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| JMSDF Hyuga class helicopter destroyer (File Photo) |
By Koh Swee Lean Collin
The typhoon demonstrates capacity shortfalls in seaborne humanitarian and disaster relief amongst ASEAN navies.
The colossal multinational humanitarian and disaster relief (HADR) effort in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Haiyan aptly highlights the utility of naval forces; in particular large amphibious landing ships (LALS). Unlike fixed-wing air transports that often have to rely on prepared airstrips – which may not always be available in a disaster zone – naval forces can be deployed off the coasts to disembark personnel and materiel onto the affected areas using small, shallow-draft landing craft and helicopters. Such utility was demonstrated during the Indian Ocean tsunami in December 2004.
International media have carried images of extra-regional navies involved in the HADR operations. The aircraft carrier U.S.S. George Washington spearheaded the initial American effort. Meanwhile, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force deployed JDS Ise, one of its 18,000-ton Hyuga-class helicopter destroyers as well as the slighter smaller landing platform dock (LPD) JDS Osumi. In contrast, the ASEAN navies were largely absent. Excluding the Philippines, to date only Brunei and Thailand have deployed warships to assist in the HADR, but these pale in comparison to the ships furnished by the extra-regional navies.
Read the full 2 page story at The Diplomat