Author: Rainbow Kursk
According to the official report of the Royal Malaysian Navy, on July 25, in the "Pasex" joint exercise held in the Strait of Malacca, the first ship of the Royal Malaysian Navy "Lechu" class frigate "Frachu" (FFG30) held a joint exercise with the British Royal Navy aircraft carrier "Queen Elizabeth" and the Dutch Royal Navy frigate "Iverson", and sailed in formation.
This is the third joint maritime exercise in Asia after the Royal Navy's joint exercise with the Indian Navy and the Thai Navy, and the first time that the aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth has entered the busy Strait of Malacca.
Image: HMS Letchau and the aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth.
At present, the GSC21 strike group, led by the aircraft carrier "Queen Elizabeth", has been dissolved and divided into three squadron operations.
The destroyers "Guardian" and the oil and water supply ship "Tide Spring" as the vanguard force have passed through the Strait of Malacca into the South China Sea a few days ago, of which the "Guardian" destroyer is anchored at the Muala Naval Base in Brunei, while the oil and water supply ship "Tide Spring" stays in Singapore for replenishment.
The frigate "Richmond" went it alone, conducting joint exercises in the Andaman Sea with the frigates of the Royal Thai Navy's Third Fleet, and will soon catch up with the team and pass through the Strait of Malacca.
The aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth, the main fleet, and its escort ships conduct joint exercises with warships of the Royal Malaysian Navy near the western entrance to the Strait of Malacca. The ships are currently in the waters off the city of Malacca and will soon cross the Strait to Singapore, where the Royal Navy's main fleet is said to remain at The Singapore Changi Naval Base for a period of time to carry out the necessary replenishment and related foreign affairs activities.
Photo: The Queen Elizabeth is about to travel to Singapore via the Strait of Malacca.
The Strait of Malacca is a long strait located between the Malay Peninsula and the Indonesian island of Sumatra and is jointly administered by Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.
The strait runs in a southeast-northwest direction. Its western section belongs to the Burmese Sea, the southeast end connects the South China Sea, with a total length of about 1080 kilometers, the northwest reaches a maximum width of 370 kilometers, and the narrowest point in the Singapore Strait in the southeast is only 37 kilometers, which is an international waterway connecting the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean.
With three times as many tankers passing through the Strait of Malacca and five times as many as the Panama Canal, it is the most important energy transportation channel for Asian countries, with the name of "maritime lifeline".
Photo: The location of the Strait of Malacca is very important.
Photo: Tankers in the Strait of Malacca are 3 times larger than the Suez Canal.
Located at the strategic crosspoint of the Strait of Malacca, Singapore was once an important British colony in Asia, and the Royal Navy's Asian Fleet once used it as its main base.
During World War II, Malaysia and Singapore were captured by the Japanese, and the Royal Navy battleships "Prince of Wales" and "Strike Back" battlecruisers were sunk by Japanese aviation, which can be said to be the beginning of the weakening of the British Empire in Asia. After the war, Malaysia and Singapore became independent, but had close ties with britain, such as the "Laichu" class frigate dispatched by Malaysia this time, which was actually an export frigate specially designed and built by the British.
Therefore, the "Queen Elizabeth" aircraft carrier may stay in the Strait of Malacca area for a few more days to carry out related diplomatic activities. This is also the first time that a British aircraft carrier has come to the sea since 1997, and the relevant countries will also attach great importance to it.
Image: The frigate Lechu is actually a British-built foreign trade warship equipped with Seawolf anti-aircraft missiles.