NAY PYI TAW December 24
In order to fully protect the maritime interest of the State and exclusive economic zone of Myanmar seas, ceremony to commission naval ships and transfer commissioned ships to Myanmar Coastguard in commemoration of the Diamond Jubilee of the Tatmadaw (Navy) of Republic of Union of Myanmar was held at the No 3 Naval Wharf in Yangon. Chairman of State Administration Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing attended the ceremony.
Also present were Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, wife of the Senior General, retired commanders-in- chief (Navy) and their wives, retired commanders-in-chief (Air) and their wives, Chief of the General Staff (Army, Navy and Air) General Maung Maung Aye and wife, Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Admiral Moe Aung and wife, Commander-in-Chief (Air) General Tun Aung and wife, Union level officials and their wives, Union ministers and their wives, Ambassador of Russian Federation to Myanmar H.E.Mr. Nikolay LISTOPADOV, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Russ-ian Navy Vice Admiral IGOR MUKHAMETSHIN and party, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief and their wives, the Yangon Region chief minister, the Yangon Command commander, naval base commanders, officers, other ranks and families of Tatmadaw (Navy) and guests.
Chief of Staff (Navy) Vice-Admiral Zwe Win Myint explained the salient points of the warships that would be commissioned. The commandant of Naval Shipyards transferred the related papers of the ships to the strategic fleet commander, and Panpawady Naval Base commander, the related papers of war ships to be transferred to Myanmar Coastguard to its director general.
The Commander-in-Chief (Navy) presented scale model warships commemorating the commissioning ceremony and the badge commemorating the commissioned warships during the 11 years from the 65th Anniversary to the Diamond Jubilee to the Senior General.
The different phases of the ceremonial procession of the commissioning ceremony – the declaration of the commissioning of the naval vessels by the Chief of Staff (Navy), the raising of the State Flag, the Navy Flag and the commissioning flag, and the ringing of the bell for eight times – were held in accord with the agenda.
The Senior General and party were conducted round the commissioned ships – two fast patrol crafts, two landing crafts and one water tanker and warships to be transferred to Myanmar Coastguard — and submarine (Min Ye Theinkha Thu) by officials.
The Senior General and party posed for documentary photo together with honoured guests.
The Senior General took the salute of the Guard of Honour on the dais on board the war naval vessel (Mottama) and inspected it. At that time, war ships Yan Taing Aung and Yan Gyi Aung gave a 21-gun salute to the Senior General. Later led by Frigate Aung Zeya, Frigate Kyan Sit Tha, Frigate Sinphyushin, corvette Tabin Shwe Hti and offshore patrol boat (Inlay) and fast-patrol boats of Myanmar Costguard saluted the Senior General in Single Line Formation; and eight fast patrol crafts in Line Abreast.
Then, the Commander-in- Chief (Navy) presented the shell of the first fired gun salute to the Senior General as a commemorative gift.
The Senior General presented certificates of honor, cash awards and gifts to the officers and other ranks of the ships that took part in the naval show and officers and other ranks who took part in building the commissioned ships through the officials.
Giving an honorary speech, the Senior General said today’s ceremony is the Diamond Jubilee of Tatmadaw (Navy) as well as the occasion to commission the naval ships including the fifth and sixth Super Dvora fast-patrol crafts for the Tatmadaw (Navy). It is also a significant day which reinforces the Tatmadaw (Navy) with considerable power. Together with two fast-patrol crafts, built by Tatmadaw (Navy) under technological transfer program, two landing crafts and a water tanker were successfully commissioned at the ceremony.
The navy was established with Mayu and it has evolved over the years since 1990 by using fast attack craft and designing and building its own warships. Over the past 75 years, we have strengthened the navy phase by phase and it is now capable of launching naval operations by deploying missile frigates built by itself.
The best guarantee for perpetuation of sovereignty is the building and owning a highly capable defence force. In building the navy, goals for each phase have been set and in the first phase, it has been developed into a Three Dimensional Combat Ready Navy that can defend the exclusive economic zone of the Myanmar sea fully. In the second phase, it is being built into an Adjacent Force Projection Navy/Regional Navy that can be deployed in the Myanmar sea and adjacent seas in the Indian Ocean. As a long-term objective, it has an ambition to develop into a Blue Water Navy which can be deployed in the open sea where we have our interests.
The Naval Dockyard Headquarters has been upgraded phase by phase to build and supply warships. With broad experience of shipbuilding, the quality of warships has improved. To build highly capable attack warships, it is necessary to exert efforts to improve capabilities of each warship. We are proud of responsible officers, engineers and officers and other ranks from the navy who have performed duties to build warships.
To meet the standards of an Adjacent Force Projection Navy/Regional Navy that can be deployed in the Myanmar sea and adjacent seas, highly capable large warships that can be deployed in the sea for a long time are essential. It is necessary to continue to build large warships that can be deployed in the region to achieve the goals of the second phase.
