Who does this submarine belong to?

our Archer Class?

Is that smoke or steam coming out from the side of hull?

Gutted said:

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Archar class like the pickled veggies.

Gutted said:

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that one is Pinky's escape sub lah..................in case PAP kena overthrown..............

Explained: Viral video showing submarine transiting waters north of Singapore​

An Australian Collins-class submarine seen transiting the East Johor Strait, north of Singapore, on Nov 7.
PHOTO: Facebook/Lee Liang Ting

PUBLISHED ONNovember 10, 2025 7:48 PM
BYSean Ler

www.asiaone.com

A video posted on Facebook group Singapore Incidents — showing a submarine transiting the East Johor Strait — has gone viral, with netizens speculating on its nationality and why it was sailing in "shallow waters".

Here is a clue: It belongs neither to Singapore nor Malaysia.

The East Johor Strait is a narrow strip of waterway separating Johor from Singapore, and it starts from the east of the Causeway in Woodlands connecting to the Singapore Strait off Changi. The strait has an average depth of about 12m.

A navigation chart produced by Admiralty showing the East Johor Strait between Sembawang and Pulau Ubin. IMAGE: Admiralty [Used for reporting purposes only]
The video, likely taken from Punggol Point Crown, shows a surfaced submarine travelling towards Sembawang Shipyard. The refineries in Pasir Gudang can be seen in the background.

Is it a Singapore or Malaysia submarine?​

The answer is neither.

Netizens were speculating whether the submarine belonged to either Singapore or Malaysia. PHOTO: Screengrab/Facebook/Singapore Incidents
Singapore operates the Type 218SG submarine, also known as the Invincible-class. The two lead boats of the class were commissioned in September 2024, while Malaysia operates two Scorpene-class submarines which are based at Teluk Sepanggar naval base in Sabah.

The submarines of both countries do not feature the distinct intercept array seen at the bow of the boat in the video, but is found on the Royal Australia Navy's Collins-class submarine.

A comparison of Singapore's Invincible-class submarine (top) with Australia's Collins-class (middle) and Malaysia's Scorpene-class submarine (bottom). PHOTOS: Ministry of Defence (top), Lee Liang Ting (middle) and Bernama

Why would an Australian submarine be going to Sembawang?​

The answer lies in the Five Power Defence Arrangement (FPDA) between Commonwealth countries Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom.

It is a collective defence agreement established in 1971 after British forces withdrew from the ‘East of Suez’, and intended to safeguard the defence of Singapore and Malaysia.

Today, it is characterised by regular exercises to ensure inter-operability, while also looking at ways to do more to counter emerging security threats.

Under the arrangement, Britain maintains a small formation known as the British Defence Singapore Support Unit within Sembawang Shipyard.

In a 2024 interview with defence journal Janes, Commander Edwin Cooper said that his 29-personnel outfit facilitates port operations and delivering fuel to FPDA and US vessels operating in the region.

So, no more guesses now.

​

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The Australian Collins-class submarines, commissioned in the late 1990s and early 2000s, are now approaching three decades of service.

It's the same lah. Aussie Collins class submarine is the same as Sinkie Navy Archer class. Both are derivatives of Västergötland-class, made by Kockums.