Royal Thai Army กองทัพบกไทย (RTGS: Kongthap Bok Thai) |
|
---|---|
Emblem of the Royal Thai Army |
|
Active | 1874 |
Country | Thailand |
Type | Army |
Size | 190,000 (2010) [1] |
Part of | Royal Thai Armed Forces |
Garrison/HQ | Bangkok |
Motto | เพื่อชาติ ศาสน์ กษัตริย์ และประชาชน (For The Nation, Religions, King, and People) |
Colors | Red |
March | มาร์ชกองทัพบก (Royal Thai Army March) |
Anniversaries | 18 January (Royal Thai Armed Forces Day) |
Engagements | Franco-Siamese War World War I Franco-Thai War World War II Korean War Vietnam War Cambodian–Thai border stand-off 2008–2010 Thai political crisis |
Commanders | |
Commander-in-chief | Prayuth Chan-ocha |
Notable commanders |
Phraya Phahol Pholphayuhasena Plaek Pibulsonggram Sarit Dhanarajata Thanom Kittikachorn Prem Tinsulanonda Chavalit Yongchaiyudh Suchinda Kraprayoon Surayud Chulanont Sonthi Boonyaratglin |
Insignia | |
Royal Thai Army Flag | |
Unit Colour |
The Royal Thai army (Thai: กองทัพบกไทย) is the army of Thailand responsible for protecting its sovereignty. It is the oldest and largest branch of the Royal Thai Armed Forces. The army was formed in 1874, partly as a response to new security threats following the Bowring Treaty with Britain, which opened up the country for international trade.
Contents |
The Royal Thai Army is commanded by the Commander of the Royal Thai Army (ผู้บัญชาการทหารบกไทย); the current Commander is General Prayuth Chan-ocha, who was confirmed by royal appointment to take over the top post effective October 1, 2010. The Royal Thai Army Headquarters is located in a building on Ratchadamnoen Nok Road in Bangkok, Thailand.
The Royal Thai Army is divided into 4 Army Areas:
Altogether the army is organized into the following Tactical Units:
The Royal Thai Army also controls at least one television network, the Thai Global Network.
Army Medical Department (กรมแพทย์ทหารบก) belongs to the service segment of the Royal Thai Army. It is responsible for medical affairs, providing medical services at its regular base or in field, giving training to personnel in research and agriculture and supervising the medical divisions of different sectors of the Royal Thai Army. AMED observed 111 years of service in January 2011,[2] with 110 years of service having been honored by issue of a series of commemorative stamps.[3]
The Army Tactical Level Advanced Simulation (ATLAS) is an interactive, distributed, constructive simulation used to conduct military Command Post Exercises (CPX) within the RTA. ATLAS utilize a continuous terrain model, incorporates HLA 1516, and displays 1:250,000 1:50,000 and Satellite Imagery. ATLAS was developed between 2002 and 2005 through cooperation with RTA Command and General Staff College (CGSC).
The Royal Thai Army is known to operate the following aircraft types:
Origin | Type | Quantity | Remark |
---|---|---|---|
Brazil | Embraer ERJ-135LR | 2 | 6 Order. |
Spain | CASA C-212-300 Aviocar | 2 | serial numbers 446 and 447 based with the VIP squadron at Don Mueang Airport.One of these airplanes is no longer in service. |
United Kingdom | British Aerospace Jetstream 41 | 2 | serial numbers 41060 and 41094. based with the VIP unit at Don Mueang Airport. |
United States | Beechcraft 1900C-1 | 2 | serial numbers 0169 and 0170. based with the VIP squadron at Don Mueang Airport. |
United States | Beechcraft 200 King Air | 2 | serial numbers 0342 and 1165. based within the Lop Buri Army complex. |
United States | Bell 206 Jet Ranger | 25 | Both the Bell 206A and Bell 206B in use. |
United States | Bell AH-1F Huey Cobra | 7 | serial numbers 9996,9997 and 9998, a fourth example serial number 9999 was lost in a crash in 2001. 4 more of the same model were ordered on 2005.[4] |
United States | Bell UH-1H Iroquois | ~90 | From US military aid during Vietnam war. Some were bought by RTA through Excess defense articles. Total Delivered from 1968 to 2004 was 174 UH-1Hs.[5] Less than 50% is air-worthy. All operatable UH-1Hs are used by 3 RTA Airmobile Companies. |
United States | Bell 212 | ~50 | Used by 1th Airmobile Company ,2th Airmobile Company ,3th Airmobile Company and Department of Army Transportation |
United States | Cessna T-41 Mescalero | ~30 | around 20-30 of these ex US Army fixed-wing trainers still flying. |
United States | Cessna U-17B Skywagon | ~20 | around 15-20 of these Vietnam era FAC aircraft still flying. |
United States | Boeing CH-47D Chinook | 6 | [4] |
United States | Maule MX-7 | ~15 | around 15 still flying as liaison and trainer aircraft. |
United States | Schweizer S-300C | 45 | For training and observation. |
United States | Enstrom Enstrom 480B | 16 | For training. |
United States | Sikorsky UH-60L (S-70A-43) Blackhawk | 12(2) | serial numbers 6927,6928,6929,7002,7003,7025 and 7026. 3 more UH-60Ls [6] and 3 more UH-60Ms[7] ordered on August 2009 and July 2011, respectively.S-70A-43 serial number 6928 was destroyed in a crash on 17 July 2011. |
United States | Bell Bell 412EP | 2 | On order. |
Israel | IAI Searcher | 4 | 32 Order. |
Russia | Mil Helicopters Mi-17-V5 | 3 | Three helicopters delivered by AN-124-100 RA-82078 to U-Tapao RTNS on 22 February 2011.A photo has appeared of Mi-17 serial number 6403 being offloaded from an AN-124.The serial numbers of the remaining two are 6401 and 6402. |
Lop Buri, the main base complex of the Royal Thai Army Aviation, which includes training, technical school, aircraft maintenance and aircraft storage.
