Singapore breaks cover on swimmer delivery vehicle

A screen grab from the video released by the RSN showing its combatant craft underwater, which is operated by the NDU. (Republic of Singapore Navy)

The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) has operationalised a swimmer delivery vehicle that can be used to covertly insert troops from its special forces.

Known as the combatant craft underwater (CCU), existence of the equipment was announced via a social media video that was released on the RSN's official social media channels on 10 June.

Details provided in the video indicate that the CCU has been operationalised by the special boat group of the RSN's special forces formation known as the Naval Diving Unit (NDU).

In the video, a masked CCU operator from the unit described the vehicle as one that is being used to counter “any potential terrorist threats”.

“With the craft's ability to submerge underwater, it gives us the capability to use the sea as a cover for our boarding operations. This allows us to quickly and stealthily neutralise threats and perform ship rescue,” said the operator who is not identified in the video.

No details on the CCU were provided in the video but visuals indicate a craft with an overall length of about 10.5 m and an overall beam of about 2.3 m.

These dimensions, and the vehicle's overall form factor including the position of its control surfaces and thrusters, correspond with that of the Carrier Seal product from UK-based underwater capability provider JFD.

This swimmer delivery vehicle can accommodate a crew complement of eight including six fully equipped divers and two pilots and can be operated in surface, semi-submerged, and submerged modes.