Royal Thai Navy
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| Royal Thai Navy กองทัพเรือ, ราชนาวี (RTGS: Kongthap Ruea, Ratcha Navy) |
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Emblem of the Royal Thai Navy
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| Active | 1887 |
| Country | |
| Allegiance | King Rama IX |
| Branch | Royal Thai Armed Forces |
| Type | Navy |
| Size | 71,000 Active personnel (53,000 Navy personnel) (18,000 Marine Infantry) |
| Garrison/HQ | Sattahip, Chonburi (main base) Bangkok Noi, Bangkok (headquarter) |
| Motto | ร่วมเครือนาวี จักยลปฐพีไพศาล (Join the Navy to see the world) |
| Colours | Navy blue |
| Engagements | Franco-Siamese War World War I French-Thai War (Battle of Koh Chang) World War II Korean War Palace Rebellion Manhattan Rebellion Vietnam War Piracy in the Strait of Malacca Piracy in Somalia |
| Commanders | |
| Commander-in-chief | Admiral Na Arreenich |
| Notable commanders |
Prince Abhakara King Pinklao Luang Sinthusongkhramchai |
| Insignia | |
| Royal Thai Navy Flag | |
| Naval Jack and Unit Colour | |
| Naval Ensign | |
The Royal Thai Navy (Thai: กองทัพเรือ) is the navy of Thailand and part of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, it was established in the late 19th century. Admiral Prince Abhakara Kiartiwongse (1880–1923) is "The Father of Royal Thai Navy". Similar to the organisational 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 in Sattahip Bay. Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country that operates an aircraft carrier, though it is used as a pure helicopter carrier with the retirement of the Harrier fighter wing.[1] Thailand was the 2nd Asian nation to acquire submarines, following Japan; however, no submarines are operated by Thailand currently.
The Royal Thai Navy operates in 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)
The Royal Thai Navy also has two air wings, operating 40 fixed-wing aircraft and 30 helicopters from Utapao, Songkhla and Phuket. The First Royal Thai Navy wing has four squadrons; the Second Royal Thai Navy wing has three squadrons. Moreover, the Royal Thai Navy also consists of a Royal Thai Marine Corps division, an Air and Coastal Defence Division, Royal Thai Navy SEALs and a Riverine Patrol Regiment.
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 US Navy and the armed forces of Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and Philippines.
Contents
History[edit]
Origin[edit]
Franco-Siamese War[edit]
World War I[edit]
After World War I[edit]
French-Thai War[edit]
World War II[edit]
Vietnam War[edit]
In 1966, the Royal Thai government began to actively support the Vietnam War by dispatching two Royal Thai Navy vessels into service in South Vietnam.[additional citation needed][2]
Current[edit]
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 Thai Gulf 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.
[edit]
A 20 April 2014 Bangkok Post editorial said that [last] "Monday, a major news agency won the Pulitzer Prize for their work exposing Thailand’s involvement in the trafficking of Myanmar’s oppressed Rohingya minority through what it called a “tropical gulag”. On Thursday, two journalists running a small, independent website in Phuket were formally indicted for criminally defaming the Royal Thai Navy by quoting part of the award-winning report." Furthermore, "But Phuketwan editor Alan Morison and journalist Chutima Sidasathian, who had played a substantial role in the Reuters investigation, had to worry about the threat of seven years in jail and whether they would be granted bail".[3] As of 22 April, the lawsuit has not been dropped.[4]
As of 22 April 2014, the Navy "was preparing a second lawsuit against the Reuters news agency".[4]
Command and Control[edit]
The Royal Thai Navy is commanded by the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Navy, currently Admiral Surasak Rounroengrom, who was appointed in 2011. The Royal Thai Navy Headquarters is located in Derm Palace, Wang Derm Road, Bangkok, Thailand.
- Commander-in-Chief, Royal Thai Navy: Admiral Na Arreenich
- Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Royal Thai Navy: Admiral Narongpol Nabangchang
- President, Royal Thai Navy Advisory Group: Admiral Chumphol Wongwakin
- Assistant Commander-in-Chief, Royal Thai Navy: Admiral Graivut Vattanatham
- Chief of Staff, Royal Thai Navy: Admiral Panlop Tamisanon
- Commander-in-Chief, Royal Thai Fleet: Admiral Naris Pratoomsuwan
List of Commanders[edit]
Organisation[edit]
Branches[edit]
[edit]
Coastal Defence Command was formed in 1992 under the control of the Royal Fleet Headquarters, with one coastal defence regiment (equipped with 155 mm artillery) and one air defence regiment (equipped with 40 mm and 37 mm anti-aircraft guns as well as HN-5A MANPADs). 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 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 in the following year. Some analysts believe that this element will eventually grow to a strength of up to 15,000 personnel.[5] They are also interested in S-300 or S-400 SAM to upgrade their air defence system.
