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Royal Thai Navy | |
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กองทัพเรือไทย | |
![]() Emblem of the Royal Thai Navy | |
Active | 8 April 1887 (131 years) |
Country | Thailand |
Allegiance | HM The King 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) | ราชนาวี (Raj Navy) |
Motto(s) | 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 4 September: Submarine Memorial Day[1] |
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 Luechai Rutdit |
Notable commanders | King Pin-Klao Prince of Chumphon Sangad Chaloryu |
Insignia | |
Flag | ![]() |
Naval jack and unit colour | ![]() |
Naval ensign | ![]() |
Fin flash | ![]() |
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. 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 its Harrier fighter wing.[2][3] 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.
In fiscal year 2018 (FY2018) the navy's budget is 43,835 million baht.[4]
During World War 2, Siam allied with Japan after Japan invaded Siam in 8 December 1941.
Afterwards, the Thai navy contracted the Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corporation to build Thai ships, submarines, & coastal defense.
In support of Vietnam during the Vietnam War, two Royal Thai Navy vessels undertook operations in South Vietnam.[additional citation(s) needed][5]
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.
A 20 April 2014 Bangkok Post orial 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 or 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".[6] The lawsuit was not dropped.[7] Phuketwan spent years defending itself and eventually won in 2015 but had to close down because its funds were exhausted.[8]
The Royal Thai Navy is commanded by the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Navy, currently Admiral Na Arreenich, who was appointed in 2015. The Royal Thai Navy headquarters is in Bangkok.
The Royal Thai Navy operates three naval area commands:
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.[9] They are interested in S-300 or S-400 SAMs to upgrade their air defence system.
The RTN has two air wings, operating 40 fixed-wing aircraft and 30 helicopters from U-Tapao, 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, Naval Special Warfare Command and a Riverine Patrol Regiment.
The Naval Medical Department was first set up on 1 April 1890 and is currently headquartered at Somdet Phra Pinklao Hospital in Bangkok. It provides medical services for soldiers in the Royal Thai Navy and operates a number of hospitals in Thailand including Queen Sirikit Naval Hospital in Chonburi.
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 | |
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Officer ranks |
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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 | |
|
Class | Photo | Origin | Hull No./Commissioned | Displacement | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aircraft carrier (1 in service) | ||||||
Chakri Naruebet | ![]() Empresa Nacional Bazán |
HTMS Chakri Naruebet/1997 | 11,486 tonnes | Armament:
| ||
Frigate (6 in service+(2) u/c) | ||||||
DW 3000F class[10] | ![]() DSME |
HTMS Bhumibol Adulyadej (FFG-471) (Name changed from HTMS Tachin)[11][12] |
3,700 tonnes | Multi-role stealth frigate. Armament:
| ||
![]() Mahidol Adulyadej Naval Dockyard |
HTMS Prasae (FFG-472) | |||||
Type 025T class | ![]() ![]() |
HTMS Naresuan (FFG-421)/1995 HTMS Taksin (FFG-422)/1995 |
2,985 tonnes | Guided missile frigate.
Armament:
| ||
Type 053HT class | ![]() |
HTMS Chao Phraya (FFG-455)/1995 HTMS Bangpakong (FFG-456)/1995 HTMS Kraburi (FFG-457)/1995 HTMS Saiburi (FFG-458)/1995 |
1,924 tonnes | Guided missile frigate.
Armament:
| ||
Corvettes (7 in service) | ||||||
Ratanakosin class | ![]() Tacoma Boat |
FS 441/1986 FS 442/1987 |
960 tonnes | Guided missile corvette.
Armament:
| ||
Tapi class | ![]() American Shipbuilding |
FF 431/1971 FF 432/1974 |
1,191 tonnes | Anti-submarine warfare corvette.
Armament:
| ||
Khamronsin class | ![]() Mahidol Adulyadej Naval Dockyard and Italthai Marine |
FS 531/1992 FS 532/1992 FS 533/1992 |
630 tonnes | Anti-submarine warfare corvette.
Armament:
| ||
Offshore Patrol vessels (9 in service) | ||||||
River-class (OPV) | ![]() Vosper Thornycroft ![]() Bangkok Dock |
HTMS Krabi (OPV-551)/2013 HTMS Prachuap Khiri Khan (OPV-552)/2018[14] |
1,969 tonnes | Armament:
| ||
Pattani class (OPV) | ![]() ![]() |
HTMS Pattani (OPV-511)/2005 HTMS Naratiwat (OPV-512)/2005 |
1,460 tonnes | Armament:
| ||
Makut Rajakumarn class | ![]() Yarrow Shipbuilders |
FF 433/1973 | 1,900 tonnes | Currently used as Offshore Patrol Vessel and/or training role.
