Anchors are heavy objects attached to ships and boats by chains, which are lowered into the water. Their flukes penetrate the seabed, holding vessels in place and preventing them from drifting with the wind or current.
This anchor was used on RSS Independence, an Independence-class patrol craft (PC) ordered from shipbuilder Vosper Thornycroft in 1968. This ship was one of the first acquired by the Republic of Singapore Navy following Singapore’s independence in 1965. The PCs were acquired to allow the fledgling Navy to perform more effective patrols to prevent and deter smuggling, robberies, and illegal migration in Singapore’s waters.
As RSS Independence was an 110-foot patrol craft able at a speed of up to 30 knots, important considerations had to be made on the appropriate type of anchor. Although all anchors serve the same basic function of slowing and mooring ships at sea, various factors such as ease of storage and holding power-to-weight ratio impact their design. The Danforth anchor, invented in 1939 by American civil engineer Richard Danforth, was eventually chosen.
These mooring devices were widely used during World War II by transport vessels in operations such as the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944. This anchor is also a popular choice for smaller boats, as it is relatively light but contains considerable holding power of up to 14.2 times its own weight. Its teeth-like triangular flukes are angled downwards so that as more drag or resistance is exerted while moving, the angled design will force the flukes further downwards into the seabed. The Danforth anchor is also favoured as it can be laid flat on the ship’s deck for easier storage. Although RSS Independence has been decommissioned, Danforth anchors remain in use today by many ships around the world.