This hulking battleship in the middle of Sembawang Park might look intimidating, but it is mere child’s play.

The warship takes centre stage at a playground that was designed and built by Playpoint, a home-grown playground specialist that has also built play areas in Gardens by the Bay and The Pinnacle@Duxton Housing Board project in Cantonment Road.

Commissioned by the National Parks Board, the mock battleship pays tribute to two British warships – the HMS Prince of Wales and the battle cruiser HMS Repulse – that were sunk by the Japanese during World War II in 1941.

The silhouette of the 36m long naval ship is instantly recognisable. There are five sections: a stern, rear deck, front deck and bow.

In keeping with the theme, it comes complete with a gun turret, smoke stacks, propellers and a rudder. A red climbing net was also put in next to it as a nod to the naval flagpole that is commonly seen on battleships.

The ship is made of wooden planks hitched to a galvanised steel frame, and children can hide in it hull or captain it on the top of the deck.

As an added challenge, some decks are sloping so kids have to pull themselves up, climb through tunnels, navigate grid nets or have a go at the mini-rock wall.

The playground was opened to the public about 3 months ago.