Armament:
| ||
M58 class | ![]() Marsun Shipbuilding |
HTMS Laemsing/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).[15] According to the Navy’s Strategic Plan 2008 – 2017 Royal Thai Navy will add this series with another three boat.
Armament:
| ||
Hua Hin class | ![]() Asian Marine Services and Mahidol Adulyadej Naval Dockyard ![]() |
PC 541/2001 PC 542/2001 PC 543/2001 |
590 tonnes | Chinese design built in Thailand.
Armament:
| ||
Fast Attack Craft (42 in service) | ||||||
BMB-230 Class | ![]() Cantiere Navale Breda |
FAC 321/1979 FAC 322/1979 FAC 323/1979 |
270 tonnes |
Armament:
| ||
FPB-45 Class | ![]() 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[17]).
Armament:
| ||
MV400 Class | ![]() 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:
| ||
PSMM Mk.5 Class | ![]() 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 | ![]() Mahidol Adulyadej Naval Dockyard and Marsun Shipbuilding |
T.991/2007 T.992/2007 T.993/2007 |
186 tonnes | Armament: | ||
Tor 994 class | ![]() Mahidol Adulyadej Naval Dockyard and Marsun Shipbuilding |
T.994/2011 T.995/2011 T.996/2011 |
186 tonnes | Armament: | ||
M36 class | ![]() Marsun Shipbuilding |
T.111/2014 T.112/2014 T.113/2014 |
150 tonnes | Armament: | ||
M21 class | ![]() 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 T.261/2017 T.262/2017 T.263/2017 T.264/2017 T.265/2018 T.266/2018 T.267/2018 T.268/2018 T.269/2018 |
45 tonnes | Armament:
| ||
Training Ship/Salute Ship (1 in service) | ||||||
Cannon class DE | ![]() Western Pipe and Steel Company |
HTMS Pin Klao/1959 | 1,620 tonnes | Former USS Hemminger (DE-746). Currently used as salute ship.
Armament:
| ||
Amphibious warfare ship (3 in service) | ||||||
Endurance class | ![]() ST Marine |
HTMS Angthong/2012 | 7,600 tonnes | Armament:
| ||
Normed PS 700 class | ![]() Italthai Marine and Bangkok Dock |
LST 721/1987 LST 722/1988 |
4,520 tonnes | Armament:
| ||
Landing Craft Utility (9 in service) | ||||||
Marsun M55 class | ![]() Marsun Shipbuilding |
LCU 784/2010 LCU 785/2010 |
550 tonnes | Armament:
| ||
Thongkaeo class | ![]() Bangkok Dock |
LCU 771/1982 LCU 772/1983 LCU 773/1983 LCU 774/1983 |
396 tonnes | Armament: | ||
Mannok class | ![]() Silkline International - Australian Submarine Corporation (ASC) Joint Venture |
LCU 781/? LCU 782/? LCU 783/? |
550 tonnes | Armament: | ||
Replenishment ships (9 in service) | ||||||
HTMS Similan | ![]() CSSC |
AOR 871/1996 | 22,000 tonnes | |||
Jula class(ll) | ![]() Singmarine Shipyard |
YO 831/1980 | 1,661 tonnes | |||
YOG-5 Class | ![]() Albina Engine and Machine Works |
YO 832/1947 | 1,235 tonnes | |||
Prong class | ![]() Mahidol Adulyadej Naval Dockyard |
YO 833/? | 412 tonnes | |||
Proet class | ![]() Mahidol Adulyadej Naval Dockyard |
YO 834/1969 YO 835/1970 |
410 tonnes | |||
Matra class | ![]() Marsun Shipbuilding |
YO ???/2014 | 500 tonnes | |||
Chuang class | ![]() Mahidol Adulyadej Naval Dockyard |
YO 841/1966 YO 842/1974 |
360 tonnes | |||
Minesweeper ships (7 in service) | ||||||
MSC-289 class | ![]() Dorchester Shipbuilding and Peterson Builders |
MSC 612/1965 MSC 613/1965 |
384 tonnes | |||
HTMS Thalang | ![]() Bangkok Dock |
MCS 621/1980 | 1,095 tonnes | |||
M48 class | ![]() Friedrich Lurssen Werft |
MCS 631/1987 MCS 632/1987 |
444 tonnes | |||
Gaeta class | ![]() Intermarine SpA |
MCS 633/1999 MCS 634/2000 |
697 tonnes | |||
Research and survey vessels (3 in service) | ||||||
HTMS Chan | ![]() Friedrich Lurssen Werft |
AGOR 811/1961 | 996 tonnes | |||
HTMS Sok | ![]() Bangkok Dock |
AGOR 812/1982 | 1,526 tonnes | |||
HTMS Paruehasabordee | ![]() Unithai Shipbuilding and Engineering - Shelde Naval Shipbuilding Joint Venture |
AGOR 813/2008 | 1,636 tonnes | |||
Tugboats (6 in service) | ||||||
