NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE SURVEY 44C; SINGAPORE; MILITARY GEOGRAPHY

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• Collection: NIS
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP01-00707R000200090012-3
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CONFIDENTIAL
44C /GS /MG
Singapore
May 1973
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE SURVEY
CONFIDENTIAL
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This chapter was prepared for the HIS by the
Defense Intelligence Agency. Research was sub-
stantially completed by December 1972.
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CONTENTS
This General Survey supersedes the one dated
July 1968, copies of which should be destroyed.
A. Location and description 1
1. Topography 1
Brief overview of landscape, vegetation,
drainage network, and cultural features.
2. Climate
Summary of the monsoon climate; tempera-
tures, humidity, precipitation, cloudiness,
thunderstorms, visibility and winds.
B. Military geography 2
Effects of terrain or operations of conventional
ground forces, airmobile and airborne forces,
amphibious forces, and irregular forces.
k
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Page
C. Strategic importance 4
The city and excellent port; industrial and mili-
tary installations.
D. Internal route 5
Description of the route across the island by road
and railroad.
E. Approaches 5
Page
1. Land 5
Only land link to Singapore is the causeway
across the Johore Strait.
2. Sea 5
Conditions for amphibious approach to the
coast, and a description of the beach.
3. Air 6
Air approach routes to Singapore and weather
encountered.
4-
a
R
k
i
FIGURES
it
Page
Fig. 8
Rural houses (photo)
Page
Fig. 1
Military geographic region and ter-
rain map)
2
Fig. 2
Plains in northern Singapore photo)
2
Fig. 3
Rough, dissected plains photo)
2
Fig. 4
Hills in central Singapore photo)
3
Fig. 5
Highest elevation in the country
7
Fig. 12
(photo)
3
Fig. 6
Redhill /Henderson redevelopment
(photo)
4
Fig. 7
Street scene in Singapore photo)
4
it
Page
Fig. 8
Rural houses (photo)
5
Fig, 9
Precipitation, thunde- .arm days,
cloudiness, relative humidity, and
temperatures (chart)
5
Fig. 10
Internal route and approaches map)
6
Fig. 11
Causeway across Johore Strait
(photo)
7
Fig. 12
Land reclamation east of city photo)
8
Fig. 13
Terrain and transportation
("WP) folloms
8
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Military Geography
A. Location and description (U; OU)
Singapore comprises one main island and about 40
small islands and islets off the southern tip of the
Malay Peninsula Figure 13). The capital, Singapore,
is within 200 nautical miles of Kuala Lumpur, 500
nautical miles of Djakarta, and 800 nautical miles of
Saigon and Bangkok. Because of its focal position in
Southeast Asia �on international sea and air routes
and because of its deep ivatcr n;trbor, Singapore is one
of the worlds greatest commercial centers. 'I' w
strategic and commercial importance of the country is
out of proportion to its size, which is only about three
times that of Washington, D.C. Singapore has if total
area of 225 square miles and a population of sortie 2.1
million. TIic main island is diamond shaped.
extending about 26 miles' cast -west and about 14
miles north- south.
I. Topography
Singapore consists mainly of flat to rolling plains
(Figures I, 2, and 13). Rough, dissected plainsoccurin
several places ill the western half of the mail island
(Figure 3), and there is a small hilly area near the
center (Figure 4), where the highest elevation in the
couritry k 581 feet above sea level (Figure 5). Local
rrlicr (differei.,:es in elevation behvecn tops an d
bottoms of adjacent topographic features) is less that
100 feet nearly everywhere, between 100 and 500 feet
in the dissected areas, and more than 500 feet in the
hilly area. A succession of low scarps and valleys in the
west h ^nd northwest- southeast; the steepest ridge
backs the southwest coast.
s
The other topographic aspects, .nainly the drainage
characteristics, vegetation, and culture features, are
closely interrelated. The streams, small and steep
banked, radiate from the center of the island; many
flow into wide tidal estuaries. 'There are no seasonal
variations in streamflow, and flooding may occur in
'Distances are in statute miles unless nautical mites are
veellieally Staled.
low areas after rains in any month. Mangrove swamps
border much of' the north and west coasts and extend
inland ;Ions; many stream months. 'I'll( three artificial
lakes in the interior are reseryoiFs fortned by damming
small streams, This catchment area has the only
remaining forest �about 13 square miles of closcly
spaced broadleaf evergreen trees. About one -fifth of
the island is under cultivation, largely in holdings less
than 3 acres in size market gardens producing
vegetables, fruits, and spices, or small plots producing
rubber or coconuts. Much of the remainder of the
island is the� densely built -up city of Singapore and its
suburbs. New sections have mostly multistory concrete
or masonry residential, commercial, or industrial
buildings. Older sections of the city consist of less
substantial buildhggs. and many parts present a
contrast of structural hypes (Figures 6 and 7). In the
outskirts of the city nid in rural areas, buildings are
one-story frame struchires (Figure 8).
