AI OVERVIEW : KD LEKIR (1989-1991)

KD LEKIR

22nd Corvette Squadron

Lumut, Perak

7.8.1989 - 4.12.1991

It is truly impressive to see your journey continue from the Fast Attack Craft to the Corvette! Serving on the KD Lekir (F26) from 1989 to 1991 would have put you on one of the Royal Malaysian Navy's (TLDM) most advanced and versatile surface combatants of that era.

Your images are excellent, especially the one showing the KD Lekir sailing alongside the US Navy's USS Bunker Hill (CG-52), which is a Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser. This suggests you participated in major joint exercises like CARAT (Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training) or similar international naval maneuvers, which were crucial for improving TLDM's operational readiness.

Here is some background on the KD Lekir:

⚓ KD Lekir (F26) - Kasturi-Class Corvette

• Class: KD Lekir is one of two Kasturi-class Corvettes (the other being KD Kasturi, F25).
• Role: Corvettes are larger and more heavily armed than patrol craft, designed for a variety of roles including Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW), Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), and general patrol duties.
• Origin: The ships were built by HDW (Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft) in Kiel, West Germany, and were a heavily modified version of the German Datteln-class offshore patrol vessel.
• Commissioning: KD Lekir was commissioned into the TLDM on August 15, 1984. The first Commanding Officer was Commander Ramly bin Abu Bakar TLDM N/400228.

Armament & Systems (Original):

• Missiles: Exocet MM38 Surface-to-Surface Missiles (SSM).
• Guns: A Bofors 57 mm/70 SAK Mk 1 main gun and a Bofors 40 mm/70 SAK Mk 1 secondary gun.
• ASW: Equipped with a hull-mounted sonar and three Bofors 375mm Anti-Submarine Rocket (ASR) launchers.

🛡️ 22nd Corvette Squadron

The 22nd Corvette Squadron is a key combat unit within the TLDM, tasked with projecting power and securing Malaysia's maritime interests, particularly in the South China Sea. Your service on the Lekir during the late 80s and early 90s would have involved high-level operational exercises and possibly deployments to the disputed areas in East Malaysia.

That must have been a very demanding and rewarding period of your career. Would you be interested in learning about the major upgrade program the Kasturi-class Corvettes underwent, or perhaps more about the joint exercises you participated in?

That is an impressive record, moving from the smaller Fast Attack Craft and Patrol Craft to the larger, more capable KD Lekir (F26)! Your service on her from 1989 to 1991 meant you were on one of the Royal Malaysian Navy's (TLDM) most potent multi-role ships.

The photo you shared of KD Lekir sailing with the US Navy's USS Bunker Hill (CG-52) is a great visual testament to the international joint exercises TLDM participated in during that era.

🤝 Joint Exercises (1989 - 1991)

During your time, the TLDM actively engaged in multinational exercises to enhance interoperability and skills, crucial for regional security. While the specific names of exercises with the US Navy in 1989-1991 are less common in public records than later ones, the practice of bilateral and multilateral drills was a continuous effort:

• Bilateral Focus: The TLDM regularly conducted exercises with navies like the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), such as Exercise MALAPURA in the Malacca Straits, designed to expand in scope to include both conventional naval warfare and maritime security.
• The USS Bunker Hill Photo: The photograph you shared is a fantastic example of a Passing Exercise (PASSEX), which is a common, short-term exercise conducted when two ships meet at sea. This one, in particular, highlights the interoperability between your Kasturi-class Corvette and a much larger Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser.

OPERATIONAL VISIT / CHOGM / FLEET REVIEW

• In 1989 KD Lekir and KD Mahawangsa made Operational visit to Hong Kong and South Korea as part of their duties.
• The 11th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) was held in Kuala Lumpur from 18 October 1989 to 24 October 1989. KD Lekir was given the honour of being the Escort ship of HMY Britannia (Her Majesty Yacht Britannia) carrying Queen Elizabeth II who was to officiate the meeting.
• From 17-21 May 1990, KD Lekir involved in the International Royal Fleet Review held in Penang.
• In 1991 KD Lekir involved in the First Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) on 11 November 1991.
• IN 1991 KD Lekir and KD Mahawangsa made Operational Visit to Australia New Zealand and Surabaya, Indonesia and involved in Royal New Zealand Navy International Royal Fleet Review held in October 1991 at Auckland, New Zealand.

🌊 KD Lekir's Later Service Life

The KD Lekir, along with her sister ship KD Kasturi, has had an incredibly long and active career, which is a credit to the TLDM's maintenance and modernization programs.

Service Life Extension Programme (SLEP): The TLDM recognized the value of the Kasturi-class, and both ships underwent an extensive Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU), also known as the Service Life Extension Program (SLEP), starting in 2009.

Major Upgrades: The SLEP modernized the ships to enable them to serve for another 10 to 15 years. Key upgrades included:

• Replacing the old combat system with the TACTICOS Combat Management System from Thales.
• Installation of a new hull-mounted sonar, the Atlas Elektronik DSQS-24C, to enhance Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) capabilities.
• Upgrading the anti-ship missiles to the more capable Exocet MM40 Block II variant.

Still Active: The Lekir is still in active service today with the 22nd Corvette Squadron, a testament to the quality of the ship and the crews, like yours, who have maintained her over the decades.

You have served on three very different, but equally important, classes of ships in the TLDM!

Do you have any memories of your time in the 22nd Corvette Squadron, or would you like to know more about the Kasturi-class's ASW capabilities?

5/12/2025: 11.43 p.m