Royal Navy patrol ship HMS Spey joined Commonwealth allies in a demonstration of resolve and unity in Southeast Asia.
With her distinctive dazzle paintwork, the Portsmouth-based warship – one of two Royal Navy vessels deployed to the Indo-Pacific on long-term missions – stood out alongside allies during Exercise Bersama Lima 24.
For more than 50 years, five Commonwealth nations – Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the UK – have pledged to work together under the Five-Power Defence Arrangement to ensure regional security in Southeast Asia.
Bersama Lima – Malay for ‘together five’ – is a cornerstone of that arrangement, a long-standing annual test of the collective military forces in the region to work together to a common aim.
Spread over 18 days – split between planning/conferences/sporting and social activities on land, then an active exercise by air, sea and land.
In involved five ships, 38 aircraft – including the first deployment by Australian F-35s outside their native land – four ground-based air defence systems, four diving teams and more than 2,000 military personnel.
The naval element saw HMS Spey link up 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.
They joined up in Malaysian territorial waters for numerous complex naval warfare scenarios including air defence, escort missions and naval gun firing.
The shooting of the latter was guided by specialist ‘spotters’ from 148 Battery Royal Artillery who frequently operate behind enemy lines to guide shells, bombs and missiles on to targets.
The Royal Gurkhas Regiment (1RGR), the Royal Navy’s Diving and Threat Exploitation Group’s Echo Squadron as well as personnel from all three Armed Forces completed UK participation in the 2024 exercise.
Overhead, the skies were shared by the Australian F-35 (the RAAF operates the conventional land-based ‘A’ variant of the stealth fighter), Singaporean F-15 and F-16 fighters, and Malaysian F/A-18Ds.
They played out numerous air defence scenarios, and supported moving troops around as the ground forces ‘fought’ in jungle and urban environments.
Spey’s Executive Officer Lieutenant Commander Kris White said the patrol vessel’s 50 crew benefitted hugely from their participation in such a large international exercise – especially one involving air, sea and land elements.
“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,” he added.
“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.”
Lt Cdr White continued: “Exercises like Bersama Lima provide invaluable opportunities to enhance our cooperation, interoperability, and trust with our regional partners.
“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.”
General Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Mohammad bin Ab Rahman, Chief of Defence Forces Malaysia, was delighted with the outcome of this year’s exercise, telling participants Bersama Lima had demonstrated the five nations’ “shared purpose” and underlined their “readiness to respond as one”.
He continued: “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 exercise to work towards our common goal of a peaceful and secure region.”
Republic of Singapore Navy photo