The Emory S. Land-class submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40) recently hosted several engagements from the 13th Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) and U.S. Navy submarine staff talks to shape tours while moored pier-side at Sepanggar Naval Base in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. Frank Cable’s triad, along with several officers, had the opportunity to tour the Malaysian submarine capabilities, on July 15, 2022. Staff talks also included discussions of Frank Cable’s expeditionary repair, rearm, and re-provision capabilities. While in port, Frank Cable sailors also had the opportunity to participate in a friendly volleyball match with RMN sailors.
“It was an honor to host the 13th Royal Malaysian Navy and U.S. Navy Submarine Staff Talks onboard our ship. We enjoyed the opportunity to present our submarine tenders’ extraordinary capabilities and reinforce our strong relationship with the Royal Malaysian Navy,” said Capt. Frye, Frank Cable’s commanding officer.
“The Royal Malaysian Navy displayed a wide range of impressive capabilities of the RMN Submarine Force. Joint engagements between the Royal Malaysian Navy and U.S. Navy continue to strengthen our partnerships. I am honored to have been a part of these joint engagements and hope they lead to future alliances,” said Ens. Sean Smith, Frank Cable’s Weapons Handling Officer, of the tour of RMN submarine command headquarters.
Frank Cable hosted several tours for RMN sailors with Frank Cable Sailors presenting the ship’s medical, repair, supply, and weapons capabilities, demonstrating the ship’s operational readiness at all times. Lastly, the tour from the Royal Australian Navy Collins-class submarine HMAS Collins, currently docked at Sepanggar Naval Base, visited the Frank Cable for lunch. Frank Cable, forward-deployed to the island of Guam, repairs, rearms, re-provisions, and offers logistical support to submarines and surface vessels in the Indo-Pacific region.
USS Frank Cable (AS-40) is the second Emory S. Land-class submarine tender built by the Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company of Seattle, Washington for the United States Navy. The ship was christened on 14 January 1978 by Mrs. Rose A. Michaelis, wife of Admiral Frederick H. Michaelis, then Chief of Naval Material. The ship is named for Frank Cable, an electrical engineer who worked as an electrician and trial captain for USS Holland (SS-1). The Emory S. Land-class is identical to the preceding L. Y. Spear-class. The ships were specifically designed to service nuclear-powered attack submarines. They feature 53 specialized work centers on 13 decks onboard. Four submarines can be serviced simultaneously. The ships are equipped with two 40-ton bow anchor windlasses and one 20-ton stern anchor windlass, two 60-ton cranes and two 7-ton cranes. All ships have a helicopter landing pad aft, although no hangar is provided.
