The sea's around Singapore became pirate infested in the early 1950's. WW11 equipment was used to assault shipping including private vessels, and it had to be stopped.
The RAF ordered 52 MR3 Shackletons but, as is now the norm, the Defence Review of '56 cut that to 33. This meant it was easy to provide Singapore with 7 MR3S models to replace the 7 Beaufighters gifted in 1954 that were suffering from overuse due to the large area being covered.
The MR3S retained the mud upper turret that was removed by the Brits and South Africans, and added two guns under the tail to keep the heads down on vessels flown over. These were fired by a gunner prone in the tail and meant a flatter take off to avoid them striking the runway. Mid upper and tail were .50 cal while the nose 20mm were kept.
To appear less aggressive (failed) SAR was painted behind the cockpit to emphasize the secondary role.
The MR3S served from mid 1957 to 1978, and is shown in the 1968 to 1973 markings used by Singapore. Three more airframes were aquired in 1971 for spares reclaimation.