- The First Air Defence Regiment; to perform Anti-aircraft warfare on the Northern Gulf of Thailand with 3 Anti-aircraft Battalions.
- The Second Air Defence Regiment; to perform Anti-aircraft warfare on the Southern Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea with 3 Anti-aircraft Battalions.
- The First Coastal Defence Regiment, having 3 Artillery Battalions.
- 2 Air and Coastal Defence Command and Control Centers.
- Air and Coastal Defence Supporting Regiment; 1 transportation battalion, 1 communication battalion, 1 maintenance battalion.
- Equipment
District Forces[edit]
- Navy Fleet District Forces
- Northern Gulf of Thailand Fleet
- Chakri Naruebet class (1)
- Angthong class (1)
- Naresuan class (2)
- Phutthayotfa Chulalok class (2)
- Ratanakosin class (2)
- Krabi class (1)
- Southern Gulf of Thailand Fleet
- Tapi class (2)
- Sattahip class (6)
- MV400 Class (3)
- Andaman Sea Fleet
- Khamronsin class (3)
- Pattani class (2)
- Northern Gulf of Thailand Fleet
- Air Force District Forces
- Navy Bases District Forces
- Sattahip Naval Base
- Bangkok Naval Base
- Phangnga Naval Base
- Songkhla Naval Base
- Phuket Naval Base
- Samui Naval Base
- Trat Naval Base
- Krabi Naval Base
Rank and insignia[edit]
Equipment[edit]
- Aircraft carrier : 1
- Frigates : 7
- Corvettes : 7
- Patrol vessels : 22
- Fast attack craft : 9
- Amphibious warfare ship : 3
- Landing Craft Utility : 9
- River ships : 189
Combat ships[edit]
Auxiliary ships[edit]
Future ships[edit]
| Vessel | Origin | Type | Class | Displacement | Status | Notes |
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| Frigate | ||||||
| ??? (FFG 471) | Multi-role stealth frigate | DW 3000F class | 3,700 tonnes | Under construction | Delivery in 2018 | |
| ??? (FFG 472) | Multi-role stealth frigate | DW 3000F class | 3,700 tonnes | Order | Delivery in 2020 | |
| Patrol vessel | ||||||
| ??? (OPV ???) | Offshore patrol vessel | River class | 1,900 tonnes | Order | [8] | |
| ??? (PC ???) | Patrol Boat | M58 class | ??? tonnes | Order | ||
| ??? (PC ???) | Patrol Boat | M85 class | ??? tonnes | Order | ||
See also[edit]
- 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
Humanitarian relief operations[edit]
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 materially assisted relief efforts.[9] A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the region of Kathmandu in Nepal on 25 April 2015. Operation Sahayogi Haat (Nepali: "helping hands")[A] for humanitarian relief operations was put into action by Joint Task Force 505 on 6 May.[13]
Thailand worked with more than 60 nations in providing Humanitarian response to the 2015 Nepal earthquake.
References[edit]
Notes[edit]
Citations[edit]
- ^ "End of a Legend - Harrier Farewell". Retrieved 24 December 2014.
- ^ Cold War Southeast Asia. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
- ^ Post Publishing PCL. "Navy must end its attack on reporters". http://www.bangkokpost.com. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
- ^ a b Post Publishing PCL. "Navy to extend lawsuit to Reuters". http://www.bangkokpost.com. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
- ^ John Pike. "Air and Coastal Defense Command". Retrieved 24 December 2014.
- ^ a b Nanuam, Wassana (21 April 2013). "S Korea to build Thai navy frigate". Bangkok Post. Post Publishing PCL, http://www.bangkokpost.com. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
- ^ "Naval vessels as built by Lurssen GmbH". Lurssen.com. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
- ^ "Thai Navy May Build Second Patrol Boat Under BAE License". Defense News. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
- ^ Martinez, Staff Sgt. Alexander (29 May 2015). "Thai and USA forces combine to help earthquake victims in Nepal". Pattaya Mail. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
- ^ "Nepal Earthquake Relief Effort Named ‘Operation Sahayogi Haat’" (News Release). Kathmandu, Nepal: Joint Task Force 505. 10 May 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
- ^ "Operation Sahayogi Haat / Helping Hand". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
- ^ "Nepal Earthquake Relief Effort Named ‘Operation Sahayogi Haat’". Nepal Foreign Affairs. 10 May 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
- ^ "Joint Task Force Activates for Nepal Earthquake Relief". Marine Corps Forces Pacific News Release. US Department of Defense. 6 May 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
Sources[edit]
Thailand: A country study (Barbara Leitch LePoer, editor). Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress of the USA (September 1987).
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
External links[edit]
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