SINGAPORE - The Republic of Singapore Navy has launched a new submarine training centre at Changi Naval Base.
Chief of Navy, Rear-Admiral Lai Chung Han, officiated at the centre's launch on Wednesday afternoon.
The centre will be a one-stop training facility for new submariners, meant to enhance training realism, effectiveness and efficiency.
It also features simulators where both individual and team training can be conducted in a safe environment that incorporates realistic scenarios.
On the same day, two of the navy's Challenger-class submarines, RSS Challenger and RSS Centurion, were also retired from service. The submarines had served the navy since 1997.
In recognition of RSS Challenger's role as the navy's first submarine and training platform, the new centre has been named RSS Challenger.
The navy has been conducting local submarine training and qualifying submariners since 2000.