A separate airfield within the Lop Buri complex (only around 3 km south of Sa Pran Nak) houses the 5th aircraft maintenance Company. This unit is responsible for maintenance and storage of army aircraft and helicopters.
Name | Type | Caliber | Origin | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Type 86,M1911 | Semi-automatic pistol | .45 ACP | Thailand/ United States | M1911A1 pistols produced under license. |
Beretta 92 | Semi-automatic pistol | 9x19mm Parabellum | Italy | |
Heckler & Koch USP | Semi-automatic pistol | .45ACP | Germany | Used by Special forces. |
Heckler & Koch MP5 | Submachine gun | 9x19mm Parabellum | Germany | |
UZI | Submachine gun | 9x19mm Parabellum | Israel | |
Heckler & Koch UMP | Submachine gun | 9x19mm Parabellum | Germany | UMP9 submachine guns used by Special force. |
AK-47 | Assault rifle | 7.62×39mm | Soviet Union | Captured from Vietcong soldiers during Vietnam War. |
Type 56 | Assault rifle | 7.62×39mm | China | Captured from Vietcong soldiers during Vietnam War. |
Type 56-1 | Assault rifle | 7.62×39mm | China | Captured from Vietcong soldiers during Vietnam War. |
Type 11,Heckler & Koch HK33 | Assault rifle | 5.56mm | Thailand/ Germany | Thai license produced version of the Heckler & Koch HK33. Standard infantry rifle. Used by Royal Thai Armed Forces and Army Reserve Force Students. |
IMI Tavor TAR-21[8][9] | Assault rifle | 5.56mm | Israel | Standard infantry rifle. Under license. |
IMI Galil | Assault rifle | 5.56mm | Israel | Used in small number. |
Steyr AUG | Assault rifle | 5.56mm | Austria | Used by Special forces. |
M16A1/A2/A4 | Assault rifle | 5.56mm | United States | Standard infantry rifle. Aging M16A1 will be replaced by IMI Tavor TAR-21 and M16A4. |
CAR-15 | Assault rifle | 5.56mm | United States | |
M4A1 Carbine | Assault rifle | 5.56mm | United States | Used by Special forces, Some were equipped with SOPMOD kit. |
SAR 21 | Assault rifle | 5.56mm | Singapore | Used by Special forces. |
M1 Garand | Semi-automatic rifle | .30-06 | United States | Locally known as the Type 88 self-loading rifle (ปลยบ.88). Used by Royal Guards and by Army Reserve Force Students as a non-firing training rifle. |
M1/M2 Carbine | Semi-automatic rifle | .30 | United States | Locally known as the Type 87 carbine (ปสบ. 87) Used by Army Reserve Force Students as a non-firing training rifle. |
SIG-Sauer SSG 3000 | Sniper rifle | 7.62mm | Switzerland | |
SR-25 | Sniper rifle | 7.62mm | United States | |
FN MINIMI | Light machine gun | 5.56mm | Belgium | |
Heckler & Koch HK21 | Light machine gun | 5.56mm | Germany | |
IMI Negev[8] | Light machine gun | 5.56mm | Israel | Over 1,100 purchased. Delivery is ongoing. |
FN MAG-58 | General purpose machine gun | 7.62mm | Belgium | Standard GPMG for Thai Armed Forces 4,000 delivered between 2008-2010. |
M60 | General purpose machine gun | 7.62mm | United States | Replacing by the FN MAG-58. |
M2 Browning machine gun | Heavy machine gun | 12.7mm | United States | |
DShK | Heavy machine gun | 12.7x108mm | Soviet Union | Mounted on Type 69 and Small number of V-150 |
Name | Type | Quantity | Origin | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
M203 | Underbarrel Grenade launcher | United States | ||
M79 | Single-shot Grenade launcher | United States | ||
RPG-2 | Rocket-propelled grenade | Soviet Union | Used in small numbers mainly by the Thahan Phran, Mostly captured from the Communist Force in Vietnam war and other from Laos and Cambodia. | |
Type 69 RPG | Rocket-propelled grenade | China | Used in small numbers mainly by the Thahan Phran, Mostly captured from the Communist Force from Laos and Cambodia. | |
Carl Gustav | Shoulder-fired missile | Sweden | ||
M72 LAW | Shoulder-fired missile | United States | ||
M47 Dragon | Anti-Tank Guided Missile | 400 | United States | |
HN-5A[10] | Man-portable air defense system | China | ||