Rin class | ![]() Singmarine Shipyard |
YTM 853/1981 YTM 854/1981 |
421 tonnes | |||
Samsan class | ![]() Mahidol Adulyadej Naval Dockyard |
YTM 855/1994 YTM 856/1994 |
385 tonnes | |||
Klungbadan class | ![]() Canadian Bridge |
YTL 851/1954 YTL 852/1954 |
80 tonnes |
Vessel | Origin | Type | Class | Displacement | Status | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Submarine | ||||||
Type S26T Class | ![]() |
Submarine | Yuan-class modified | On Surface: 2,725 tonnes Dive: 3,600 tonnes |
As of 4 Sep 2018, under construction.[18] | Delivery: c. 2023 |
Chalawan Class Midget submarine | ![]() |
Midget submarine | Chalawan (unofficial) | 150-300 tonnes | In 193 million baht design phase | Crew: 10: Range: 300 km; Cost: 1 billion baht; Delivery c. 2024[19] |
Frigate | ||||||
HTMS Bhumibol Adulyadej (FFG 471) | ![]() ![]() |
Multi-role stealth frigate | DW 3000F class | 3,700 tonnes | Launched | Delivery in 2018 |
HTMS Prasae (FFG 472) | Multi-role stealth frigate | DW 3000F class | 3,700 tonnes | Order | Delivery in 202X | |
Patrol vessel | ||||||
HTMS Prachuap Khiri Khan (OPV-552) | ![]() |
Offshore patrol vessel | River class | 1,900 tonnes | Order | Delivery in 2018[20] |
Aircraft | Photo | Origin | Type | Quantity | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dornier Do 228 | ![]() |
Maritime patrol aircraft | 7 | Also used in Royal Rain Project. | |
Fokker F.27-200/400 | ![]() |
Military transport, Maritime Attacker, ASW | 2 Mk400 3 Mk200 |
Equipped with Harpoon. | |
Lockheed Corporation P-3T/UP-3T | ![]() |
Maritime patrol aircraft, ASW | 3 | Version for Royal Thai Navy. | |
Canadair CL-215 | ![]() |
SAR, Firefighting | 2 | ||
NAX Seaplane | ![]() |
Maritime patrol aircraft | 2 | ||
GAF N.24A Normad | ![]() |
Military transport | 5 | Another airframe is in use for spares recovery. | |
Bell 212 | ![]() |
Military transport | 6 | ||
Bell 214ST | ![]() |
VIP, transport | 5 | ||
Sikorsky S-76B | SAR, transport | 5 | |||
Sikorsky SH-70B Seahawk | ASW | 6 | HTMS Chakri Naruebet Flying Unit. | ||
Sikorsky MH-60S Knighthawk | Military transport | 2 (+4) | HTMS Chakri Naruebet Flying Unit. | ||
AgustaWestland Super Lynx 300 | ![]() |
Anti Ship | 2 | ||
Airbus H145M | ![]() |
Military transport | 5 |
The Thai navy has been lobbying for submarines for years.[21] In January 2017 the Thai National Legislative Assembly tacitly approved the expenditure of 13.5 billion baht (US$383 million) to buy one Chinese S26T submarine, a derivative of China's Yuan Class Type 039A submarine.[22][23][24][25] The S26T submarines are diesel-powered with a displacement of 2,400-3,000 tonnes.[26] It is projected to be the first of a three-boat, US$1 billion acquisition.[24] The cabinet approved one submarine purchase on 18 April 2017 with a budget of 13.5 billion baht (US$393 million), including weapons systems, spare parts and technology transfer.[27] 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."[28] 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."[29] 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.[29]
Thailand worked with more than 60 nations in providing help to the Nepali people following an 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 assisted relief efforts.[30] A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the region of Kathmandu in Nepal on 25 April 2015. Operation Sahayogi Haat (Nepali: 'helping hands')[A] for humanitarian relief operations was put into action by Joint Task Force 505 on 6 May.[34]
This article incorporates public domain material from the Library of Congress document: Barbara Leitch LePoer, ed. (September 1987). "Thailand: A country study". Federal Research Division.
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