1927 Admiralty Nautical Chart or Maritime Map of the Singapore Strait

This is a 1927 British Admiralty nautical chart or maritime map of the Singapore Strait. Centered Singapore city and the narrow strait between Singapore Island and Pulo Battam (Pulau Batam) the map extends west as far as the Malacca Strait and east to South Channel and Pulo Bintang (Pulau Bintan), north to the mouth of the Johore River, and south to Pulo Rempang (Pulau Rempang). Singapore town is illustrated in detail, noting individual buildings, including Fort Canning. Myriad depth soundings measured in fathoms are noted throughout, along with numerous islands. The blank area in the lower right corner suggests that this example is possibly a proof state, printed before the proposed inset was completed.

The Singapore Strategy

As this map was being printed, Singapore became central to the Singapore Strategy, a naval defense policy instituted by the British Empire between 1919 and 1941.  Following World War I (1914 – 1918), it became apparent that the Royal Navy was facing challenges to its long established supremacy by the rising naval forces of the United States and Imperial Japan.  While the growing U.S. Navy, being a strong ally, was not a serious cause of concern, it quickly became apparent that the Imperial Japanese naval buildup would clash with British interests in the Far East.  

The British determined to establish a 'Gibraltar of the East,' zoning in on Singapore for its exceptionally strategic position.  Starting work in 1919, the British began a series of extensive improvements to the port as an expense of some 500,000 GBP.  Completed over the subsequent 20 years, Singapore was outfitted with largest dry dock in the world, the third largest wet dock, and enough fuel tanks to support the entire Royal Navy for six months.  The island's defenses also included an enormous Royal Air Force base and mounted 15-inch stationary guns.   Despite what appeared to be highly defensible position, when hostilities finally broke out between the British Empire and Imperial Japan, in 1942, Singapore fell to Japanese invaders after just 15 days of fighting, an event described by Prime Minister Winston Churchill as the 'worst disaster and largest capitulation in British history.'

This chart was originally published by the Admiralty in 1914, with small corrections present up to 1927 and was engraved by Davies, Bryer, and Company. It is Admiralty Chart no. 2403.