Pakistan handover to Singapore at CTF 151 Change of Command Ceremony

The Republic of Singapore Navy has taken command of Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) Combined Task Force (CTF) 151 after conducting a handover ceremony with the Pakistan Navy. CTF 151’s principal mission is to suppress piracy in the maritime environment.
Republic of Singapore Ship Tenacious joins CMF mission
The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has deployed a task group in support of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) counter-piracy efforts in the Gulf for the fifth time.
During its three-month deployment, the SAF task group will join the CMF counter piracy Combined Task Force (CTF) 151.

The SAF task group comprises the Republic of Singapore Navy’s (RSN) Formidable-class stealth frigate RSS Tenacious and a Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Sikorsky S-70B Seahawk naval helicopter.
CMF WELCOMES THE HEAD OF NAVAL OPERATIONS FROM THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE NAVY
Rear Admiral Jackson Chia, Head of Naval Operations, Republic of Singapore Navy visited Vice Admiral Miller, Commander Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), Bahrain, September 11.
As Head of Naval Operations for the Republic of Singapore Navy Rear Admiral Chia visited CMF to see in person how Singaporean military assets are assisting Combined Maritime Forces with maritime security missions in the region.

CTF-151 BIDS FAREWELL TO RSS ENDEAVOUR
Royal New Zealand Navy assumes Command of Combined Task Force 151
MANAMA – The Royal New Zealand Navy assumed command of Combined Task Force 151 (CTF-151) yesterday. Rear Admiral Harris Chan Weng Yip from the Republic of Singapore Navy was relieved by Captain James Gilmour of the Royal New Zealand Navy at a formal ceremony aboard the USS Mason at the naval port facility in Djibouti. CTF-151 is one of three task forces operated by Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), a 25-nation coalition based in Bahrain. CTF-151 was established in January 2009 in order to deter, disrupt and suppress piracy, protecting maritime vessels of any nationality and securing freedom of navigation for the benefit of all. The mission based counter-piracy task force, CTF-151, operates throughout an area of 2.5 million square miles including the Gulf of Aden, the Southern Red Sea and the Somali Basin. Rear Admiral Harris Chan Weng Yip, Republic of Singapore Navy, said, “It has indeed been an honour…
Singapore-led Task Force Intercepts Pirate Skiff in Gulf of Aden
Gulf of Aden (June 15) – A U.S. missile cruiser, USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55), operating under the Singapore-led Combined Task Force (CTF) 151, successfully intercepted a suspected pirate skiff off the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor in the Gulf of Aden today. The suspicious skiff was initially sighted in the early afternoon of June 15 by a Japanese Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA). The Japanese MPRA reported sighting five personnel, grappling hooks, ladders and numerous fuel tanks on board the skiff. USS Leyte Gulf, being the nearest warship in the vicinity, was immediately tasked by CTF 151 to close in to investigate the skiff. When USS Leyte Gulf approached the skiff, the personnel on board began to throw ladders and other pirate paraphernalia overboard, and raised their hands in the air to indicate that they were unarmed. The presence of the US Warship alone acted as a deterrence pressuring…
Commander CTF 151 Visits Chinese Independent Warship
Commander Combined Task Force 151, Rear Admiral Harris Chan, visited Commander Chinese Task Force 526, Commodore Han Xiaohu, on board CNS Wenzhou in the Gulf of Aden May 7. CTF 526 is an independent deployer whose key mission is to perform convoy escort of merchant vessels in the Gulf of AdenCommander Adan Cruz, commanding officer USS Mason (DDG 97) who hosts the CTF 151 flagship, was also part of the visiting delegation. RADM Chan and CDR Cruz were greeted by CDRE Han along with his Chief of Staff, Captain Fan Zaijun, and Captain of CNS Wenzhou, Captain Fu Xiaoliang. Commanders of both Task Forces shared their recent experiences in counter-piracy operations, and emphasised the importance of information sharing as well as international cooperation and goodwill in ensuring the success of their missions. Han shared that foreign ships now form more than two-thirds of the merchant convoys CTF 526 escorts,…