Royal Thai Navy

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Royal Thai Navy
กองทัพเรือไทย
125px
Emblem of the Royal Thai Navy
Active 8 April 1887 (137 years)
Country  Thailand
Allegiance King Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand
Type Navy
Size 71,000 Active personnel
(53,000 Navy personnel)
(18,000 Marine Infantry)
Part of Royal Thai Armed Forces
Garrison/HQ Sattahip, Chonburi (Main base)
Bangkok Noi, Bangkok (Headquarters)
Nickname(s) ราชนาวีไทย Rajanavee Thai
Motto ร่วมเครือนาวี จักยลปฐพีไพศาล (Join the Navy to see the world)
Colours Navy blue
March เพลงราชนาวี
(Navy March)
เพลงดอกประดู่
(Dok Pradu Song)
Anniversaries 20 November 1906
(Royal Thai Navy Day)
Engagements Franco-Siamese War
World War I
French-Thai War (Battle of Koh Chang)
World War II
Korean War
Palace Rebellion
Manhattan Rebellion
Vietnam War
Piracy in the Strait of Malacca
Piracy in Somalia
2015 Rohingya refugee crisis
Commanders
Commander-in-chief Admiral Na Arreenich
Notable
commanders		 King Pin-Klao
Prince of Chumphon
Luang Sinthusongkhramchai
Insignia
Royal Thai Navy Flag Royal Thai Navy Flag.svg
Naval Jack and Unit Colour 150px
Naval Ensign Naval Ensign of Thailand.svg
Aircraft marking 100px

The Royal Thai Navy or RTN (Thai: กองทัพเรือไทย; rtgs: Kong Thap Ruea Thai) is the naval force of Thailand and part of the Royal Thai Armed Forces. It was established in the late-19th century. Admiral Prince Abhakara Kiartiwongse (1880–1923) is considered "the father of the Royal Thai Navy". Similar to the organisational structure of the United States, the Royal Thai Navy includes the naval fleet and the Royal Thai Marine Corps. The Royal Thai Navy operates out of Sattahip Naval Base in Sattahip Bay. Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country that operates an aircraft carrier, though it is used as a pure helicopter carrier with the retirement of the Harrier fighter wing.[1][2] Thailand was the second Asian nation to acquire submarines, following Japan, but has had no submarines since 1950.

The United States Navy and Royal Thai Navy conduct the annual joint operation Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT). CARAT is an annual series of bilateral maritime training exercises of the US Navy and the armed forces of Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, and Philippines.

History

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Main article: Military history of Thailand

Origin

Franco-Siamese War

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Main article: Paknam incident

World War I

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Main article: Siam in World War I

After World War I

HTMS Matchanu and Wirun at Kobe Port
HTMS Thonburi

French-Thai War

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Main article: Battle of Ko Chang

World War II

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Main article: Pacific War

Vietnam War

In support of Vietnam during the Vietnam War, two Royal Thai Navy vessels undertook operations in South Vietnam.[additional citation needed][3]

Current

Template:HTMS
File:Phutta Loetla Naphalai.jpg
Template:HTMS

The navy's combat forces included the Royal Fleet and the Royal Thai Marine Corps. The 130 vessels of the Royal Fleet included frigates equipped with surface-to-air missiles, fast attack craft armed with surface-to-surface missiles, large coastal patrol craft, coastal minelayers, coastal minesweepers, landing craft, and training ships.

The mission space of the Thailand navy includes the Thai Gulf and the Indian Ocean, which are separated by land, as well as rivers. Naval affairs were directed by the country's most senior admiral from his Bangkok headquarters. The naval commander in chief was supported by staff groups that planned and administered such activities as logistics, education and training, and various special services. The headquarters general staff functioned like those of corresponding staffs in the army and air force command structures.

RTN response to criticism

A 20 April 2014 Bangkok Post editorial said that a major news agency won the Pulitzer Prize for their work exposing Thailand's involvement in the trafficking of Myanmar's oppressed Rohingya minority through what it called a "tropical gulag". The next day, two journalists running a small, independent website in Phuket were formally indicted for criminally defaming the Royal Thai Navy by quoting part of the award-winning report. "Phuketwan editor Alan Morison and journalist Chutima Sidasathian, who had played a substantial role in the Reuters investigation, had to worry about the threat of seven years in jail and whether they would be granted bail".[4] The lawsuit was not dropped.[5] Phuketwan spent years defending itself and eventually won in 2015 but had to close down because its funds were exhausted.[6]

Command and control

The Royal Thai Navy is commanded by the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Navy, currently Admiral Surasak Rounroengrom, who was appointed in 2011. The Royal Thai Navy headquarters is in Bangkok.

