DOWN MEMORY LANE : RMN'S PATROL CLASS (1960'S)

An analysis of the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) patrol craft fleet from the 1960s clarifies an important historical distinction: there were two completely different generations of vessels named "Kedah". 

While the modern 1,850-ton Kedah-class Offshore Patrol Vessels (MEKO 100) are widely known today, the 1960s Kedah-class was a completely different fleet of compact, 31.4-metre coastal patrol craft. Built by Vosper Ltd in Portsmouth, UK, the 1960s Kedah, Sabah, and Kris classes formed the foundational backbone of Malaysia's early littoral defence during critical geopolitical periods like the Indonesian Confrontation. 

1. The 1960s Kedah-Class (Large Patrol Craft)

The original 1960s Kedah class consisted of the first initial batch of fast, diesel-powered coastal patrol boats designed to establish a sovereign presence across newly formed Malaysian waters. 

• Vessels: Included hulls such as KD Sri Kedah (P3138) and KD Sri Pahang (P3141).
• Specifications: Displaced roughly 109 tons full load, with a length of 31.4 metres and a beam of 6.0 metres.
• Performance & Armament: Powered by high-speed diesels hitting 27 knots, they were armed with two single 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns.
• Service Lifecycle: Commissioned in 1963, these hulls worked heavily through the Confrontation before being decommissioned in the mid-1970s. 

2. Sabah-Class (Large Patrol Craft)

Ordered shortly after the Kedah class as a follow-on batch of 4 patrol boats to cope with expanding maritime responsibilities.

• Vessels: Included hulls such as KD Sri Sabah (P3144) and KD Sri Sarawak (P3145).
• Specifications: Maintained identical dimensions to the Kedah class—109 tons displacement, 31.4 metres long, and 2x40mm guns.
• Operational Shift: They were deployed extensively in 1964 specifically to police and patrol the newly integrated state waters of Sabah and Sarawak.
• Lifecycle: Decommissioned from frontline naval service around 2006.

P42 - KD PANAH

3. Kris-Class (Large Patrol Craft)

As the role of the navy grew, the RMN placed a massive order for a third, modified batch of 14 larger-sized patrol boats from Vosper Ltd starting in 1965. 

• Enhancements: These craft were built with heavily upgraded Decca-type surface search radars, more robust engine configurations, and a slightly larger hull profile than the preceding Kedah and Sabah designs. [7]
• Legacy: Known as the Kris class (or Keris class), they proved so reliable that the RMN completely refurbished two hulls—KD Sri Sabah (46) and KD Sri Sarawak (48)—spending RM18 million to recommission them back into active service to support regional patrols. 

Technical Snapshot: 1960s Vosper Patrol Craft

Specification	1960s Kedah-Class	Sabah-Class	Kris-Class
Builder	Vosper Ltd, UK	Vosper Ltd, UK	Vosper Ltd, UK
Commissioned	1963	1964	1965–1968
Displacement	109 tons	109 tons	~111–115 tons
Length	31.4 metres	31.4 metres	~31.4 metres (Upgraded hull)
Top Speed	27 knots	27 knots	22–27 knots
Radar Equipment	Visual/Basic	Visual/Basic	Decca-type Radar
Primary Armament	2 x 40mm Bofors	2 x 40mm Bofors	Heavy machine guns / 40mm

The backbone of the 1960s RMN fleet comprised 20 custom-built coastal patrol craft, ordered and delivered in three distinct waves between 1962 and 1968. They shared a cohesive foundational design—featuring an all-welded steel hull, aluminium superstructure, and high-speed Bristol Siddeley Maybach diesel engines hitting speeds of up to 27 knots.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Ex-crew KD Panah (1986) and KD Sri Negri Sembilan (1987)

6 August 2026: 11.38 p.m