Royal Thai Navy
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The Royal Thai Navy (Thai: กองทัพเรือ) is the navy of Thailand and was established in the late 1800s. 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.
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[edit] Current strength
- Aircraft carriers: 1
- Frigates: 10
- Corvette: 7
- Patrol boats: 26
- Missile speed boats: 6
- Amphibious assault ships: 9
- Patrol boats:77
- Fleet support ships: 15
- Minesweepers: 7
- Naval Air Force: 1,700 men, including 44 fighters, and 8 attack helicopters.
- Marines: 18,000 men
[edit] SEALs
The Royal Thai Navy has a 144-man Sea, Air and Land (SEAL) unit.
[edit] 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 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.
[edit] Aircraft carrier
[edit] Frigate
- Knox class frigate (renamed Phutthayotfa Chulalok class)
- HTMS Phutthayotfa Chulalok (FFG 461)
- HTMS Phutthaloetla Naphalai (FFG 462)
- Jianghu class frigate
- 455 HTMS Chao Praya (053T): Based on the Type 053H2 (Jianghu III), built for export in 1991 as 053T (T = Thailand).
- 456 HTMS Bangpakong (053T): Same as above
- 457 HTMS Kraburi (053HT): Improved 053HT-H design, built in 1992 for export. Helicopter deck + YJ-81 (C-801) SSM's.
- 458 HTMS Saiburi (053HT): Same as above.
- Naresuan class (Type 25T) frigate
- 621 HTMS Naresuan (25T): Enlarged 053 hull (length 120 m, width 13 m, displacement 2,980 tons) with helicopter deck, built for Thailand in 1995-1996 without weapons. Thailand fitted the vessel with Western engine (LM2500), radar, and weapons (Harpoon SSM, Sea Sparrow).
- 622 HTMS Taksin (25T): Same as above [1]
- Training frigates
- 433 HTMS Makut Rajakumarn (ASW frigate, built by Yarrow Shipbuilders in 1973.)[2]
- 413 HTMS Pin Klao (Cannon class destroyer escort, formerly USS Hemminger (DE-746),) [3]
[edit] Corvette
- Ratanakosin class corvette
- 441 HTMS Ratanakosin
- 442 HTMS Sukhothai
- Tapi class corvette
- 431 HTMS Tapi
- 432 HTMS Khirirat
- Khamronsin class corvette (ASW)
- 531 HTMS Khamronsin
- 532 HTMS Thaychanon
- 533 HTMS Longlom
[edit] Amphibious Assault
- Sichang Class PS700 medium landing
- 721 HTMS Sichang
- 722 HTMS Surin
- Anthong Class LST 542 medium landing
- 711 HTMS Anthong
- 712 HTMS Chang
- 714 HTMS Lanta
- 715 HTMS Prathong
- 733 HTMS Pangan
- Kut Class LSM 1 utility landing
- 731 HTMS Kut
- 732 HTMS Kram
[edit] References
- ^ Toppan, Andrew. March 25, 2002.World Navies Today: Thailand at www.hazegray.org
- ^ Clyde-built database
- ^ Information provided by Capt. B. Boonsong to usshemminger.com
[edit] External links
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