  • Commander-in-Chief, Royal Thai Navy: Admiral Na Arreenich
  • Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Royal Thai Navy: Admiral Narongpol Nabangchang
  • President, Royal Thai Navy Advisory Group: Admiral Chumphol Wongwakin
  • Assistant Commander-in-Chief, Royal Thai Navy: Admiral Graivut Vattanatham
  • Chief of Staff, Royal Thai Navy: Admiral Panlop Tamisanon
  • Commander-in-Chief, Royal Thai Fleet: Admiral Naris Pratoomsuwan

List of commanders

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Main article: List of Commanders of the Royal Thai Navy

Organisation

Naval Area Commands

Navy Cadet Regiment, King's Guards of Royal Thai Navy in the royal funeral procession of Princess Bejaratana Rajasuda

The Royal Thai Navy operates three naval area commands:

Branches

Royal Thai Navy AAV-7A1 amphibious assault vehicles, during Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2008
File:Royal Thai Navy Riverine Sailors on patrol boats.jpg
Royal Thai Navy Riverine Sailors and U.S. Navy Sailors from Riverine Squadron ONE aboard Thai riverine patrol boats during Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Thailand 2010

Royal Thai Naval Air and Coastal Defence Command

Coastal Defence Command was formed in 1992 under the control of the Royal Fleet Headquarters, with one coastal defence regiment (equipped with 155 mm artillery) and one air defence regiment (equipped with 40 mm and 37 mm anti-aircraft guns as well as HN-5A MANPADs). Personnel were initially drawn from the Royal Thai Marine Corps, but are now being recruited directly. The First Coastal Defence Regiment is based near the Marine Corps facility at Sattahip. The First Air Defence Regiment was near the Naval Air Wing at Utapao. Coastal Defence Command was greatly expanded in 1992, following the government's decision in 1988 to charge the RTN with the responsibility of defending the entire eastern seaboard and Southern Seaboard Development Project. The Second Air Defence Regiment, based at Songkhla, was then formed the following year. Some analysts believe that this element will eventually grow to a strength of up to 15,000 personnel.[7] They are interested in S-300 or S-400 SAMs to upgrade their air defence system.

District forces

Royal Thai Navy is located in Thailand
Sattahip Naval Base
Sattahip Naval Base
Bangkok Naval Base
Bangkok Naval Base
Phangnga Naval Base
Phangnga Naval Base
Songkhla Naval Base
Songkhla Naval Base
Phuket Naval Base
Phuket Naval Base
Samui Naval Base
Samui Naval Base
Trat Naval Base
Trat Naval Base
Thai Navy Bases District Forces

Naval Aviation

The RTN has two air wings, operating 40 fixed-wing aircraft and 30 helicopters from Utapao, Songkhla and Phuket. The First Royal Thai Navy wing has four squadrons; the Second Royal Thai Navy wing has three squadrons.

Other forces

The Royal Thai Navy also consists of a Royal Thai Marine Corps division, an Air and Coastal Defence Division, Underwater Demolition Assault Unit and a Riverine Patrol Regiment.

Rank structure

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Main article: Military ranks of the Thai armed forces
Equivalent
NATO Code		 OF-10 OF-9 OF-8 OF-7 OF-6 OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1 Cadet Officer
Officer
ranks		 Admiral of the Fleet Admiral Vice Admiral Rear Admiral Commodore Captain Commander Lieutenant Commander Lieutenant Lieutenant Junior Grade Sub Lieutenant
จอมพลเรือ พลเรือเอก พลเรือโท พลเรือตรี พลเรือจัตวา1 นาวาเอก นาวาโท นาวาตรี เรือเอก เรือโท เรือตรี นักเรียนนายเรือ
Admiral of the Fleet Admiral Vice Admiral Rear Admiral Commodore or Rear Admiral (lower half)1 Captain Commander Lieutenant Commander Lieutenant Lieutenant
Junior Grade		 Sub Lieutenant Midshipman
Equivalent
NATO Code		 OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-1
Enlisted
ranks		 Special Chief Petty Officer 1st Class Chief Petty Officer 1st Class Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class Chief Petty Officer 3rd Class Petty Officer 1st Class Petty Officer 2nd Class Petty Officer 3rd Class No insignia
พันจ่าเอกพิเศษ พันจ่าเอก พันจ่าโท พันจ่าตรี จ่าเอก จ่าโท จ่าตรี พลทหาร
Master
Chief Petty
Officer		 Senior Chief Petty
Officer		 Chief Petty
Officer		 Petty Officer
1st Class		 Petty Officer
2nd Class		 Petty Officer
3rd Class		 Seaman Seaman apprentice

