Royal Thai Navy

All you want to know about Royal Thai Navy

Royal Thai Navy
(RTN)
กองทัพเรือ, ราชนาวี
(RTGS: Kongthap Ruea, Ratcha Navy)

Royal Thai Navy Flag.
Active 1900-present
Country Kingdom of Thailand
Allegiance Kingdom of Thailand
Branch Royal Thai Fleet
Royal Thai Navy Aviation Unit
Royal Thai Marine Corps
Type Navy
Part of Royal Thai Armed Forces
Garrison/HQ Bangkok
Motto ร่วมเครือนาวี จักยลปฐพีไพศาล (Join the Navy to see the world)
Colors Navy blue
Engagements Paknam Incident
Battle of Koh Chang
Palace Rebellion
Manhattan Rebellion
Commanders
Commander-in-chief Admiral Khamthorn Pumhiran
Notable
commanders		 Prince Abhakara, the Prince of Chumphon
Luang Sinthusongkhramchai
Insignia
Naval Jack
Naval Ensign

The Royal Thai Navy (Thai: กองทัพเรือ) is the navy of Thailand and was established in the late 1800s. Admiral Prince Abhakara Kiartiwongse (1880-1923) is "The Father of Royal Thai Navy". As of 2006, the Commander of the Navy was Sathiraphan Keyanon, who was also a Deputy of the Council for National Security that seized power during the 2006 Thailand coup.

Similar to the organizational 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.

The Royal Thai Navy operates in three Naval Area Commands: Eastern Gulf of Thailand (First NAC), Western Gulf of Thailand (Second NAC), and the Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean) (Third NAC). The RTN also has two air wings, located at Utapao (RTN First Air Wing) and Songkhla (RTN Second Air Wing).

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 between the U.S. Navy and the armed forces of Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and Philippines.

Contents

Current strength

Surface Combatant Vessels

  • Aircraft carriers
    • Chakri Naruebet (sister ship to Principe de Asturias and launched in Spain 1997)
      • can carry 18 Helicopters (S-70B-7 Seahawk or Chinook) and 9 AV-8S Harrier
  • Frigates: 12
    • 2 Phutthayotfa Chulaok class - ex-USN Knox class
    • 2 Naresuan (Type 25T) FFG - Chinese Jianghu-class Type IV
    • 4 Chao Phraya FFG - Chinese Jianghu-class
    • 1 Pin Klao Class (Cannon class) destroyer escort  United States
    • 1 Makut Rajakumarn Class (Yarrow Class)  United Kingdom
    • 2 Tachin Class (Tacoma class) frigate  United States - retired
  • Corvette: 5
    • 2 Ratanakosin Class - US built PFMM type
    • 2 Tapi Class - US built PF103 Type
    • 3 Khamronsin Class - Thai built

Fleet Support Vessels

RTN Flying Unit

RTN Flying Unit consists of 2 Wings, each has 3 squadrons. HTMS Chakri Naruebet also has its own flying unit, consisting of 2 squadrons.

Main article: List of equipment in Royal Thai Navy

Personnel

SEALs

Main article: Royal Thai Navy SEALs

List of equipment

The majority of the vessels of the Royal Thai Navy are from the United States (nearly half, over 50 of RTN's 130+ vessels). However, RTN also has craft from Spain, Britain, Italy, Singapore, Japan, Canada, Netherlands,People's Republic of China and Australia. Additionally, Thailand does produce many of their own vessels, in particular those of smaller displacement.

Main article: List of equipment in Royal Thai Navy

News

News about Thai Navy procurement project

New Anti-Ship Missile

Royal Thai Navy has announced a decision to purchase C-802 to replace C-801 on Chao Phraya-class Frigate. The deal also includes the upgrade of Radar, Electronic Warfare, etc. RTN also aims to buy LY-60 SAM, if funds are allocated. <[1]

New Naval Helicopter

United States announces the permission to sell 6 MH-60S Navy Hawk's to Thai Navy to enhance search and rescue capability. RTN already signed contact for 2 units and the other 4 will be procured year by year[2]

According to the news on 4 Dec 2007. RTN decided to launch a plan to buy 14 new helicopter. This include 4 MH-60S and additional 4 Super Lynx 300, also plan to buy the attack helicopter to replace AV-8S while still keep option open for a fixed-wing aircraft. [3]

New Patrol craft of RTN

By The King initiated, Thai Navy build and commissions its new patrol crafts T.991 Class. The first ship, T.991, was built in the Royal Thai Navy Dock. Another 2, T.992 and T.993, was build by Mason Shipbuilding in Thailand. These ships also inspected and evaluated closely by The King who gave many ideas to this project. He and The Queen also lead the commissioning ceremony on 30 April 2007.[4]

On 11 November 2008, Cabinet approves the plan to build RTN's new offshore patrol vessel (OPV) in the deal worth 3 billion Baht. (85 mil$) Although RTN still did not unveil the design, the vessel will be build in Mahidol dockyard in Thailand.[5]

VIP transport Aircraft

Royal Thai Army and Royal Thai Navy signed contact with Embraer to perchase 2 ERJ-135. 1 aircraft to each force. It will uses for VIP transportation. RTN version also have a MEDEVAC capability.[6]

LPD From Singapore

The Thai Cabinet approved a package of defense modernization deals in a meeting on 9th September 2008. This clears the RTN to purchase an LPD to be designed and built by ST Marine of Singapore, believed to be based on the Endurance-class LPD. The ship will be delivered in 2012 at a cost of around US$150million.[7]

References

  1. ^ Thai Military Blog C-802 for Thai frigates
  2. ^ Defense Industry Daily Up to $246M for 6 Royal Thai Navy MH-60S Helicopters
  3. ^ Channel News Asia Thai Navy to buy 14 new aircraft
  4. ^ Thai Military Blog ต.๙๙๑ เรือรบตามพระราชดำริ...ของกองทัพเรือไทย (Thai)
  5. ^ Matichon Online ครม.อนุมัติงบกว่า 3 พันล้าน ถอยเรือตรวจการใหม่ (Thai)
  6. ^ Embraer Press Release Embraer sign contracts with the Royal Thai Army and the Royal Thai Navy
  7. ^ DefenseNews.com Thailand Plans $191.3M Arms Purchase

See also

External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Thai_Navy"

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