Royal Thai Navy
Royal Thai Navy กองทัพเรือ, ราชนาวี (RTGS: Kongthap Ruea, Ratcha Navy) | |
---|---|
Emblem of the Royal Thai Navy | |
Active | 1887 |
Country | Thailand |
Branch | Royal Thai Armed Forces |
Type | Navy |
Size |
71,000 Active personnel (53,000 Navy personnel) (18,000 Marine Infantry) |
Garrison/HQ |
Sattahip, Chonburi (main base) Bangkok Noi, Bangkok (headquarter) |
Motto(s) | ร่วมเครือนาวี จักยลปฐพีไพศาล (Join the Navy to see the world) |
Colours | Navy blue |
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 |
Commanders | |
Commander-in-chief | Admiral Na Arreenich |
Notable commanders |
King Pin-Klao Prince of Chumphon Luang Sinthusongkhramchai |
Insignia | |
Royal Thai Navy Flag | |
Naval Jack and Unit Colour | |
Naval Ensign |
The Royal Thai Navy (Thai: กองทัพเรือ) (RTN) 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] Thailand was the 2nd Asian nation to acquire submarines, following Japan. As of 2016, no submarines are operated by Thailand.
The Royal Thai Navy operates three naval area commands:
- First Naval Area Command: responsible for the northern part of Gulf of Thailand
- Second Naval Area Command: responsible for the southern part of Gulf of Thailand
- Third Naval Area Command: responsible for the Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean)
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. The Royal Thai Navy also consists of a Royal Thai Marine Corps division, an Air and Coastal Defence Division, Royal Thai Navy SEALs and a Riverine Patrol Regiment.
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
Origin
Franco-Siamese War
World War I
After World War I
French-Thai War
World War II
Vietnam War
In support of Vietnam during the Vietnam War, two Royal Thai Navy vessels undertook operations in South Vietnam.[2]
Current
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".[3] As of 22 April 2014, the lawsuit had not been dropped.[4]
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
Organisation
Branches
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.[5] They are interested in S-300 or S-400 SAMs to upgrade their air defence system.
- The First Air Defence Regiment: their mission is to provide anti-aircraft warfare for the northern Gulf of Thailand with three anti-aircraft battalions.
- The Second Air Defence Regiment: to provide Anti-aircraft warfare for the southern Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea with three anti-aircraft battalions.
- The First Coastal Defence Regiment has three artillery battalions.
- Two Air and Coastal Defence Command and Control Centers.
- Air and Coastal Defence Supporting Regiment: one transportation battalion, one communications battalion, one maintenance battalion.
- Equipment
- QW-18 MANPADs.
- Modified PL-9 surface-to-air missiles.
- Type 74, twin 37 mm anti-aircraft artillery
- Bofors 40L60 and 40L70 40 mm anti-aircraft artillery
- Type 59-I 130mm towed field artillery
- GHN-45 towed howitzers
- Saab ARTHUR Weapon Locating System
- KRONOS Radar Systems
District Forces
- Navy Fleet District Forces
- Northern Gulf of Thailand Fleet
- Chakri Naruebet class (1)
- Angthong class (1)
- Naresuan class (2)
- Phutthayotfa Chulalok class (2)
- Ratanakosin class (2)
- Krabi class (1)
- Southern Gulf of Thailand Fleet
- Tapi class (2)
- Sattahip class (6)
- MV400 Class (3)
- Andaman Sea Fleet
- Khamronsin class (3)
- Pattani class (2)
- Northern Gulf of Thailand Fleet
- Air Force District Forces
- Navy Bases District Forces
- Sattahip Naval Base
- Bangkok Naval Base
- Phangnga Naval Base
- Songkhla Naval Base
- Phuket Naval Base
- Samui Naval Base
- Trat Naval Base
- Krabi Naval Base
Rank and insignia
Equipment
- Aircraft carrier : 1
- Frigates : 7
- Corvettes : 7
- Patrol vessels : 22
- Fast attack craft : 9
- Amphibious warfare ship : 3
- Landing craft, utility : 9
- River ships : 189
Combat ships
Class | Photo | Origin | Hull No./Commissioned | Displacement | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aircraft carrier (1 in service) | ||||||
Chakri Naruebet | Spain Empresa Nacional Bazán |
CV 911/1997 | 11,486 tonnes | Armament:
| ||
Frigate (7 in service) | ||||||
DW 3000F class[6] | South Korea DSME Thailand Mahidol Adulyadej Naval Dockyard |
(FFG-471) (FFG-472)[6] |
3,700 tonnes | (Under construction.Delivery in 2018) Multi-role stealth frigate.
