Royal Thai Navy

Royal Thai Navy
กองทัพเรือไทย
Emblem of the Royal Thai Navy
Active	8 April 1887 (137 years)
Country	Thailand
Allegiance	King of Thailand
Type	Navy
Role	Naval warfare
Size	86,000 Active personnel (53,000 Navy personnel) (18,000 Marine Crops) (15,000 Air and Coastal Defense Command)
Part of	Royal Thai Armed Forces
Garrison/HQ	Sattahip Naval Base (Main base), Sattahip, Chonburi 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
Engagements	Haw wars Franco-Siamese War World War I World War II French-Thai War Battle of Koh Chang Pacific War Palace Rebellion Manhattan Rebellion Cold War Korean War Vietnam War Communist insurgency in Thailand Communist insurgency in Malaysia Vietnamese border raids in Thailand Thai–Laotian Border War Persian Gulf War International Force East Timor Southern Insurgency Operation Pochentong 1 War on Terror OEF – Horn of Africa Anti-Piracy operation in Gulf of Aden Anti-Piracy in strait of Malacca Cambodian–Thai border dispute 2015 Rohingya refugee crisis Operation Sahayogi Haat Tham Luang cave rescue
Commanders
Commander-in-chief	Admiral Luechai Rutdit
Notable commanders	King Pin-Klao Prince of Chumphon Sangad Chaloryu Sathiraphan Keyanon
Insignia
Flag
Naval jack and unit colour
Naval ensign
Fin flash

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". 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: Northern Gulf of Thailand (First NAC), Southern Gulf of Thailand (Second NAC), and the Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean) (Third NAC). The RTN also has two air wings and one flying unit on its aircraft carrier.

Budget

In fiscal year 2018 (FY2018) the navy's budget is 43,835 million baht.

History

Origin

Main article: Military history of Thailand

Ancient era

Further information: Sukhothai Kingdom and Ayutthaya Kingdom

The military history of Thailand encompasses 1,000 years of armed struggle, from wars of independence from the powerful Khmer Empire, through to struggles with her regional rivals of Burma and Vietnam, also periods of tense standoff with a conflict namely; Britain and France during the colonial empires.

The naval arm of the army consisted mainly of river-faring war boats. Its primary missions were to control the Chao Phraya River, and to protect the ships carrying the army to the front. The major war boats carried up to 30 musketeers and were armed with 6- or 12-pounder cannon.

Franco-Siamese War

Main article: Paknam incident

The Paknam Incident was a siamese navy engagement fought during the Franco-Siamese War in July 1893. Three French ships violated Siamese territory and were fired warning shots by a Siamese fort and a force of gunboats on Siam's Chao Phraya River in Paknam. However, in the ensuing battle, France won and blockaded Bangkok by a lack of training at the fort and very old-fashioned navy fleet. The final agreement eventually was signed on October 3, 1893 after British put pressure on both the Siamese and French governments to reach a negotiated settlement.

World War I

Main article: Siam in World War I

The First World War had no direct impact on Siam because of the distance. However, the war did provide an opportunity for King Rama VI to strengthen his country's position in the international arena. He also used the war as a means to promote the concept of a Siamese nation.

The siamese navy troops took a part of a volunteer expeditionary force was assembled, consisting of medical, motor transport and aviation detachments. By early 1918, 1,284 men were selected from thousands of volunteers. The force, commanded by Major-General Phraya Bhijai Janriddhi, was destined to be sent to France.

After World War I

HTMS Thonburi, 1938

Franco-Thai War

Main article: Battle of Ko Chang

The Battle of Ko Chang took place on 17 January 1941 during the Franco-Thai War in which a flotilla of French warships attacked a smaller force of Thai vessels, including a coastal defence ship.

The French left behind them a scene of total devastation. The Thonburi
was heavily damaged and grounded on a sand bar in the mouth of the Chanthaburi river, with about 20 dead. The Thai transport HTMS Chang arrived at Ko Chang shortly after the French departed and took the Thonburi in tow, before purposefully running her aground again in Laem Ngop.
On the other hand, the French sailors were elated, believing they had inflicted a decisive defeat while not suffering losses of significance, with only 11 men killed. During the post-action investigations, the Thai Navy claimed, based on statements by Thai sailors and the fisherman around Ko Chang and merchantmen in Saigon, that heavy damage was seen to have been caused to the Lamotte-Picquet and her squadron.

