SHAH ALAM: The first batch of Deftech Gempita 8X8 vehicles transferred to 4 KAD has arrived at its camp in Kuching, Sarawak. The Gempita was shipped to Kuching onboard KD Mahawangsa which berthed at the Pending port on September 6.
A ceremony to mark the arrival of the Gempita at 4 KAD was held on September 11, led by the Eastern Field Command Commander Lt Gen Sopi Lepi. The release β published on September 15 β from the command:
πππͺππ§ππ‘ πππ₯ππ π£ππ‘ππππ π π ππππ‘ π§ππ π¨π₯ π§ππ‘π§ππ₯π πππ₯ππ§ ππ π₯ππππ ππ‘ ππππ π£ππ§ ππ’π₯ ππ₯π π’π₯ πππ₯πππ
KOTA SAMARAHAN, 11 Sep 23 β Panglima Medan Timur Tentera Darat (PMT TD), Lt Jen Datoβ Mohd Sofi bin Md Lepi telah melakukan lawatan kerja ke Rejimen Keempat Kor Armor Diraja (4 KAD), Kem Penrissen, Kuching.
Ketibaan PMT TD disambut oleh Pegawai Memerintah 4 KAD, Lt Kol (Dr) Wong Wai Loong. Beliau seterusnya diperkenalkan dengan pegawai-pegawai 4 KAD sebelum mendengar taklimat lawatan yang disampaikan oleh Pegawai Memerintah 4 KAD. Lawatan kerja ini bertujuan untuk meninjau aset Kenderaan Perisai (KP) 8 x 8 GEMPITA yang dipindah alih dari pasukan 1 KAD, Kuantan.
Majlis diakhiri dengan acara menandatangi buku lawatan dan penyampaian cenderahati. Turut hadir adalah Panglima Divisyen Pertama Infantri Malaysia (1 Div), Mej Jen Hassan bin Embong serta Pegawai-pegawai MK PMTTD.
From the picture released we now know that among 26 Gempita transferred from 1 KAD include the command, AFV30, ambulance and mortar variants. 4 KAD also received a Volvo 8Γ8 recovery truck from 1 KAD.
With 26 Gempita, KAD is expected to field one company of Gempita with the headquarters company operating two or three Gempita including the ambulance variant. The Volvo recovery truck is also likely to be operated by the headquarters company.
What about the two other companies then? It is likely that three companies in 4 KAD will rotate to use the Gempita available until they get new vehicles which is the NMLTV 4X4 vehicles. As there is not enough Gempita and NMLTV to go around the five armour regiments, it is likely that 6X6 vehicles will be procured in the next RMK.
Unless they decide to buy more Gempita 8X8s of course.
β Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (61)
"Unless they decide to buy more Gempita 8X8s of course."
We know the TDM prefers more Gempitas than the compromise of 6x6. And that this Govt will be more than ever dependent on Armed Forces votes if it wants to survive the next GE. The army being in such an influential position, might stand a chance to get what they wanted if they push enough buttons and put enough pressure at the right places. But countering is the limited budget we have for defence, so lets see which side the shoe will fall towards. Firstly lets see whether TDM will actually get the Caesar that they wanted or yet another system.
Not really but it's a political decision.
From my observation
1. There is no mortar variant in KAD. Mortar variant is only with 19RAMD. That is an ambulance variant.
2. Volvo Kembalik wrecker/recovery truck is the latest version with dozer blade and armored cabin. It is also armed with GPMG on the roof hatch. 1 KAD has been transferring quite a few of Volvo Kembalik out as there was also 1 more transferred to port dickson (ZC3381 with non armored cab) to support the CBRNE Gempitas. So currently the army has 3 versions of the Volvo FMX Kembalik
1. 6x4 version. Some sent to Lebanon are of this version
2. 8x6 version with regular cab
3. 8x6 version with armored cab and dozer blade
3. In KAD regiments, usually the kembalik trucks (and also fitter vehicles) is attached to the REME/KJLJ squadron, not the HQ squadron.
From my observation
1. There is no mortar variant in KAD. Mortar variant is only with 19RAMD. That is an ambulance variant.
2. Volvo Kembalik wrecker/recovery truck is the latest version with dozer blade and armored cabin. It is also armed with GPMG on the roof hatch. 1 KAD has been transferring quite a few of Volvo Kembalik out as there was also 1 more transferred to port dickson (ZC3381 with non armored cab) to support the CBRNE Gempitas. So currently the army has 3 versions of the Volvo FMX Kembalik
1. 6x4 version. Some sent to Lebanon are of this version
2. 8x6 version with regular cab
3. 8x6 version with armored cab and dozer blade
3. In KAD regiments, usually the kembalik trucks (and also fitter vehicles) is attached to the REME/KJLJ squadron, not the HQ squadron.
Everything is political moreso these days than before, and even folks that used to have no say now realised they got a voice (and voting power) where power & influence has effectively been decentralised.
So for fire support to replace the Sibmas, what are the current options available to 1 DIV?
The AFV30 ATGW
Marhalim, whatever happened to the Tigon 6x6 trials. Did the army like it?
I have no idea, I switch off when I was told then that the Army had no requirements for 6X6.
So if the Government says they are ok with getting more Gempita, and ignoring the cost aspect, will the Army order more Gempita? Its either the Gempita is too insert something to be effective (e.g. too big, too heavy, too difficult to maintain), or the Gempita is better than what we initially planned for. Recall, originally, it was supposed to be a 6x6 vehicle, not 8x8.
The Army has no further needs for more Gempita
Any idea why we are using a truck as a recovery vehicle and not another Gempita. Was it cost cutting or no necessity?
Cost cutting
Imo just 54 ATGM 30mm turret would be insufficient as fire support in terms of numbers to replace the sibmas.Atleast another 54 new orders would be needed to cover sabah amd sarawak, if budget exist
This again presents a prime example of the extremely flawed way we approach defence.
We go through all the trouble to undertake local assembly [which some think i actually beneficial] and acquire IP rights and - as usual - bask in the hubris - ultimately we can't afford to acquire follow on AV-8s and because if that we don't need anymore.
Yet again the end user and tax payer gets screwed and we indulge in yet another ''buy a bit of something but not enough of everything''.
Kamal A - ''Imo just 54 ATGM 30mm turret would be insufficient as fire support in terms of numbers to replace the sibmas''
The 30mmm auto cannon's primary aim is to defeat enemy IFVs and whether 54 is ''insufficient'' or not depends wholly on operational circumstances - low intensity conflict of limited duration or a long drawn high intensity one?
Kamal A - ''Atleast another 54 new orders would be needed to cover sabah amd sarawak, if budget exist''
There is a certain quality to quantity but have you heard Napoleon's or was it Frederick the Great?] adage - ''he who defends everything defends nothing'' We simply can't ''cover'' everything everywhere; even if the threat situation warrants it; it doesn't. Also; even if we had enough AV-8s do we have enough arty, ammo, AD, MBTs, counter battery radar; UASs; spares, etc, etc, etc,?