| ||
Knox class | United States Avondale Shipyard |
FFG 461/1994 | 4,260 tonnes | (To be replaced by DW 3000F class)
| ||
Type 025T class | China CSSC Thailand (Design) |
FFG 421/1995 FFG 422/1995 |
2,985 tonnes | Guided missile frigate.
| ||
Type 053HT class | China CSSC |
FFG 455/1991 FFG 456/1991 FFG 457/1992 FFG 458/1992 |
1,924 tonnes | Guided missile frigate.
| ||
Corvettes (7 in service) | ||||||
Ratanakosin class | United States Tacoma Boat |
FS 441/1986 FS 442/1987 |
960 tonnes | Guided missile corvette.
| ||
Tapi class | United States American Shipbuilding |
FF 431/1971 FF 432/1974 |
1,191 tonnes | Anti-submarine warfare corvette.
| ||
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.
| ||
Patrol vessels (22 in service) | ||||||
River class | United Kingdom Vosper Thornycroft Thailand Bangkok Dock |
OPV 551/2013 | 1,969 tonnes | Armament:
| ||
Pattani class | China CSSC Thailand (Design) |
OPV 511/2005 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.
| ||
Hua Hin class | 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.
| ||
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 |
| ||
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: | ||
Fast Attack Craft (9 in service) | ||||||
BMB-230 Class | Italy Cantiere Navale Breda |
FAC 321/1979 FAC 322/1979 FAC 323/1979 |
270 tonnes |
| ||
FPB-45 Class | Singapore Singapore Technologies 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[7]).
| ||
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
| ||
Training Ship/Salute Ship (1 in service) | ||||||
Cannon class DE | United States Western Pipe and Steel Company |
DE-1/1959 | 1,620 tonnes | Former USS Hemminger (DE-746). Currently used as salute ship.
| ||
Amphibious warfare ship (3 in service) | ||||||
Endurance class | Singapore Singapore Technologies Marine |
LPD 79/2012 | 7,600 tonnes | Armament:
| ||
Normed PS 700 class | 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 | Thailand Silkline International - Australian Submarine Corporation (ASC) Joint Venture |
LCU 781/? LCU 782/? LCU 783/? |
550 tonnes | Armament: |
Auxiliary ships
Class | Photo | Origin | Hull No./Commissioned | Displacement | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 | 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 ships
Vessel | Origin | Type | Class | Displacement | Status | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Frigate | ||||||
??? (FFG 471) | South Korea Thailand |
Multi-role stealth frigate | DW 3000F class | 3,700 tonnes | Under construction | Delivery in 2018 |
??? (FFG 472) | South Korea Thailand |
Multi-role stealth frigate | DW 3000F class | 3,700 tonnes | Order | Delivery in 2020 |
Patrol vessel | ||||||
??? (OPV ???) | Thailand | Offshore patrol vessel | River class | 1,900 tonnes | Order | [8] |
??? (PC ???) | Thailand | Patrol Boat | M58 class | ??? tonnes | Order | |
??? (PC ???) | Thailand | Patrol Boat | M85 class | ??? tonnes | Order |
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.[9] 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.[13]
See also
- Admiral Prince Abhakara Kiartiwongse Prince of Chumphon
- Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters
- Military of Thailand
- Royal Thai Army
- Royal Thai Air Force
- Royal Thai Marine Corps
- Royal Thai Naval Academy
References
Notes
Citations
- ↑ "End of a Legend - Harrier Farewell". Retrieved 24 December 2014.
- ↑ Cold War Southeast Asia. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
- ↑ "Navy must end its attack on reporters". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
- ↑ "Navy to extend lawsuit to Reuters". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
- ↑ John Pike. "Air and Coastal Defense Command". Retrieved 24 December 2014.
- 1 2 Nanuam, Wassana (21 April 2013). "S Korea to build Thai navy frigate". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
- ↑ "Naval vessels as built by Lurssen GmbH". Lurssen.com. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
- ↑ "Thai Navy May Build Second Patrol Boat Under BAE License". Defense News. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
- ↑ Martinez, Staff Sgt. Alexander (29 May 2015). "Thai and USA forces combine to help earthquake victims in Nepal". Pattaya Mail. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
- ↑ "Nepal Earthquake Relief Effort Named ‘Operation Sahayogi Haat’" (News Release). Kathmandu, Nepal: Joint Task Force 505. 10 May 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
- ↑ "Operation Sahayogi Haat / Helping Hand". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
- ↑ "Nepal Earthquake Relief Effort Named ‘Operation Sahayogi Haat’". Nepal Foreign Affairs. 10 May 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
- ↑ "Joint Task Force Activates for Nepal Earthquake Relief". Marine Corps Forces Pacific News Release. US Department of Defense. 6 May 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
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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