The battle resulted in a tactical victory by the French Navy over the Royal Thai Navy although the strategic result is disputed. The Japanese intervened diplomatically and mediated a ceasefire. Within a month of the engagement, the French and the Thais negotiated a peace which ended the war.

HTMS Matchanu and Wirun at Kobe Port, 1938

World War II

Main article: Thailand in World War II

During World War 2, Siam allied with Japan after Japan invaded Siam in 8 December 1941. The submarines remained in service throughout World War II, which Thailand officially joined in January 1942, but they saw no combat. But all of them did serve an important role during the war as its were protecting underwater for Thailand armed force and maritime logistic for its homeland. Moreover, two of them did serve an unconventional role during the war. On 14 April 1945, five months before the Japanese surrender, Bangkok's Samsen and Wat Liab Power Plants were bombed during Allied air raids, leaving the capital city without electricity. In response to a request from the Bangkok Electricity Authority, the Matchanu and Wirun anchored at the Bangkok Dock Company and served as power generators for one of Bangkok's tram lines.

HTMS Sri Ayudhya

Manhattan Rebellion

Main article: Manhattan Rebellion

During the Manhattan Rebellion of 1951, the Royal Thai Navy was involved in a failed coup against Prime Minister Plaek Phibunsongkhram which led to the sinking of flagship HTMS Sri Ayudhya and a complete change in leadership.

Vietnam War

Main article: Vietnam War

In support of South Vietnam and its belligerents during the Vietnam War, two Royal Thai Navy vessels undertook operations in South Vietnam, in a role of supporting ground force.

Current

HTMS Chakri Naruebet

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 Gulf of Thailand 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.

Command and control

The Royal Thai Navy is commanded by the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Navy, currently Admiral Luechai Rutdit, who was appointed in 2015. The Royal Thai Navy headquarters is in Bangkok.

• Commander-in-Chief, Royal Thai Navy: Admiral Luechai Rutdit

List of commanders

Main article: List of Commanders of the Royal Thai Navy

Organisation

Sattahip Naval Base

Bangkok Naval Base

Phangnga Naval Base

Songkhla Naval Base

Phuket Naval Base

Samui Naval Base

Trat Naval Base

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Thai Navy Bases District Forces

Naval Area Commands

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)

District forces

• Navy Fleet District Forces
  • Northern Gulf of Thailand Fleet
  • Southern Gulf of Thailand Fleet
  • Andaman Sea Fleet
• Royal Thai Naval Air District Forces
  • U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield
  • Chanthaburi Airstrip
  • Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Navy Base
  • Songkhla Royal Thai Navy Airfield
  • Phuket Royal Thai Navy Airfield
  • Narathiwat Airstrip
• Navy Bases District Forces
  • Sattahip Naval Base
  • Bangkok Naval Base
  • Phang Nga Naval Base
  • Songkhla Naval Base
  • Phuket Naval Base
  • Samui Naval Base
  • Trat Naval Base

Navy Organization

Navy Headquarters	Naval Fleet	Naval Logistics Support Group	Naval Education, Research and Development Group
Naval Secretariat Department Naval Administration Department Naval Personnel Department Naval Intelligence Department Naval Operation Department Naval Logistics Department Naval Communications and Information Technology department Naval Civil Affairs Department The Office of the Naval Comptroller Naval Finance Department Naval Inspector General Naval Internal Audit Office Naval Acquisition Management Office Judge Advocate General of the Royal Thai Navy	Royal Thai Fleet Patrol Squadron 1st Frigate Squadron (FS1) 2nd Frigate Squadron (FS2) Helicopter Carrier Squadron (HCS) Submarine Squadron (SS) Mine Squadron (MS) Amphibious and Combat Support Service Squadron (ACSSS) Coast Guard Squadron (CGS) Riverine Squadron (RS) Royal Thai Naval Air Division (RTNAD) Naval Special Warfare Command (NSWC) Fleet Training Command (FTC) Fleet Support Division (SD) First Naval Area Command Bangkok Naval Base Sattahip Naval Base Second Naval Area Command Songkhla Naval Base Third Naval Area Command Phangnga Naval Base Royal Thai Marine Corps (RTMC) Air and Coastal Defense Command (ACDC) Naval Military Police Regiment (NMPR)	Royal Thai Naval Dockyard (RTND) Naval Electronics Department (NED) Naval Public Works Department (NPWD) Naval Ordnance Department (NORDD) Naval Supply Department (NSD) Naval Medical Department (NMD) Naval Transportation Department (NTD) Naval Hydrographic Department (HD) Naval Welfare Department (NWD) Naval Science Department (NScD)	Naval Education Department (NED) Naval Command and Staff College (NCSC) Naval Line Officers School (LOS) Naval Rating School (NRS) Naval Non Commissioned Officers School (NCOS) Naval Recruit Training Center (RTC) Royal Thai Navy Language Center (RTNLC) Naval Strategic Studies Center (NSSC) Royal Thai Naval Academy (RTNA) Naval Research and Development Office (NRDO)

