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Lee Kuan Yew's infamous statement a few years back said that in the event of a "freak" election, the army would have to be sent in. But really can it?
Singapore's army in not the only armed forces we have. Perhaps the old Lee forgot (or was just a slip of a tongue) that Singapore has an Air Force and a Navy, a Police Coast Guard, a Police Force, a SCDF, a don't know what don't know what..ok let's just centre on the the army...it's after all the biggest armed force (bigger in terms of firepower).
Singaore's Army ORBAT is no secret though the actually readiness and finer details are probably are. (MINDEF read to kill me if I say too much?) Global Security.org has a roughly correct ORBAT (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/singapore/army-orbat.htm). Wikipedia too (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore_Army) so let's use both. In a rough summary, there are 3 divisions proper, 2 paper divisions (based on Mindef Reserve; those finished ICT), one armoured battalion outside the armoured orbat, special forces, a Guards unit of supposed divisional strength, and other units outside the divisions based on ISTAR and etc etc.
Who can be sent in in the event of a "freak" result from a GE? (Lee implied that that meant the opposition winning by a large margin). At any one time, a couple of units are placed on several hours/days of standby. This includes at least one active unit and one NS unit (that's why you have ICT!) The active unit is an undestatement. The bulk of the three main divisions consist of our NSF boys. Only say OCs, COs, battalion/brigade/division HQs staff are regulars. In the event of a unit called into action, yes the top boys are the one to obey. But the actual warning comes from MINDEF staff who aren't exactly scholars. In most unit excercises, MINDEF sends the activation. The Ops (S-3/G-3) branch in the unit gains the message, then the unit responds. But S-3/G-3 branch people who receive the messages are not your scholars. They are mostly NSFs or at worst, junior regulars who just signed on. Should they get an order to engage the civil population, would they pass it on to activate the whole unit?
The army to be sent in. There's a cltuch, our special armoured unit: 48 SAR. This tank battalion was never included within the armoured units of 3/6/9 divisions. Tim Huxley himself noted this in his classic book, Defending the Lion City. Would this be the only capable unit of being sent in during a freak GE result? It after all is the one with a high proportion of regulars and has the biggest firepower. 10-15 years ago, it was only shitty 75mm tanks. Now its 120mm Leopard 2A4 tanks. Can this be the unit that will respond should there be a freak result?
Leopard 2A4s are not exactly combat tested (no Gulf War engagements). Beyond that however, they still are tanks that can be taken out. But even if old man says to use this unit, would the whole unit be able to respond and will every man respond? There still are NSFs in 48 SAR every year.
There's more to the Singapore Army than this but I'll leave it here first.
Singapore's army in not the only armed forces we have. Perhaps the old Lee forgot (or was just a slip of a tongue) that Singapore has an Air Force and a Navy, a Police Coast Guard, a Police Force, a SCDF, a don't know what don't know what..ok let's just centre on the the army...it's after all the biggest armed force (bigger in terms of firepower).
Singaore's Army ORBAT is no secret though the actually readiness and finer details are probably are. (MINDEF read to kill me if I say too much?) Global Security.org has a roughly correct ORBAT (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/singapore/army-orbat.htm). Wikipedia too (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore_Army) so let's use both. In a rough summary, there are 3 divisions proper, 2 paper divisions (based on Mindef Reserve; those finished ICT), one armoured battalion outside the armoured orbat, special forces, a Guards unit of supposed divisional strength, and other units outside the divisions based on ISTAR and etc etc.
Who can be sent in in the event of a "freak" result from a GE? (Lee implied that that meant the opposition winning by a large margin). At any one time, a couple of units are placed on several hours/days of standby. This includes at least one active unit and one NS unit (that's why you have ICT!) The active unit is an undestatement. The bulk of the three main divisions consist of our NSF boys. Only say OCs, COs, battalion/brigade/division HQs staff are regulars. In the event of a unit called into action, yes the top boys are the one to obey. But the actual warning comes from MINDEF staff who aren't exactly scholars. In most unit excercises, MINDEF sends the activation. The Ops (S-3/G-3) branch in the unit gains the message, then the unit responds. But S-3/G-3 branch people who receive the messages are not your scholars. They are mostly NSFs or at worst, junior regulars who just signed on. Should they get an order to engage the civil population, would they pass it on to activate the whole unit?
The army to be sent in. There's a cltuch, our special armoured unit: 48 SAR. This tank battalion was never included within the armoured units of 3/6/9 divisions. Tim Huxley himself noted this in his classic book, Defending the Lion City. Would this be the only capable unit of being sent in during a freak GE result? It after all is the one with a high proportion of regulars and has the biggest firepower. 10-15 years ago, it was only shitty 75mm tanks. Now its 120mm Leopard 2A4 tanks. Can this be the unit that will respond should there be a freak result?
Leopard 2A4s are not exactly combat tested (no Gulf War engagements). Beyond that however, they still are tanks that can be taken out. But even if old man says to use this unit, would the whole unit be able to respond and will every man respond? There still are NSFs in 48 SAR every year.
There's more to the Singapore Army than this but I'll leave it here first.
