On 9 Mar 1997, a 155mm artillery round exploded in the barrel of a FH2000 gun howitzer during a live firing exercise by 23SA.
NSFs 3SG Ronnie Tan Han Chong and LCP Low Yin Tit died in the accident, and another 12 servicemen were injured.
It's been 19 years, but the pain will never go away. Condolences to the families of 3SG Tan and LCP Low. #neverforgotten
The Singapore Army Singapore Artillery cyberpioneer
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When a member of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) dies in service
An extract from Senang Diri, Friday, April 20, 2012
"...On a related point, the commitment of the Singapore Artillery formation in remembering its dead gunners who died serving their country during the first Thunder Warrior live-fire exercise in New Zealand is both commendable and touching. Fifteen years have passed since Third Sergeant Ronnie Tan Han Chong and Lance Corporal Low Yin Tit died while manning their FH-2000 155mm gun. But the simple, dignified obituary has kept appearing year after year, long after that fateful date.
"...On a related point, the commitment of the Singapore Artillery formation in remembering its dead gunners who died serving their country during the first Thunder Warrior live-fire exercise in New Zealand is both commendable and touching. Fifteen years have passed since Third Sergeant Ronnie Tan Han Chong and Lance Corporal Low Yin Tit died while manning their FH-2000 155mm gun. But the simple, dignified obituary has kept appearing year after year, long after that fateful date.
Pic: Senang Diri, The Straits Times 9 March 2012
The Singapore Artillery officers and men who were directly involved in that incident would have long gone on to other postings in the SAF or left the military. And NSF gunners who served alongside the two men would be in their mid-30s by now. But the Singapore Artillery has somehow internalised the incident and future generations in HQ SA have never forgotten to place the newspaper obit on the death anniversary...."
First posted here: Senang Diri
Read the full post here: http://kementah.blogspot.sg/2012/04/when-member-of-singapore-armed-forces.html
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The 155mm Gun Howitzer Chamber Explosion on 9 Mar 97 in New Zealand
Posted: 28 Jun 1997, 0900 hours (GMT +8)
A 155mm artillery round exploded in the barrel of a FH2000 gun howitzer on Sun, 9 Mar 97 in Waiouru, New Zealand, during a live firing exercise conducted by the 23rd Battalion, Singapore Artillery. The incident resulted in the death of two full-time national servicemen, Third Sergeant Ronnie Tan Han Chong and Lance Corporal Low Yin Tit. Another 12 servicemen, including a Staff Sergeant from the New Zealand Defence Force, were injured in the incident.
The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) convened a Committee of Inquiry on 17 Mar to investigate the circumstances leading to the incident. The Committee was chaired by Mr Tan Gee Paw, Permanent Secretary (Environment). The other five members of the Committee included Mr Andrew Renton-Green, a senior official from the New Zealand Ministry of Defence, and representatives from the Ministry of Health, Legal Services of MINDEF, and the Singapore Armed Forces(SAF).
On 2 May, the Committee submitted its findings and recommendations to MINDEF. The Committee concluded that the correct procedures had been strictly followed by the artillery unit involved, and there was no human error by any member of the unit. There was also no breach of any SAF training safety regulations.
The Committee concluded that the most probable cause of the incident was a defective fuze that was attached to the 155mm shell which was loaded into the gun howitzer. The defective fuze resulted in the premature explosion. After the incident, the lot of fuzes from which the defective fuze came was X-rayed. 1.3% of the fuzes were found to be defective.
This defective lot of fuzes was supplied by the Chartered Ammunition Industries (CAI) to MINDEF under an agreement in 1992. CAI was to supply fuzes manufactured according to internationally accepted military specifications. These military specifications require thorough inspections and other quality control measures during and after the manufacturing process to eliminate all defects in the fuzes.
CAI, in turn, contracted with a U.S. company, Island Ordnance Systems (IOS), for the supply of these fuzes. Without the knowledge of CAI, IOS obtained the fuzes from Xian Dong Fang Machinery Factory in the People's Republic of China (PRC). In October 94, CAI discovered that the fuzes were manufactured at the factory in the PRC rather than in the USA. However, CAI did not notify MINDEF of this discovery. MINDEF only became aware that these fuzes were manufactured in the PRC during the Committee of Inquiry proceedings in Mar.