As the country possesses more than 140,000 square miles of territorial waters and an about 1,300 nautical-mile long coast, there are opportunities to fully utilize ports and sea lines of communication to effectively implement seaborne trade. With the development of maritime national interests of the country, it is necessary to implement the Blue Water Navy Ambition phase by phase to achieve the third goal of building a blue water navy that can deploy warships to the open sea where we have our interests.
To successfully implement the goals of every phase of the navy, large warships with high combat capabilities are essential while naval personnel are required to always take part in training to become warriors with high combat capabilities who can operate the large warships.
To possess combat capabilities, naval personnel who are discharging duty aboard combat warships are being nurtured to become competent warriors. In doing so, outstanding officers and other ranks in local training are sent to other countries to enhance their individual capabilities and officers and other ranks have been sent to training courses in many other countries including Russia, China and India. As instructors from mobile training teams have been hired to train officers and other ranks at home since 2015, a large number of officers and other ranks took part in the training courses. To enhance the training of naval personnel, training-aids like simulators and trainers are being provided while training facilities are being built. To enhance team capabilities, joint operation exercises of the army, navy and air force, sea shield exercises, joint patrol exercises with neighbouring countries, maritime security cooperation exercises with other countries are conducted annually. Conducting the exercises brings advantages like strengthening friendship with international navies, opport unities to exchange experience with other navies, building mutual trust, experience of performing duties at sea and ocean going. In connection with human resources development, the navy has nurtured not only male officers and other ranks but also female officers and other ranks, who discharge duties aboard warships, take part in naval operations and training.
Super Dvora high-speed patrol craft commissioned today were built by engineers of the navy with the use of high technologies after receiving technical transfers from other countries and has a speed of 40 nautical miles per hour to interrupt enemies under swarming tactics. The Super Dvoras were built with the aim of interrupting any invasions high speed strategically among islands in the coastal waters with more than 1,400 islands. Based on the experience of Super Dvoras, efforts must be exerted to build larger and more capable warships.
According to the nature of modern warfare being experienced, The Tatmadaw(Navy) has been preparing open sea battle for conventional warfare and as per the present security conditions, it has given special priority to riverine warfare. The commissioned 23-metre landing craft are innovated and built in accordance with Myanmar’s water and land conditions with stronger armor plates. It is mainly aimed to use them to discharge combat duties on riverine operation and security and conveying landing force. Such vessels are built with the aim of conveying infantry troops to conduct naval fire support and landing operations. Moreover, they will be used as multi-purpose landing craft aboard the UMS Moattama. Riverine speed military vessels are to be built in order that tasks of waterway security and operations could be effectively conducted on Ayeyawady and Chindwin rivers and long rivers in Ayeyawady Delta.
In building a balanced navy, naval vessels including frigates and corvettes have been built to protect special economic zones and coastal waters and riverine patrol vessels, landing craft and administrative and supporting vessels have been built systematically and proportionately to be able to conduct riverine operations as well.
As the sea waters are the future interests of the State, safeguarding the sea waters is the main duty of the Tatmadaw (Navy). The Tatmadaw(Navy) that has played a key role in security of Myanmar’s waters in successive eras has marked its Diamond Jubilee Day. Due to the people who discharged duties in the history of the Tatmadaw(Navy) and good history of sailors who worked hard and together, the Tatmadaw(Navy) has reached a higher level as a navy having ability that is reliable for the nation, the Tatmadaw and the people.
Officers and other ranks in service these days are urged to preserve good traditions of the Tatmadaw(Navy) and work hard as the people having a chance to proudly serve in the Tatmadaw(Navy) on the moment of the Diamond Jubilee Day of Tatmadaw(Navy).
Next, the Senior General and party left No.3 Naval Jetty by Warship Yadanabon for Ayeyawady Naval Region Command Headquarters.
Aboard the warship, the Senior General and wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla cut the cake marking the Diamond Jubilee Day of the Tatmadaw (Navy). Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Admiral Moe Aung presented medals in commemoration of Diamond Jubilee Day of the Tatmadaw (Navy) to the Senior General, retired commanders-in-chief (navy), retired commanders-in-chief (air) and Commander-in-Chief (Air) General Tun Aung.
Then, the Senior General and wife formally opened the exhibition to mark the Diamond Jubilee Day of the Tatmadaw (Navy) and signed in the book marking Diamond Jubilee Day of the Tatmadaw (Navy). The Senior General and party took a tour of exhibits of naval region command headquarters, souvenir shops, Myanmar traditional food shops, book shops, and shops selling personal goods produced by the Tatmadaw.
Later, the Senior General and party enjoyed the performance of the Tatmadaw (Navy) Band and presented a gift and cash bonus. The Senior General and party also enjoyed a fireworks show marking the Diamond Jubilee Day of the Tatmadaw (Navy) and cordially greeted the officers, other ranks and their families.