Navy Branches

General Line	Engineering Line	Marine Corps	Staff (Special Corps)
Gunner's Mate	Electrician Corps	Infantry	Yeoman (Administration)
Torpedoman's Mate	Engine Corps	Artillery	Supply Corps
Quartermaster and Coxswain		Corps of Engineer	Finance Corps
Signal Corps		Signal Corps	Judge Advocate General's Corps
Hydrographic Corps		Armor	Civil Engineer
Transportation Corps			Science Corps
Ordnance Corps			Band
Meteorological Corps			Medical Corps
Military Police Corps
Intelligence Corps

Royal Thai Marine Corps

Royal Thai Marine along with ROK Marines and US Marines conduct an amphibious assault during Cobra Gold 2011

Main article: Royal Thai Marine Corps

The Royal Thai Marine Corps was founded in 1932, when the first battalion was formed with the assistance of the United States Marine Corps. It was expanded to a regiment in 1940 and was in action against communist guerrillas throughout the 1950s and 1960s. During the 1960s the United States Marine Corps assisted in its expansion into a brigade.

Thai Marines today are responsible for border security in Chanthaburi and Trat provinces. They have fought communist insurgents in engagements at Baan Hard Lek, Baan Koat Sai, Baan Nhong Kok, Baan Kradook Chang, Baan Chumrark, and in the battle of Hard Don Nai in Nakhon Phanom Province. Many Thai Marines have lost their lives serving their country, and they continue to do so today, especially in the southern border provinces currently affected by the South Thailand insurgency. A monument to their valor stands at the Royal Thai Navy base at Sattahip.

Naval Special Warfare Command

Emblem of Thai Navy SEAL Sky Drive Team

Main article: Naval Special Warfare Command (Thailand)

The naval special warfare command was set up in the name of Underwater Demolition Assault Unit in 1956 with the assistance of the U.S. Government. A small element within the Navy SEALs has been trained to conduct maritime counter-terrorism missions.The unit has close ties with the United States Navy SEALs and conducts regular training exercises.

Most of the operations of the Navy SEALs are highly sensitive and are rarely divulged to the public. Navy SEALs have been used to gather intelligence along the Thai border during times of heightened tension. In December 1978, recon teams were sent to the Mekong River during skirmishes with the Pathet Lao, a communist political movement and organisation in Laos. Navy SEALs have participated in anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Thailand.

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 and one air defence regiment. 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.

• 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.

Royal Thai Naval Air Division

Royal Thai Navy Fokker27-MK 400

Royal Thai Navy Sikorksy S-76B

Thai Navy SH-70B Seahawk

Main article: List of equipment in Royal Thai Navy § Aircraft

The RTN recently has two air wings and one Flying Unit of HTMS Chakri Naruebet, operating 23 fixed-wing aircraft and 26 helicopters from U-Tapao, Songkhla, and Phuket. The First Royal Thai Navy wing has three squadrons; the Second Royal Thai Navy wing has three squadrons and another wing for HTMS Chakri Naruebet Flying Unit.

