The ''Handalan'' class are domestically modified Spica-M fast attack craft, a heavier variant of the . Built by Kalskrona Varvet and ordered in 1976, this class replaced the Perkasa-class squadron on a 1:1 basis, including name transfer. One of the class' ships, KD Pendekar,

capsized Capsizing or keeling over occurs when a boat or ship is rolled on its side or further by wave action, instability or wind force beyond the angle of positive static stability or it is upside down in the water. The act of recovering a vessel fr ...

off the coast of

Johor Johor, also spelled Johore,'' is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Malaysia in the south of the Malay Peninsula. It borders with Pahang, Malacca and Negeri Sembilan to the north. Johor has maritime borders with Singapore ...

after it hit an underwater object on the 25th of August 2024.

Development

The ''Handalan''s are equipped with longer-range diesel engines and an additional weapons fit with launchers for Exocet MM38 missiles and a secondary

Bofors 40 mm gun Bofors 40 mm gun is a name or designation given to models of 40 mm calibre automatic anti-aircraft guns designed and developed by the Swedish company Bofors: * Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/43 - developed in the 1930s with market entry in 1934, wid ...

. The installation of additional weaponry from the main

Bofors 57 mm gun The Bofors 57 mm gun is a nickname or designation given to several types of guns designed and developed by the Swedish company Bofors: *Bofors 57 mm anti-tank gun, a 57 mm anti-tank gun for the Swedish army during WW2. * Bofors 57 mm Auto ...

forced the bridge to be pushed forward to accept the missile launchers and additional rear gun. With a

data-link A data link is a means of connecting one location to another for the purpose of transmitting and receiving digital information (data communication). It can also refer to a set of electronics assemblies, consisting of a transmitter and a receive ...

communications system, the class allows the exchange of information through computers with similar equipment, both other ships and shore-based stations. They also have elaborate

countermeasure A countermeasure is a measure or action taken to counter or offset another one. As a general concept, it implies precision and is any technological or tactical solution or system designed to prevent an undesirable outcome in the process. The fi ...

s with a

Thales Thales of Miletus ( ; ; ) was an Ancient Greek philosophy, Ancient Greek Pre-Socratic philosophy, pre-Socratic Philosophy, philosopher from Miletus in Ionia, Asia Minor. Thales was one of the Seven Sages of Greece, Seven Sages, founding figure ...

DR3000S, electronic tracking equipment and weapon control systems. In all, the ''Handalan''s are more capable and better armed than the larger

Perdana-class missile boat The ''Perdana'' class is a class of fast attack craft in service with the Royal Malaysian Navy. This class is based on the French La Combattante II design built by CMN/ Lürssen. A total of four ships completed and currently in service with Roy ...

of the

Royal Malaysian Navy The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN, ; Jawi alphabet, Jawi: ) is the naval arm of the Malaysian Armed Forces. RMN is the main agency responsible for the country's maritime surveillance and defence operations. RMN's area of operation consists of 603,2 ...

. In late 2020 Royal Malaysian Navy confirmed that this class of ship will be upgrade to lengthening service period of older ships. On 25 August 2024, KD ''Pendekar'' struck a submerged object and sank in the

South China Sea The South China Sea is a marginal sea of the Western Pacific Ocean. It is bounded in the north by South China, in the west by the Indochinese Peninsula, in the east by the islands of Taiwan island, Taiwan and northwestern Philippines (mainly Luz ...

southeast of Tanjung Penyusop in

Kota Tinggi Kota Tinggi is a town and capital of Kota Tinggi District, Johor, Malaysia. Kuala Sedili or Tanjung Sedili, a small fishing town located 37 km north-east of Kota Tinggi town, is the second largest fishing port in east coast of Peninsular ...

, Malaysia. All 39 crew members were rescued.

Ships of the class

Bibliography

"Royal Malaysian Navy"

References

{{Royal Malaysian Navy Ships Missile boat classes Naval ships of Malaysia Ships built in Karlskrona Malaysia–Sweden relations