Equipment

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Main article: List of equipment in Royal Thai Navy

Fleet

Class Photo Origin Hull No./Commissioned Displacement Notes
Aircraft carrier (1 in service)
Chakri Naruebet
DN-SD-03-08801-1-.JPG
  Spain
Empresa Nacional Bazán		 Template:HTMS/1997 11,486 tonnes Armament:
Frigate (8 in service)
DW 3000F class[8]  South Korea
DSME		 HTMS Tachin
(FFG-471)		 3,700 tonnes Multi-role stealth frigate.
(Under construction.Delivery in 2018)

Armament:
 Thailand
Mahidol Adulyadej Naval Dockyard

(Technology transfer)[9]
HTMS Prasae
(FFG-472)
Knox class
200px
  United States
Avondale Shipyard		 Template:HTMS/1994 4,260 tonnes Guided missile frigate.
(To be replaced by DW 3000F class)

Armament:
Type 025T class
HTMS Naresuan in Hong Kong.JPG
  China CSSC (Mod)
 Thailand (Design)		 Template:HTMS
(FFG-421)/1995
Template:HTMS
(FFG-422)/1995		 2,985 tonnes Guided missile frigate.

Armament:
Type 053HT class
200px
  China CSSC Template:HTMS
(FFG-455)/1995
Template:HTMS
(FFG-456)/1995
Template:HTMS
(FFG-457)/1995
Template:HTMS
(FFG-458)/1995		 1,924 tonnes Guided missile frigate.

Armament:
Corvettes (7 in service)
Ratanakosin class
HTMS Rattanakosin (FSG 441).jpg
  United States
Tacoma Boat		 FS 441/1986
FS 442/1987		 960 tonnes Guided missile corvette.

Armament:
Tapi class  United States
American Shipbuilding		 FF 431/1971
FF 432/1974		 1,191 tonnes Anti-submarine warfare corvette.

Armament:
Khamronsin class  Thailand
Mahidol Adulyadej Naval Dockyard and Italthai Marine		 FS 531/1992
FS 532/1992
FS 533/1992		 630 tonnes Anti-submarine warfare corvette.

Armament:
Patrol vessels (22 in service)
River-class (OPV)
RAN-IFR 2013 D3 43.JPG
  United Kingdom
Vosper Thornycroft
 Thailand
Bangkok Dock		 HTMS Krabi
(OPV-551)/2013
HTMS Trang
(OPV-552)/2018[10]		 1,969 tonnes Armament:
Pattani class (OPV)  China CSSC (Build)
 Thailand (Design)		 HTMS Pattani
(OPV-511)/2005
HTMS Naratiwat
(OPV-512)/2005		 1,460 tonnes Armament:
Makut Rajakumarn class  United Kingdom
Yarrow Shipbuilders		 FF 433/1973 1,900 tonnes Currently used as Offshore Patrol Vessel and/or training role.

Armament:
Hua Hin class
200px
  Thailand
Asian Marine Services and Mahidol Adulyadej Naval Dockyard
 China (Design)		 PC 541/2001
PC 542/2001
PC 543/2001		 590 tonnes China design to Built in Thailand.

Armament:
M58 class  Thailand
Marsun Shipbuilding		 Template:HTMS/2016 520 tonnes This new class of Patrol Boat is expected to replace Hua hin class ships: HTMS Huahin (541), HTMS Klang (542) and HTMS Sriracha (543).[11] According to the Navy’s Strategic Plan 2008 – 2017 Royal Thai Navy will add this series with another three boat.