2. Climate
Singapore has a tropical monsoon climate, witli
considerable cloudiness and precipitation and
pessistently high trnperutures and humidities (Figure
9). The climatic seasons are ba oil the %vo maior
wind systems, the northet.st monsoon (November
through March) and the southwest monsoon (nlid-
May through September). 'I'll( northward advance in
April and southward retreat in October of the,
intertropical convergence zone (ICZ) across Singapore
determine the change in the monsoons. In general,
there lk little variation in weather from monsoon to
monsoon; rather, the greatest variations are the strong
contrasts in rainfall and cloudiness f�o rn day to night.
The day often begins with early morning fog, which
is quickly dissipated by the sun's heat, and with lame
sheets of stratified middle and high clouds. By noon,
however, convective activity develops puffs of
cumulus clouds which rapidly grow- to great heights.
The afternoon skies are almost completely covered b
ti'te towering clouds and heavy showers or thurt-
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FIGURE 1. Military geographic region and
terrain (U /OU)
9
dersho errs (ucy fall for brief period 1)frring the
evell ng convective activity declines and tiv clouds
flatten into shapeless masses and stratify during ihr
eight; the threat of showers is lead at this time. A
result of this daily sequence is the sruall diurnal raicge
of mean cloudit.:,ss� between 70r cov near
midnight and 90% in early afternooni. Average
inotithly rainfall also has a snwll range. mostly
between 6 to 10 inches, with annual acelilnulations
of 70 to 110 inches across th. island. '!'hr afternoon
showers are most frequent in November through
January. "Thundershowers, however, are most fmquetit
near the eiternunsoonal periods, April through May
and October through Noveinber, when thunderstornis
occur on 17 'o 21 days per month.
vie rent. Climatic elrrturits exhibit a
monotonous distribution through the year. Average
daily letnperati.trcs regularly rise to the� upper80 *s (�I-.)
in the afternoon and decease to the niiddle 70's it? the
early morning, %%hile a rage relative hutnidity
alternttcs between morning maxinuuns in the middle
90's (9) ...id afternoon rnininiums in the low 70's or
upper 60's. This combination of '.igh temperature and
high i.utnidity is probably the feature of the eliniate
most oppressive to humans. Visibility is normally good
except during showers and in morning fov. and winds
arc usually light except for strong gusts during
thunderstornis.
B. Military geography (C)
Singapore with its associated islands comprises one
military geographic region (l 1). 'I'll( region is
fairly well suited for conventional ground operations.
The rather dense road network facilitates movement
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FIGURE 3. Rough, dissected plains in southwestern Singa-
pore Island (C)
FIGURE 2. Flat plains in the northern part of Singapore
Island (C)
L OW 40
103`50'' 1
M,
LIAYRIA
t AN
it l
r
KIIALA
,c
w B
SINGAPORE
t
o
CMAW N e o 77
r
ruLAulkuaun ENCOSA
c
4o
f o fan VO r'.
INDONESIA
C
local relief"
I_..J Flat to rolling plains 0 to 100 feet
Severely dissected plains 100 to 500 feet
Hills
L_J 500 to 2000 feet
*Differences in elevation between tops and Broadleaf
bottoms of adjacent topographic features. evergreen
forest
ff
422 Spot height (feet) L Swarnp
0 5 10 15 20 Stalute miles
0 5 1 0 15 25 30 Kilometers
PROFILE 1
Feet Meters
600 .oe,Irn 581 .ti'r.,�,in, 180
200 286 I 1 120
90 60
0 T 0
A 0 5 10 15 20 23 B
Statute miles
Vertical exaggeration approximately 30:1
FIGURE 1. Military geographic region and
terrain (U /OU)
9
dersho errs (ucy fall for brief period 1)frring the
evell ng convective activity declines and tiv clouds
flatten into shapeless masses and stratify during ihr
eight; the threat of showers is lead at this time. A
result of this daily sequence is the sruall diurnal raicge
of mean cloudit.:,ss� between 70r cov near
midnight and 90% in early afternooni. Average
inotithly rainfall also has a snwll range. mostly
between 6 to 10 inches, with annual acelilnulations
of 70 to 110 inches across th. island. '!'hr afternoon
showers are most frequent in November through
January. "Thundershowers, however, are most fmquetit
near the eiternunsoonal periods, April through May
and October through Noveinber, when thunderstornis
occur on 17 'o 21 days per month.
