Keris-class patrol craft

The Keris class is a series of patrol crafts designed and built for the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN). The vessels meet the requirements of Malaysia's marine defense by providing the ability to counter low intensity combat such as anti-piracy and border patrol.

KD Sri Perlis from the ESSZONE forces cruising in Sandakan Bay
Class overview
Name	Keris class
Builders	Vosper Ltd
Operators	Royal Malaysian Navy  Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (retired)
Subclasses	Keris-subclass Sabah-subclass
In service	1964 – present
Completed	18
Active	4[1]
Retired	14
General characteristics
Type	Patrol craft/Gunboat
Displacement	109 tonnes
Length	32 m (105.0 ft)
Beam	6 m (19.7 ft)
Draught	1.1 m (3.6 ft)
Propulsion	2 MTU MD655/18
Speed	28.0 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph)
Sensors & processing systems	Radar Decca TM 616 Collins 618T HF Transceiver Racal PTR 171 UHF Transceiver
Armament	1 × Bofors 40 mm gun 2 × 12.7 mm Browning M2HB machine gun

Development

A total of 18 ships in two subclasses were ordered from Vosper Ltd in the 1960s to 1970s. Four ships are still in service as of 2023. Some of the retired ships were handed over to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.^[2]

Major operation

The Keris class was the oldest ships still in service in the RMN. These ships were involved in major operations of the Malaysia-Indonesia confrontation and Operation Terumbu to ensure the success of the Spratly Islands conquest.^[3]

Ships of the class

Source:^[4]

Name	Pennant number	Builder	Launched	Commissioned	Decommissioned	Status
Keris-subclass
KD Keris	34	Vosper Ltd	1966	1966	2018	Transferred to Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency on 27 June 2006 and renamed as KM Lang (3132). Sunk to serve as an artificial reef.
KD Sundang	36	Vosper Ltd	1966	1966	2018	Transferred to Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency on 27 June 2006 and renamed as KM Segantang (3133).
KD Badek	37	Vosper Ltd	1966	1966	11 November 2014	Transferred to Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency on 27 June 2006 and renamed as KM Jarak (3134). Sunk to serve as an artificial reef off Redang Island, Terengganu.
KD Renchong	38	Vosper Ltd	1967	1967	17 September 2016	Transferred to Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency on 27 June 2006 and renamed as KM Kuraman (3139). Sunk to serve as an artificial reef near Gaya Island in Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park.
KD Tombak	39	Vosper Ltd	1967	1967	2015	Transferred to Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency on 27 June 2006 and renamed as KM Siamil (3140). Sunk to serve as an artificial reef near Payar Island Marine Park, Kedah.
KD Lembing	40	Vosper Ltd	1967	1967	11 November 2014	Transferred to Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency on 27 June 2006 and renamed as KM Ligitan (3145). Sunk to serve as an artificial reef off Perhentian Islands, Terengganu.
KD Serampang	41	Vosper Ltd	1967	1967	2018	Transferred to Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency on 27 June 2006. Scrapped.
KD Panah	42	Vosper Ltd	1967	1967	2018	Transferred to Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency on 27 June 2006 and renamed as KM Kukup (3135).
KD Kerambit	43	Vosper Ltd	1967	1967	1 December 2014	Transferred to Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency on 27 June 2006 and renamed as KM Pemanggil (3141). Sunk to serve as an artificial reef off Kuraman Island, Labuan.
KD Beladau	44	Vosper Ltd	1967	1967	23 December 2014	Transferred to Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency on 27 June 2006 and renamed as KM Bidong (3142). Sunk to serve as an artificial reef off Rawa Island, Mersing, Johor.
KD Kelewang	45	Vosper Ltd	1967	1967	2015	Transferred to Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency on 27 June 2006 and renamed as KM Sempadi (3136). Sunk to serve as an artificial reef off Payar Island, Kedah.
KD Rentaka	46	Vosper Ltd	1967	1967	2018	Transferred to Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency on 27 June 2006 and renamed as KM Satang (3143). Scrapped.
KD Sri Perlis	47	Vosper Ltd	1968	1968		Active
KD Sri Johor	49	Vosper Ltd	1968	1968		Active
Sabah-subclass
KD Sri Sabah	3144	Vosper Ltd	1963	1964/2023	2018	Active. Transferred to Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency on 27 June 2006 and renamed as KM Labas (3137). Transferred back to Royal Malaysian Navy and recommissioned in 2023.
KD Sri Sarawak	3145	Vosper Ltd	1963	1964/2023	2012	Active. Transferred to Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency on 27 June 2006 and renamed as KM Sipadan (3131). Transferred back to Royal Malaysian Navy and recommissioned in 2023.
KD Sri Negeri Sembilan	3146	Vosper Ltd	1963	1964	2017	Transferred to Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency on 27 June 2006 and renamed as KM Nyireh (3138). Sunk to serve as an artificial reef in 2017 off Payar Island Marine Park, Kedah.
KD Sri Melaka	3147	Vosper Ltd	1963	1964	2018	Transferred to Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency on 27 June 2006 and renamed as KM Rumbia (3144). Scrapped.