Armament:
PSMM Mk.5 Class  Thailand
Italthai Marine		 PC 521/1983
PC 522/1984
PC 523/1985
PC 524/1985
PC 525/1985
PC 526/1986		 300 tonnes Armament:
Tor 991 class  Thailand
Mahidol Adulyadej Naval Dockyard and Marsun Shipbuilding		 T.991/2007
T.992/2007
T.993/2007		 186 tonnes Armament:
Tor 994 class  Thailand
Mahidol Adulyadej Naval Dockyard and Marsun Shipbuilding		 T.994/2011
T.995/2011
T.996/2011		 186 tonnes Armament:
M36 class  Thailand
Marsun Shipbuilding		 T.111/2014
T.112/2014
T.113/2014		 150 tonnes Armament:
M21 class  Thailand
Marsun Shipbuilding		 T.228/2013
T.229/2013
T.230/2013
T.232/2016
T.233/2016
T.234/2016
T.235/2016
T.236/2016
T.237/2016		 43 tonnes Armament:
Fast Attack Craft (9 in service)
BMB-230 Class  Italy
Cantiere Navale Breda		 FAC 321/1979
FAC 322/1979
FAC 323/1979		 270 tonnes

Armament:
FPB-45 Class  Singapore
ST Marine		 FAC 311/1976
FAC 312/1976
FAC 313/1977		 263 tonnes Similar to Singapore Navy's Seawolf-class missile gunboats (a design based on the West Germany's Lürssen TNC45 FAC[13]).

Armament:
MV400 Class  Italy
Cantiere Navale Breda		 FAC 331/1983
FAC 332/1983
FAC 333/1983		 450 tonnes same as Rajcharit class except 76/62 gun in the y position replacing of SSM

Armament:
Training Ship/Salute Ship (1 in service)
Cannon class DE  United States
Western Pipe and Steel Company		 Template:HTMS/1959 1,620 tonnes Former USS Hemminger (DE-746). Currently used as salute ship.

Armament:
Amphibious warfare ship (3 in service)
Endurance class
200px
  Singapore
ST Marine		 Template:HTMS/2012 7,600 tonnes Armament:
Normed PS 700 class
US Navy 100203-N-6692A-154 The Royal Thai Navy medium landing ship HTMS Surin (LST 722) transits the Gulf of Thialand.jpg
  Thailand
Italthai Marine and Bangkok Dock		 LST 721/1987
LST 722/1988		 4,520 tonnes Armament:
Landing Craft Utility (9 in service)
Marsun M55 class  Thailand
Marsun Shipbuilding		 LCU 784/2010
LCU 785/2010		 550 tonnes Armament:
Thongkaeo class  Thailand
Bangkok Dock		 LCU 771/1982
LCU 772/1983
LCU 773/1983
LCU 774/1983		 396 tonnes Armament:
Mannok class
200px
  Thailand
Silkline International - Australian Submarine Corporation (ASC) Joint Venture		 LCU 781/?
LCU 782/?
LCU 783/?		 550 tonnes Armament:
Replenishment ships (9 in service)
HTMS Similan  China
CSSC		 AOR 871/1996 22,000 tonnes
Jula class(ll)  Singapore
Singmarine Shipyard		 YO 831/1980 1,661 tonnes
YOG-5 Class  United States
Albina Engine and Machine Works		 YO 832/1947 1,235 tonnes
Prong class  Thailand
Mahidol Adulyadej Naval Dockyard		 YO 833/? 412 tonnes
Proet class  Thailand
Mahidol Adulyadej Naval Dockyard		 YO 834/1969
YO 835/1970		 410 tonnes
Matra class  Thailand
Marsun Shipbuilding		 YO ???/2014 500 tonnes
Chuang class
200px
  Thailand
Mahidol Adulyadej Naval Dockyard		 YO 841/1966
YO 842/1974		 360 tonnes
Minesweeper ships (7 in service)
MSC-289 class  United States
Dorchester Shipbuilding and Peterson Builders		 MSC 612/1965
MSC 613/1965		 384 tonnes
HTMS Thalang  Thailand
Bangkok Dock		 MCS 621/1980 1,095 tonnes
M48 class  Germany
Friedrich Lurssen Werft		 MCS 631/1987
MCS 632/1987		 444 tonnes
Gaeta class  Italy
Intermarine SpA		 MCS 633/1999
MCS 634/2000		 697 tonnes
Research and survey vessels (3 in service)
HTMS Chan  Germany
Friedrich Lurssen Werft		 AGOR 811/1961 996 tonnes
HTMS Sok  Thailand
Bangkok Dock		 AGOR 812/1982 1,526 tonnes
HTMS Paruehasabordee  Thailand
Unithai Shipbuilding and Engineering - Shelde Naval Shipbuilding Joint Venture		 AGOR 813/2008 1,636 tonnes
Tugboats (6 in service)
Rin class  Singapore
Singmarine Shipyard		 YTM 853/1981
YTM 854/1981		 421 tonnes
Samsan class  Thailand
Mahidol Adulyadej Naval Dockyard		 YTM 855/1994
YTM 856/1994		 385 tonnes
Klungbadan class  Canada
Canadian Bridge		 YTL 851/1954
YTL 852/1954		 80 tonnes