When the fuzes were delivered to CAI, IOS issued a Certificate of Compliance and a Certificate of Conformance to confirm that the required military specifications had been met. Sample testing of the fuzes was also conducted by CAI during which no defective fuzes were found. Based on these Certificates, MINDEF accepted the fuzes from CAI.
MINDEF is responsible for ensuring that all types of ammunition and fuzes used in the SAF are safe. MINDEF does so by conducting acceptance testing of ammunition and fuzes either by itself or by reliable contractors. In this case, MINDEF had engaged CAI to provide the SAF with the fuzes. In particular, CAI agreed to witness the acceptance tests for the fuzes, on behalf of MINDEF. However, CAI did not witness all the acceptance tests. CAI also did not check whether the factory in the PRC was able to manufacture the fuzes according to the required military specifications.
To prevent defective fuzes from being introduced into the SAF inventory again in future, MINDEF will completely revamp the current acceptance process. MINDEF has also ceased using all types of ammunition and fuzes from IOS. MINDEF will also not accept ammunition and fuzes manufactured by Xian Dong Fang Machinery Factory.
MINDEF will continue to use 155mm fuzes of this type which have been made by a different manufacturer. As an added precaution, all such fuzes will be X-rayed. With these precautions in place, the SAF resumed live firing with the 155mm guns in May.
MINDEF will be pursuing the appropriate legal remedies that may be available against the parties involved in the supply of the defective fuzes.
MINDEF has compensated the families of the two deceased SAF servicemen and will compensate the injured servicemen in accordance with existing regulations.
MINDEF will be nominating various SAF and New Zealand personnel for appropriate awards in recognition of their acts of bravery and professionalism during the incident.
Last updated on 24 Jun 2005
Find this article at: http://www.mindef.gov.sg:80/content/imindef/press_room/official_releases/nr/1997/jun/28jun97_nr.html
Factsheet - 155mm Gun Explosion In New Zealand On 9 Mar 97 Citation - 1WO Mohinder Singh
PREVIOUS RECIPIENTS OF THE SAF MEDAL FOR DISTINGUISHED ACT (FACT SHEET)
1. The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Medal for Distinguished Act or the Pingat Jasa Perwira (Tentera) is a State award approved by the President of the Republic of Singapore and gazetted on 25 Jun 97. The SAF Medal for Distinguished Act is conferred on any individual who has performed an act or a series of acts of courage without regard for his personal safety.
2. The SAF Medal for Distinguished Act had previously been awarded to five SAF personnel and one serviceman from the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF):
First posted here: Senang Diri
Read the full post here: http://kementah.blogspot.sg/2012/04/when-member-of-singapore-armed-forces.html
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The 155mm Gun Howitzer Chamber Explosion on 9 Mar 97 in New Zealand
Posted: 28 Jun 1997, 0900 hours (GMT +8)
A 155mm artillery round exploded in the barrel of a FH2000 gun howitzer on Sun, 9 Mar 97 in Waiouru, New Zealand, during a live firing exercise conducted by the 23rd Battalion, Singapore Artillery. The incident resulted in the death of two full-time national servicemen, Third Sergeant Ronnie Tan Han Chong and Lance Corporal Low Yin Tit. Another 12 servicemen, including a Staff Sergeant from the New Zealand Defence Force, were injured in the incident.
The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) convened a Committee of Inquiry on 17 Mar to investigate the circumstances leading to the incident. The Committee was chaired by Mr Tan Gee Paw, Permanent Secretary (Environment). The other five members of the Committee included Mr Andrew Renton-Green, a senior official from the New Zealand Ministry of Defence, and representatives from the Ministry of Health, Legal Services of MINDEF, and the Singapore Armed Forces(SAF).
On 2 May, the Committee submitted its findings and recommendations to MINDEF. The Committee concluded that the correct procedures had been strictly followed by the artillery unit involved, and there was no human error by any member of the unit. There was also no breach of any SAF training safety regulations.
The Committee concluded that the most probable cause of the incident was a defective fuze that was attached to the 155mm shell which was loaded into the gun howitzer. The defective fuze resulted in the premature explosion. After the incident, the lot of fuzes from which the defective fuze came was X-rayed. 1.3% of the fuzes were found to be defective.
This defective lot of fuzes was supplied by the Chartered Ammunition Industries (CAI) to MINDEF under an agreement in 1992. CAI was to supply fuzes manufactured according to internationally accepted military specifications. These military specifications require thorough inspections and other quality control measures during and after the manufacturing process to eliminate all defects in the fuzes.
