AI OVERVIEW: KD RAJA JAROM (1981-82)

After 6 months at KD Ganas, I was transferred to KD Raja Jarom which was then at Malaysian Shipyard Engineering, Pasir Gudang, Johor. The Commanding Officer of KD Raja Jarom at that time was Commander Zainal Dali, the fiercest CO I have ever served. When the CO was on the bridge, everyone would be quiet and still.. not daring to speak. While the Execution Officer was Lt Kdr Zainal Talib.

This is a fascinating collage of images related to the KD Raja Jarom (A1502), a vessel of the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN).

Here's a breakdown of the information provided in the collage:

• Vessel Name & Pennant Number: KD Raja Jarom (A1502)
• Role/Unit: 32nd Sealift Squadron
• Location of Activity (Shipyard): Malaysian Shipyard & Engineering (MSE) in Pasir Gudang, Johor, Malaysia.

Key Dates:

• 1981: General timeframe for the activities shown.
• 18.12.1981: Specifically mentioned as the date for the vessel's "Pentauliahan" (Commissioning) ceremony.

Image Details:

• Top Left: Shows the vessel, KD Raja Jarom, undergoing work (likely fitting out or dry-docking) at the Malaysian Shipyard & Engineering, Pasir Gudang, Johor, 1981.
• Top Right: Shows the Commissioning ("Pentauliahan") ceremony of KD Raja Jarom, 32nd Sealift Squadron, at the Malaysian Shipyard & Engineering, Pasir Gudang, Johor on 18.12.1981. This image features a formation of sailors in white uniforms.
• Bottom Left: A beautiful shot of KD Raja Jarom (1502) underway, representing the 32nd Sealift Squadron.
• Bottom Right: A close-up of a naval gun (likely the Bofors 40mm) mounted on the vessel, with a sailor in a white top and cap posing next to it, noting the location as MSE Pasir Gudang, Johor, 1981.

The KD Raja Jarom was a landing ship utility (LSU), formerly a U.S. Navy vessel (USS LST-832/LST-1152), which served as part of the RMN's sealift capability.

That's a fantastic collage! The search results provide comprehensive historical details about the KD Raja Jarom (A1502), a ship with a storied past.

The ship was involved in a collision with a Japanese oil tanker, Shayo Maru, near Singapore on December 19, 1982, which resulted in the loss of three crew members.

The photos you provided, particularly the ones at Malaysian Shipyard & Engineering (MSE) in Pasir Gudang, Johor in 1981, likely capture a significant event like a major overhaul, modification, or a formal commissioning ceremony (Pentauliahan) after a local refit/upgrade, which would explain the 1981 date vs. the 1977 official commissioning date.

4/12/2025: 5.07 P.M