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HTMS Sukhothai

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HTMS Sukhothai in 1987
History
Thailand
NameHTMS Sukhothai
NamesakeKingdom of Sukhothai
BuilderTacoma Boatbuilding Company, Tacoma, Washington, United States
Laid down26 March 1984
Launched20 July 1986
Commissioned10 June 1987
FateSunk 18 December 2022
Badge
General characteristics
TypeRatanakosin-class corvette
Displacement960 tons
Length76.8 m (252 ft 0 in)
Beam9.6 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught4.5 m (14 ft 9 in)
Speed24 knots (44 km/h; 28 mph) maximum
Range3,568 nmi (6,608 km; 4,106 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Complement87
Armament

HTMS Sukhothai (FS-442) (Thai: เรือหลวงสุโขทัย, RTGS: Sukhothai) was a corvette of the Ratanakosin class operated by the Royal Thai Navy. The ship was named after the Kingdom of Sukhothai, traditionally regarded as the first Thai kingdom.[1]

On 18 December 2022, while on a weather patrol mission in the Gulf of Thailand, the 35-year old ship started to take on water from strong winds and waves, causing a power outage and subsequent loss of control of machinery and steering mechanisms. She continued to take on water until eventually sinking overnight. The Royal Thai Navy was dispatched to rescue the crew, [2] but as of 19 December 2022 could only confirm picking up 75 sailors, with 31 of the 106 crew members still missing.[3][4][5][6]

Construction

Sukhothai was a Ratanakosin-class corvette. Ordered for the Royal Thai Navy on 9 May 1983, the ship was laid down by Tacoma Boatbuilding Company in Tacoma, Washington, on 26 March 1984.[5][7] The Ratanakosin-class corvettes, of which there were two, were built to the following dimensions: 76.8 m (252 ft 0 in) in length, 9.6 m (31 ft 6 in) wide, with a displacement of 960 tons at full load. The class shares characteristics with the Royal Saudi Navy Badr-class corvette. The ship was powered by two diesel engines running two propeller shafts, providing a maximum speed of 26 knots (48 km/h; 30 mph) and a range of 3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph). The crew complement was 87, of which 15 were officers, plus an expected contingent of flag officer's staff. Sukhothai was launched on 20 July 1986.[7] The ship was the last major vessel to be completed at Tacoma Boatbuilding's Yard 1 on the Hylebos Waterway.[8]

She was named after the Kingdom of Sukhothai, which is traditionally regarded as the first Thai kingdom.[1] The intended role of the Ratanakosin-class vessels was to provide surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missile capability on a highly manoeuvrable platform.[9] The vessels served as flagships for the Royal Thai Navy's squadrons of fast attack craft.[10]

Armament

Sukhothai was armed with two quadruple McDonnell Douglas Harpoon surface-to-surface missile launchers. She also had an octuple Selenia Alsag Aspide surface-to-air missile launcher. The ship's gunnery was provided by one OTO Melara 76 mm gun supported by a twin Breda 40 mm cannon and a Rheinmetall 20 mm autocannon. Her torpedo armament was two triple Mark 32 Surface Vessel Torpedo Tubes armed with Sting Ray torpedoes.[7]

Service history

Sukhothai in the Gulf of Thailand during a CARAT 2013 training exercise

Sukhothai was commissioned into the Royal Thai Navy on 10 June 1987. She was originally given hull number 2 but this was later changed to 442.[7]

In 1994, Sukhothai was part of the Royal Thai Navy contingent in the annual Thai-Australian military exercise AUSTHAI 94.[11] Sukhothai launched several Aspide surface-to-air missiles against drone targets during the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training Cruise 1995 (CARAT 95), a maritime exercise cooperation with vessels from the United States, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Brunei. This was the first time that the Royal Thai Navy had fired the missiles since purchasing them in 1985.[12]

2022 sinking

The ship sank after a storm in the Gulf of Thailand on 18 December 2022.[13] She developed a heavy list after flooding caused electrical systems and pumps to fail. The failures were caused by sea water entering an exhaust port in heavy seas, which led to a short circuit in the ship's electrical system.[14] She sank at around 23:30 local time (UTC+07:00).[5] A weather advisory for the area had been issued by the Thailand Meteorological Department before the sinking, warning of 4-meter (13 ft) high waves and advising ships to "proceed with caution."[15]

Sukhothai had been on a patrol 17 nautical miles (32 km) east of Bang Saphan, in the Prachuap Khiri Khan province, when she became caught in the storm on 18 December.[16] Other naval ships and helicopters were sent to assist, but only HTMS Kraburi reached the vessel before she sank, picking up most of her crew.[5]

As of 19 December 2022, the Royal Thai Navy has confirmed that rescue efforts have saved 75 sailors, but 31 crew members out of the 106 on board are still missing.[3][4][5][6]

Citations

  1. ^ a b "เปิดประวัติเรือหลวงสุโขทัยใช้มา35ปี ก่อนล่มกลางอ่าวไทย". dailynews.co.th (in Thai). 19 December 2022.
  2. ^ Suhartono, Muktita; Stevens, Matt (19 December 2022). "Royal Thai Navy Scrambles to Rescue 31 After Its Ship Sinks". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Thaïlande : un navire militaire chavire, 31 personnes portées disparues". Franceinfo (in French). 19 December 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  4. ^ a b Kelliher, Fiona (19 December 2022). "Thai warship sinks in heavy seas with dozens feared missing". The Guardian. Phnom Penh. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d e Mao, Frances (19 December 2022). "Thailand warship capsizes leaving 31 sailors missing". BBC News. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  6. ^ a b Nanuam, Wassana (19 December 2022). "Navy ship sinks in storm, 31 sailors missing". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  7. ^ a b c d Jane's (2002), p. 709.
  8. ^ "A New Gunboat for Thailand". The News Tribune. 21 July 1986. p. 12.
  9. ^ Daily Report: East Asia. The Service. 1991. p. 134.
  10. ^ "Royal Thai Navy's Ratanakosin-class corvette HTMS Sukhothai has sunk". Navy Recognition. 19 December 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  11. ^ Asia-Pacific Defence (1994), p. 22.
  12. ^ Asia Pacific Defense Forum. Commander of the U.S. Pacific Command. 1995. p. 47.
  13. ^ "Thai Royal Navy Vessel HTMS Sukhothai Sinks". Atlas News. 18 December 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  14. ^ Voytenko, Mikhail (18 December 2022). "Thai Royal Navy Corvette sank in Gulf of Siam". Fleetmon. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  15. ^ Vejpongsa, Tassanee; Ekvitthayavechnukul, Chalida (19 December 2022). "Thai navy searching for 31 missing sailors after ship sank". AP News. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  16. ^ "Dozens of sailors missing after Thai navy ship sinks". Al Jazeera. 19 December 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2022.

References

  • "AUSTHAI". Asia-Pacific Defence Reporter. 21 (2–15). Peter Isaacson Publications: 22. 1994.
  • Saunders, Stephen, ed. (2002). Jane's Fighting Ships, 2002–2003. Surrey: Coulsdon. ISBN 0-7106-2432-8.
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