9K38 Igla | Man-portable air defense system | 220 | Soviet Union | Part of order placed in 2010.[10] |
Name | Type | Quantity | Origin | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Humvee[10] | Utility vehicle | +1200 | United States | |
M151 | Utility vehicle | +550 | United States | Used for ceremonial purposes |
M813 | Prime Mover | N/A | United States | |
M35 2-1/2 ton cargo truck | Prime Mover | +1050 | United States | |
Ashok Leyland | Prime Mover | +125 | India | RTA use Ashok Leyland Stallion 6X6 |
Isuzu | Prime Mover | +1000 | Japan | RTA use Isuzu FTS 800 4x4 |
UNIMOG | Prime Mover | +1200 | Germany | RTA use U1100/L 4x4 |
LMTV | Prime Mover | +650 | United States | Thai Army have 4 series of LMTV are M1083,M1085,M1088 and M1089. |
M911 | HETS | N/A | United States |
Name | Type | Quantity | Origin | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
M60A3 | Main Battle Tank | 178 | United States | Ex-US Army . |
M48A5 Patton | Main Battle Tank | 150 | United States | |
T-84 Oplot-M | Main Battle Tank | 0(49) | Ukraine | Up to 200 may be acquired. First order of 49 tanks was placed in September 2011 although there are no official announcements from the Royal Thai Army. So far, the government has just approved 7.155 billion Baht to purchase the first 49 T-84 Oplot main battle tanks to be assigned to the 2nd Cavalry battalion (Royal Guard at Fort Chakkraphongse, Prachinburi), the 4th Cavalry Battalion (Royal Guard at Kiakkai, Bangkok), the 8th Cavalry battalion (Fort Suranari, Nakhon Ratchasima), and the 9th Cavalry Battalion (Fort Ekathotsarot, Phitsanuloke). |
FV101 Scorpion CVR(T) | Light tank | 154 | United Kingdom | |
Stingray | Light tank | 106 | United States | |
Condor | Armoured personnel carrier | 40+ | Germany | |
BTR-3E1 | Armoured personnel carrier | 12(96+121) | Ukraine | 96 ordered in 2008. Deliveries was delayed due to changes in engine and transmission. Additional 6 gifted by the Ukrainian Government. Second order of 121 announced in August 2011.[11] |
Type 85 | Armoured personnel carrier | 396 | China | |
Reva | Armoured personnel carrier | 80+ | South Africa | Mine-protected vehicle. |
Saracen | Armoured personnel carrier | 20 | United Kingdom | |
M113A1/A3/A4 | Armoured personnel carrier | 450 | United States | |
M901A3 | Tank destroyer | 18 | United States | |
V-150 Commando | Armoured car | 113 | United States |
Name | Type | Quantity | Origin | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
L119 | 105 mm towed howitzer | 34 | United Kingdom | |
LG1 Mk II | 105 mm towed howitzer | 24 | France | |
M101 | 105 mm towed howitzer | 285 | United States | |
M102 | 105 mm towed howitzer | 12 | United States | |
M618A2 | 105 mm towed howitzer | 32 | Thailand | |
Type 59-1 | 130 mm towed howitzer | 54 | China | |
GHN-45 | 155mm towed howitzer | 42 | Austria | |
Soltam M-71 | 155mm towed howitzer | 32 | Israel | |
M198 | 155 mm towed howitzer | 300 | United States | Buy 130 unit in september 2011 |
M114 | 155 mm towed howitzer | 56 | United States | |
CAESAR | 155 mm Self-Propelled Howitzer | 6 | France | |
M109A5 | 155 mm Self-Propelled Howitzer | 20 | United States | |
Type 82 | 130 mm Multiple rocket launcher | 60 | China | Mounted on Type 85 hulls. |
WS-1 | 302 mm self-propelled multiple rocket launcher | 9 | China | Adapted by Thailand's Defense Technology Institute, Royal Thai Army as DTI-1.The rocket was mounted on Volvo FM-400 6x6 |
Name | Type | Quantity | Origin | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
M163 VADS | 20 mm Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun | 24 | United States | |
M167 VADS | 20 mm towed anti-aircraft gun | 24 | United States | |
Type 74 | twin-barrel 37 mm towed anti-aircraft gun | 122 | China | |
Bofors L60/70 | 40mm towed anti-aircraft gun | 48 | Sweden | |
M3 Half-track | 4 M2HB machine guns | N/A | United States | M16 MGMC Series |
Type 59 | 57 mm towed anti-aircraft gun | 24 | China |
|