vie rent. Climatic elrrturits exhibit a
monotonous distribution through the year. Average
daily letnperati.trcs regularly rise to the� upper80 *s (�I-.)
in the afternoon and decease to the niiddle 70's it? the
early morning, %%hile a rage relative hutnidity
alternttcs between morning maxinuuns in the middle
90's (9) ...id afternoon rnininiums in the low 70's or
upper 60's. This combination of '.igh temperature and
high i.utnidity is probably the feature of the eliniate
most oppressive to humans. Visibility is normally good
except during showers and in morning fov. and winds
arc usually light except for strong gusts during
thunderstornis.
B. Military geography (C)
Singapore with its associated islands comprises one
military geographic region (l 1). 'I'll( region is
fairly well suited for conventional ground operations.
The rather dense road network facilitates movement
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FIGURE 3. Rough, dissected plains in southwestern Singa-
pore Island (C)
FIGURE 2. Flat plains in the northern part of Singapore
Island (C)

I n III ncIII of the isl.uld, 1) 11( heavy rains at Bites cause
flooding it, I(m arvio and interrupt use of the rrruls.
Off -road dispersal and cross country inmenu�nt \could
be relatively easy in much of the island; Ihev would be
difficult in Ilic rough, dissected or hilt areas, and
precluded il the densely built up nictrotmhtuu areas
o' in sokanips. The v ell- drained par: ,1f the plains are
suited for the constniction of roads with long, ,traight
ulignnwnts: in the logy and irea pour
drainage and poor foundations create major
construction problc o s; ill the clissectecl :111(1 hilly urea,.
:11i.011lents would he slricled. (:oncealnienl from :fir
and ground obsveyaticnl is afforded by buildings in the
urban area and environs; cover from air okervatinn is
available from tree crops in the .lilt i\,jjleo ireas.
by a forest in the central part of the island. Cover from
flat- trajeclor\ fire is afforded by the nutsonry
striu�tiires in the city and by snrface irregularities in
thc dissected areas. The better drained purls of the
plaids are ,liitecl fur the construction of hunker type
installations; cscayation, however. would be difficult
in the places where hard layers occilr in the lateritic
soils that cover most of the island.
Conditions are unfavorable for large
amphibious landings because of restricted offshore
approaches, eucunlbered nearshore apprmwlws, fl"1t
nearshore bottoms, 11111cldy shores, and difficult cross
country movement near er the shores. Sea upproaches to
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FIGURE 4. Hills in the central part of
Singapore Island (U /OU)
FIGURE 5. This hill in central Singapore Island is 581
feet high, the highest elevation in the country (C)

.available only in the forested area .:nd in tree crop
plantations. Concealment from grouaad observation
and cover frorn flat trajectory fire would be afforded
mainly by surface- irregularities it the dissected and
hilly areas, and by buildings. Food is plentiful in the
cultivated areas. Among ;he hazards to operations are
respiratory -nd enteric infections inebading typhoid
fever and diseases caused by bacteria and parasites.
Other hazards are poisonous snakes (including cobras),
scorpions, ticks, leeches, centipedes. sandflies, and
mosqui toes.
Singapore Island are restricted to Singapore and
johore Straits, and are partly obstructed by islets and
scattered shoals, mudflats, reefs, fishing stakes, and
rocks. 'I'he predorninantly muddy shores fringing
Singapore Island are mostly hacked by an irregular,
discontinue belt of dense mangrove up to 2 miles
:ride, poor to unsuited for cross country movement.
Singapore is poorly suited for airborne and
airmobile ope- ations even though air approaches are
unrestricted and four rnodorn airfields that can
accommodate assault aircr are accessible.
I)rop zones nd sites for helicopter landings are
available only in cultivated areas where the crops arc
less than 3 feet in height. 'file densely built -up urban
area and environs, swamps, ar.a dissected or forested
areas are unsuited for either airdrops or helicopter
operations The better drained parts of the plains are
waited for the construction of airfields with
unrestricted orientations. G rading would he difficult
where hard lavers occr in the lateritic soils that cover
most of the island.
Singapore's rural areas an� poorly suited for irregular
force operations. In the densely built -up urban area
and environs, such operations would he precluded.
