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| Sembawang Air Base (SBAB) 胜宝旺空军基地 Pangkalan Udara Sembawang |
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| IATA: none – ICAO: WSAG | |||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Military | ||
| Owner | Singapore Armed Forces | ||
| Operator | Republic of Singapore Air Force | ||
| Location | Sembawang, Singapore | ||
| Elevation AMSL | 26 m / 86 ft | ||
| Coordinates | |||
| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| m | ft | ||
| 04/22 | 1,907 | 6,255 | Asphalt |
| 05/23 | 1,036 | 3,400 | Asphalt |
Sembawang Air Base (ICAO: WSAG) is located in the north of Singapore, and is operated by the Republic of Singapore Air Force. The air base goes by the motto of "Dare and Will".
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RAF Sembawang
Prior to Singapore's independence from United Kingdom, it was a Royal Air Force station known as RAF Sembawang as well as being the Royal Naval Air Station - HMS Simbang - to the carrier pilots of the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm who used it for rest and refit whenever an aircraft carrier of the Royal Navy berthed at the nearby HMNB Singapore (or better known as HMS Sembawang) for refuel and repairs, which also housed the largest Royal Navy dockyard east of Suez up to the time of UK forces withdrawal from Singapore.
After the Japanese capture of Singapore, the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service took over the two RAF stations of RAF Sembawang and RAF Seletar. Singapore was split into north-south spheres of control, and the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force took over RAF Tengah.
Sembawang Air Base
The base was renamed Sembawang Air Base (SBAB) in 1971 when it was handed over to the Singapore Air Defence Command (SADC). And from 1971 to 1976, under the Five Power Defence Arrangement, Sembawang housed British, Australian and New Zealand forces.
Approximately 100 helicopters are now based in Sembawang Air Base, operating in support of the Singapore Army and the Republic of Singapore Navy. It is the home base to all the Republic of Singapore Air Force's helicopter squadrons, consisting of AS-332 Super Pumas, CH-47SD Chinooks, the soon to enter service Sikorsky S-70B (derivative of SH-60 Sea Hawk) naval helicopters, as well as the Fennecs and UH-1Hs, which are currently stored in reserve. Recently added to the base are the AH-64D Longbow Apache Attack Helicopters. Located within the base itself is the Sembawang Golf & Country Club, this club has public members but many are from the SAF. It has a magnificent golf course, driving range as well as other recreational facilities.
The Flying squadrons are:
- 120 Squadron with 20 AH-64D Longbow Apaches;
- 123 Squadron with 4 EC120 Colibri;
- 124 Squadron with 20 AS 550C2/U2 Fennec;
- 125 Squadron with 22 AS332M Super Puma, four of these are configured for Search and rescue duties;
- 126 Squadron with 12 AS532UL/AL Cougar but is currently based at Oakey Airbase in support of SAF's training need in Australia1;
- 127 Squadron with 12 CH-47SD Chinooks.
The Support Squadrons are:
- Air Logistics Squadron (ALS)
- Airfield Maintenance Squadron (AMS)
- Field Defence Squadron (FDS)
- Flying Support Squadron (FSS)
Currently, the RSAF's Chong Pang Camp SADA (Singapore Air Defense Artillery), with its associated Air Defense assets, is also located within the compound of the air base as well as the famous local Sembawang Hot Spring.
Photo Gallery
 Entrance of RAF Sembawang, circa 1941. |
 Brewster Buffalo Mark Is being inspected by RAF personnel on 12 October 1941 at RAF Sembawang. |
 The staff and personnel from Sembawang Air Base Air Logistic Squadron posing in front of the helicopters currently in RSAF service. © MINDEF |
 120 Squadron AH-64D Longbow Apache on static display during RSAF Open house. |
 125 Squadron Super Puma takes off from the flight deck of the RSS Resolution - an Endurance class LST. Visible in the foreground is the Aircraft Ship Integrated Secure and Traverse (ASIST) system. |
 127 Squadron CH-47SD lands aboard USS Rushmore during Exercise CARAT 2001. |
See also
- Battle of Singapore
- Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation
- Far East Air Force (Royal Air Force)
- List of RAF stations
- Republic of Singapore Air Force
References
External links
- History of RAF
- Airport information for WSAG at World Aero Data. Data current as of October 2006.
- RSAF web page on Sembawang Air Base (SBAB)
- Background history of R.N.A.S. Sembawang
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