NOTEBOOK: THE HISTORY AND MYSTERY OF KD RAJA JAROM (A1502)

Here is a structured notebook based on the history, naval service, and haunting local lore of the Malaysian Landing Ship Tank (LST), KD Raja Jarom, compiled from the historical account of Navy Veteran Hj. Zulheimy Maamor.

Every ship in the Royal Malaysian Navy has a story. But few have a story that spans three wars, two oceans, two Navies and a 200-year-old curse. 

NAVAL NOTEBOOK: THE HISTORY AND MYSTERY OF KD RAJA JAROM (A1502)

Vessel Specifications & Background

• Original Identity: Former United States Navy vessel, USS Sedgewick County - LST 1123
• Laid down 1 November 1944, at Seneca, Illinois, by Chicago Bridge & Iron Co. Commissioned 19 February 1945. 
• Service History: Originally served during World War II. Earned 6 battle stars in Korea and 6 in Vietnam, before being struck on 15 March 1975 and transferred to Malaysia. 
• Malaysian Commissioning: Commissioned into the Royal Malaysian Navy (TLDM) on 19 February 1977, after sailing across from San Francisco Bay in May 1977.
• First Commanding Officer: Lt Kol (Laut) Abd Wahid Anang.
• Recommissioning: After undergoing refitting at the Malaysian Shipyard Engineering (MSE) in Pasir Gudang, the ship was recommissioned on 18 December 1981.
• Commanding Officer (1981): Commander Zainal Dali.
• Executive Officer (1981): Lt. Commander Zainal Talib.
• Reference : Zulheimy Maamor: KD RAJA JAROM 1982

Notable Missions (1981–1982)

During its operations, KD Raja Jarom completed several critical military transport tasks:

1. Logistics Support: Transported military equipment for the Malaysian Army and the Traffic Police to Sabah and Sarawak.
2. International Exercises: Transported a New Zealand Infantry troop participating in military training within Malaysia.
3. KD Raja Jarom was the logistic backbone for the development of Terumbu Layang-Layang (Swallow Reef) in 1982, delivering heavy construction equipment and building materials that allowed reclamation of the reef into a stable island - now a vital Malaysian outpost. 
4. The Royal Mandate: Tasked by the Palace of Johor (Istana Johor) in June 1982 to retrieve ancient artifacts from Pulau Aur (an island roughly 35 nautical miles off the coast of Mersing).

The Myth of the Three Ancient Cannons (Pulau Aur)

A prominent piece of lore surrounding the vessel involves the recovery of ancient cannons, which locals believed triggered a tragic curse.

The History of the Cannons

• Discovery: Originally discovered in 1849 by a British officer named J.T. Thompson.
• Origin: A set of 4 historical cannons stamped with the year 1782 (F1782).
• These were not Malay cannons, but likely Portuguese of Dutch, or perhaps from a wreck - 18th century bronze or iron guns. Only three remained visible by the 1980's. 

The Extraction & The Warning

• First Phase: KD Raja Jarom successfully retrieved 2 cannons on its first trip.
• Second Phase: Months later, after returning from duties in East Malaysia, the crew returned to retrieve the 3rd cannon.
• The Folklore: Local villagers warned the crew that cries had been heard at night where the first two cannons were taken. They claimed the "three sibling cannons" (meriam 3 beradik) had been broken up, warning that separating them further would anger the spiritual guardians and invite disaster upon the vessel.

The Tragic Collisions & "The 3M / 3R" Coincidence

Exactly 200 years after the cannons were forged (1782–1982), KD Raja Jarom met with a severe accident that veterans and locals darkly connected back to the island's folklore.

Incident 1: The Buffalo Rock Collision (1982)

• Date & Time: 19 December 1982 at 10:10 PM.
• Location: Buffalo Rock, Singapore Straits.
• The Event: KD Raja Jarom collided heavily with a Japanese oil tanker, MT Syoru Maru.
• Casualties: The tragedy claimed the lives of 3 crew members.
• The Eerie Connection: Locals noted that TLDM took 3 Cannons (3M - Meriam), and in return, lost 3 crewmen whose names all started with the letter 'R' (3R):
• BM Abdul Rahman Bin Kunji Maidin (No: 802372)
• BM Ramlie bin Yaakub (No: 805992)
• BM Abd Rahman bin Hamid (No: 805221)

Incident 2: The Malacca Straits Collision (1984)

• Date: 9 February 1984.
• Location: Straits of Malacca.
• The Event: KD Raja Jarom was involved in a second collision, once again with a Japanese tanker.
• Casualties: No fatalities occurred, but the accident injured exactly 3 crew members.

Veteran's Concluding Note:

"Ultimately, everything that transpires is by the will of Allah S.W.T., and there is wisdom behind every event. Whatever mysteries surrounded KD Raja Jarom may simply be a series of strange coincidences—left to the interpretation of the individual, provided it does not lead away from religious faith."

The sea demands respect, both technical and spiritual. An old LST, built for war in 1944, sailing in 1982 with cannon from 1782 - perhaps it was a convergence of time, of congested straits and heavy tankers, of tired crews and old radar. Perhaps it something else. 

KD Raja Jarom survived. Records show she continued service as a stationary tender to small craft as late as 1999. She has since been scrapped, but her name lives on in the memories of her crew. 

The cannons from Pulau Aur? They are now believed to be under the custody of the Johor state. The fourth cannon, the one Thompson saw in 1849, remains lost — perhaps still buried under the sand of Aur, waiting.

Sources & References for Footnotes:

1. Hj. Zulheimy Maamor — Notebook: The History and Mystery of KD Raja Jarom (A1502) — 2 June 2026
2. US Navy History & Heritage Command — LST-1123 History
3. Navsource.org — USS Sedgwick County (LST-1123) transfer to Malaysia 7 Oct 1976
4. TLDM — MSE Pasir Gudang Refit Record — 18 Dec 1981

C&P

2/6/2026: 11.39 P.M