CAI, in turn, contracted with a U.S. company, Island Ordnance Systems (IOS), for the supply of these fuzes. Without the knowledge of CAI, IOS obtained the fuzes from Xian Dong Fang Machinery Factory in the People's Republic of China (PRC). In October 94, CAI discovered that the fuzes were manufactured at the factory in the PRC rather than in the USA. However, CAI did not notify MINDEF of this discovery. MINDEF only became aware that these fuzes were manufactured in the PRC during the Committee of Inquiry proceedings in Mar.
When the fuzes were delivered to CAI, IOS issued a Certificate of Compliance and a Certificate of Conformance to confirm that the required military specifications had been met. Sample testing of the fuzes was also conducted by CAI during which no defective fuzes were found. Based on these Certificates, MINDEF accepted the fuzes from CAI.
MINDEF is responsible for ensuring that all types of ammunition and fuzes used in the SAF are safe. MINDEF does so by conducting acceptance testing of ammunition and fuzes either by itself or by reliable contractors. In this case, MINDEF had engaged CAI to provide the SAF with the fuzes. In particular, CAI agreed to witness the acceptance tests for the fuzes, on behalf of MINDEF. However, CAI did not witness all the acceptance tests. CAI also did not check whether the factory in the PRC was able to manufacture the fuzes according to the required military specifications.
To prevent defective fuzes from being introduced into the SAF inventory again in future, MINDEF will completely revamp the current acceptance process. MINDEF has also ceased using all types of ammunition and fuzes from IOS. MINDEF will also not accept ammunition and fuzes manufactured by Xian Dong Fang Machinery Factory.
MINDEF will continue to use 155mm fuzes of this type which have been made by a different manufacturer. As an added precaution, all such fuzes will be X-rayed. With these precautions in place, the SAF resumed live firing with the 155mm guns in May.
MINDEF will be pursuing the appropriate legal remedies that may be available against the parties involved in the supply of the defective fuzes.
MINDEF has compensated the families of the two deceased SAF servicemen and will compensate the injured servicemen in accordance with existing regulations.
MINDEF will be nominating various SAF and New Zealand personnel for appropriate awards in recognition of their acts of bravery and professionalism during the incident.
Last updated on 24 Jun 2005
Find this article at: http://www.mindef.gov.sg:80/content/imindef/press_room/official_releases/nr/1997/jun/28jun97_nr.html
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Factsheet - 155mm Gun Explosion In New Zealand On 9 Mar 97 Citation - 1WO Mohinder Singh
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PREVIOUS RECIPIENTS OF THE SAF MEDAL FOR DISTINGUISHED ACT (FACT SHEET)
1. The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Medal for Distinguished Act or the Pingat Jasa Perwira (Tentera) is a State award approved by the President of the Republic of Singapore and gazetted on 25 Jun 97. The SAF Medal for Distinguished Act is conferred on any individual who has performed an act or a series of acts of courage without regard for his personal safety.
2. The SAF Medal for Distinguished Act had previously been awarded to five SAF personnel and one serviceman from the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF):
a. Lieutenant-Colonel (LTC) Toh Boh Kwee, First Warrant Officer Mohinder Singh, First Sergeant Teo Boon Hong and Lieutenant Leroy Forrester from the NZDF for risking their lives to help injured soldiers immediately after an in-bore explosion of a 155mm artillery round in the barrel of an FH2000 gun-howitzer occurred during a live firing exercise in New Zealand in 1997.
b. LTC Lo Yong Po for remaining behind in an area that was overrun by insurgents to see to the safe extrication of UN officials after extensive fighting broke out during his participation in the United Nations Special Mission in Afghanistan (UNSMA) in 1998.
c. Captain (NS) Kok Yin Khong for administering first aid, while exposed to hostile fire, to a UN military observer who was shot by an unidentified gunman in a fire fight, when he was serving in the United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM) in 1998.
b. LTC Lo Yong Po for remaining behind in an area that was overrun by insurgents to see to the safe extrication of UN officials after extensive fighting broke out during his participation in the United Nations Special Mission in Afghanistan (UNSMA) in 1998.
c. Captain (NS) Kok Yin Khong for administering first aid, while exposed to hostile fire, to a UN military observer who was shot by an unidentified gunman in a fire fight, when he was serving in the United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM) in 1998.
Source: National Archives of Singapore
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