Squadron	Status	Role	Type	Aircraft	Unit
The First Royal Thai Navy wing
101	Active	SAR	Maritime patrol aircraft	Dornier 228	7
102	Active	ASuW and ASW	Maritime patrol aircraft	Fokker27-MK 200	3
103	Active	Forward air control	Maritime patrol aircraft	Cessna 337 Super Skymaster	9
104	Inactive
The Second Royal Thai Navy wing
201	Active	Military transport	Maritime patrol aircraft	Fokker27-MK 400 Embraer ERJ-135LR	2 2
202	Active	Military transport	Helicopter	Bell 212 H145M	6 5
203	Active	ASuW and Military transport	Helicopter	SH-76B Seahawk Super Lynx 300	5 2
HTMS Chakri Naruebet Flying Unit
1	Inactive
2	Active	ASW and Military transport	Helicopter	SH-70B Seahawk MH-60S Knighthawk	6 2

Riverine Patrol Regiment

Royal Thai Navy Riverine Sailors and U.S. Navy Sailors during CARAT Thailand 2010

Royal Thai Navy riverine patrol regiment has a major roles of conducting to keep the peace, prevent illegal immigration, human trafficking, drug smuggling or any actions that harm homeland security, in a riverine area of Chao Phraya and Mekong rivers or other suitable area. The boat station of Royal Thai Navy Riverine Patrol Regiment located in several provinces in Thailand.

Royal Thai Naval Academy

Navy Cadet Regiment, King's Guards of Royal Thai Navy.

Main article: Royal Thai Naval Academy

The Royal Thai Naval Academy was established by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) in 1898, where is located in Samut Prakan. Those who want to enter the academy first have to pass the entrance exam, after which they join a three-year preparatory program at the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School where they study together with army, air force, and police cadets.

On successful completion, they enter the Royal Thai Naval Academy. After graduation, they attend a further one-year advanced course at Sattahip that leads to a graduate diploma in naval science. On completion of this course, they are ready to work as officers in the Royal Thai Navy and Royal Thai Marine Corps.

Cadets graduate with a bachelor's degree in engineering or science and are commissioned in the Royal Thai Navy with the rank of ensign (sub-lieutenant). Together with graduates of the other armed forces and police academies they receive their swords from the king personally or the king's representative. Selected first-year cadets of the RTNA are awarded scholarships to study at naval academies abroad. On their return to Thailand they start working as officers in the Royal Thai Navy straightaway.

Naval Medical Department

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, where construction was completed on 20 November 1995.

Fleet

Main article: List of equipment in Royal Thai Navy

The Bangkok Dock Company dockyard on Charoen Krung Road

The Fleet of the Royal Thai Navy were produced in broadly countries around the world such as Canada, China, Germany, Italy, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, United States and the United Kingdom. However, the Thai shipbuilding companies and RTN dockyards also have capability of producing its own vessels namely; Mahidol Adulyadej Naval Dockyard, Asian Marine Services, Marsun Shipbuilding, Italthai Marine, and Bangkok Dock. Royal Thai Navy and the local ship building have already built an auxiliary ships, landing craft, patrol boats, corvettes, Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) repectively. In the nearly future of RTN fleet, its has a plan to locally built frigates as well.

Humanitarian relief operations

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. A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the region of Kathmandu in Nepal on 25 April 2015. Operation Sahayogi Haat (Nepali: 'helping hands') for humanitarian relief operations was put into action by Joint Task Force 505 on 6 May.

Rank structure

Main article: Military ranks of the Thai armed forces

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
Officer ranks
	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
	1Rank on paper, not actually used in the Royal Thai Navy.

Equivalent NATO Code	OR-9		OR-8	OR-7	OR-5	OR-4	OR-3	OR-1
Enlisted ranks								No insignia
	พันจ่าเอกพิเศษ	พันจ่าเอก	พันจ่าโท	พันจ่าตรี	จ่าเอก	จ่าโท	จ่าตรี	พลทหาร
	Master Chief Petty Officer	Senior Chief Petty Officer	Chief Petty Officer	Petty Officer 1st class	Petty Officer 2nd Class	Petty Officer 3rd Class	Seaman	Seaman apprentice

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

Ruth, Richard A. “Prince Abhakara’s Experiences with Britain’s Royal Navy: Education, Geopolitical Rivalries and the Role of a Cretan Adventure in Apotheosis.” Sojourn: Journal of Social Issues in Southeast Asia, vol. 34, no. 1, 2019, pp. 1–47. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/26594523.ISSN 0217-9520

External links

• Official site Template:Th icon
• Global Security – Thailand navy