Future fleet

Vessel Origin Type Class Displacement Status Notes
Submarine
Type S26T Class
Chinese Type 093 submarine.jpg
  China
Wuchang Shipbuilding		 Submarine Yuan-class modified On Surface: 2,725 tonnes
Dive:
3,600 tonnes		 Approved the first submarine would be bought for 13 billion baht between fiscal years 2017-2021. The second and third submarines would be purchased during the remainder of the 11-year period[14] [15]
Frigate
Template:HTMS (FFG 471)  South Korea
 Thailand		 Multi-role stealth frigate DW 3000F class 3,700 tonnes Launched Delivery in 2018
Template:HTMS (FFG 472)  South Korea
 Thailand		 Multi-role stealth frigate DW 3000F class 3,700 tonnes Order Delivery in 2020
Patrol vessel
HTMS Trang (OPV-552)  Thailand Offshore patrol vessel River class 1,900 tonnes Order Delivery in 2018[16]
 ??? (PC ???)  Thailand Patrol Boat M58 class  ??? tonnes Order
 ??? (PC ???)  Thailand Patrol Boat M85 class  ??? tonnes Order

Procurement plans

  • Type 039A submarine:[17][18] The navy has sought budget approval to buy three Chinese-made Yuan class S26T submarines for 36 billion baht (US$1 billion). The S26T submarines are diesel-powered with a displacement of 2,400-3,000 tonnes.[19] The Cabinet approved one submarine purchase on April 18, 2017. Submarine initially, with a budget of 13.5 billion baht ($393 million), including weapons systems, spare parts and technology transfer.[20]

In January 2017 the Thai National Legislative Assembly, the country's "rubber-stamp parliament", approved the expenditure of 13.5 billion baht (US$383 million) to buy one Chinese S26T submarine.[2] It is projected to be the first of a three-boat, US$1 billion acquisition. The sub is expected to be delivered in about 2023. The Thai navy's submarine squadron has trained in Germany and South Korea but has no submarines—its last sub was decommissioned in 1950. It does have a submarine headquarters: in July 2014 a US$17.3 million submarine headquarters and training center was opened at the Thai Navy's largest port in Sattahip. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has explained that Thailand will buy submarines, "not for battle, but so that others will be in awe of us."[21] Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwon said that "...growing territorial threats and an increasing number of maritime missions has prompted the navy to strengthen its submarine units."[22] There are plans to base one submarine at Mahidol Adulyadej Naval Dockyard in Sattahip District, Chonburi, one at a submarine dockyard off the Sattahip coastline, and one on the Andaman coast, in either Krabi or Phang Nga.[22]

Humanitarian relief operations

Thailand worked with more than 60 nations in providing Humanitarian response to the 2015 Nepal earthquake. Operation Sahayogi Haat ("helping hands") was a US military relief operation delivering humanitarian assistance to victims of the April and May 2015 Nepal earthquakes. The Royal Thai Navy materially assisted relief efforts.[23] A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the region of Kathmandu in Nepal on 25 April 2015. Operation Sahayogi Haat (Nepali: "helping hands")[upper-alpha 1] for humanitarian relief operations was put into action by Joint Task Force 505 on 6 May.[27]

See also

References

Notes

  1. ↑ "US military earthquake relief efforts in Nepal led by Joint Task Force 505 have been named “Operation Sahayogi Haat,” which means “Helping Hand” in Nepali, by US Pacific Command based out of Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii."[24][25][26]

Citations

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  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

Sources

Thailand: A country study (Barbara Leitch LePoer, editor). Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress of the USA (September 1987).  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

External links

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