A Brief History of Singapore ArtilleryUltima ratio regum - the final argument of kings! Thus were cannons described during medieval times. Whereas before, war was fought on a face-to-face basis, the introduction of cannons enabled the destruction of an enemy from a safe distance, changing irrevocably the nature of warfare.
In modern times, the role of artillery is to provide essential fire support for frontline troops such as Infantry and Armour. Different types of explosive rounds are used to "soften" enemy positions before an advance is launched. The deafening booms that accompany each fired shell and its earth-shattering impact serve to both injure and disorientate the enemy. Its main tactical usage is dual-fold: to neutralise and to demoralise.
The first few batches of gunners were trained to manpack the 120mm light Motar. "Light" being a relative term as both the barrel and the baseplate weighed 40kg each!
The history of artillery in Singapore officially began on
22nd February 1888 with the formation of the Singapore Volunteer Artillery (SVA). Its motto "In Oriente Primus" which means "First in the East" is still in use today and can be found on the crest of the Singapore Artillery HQ. At the time, enlistment in the SVA was restricted to Europeans and training consisted mainly of gun drills. The role of the SVA was to assist in the maintenance of internal security. Indeed, they were involved in the suppression of the Sepoy Mutiny of 1915. The SVA existed in this form until the Japanese invasion of Singapore in 1942. It was disbanded and demobilised upon the return of the British in 1945.
In June 1948, a State of Emergency was declared in Singapore and Malaya to deal with an increasingly determined communist uprising. That year also saw the formation of the First Singapore Regiment Royal Artillery (1 SRRA). Trained to use the 6-inch coastal guns, the 25-pounders, the 4.2-inch mortars, and the 3.7-inch anti-aircraft guns, 1 SRRA gunners saw action during the Malayan Emergency when two batteries were sent to support British Garrisons in Peninsular Malaya against the communist insurgency.
In June 1949, a recruitment drive was undertaken for the raising of a new Volunteer Corp. By the 1950s the newly reformed Singapore Volunteer Corps were to comprise of more than 1000 men of all ranks and races. Its artillery arm, the Singapore Royal Artillery (Volunteer), was closely affiliated to 1 SRRA and had a hand in training and operations in Pahang and Johore at the height of the Emergency.
The decision by the British to grant eventual independence to Malaya led to further reorganisation in the armed forces. 1 SRRA was disbanded in 1958 and about 150 of its 600 members enlisted in the Singapore Military Forces (SMF). These men were to become the first batch of instructors in the post-independent Singapore artillery units.
From 1963 to 1965, when Singapore was a part of Malaysia, the SRA (V) was redesignated as the 10th Singapore Volunteer Artillery (Territorial Army) - 10 SVA (TA) - under the Federal Territorial Army.
In 1966, a year after the Separation, the SVA was reorganised into 20th People's Defence Force Artillery - 20 PDF (Arty). On September 1st 1967, one month after the introduction of National Service, 20 PDF was renamed 20 Singapore Artillery Battalion (later changed to 20 Battalion Singapore Artillery) and five months later started inducting NSFs as artillerymen. In the early years, the basic equipment of the SAF's artillery units was the 120mm mortar. In 1973, the SAF purchased a new M68 155mm gun Howitzer and the first 155mm Gun Battalion, 23 SAB, was formed. The first Singapore-made 155mm towed guns, the FH-88, was introduced into service in 1988. On November 2003, the Singapore Artillery's latest big gun, the Singapore Self-Propelled Howitzer also known as the Primus, was commissioned.
The PrimusThe SAF now has four artillery battalions: 20 SA, 21 SA, 23 SA, and 24 SA, with each battalion having its own special roles and capabilities, underlining the crucial role artillery continues to play in the defence of Singapore.
