.
"Bersama Lima has offered a chance for personal and professional relationships to form, develop and strengthen between operational planners and tactical operators across the five armed forces.
"Exercises like Bersama Lima provide invaluable opportunities to enhance our cooperation, interoperability, and trust with our regional partners."
Lt Cdr White added: "The evolutionary nature of these annual exercises allows us to address shared security challenges in an increasingly complex and rapidly changing security environment with unity, agility, and foresight."
Over 18 days, the exercise has involved more than 2,000 serving personnel, five ships, and 38 aircraft from five countries.
Crew members and sailors took part in planning exercises, conferences, sporting, and social activities.
HMS Spey worked closely with two Royal Malaysian Navy warships – frigate KD Lekiu and patrol ship KD Terengganu – and two Singaporean vessels, frigate RSS Formidable and OPV RSS Valour.
Unfortunately, the weather was not so kind to them as it rained heavily when the Royal Navy personnel arrived in Singapore.
General Tan Sri Dato' Seri Mohammad bin Ab Rahman, the Chief of Defence Forces, in Malaysia, said the participants of Bersama Lima had demonstrated the five nations' "shared purpose" and underlined their "readiness to respond as one".
He said: "The security challenges we face will continue to shift and we must remain ever vigilant, agile and united to stay ahead of the curve.
"I am confident the friendships and professional ties we have forged here will continue to grow and evolve as we embark on future exercises to work towards our common goal of a peaceful and secure region."
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