1 the rernainder of the island, movement,
both on -road and cross country, would be easy.
Concealment from airobservation, however, would be
.i
C. Strategic importance (C)
'fhe chief feature of the area is the large metropolis
4 Singapore (population IAI0,(HH)) its deepwater
port (Figure 10), the main port in Southeast Asia and
one of tFac major ports in the world. The city is a
distribution center for the strategic raa materials
from a large part of Southeast Asia. Singapore is
gaining in industrial potential arul now has it steel
trill, rubber- producing plants, four petroleum
refineries and a fifth under construction, as well as
m: y other diversified industrial plants; additional
port faciliti are being constructed along the
southwest coast at jureng which has storage facilities
for a!out 20 rnilhon barrels of refined and crude 1`01,
(t)(Voieurn fuels, oils, and lubricants). Singapore
depends on reservoirs in Malaysia for most of its water
supply. 'I'hc inane military installations include the
naval base along the north- central part of the island,
and two airfields. There are two civil :.airfields,
including an international field northeast of the city.
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FIGURE 6. Redhill /Henderson redevelopment is contrasted
with earlier development of the 1950's in the fore-
ground (U /Olt)
FIGURE 7. Anson Road enters the city of Singapore from
the southwest. This area is a typical mixture of older ar-
caded buildings and new multistory apartments. (U /OU)

�.vvw vvr I W.
FIGURE S. Rural settlement on Singapore Island (C)
D. Internal route (C)
The internal route (Figure 10) crosses the 3,500 -foot
causeway over Johore Strait (Figure 11) southward to
the city of Singapore. The route is mostly across rough,
dissected plains; in the north it traverses low, poorly
drained flat plains. The route contains both a road
and a railroad. The road is a four -lane, bituminous
surfaced highway in good condition; the railroad is
meter gage and single track. Flooding in low area
may disrupt traffic on both the road and the railroad
for several days in any month. Off -road dispersal and
cm 'c- country movement would be easy in small flat
cultivated areas most of the time, but flooding during
and after heavy rains would preclude movement. In
the mangrove areas near the coast and also in rough,
steep, or disected areas off -road dispersal and cross
country movement would be precluded.
E. Approaches
1. Land (C)
The only land approach to Singapore is by the
highway or railroad to the causeway which crosses
Johore Strait and links the island with West Malaysia.
The highway is two lanes wide and has a bituminous
surface. The railroad is meter gage and single track.
2. Sea (C)
The coastline of Singapore, including the small
islands and islets, totals 120 miles. Singapore claims
territorial jurisdiction for 3 nautical miles offshore. The
72 -mile coastline of Singapore Island is along Johore
10
SINGAPORE
1 FMAM11
MEAN MONTHLY
PRECIPITATION (INCHES)
AT SPECIFIED HOURS (LST)
ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM
MEAN DAILY
MAXIMUM
MEAN DAILY
MINIMUM
ABSOLUTE MAXIM14M
SINGAPORE AIRPORT
100
60 T
BO
ID
20 I,I
JFMAMJJASONDJ
MEAN CLOUDINESS 1 %1
SINGAPORE AIRPORT
J FMAM 1 1
MEAN
THUNDERSTORM DAYS
SINGAPORE AIRPORT
too-
J 7
so
,o
201 1 111 1
I I I I
I
o +-1
JFMAM1 JASk_NDJ
MEAN RELATIVE
HUMIDITY AT
SPECIFIED HOURS (LST)
TEMPERATURES �F)
FIGURE 9. Precipitation, thunderstorm days, cloudiness,
relative humidity, and temperatures for city of Singapore
and Singapore Airport (U /OU)
Strait in the north and west and Singapore Strait in the
south and east. Offshore approaches to the southwest
coast are channelized by numerous islets, reefs, a nd
shoals extending to 8 nautical miles offshore. Offshore
approaches to the southeastern shores of the island are
relatively clear except for shoals in places. The
nearshore approaches are partly obstructed by shoals,
reefs, and islands. These obstructions restrict passage
of large vessels entering the eastern arm of Johore
Strait to a channel. Johore Strait is divided into two
arms by the causeway connecting Singapore Island
and the mainland. The eastern arm is about 1:5
nautical miles long and is generally clear. The channel
is navigable for oceangoing vessels to the causeway.
7
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25X1

FIGURE 1 1. Causeway across Johore Strait connects
the Malay Peninsula with Singapt,:e Island (at
top) (C)
g