Royal Thai Navy กองทัพเรือ, ราชนาวี (RTGS: Kongthap Ruea, Ratcha Navy)
Emblem of the Royal Thai Navy
Active	1900
Country	Thailand
Branch	Royal Thai Marine Corps Royal Thai Navy SEALs
Type	Navy
Part of	Royal Thai Armed Forces
Garrison/HQ	Bangkok
Motto	ร่วมเครือนาวี จักยลปฐพีไพศาล (Join the Navy to see the world)
Colors	Navy blue
Engagements	Franco-Siamese War French-Thai War (Battle of Koh Chang) Greater East Asia War Korean War Palace Rebellion Manhattan Rebellion
Commanders
Commander-in-chief	Admiral Khamthorn Pumhiran
Notable commanders	Prince Abhakara, the Prince of Chumphon 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 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: 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.

Contents 1 History 2 Command and Control 2.1 List of Commanders 3 Current strength 3.1 Surface Combatant Vessels 3.2 Fleet Support Vessels 3.3 RTN Flying Unit 3.4 Personnel 4 SEALs 5 List of equipment 6 News 6.1 Main Fleet 6.2 RTN Flying Unit 6.3 RTN Marine Crops and SEALs 6.4 Indigenous Product 7 See also 8 References 9 External links

[edit] History

[edit] Command and Control

The Royal Thai Navy is commanded by the Commander of the Royal Thai Navy currently Admiral Khamthorn Pumhiran, who was appointed in 2008. The Royal Thai Navy Headquarters is located in Derm Palace, Wang Derm Road, Bangkok, Thailand.

• Commander-in-Chief: Admiral Khamthorn Pumhiran
• Deputy Commander-in-Chief: Admiral Somded Tongpiam
• Assistant Commander-in-Chief: Admiral Nibhon Chagsudulya
• Chief of Staff of the Navy: Vice Admiral Rapol Khamklai

[edit] List of Commanders

[edit] Current strength

[edit] Surface Combatant Vessels

• Aircraft carrier: 1
  • HTMS Chakri Naruebet - a smaller design based on the Spanish aircraft carrier Principe de Asturias and launched in 1997  Spain
    • Hangar and flight deck facility for 6 helicopters (S-70B-7 Seahawk or Chinook) and 6 AV-8S Harriers

• Frigates: 10
  • 2 Phutthayotfa Chulaok class - ex-USN Knox class  United States
    • HTMS Phutthayotfa Chulalok
    • HTMS Phutthaloetla Naphalai
  • 2 Naresuan (Type 25T) FFG - Chinese Jianghu-class Type IV  China  Thailand
    • HTMS Naresuan
    • HTMS Taksin
  • 4 Chao Phraya FFG - Chinese Jianghu-class  China
    • HTMS Chao Phraya
    • HTMS Bangpakong
    • HTMS Kraburi
    • HTMS Saiburi
  • 1 Pin Klao Class (Cannon class) destroyer escort  United States
    • HTMS Pin Klao
  • 1 Makut Rajakumarn Class (Yarrow Class)  United Kingdom
    • HTMS Makut Rajakumarn

• Corvette: 7
  • 2 Ratanakosin class - US built PFMM type  United States
    • HTMS Ratanakosin
    • HTMS Sukhothai
  • 2 Tapi class - US built PF103 Type  United States
    • HTMS Tapi
    • HTMS Khirirat
  • 3 Khamrosin class - Thai built  Thailand
    • HTMS Kamronsin
    • HTMS Thaychanon
    • HTMS Longlom

[edit] Fleet Support Vessels

• Patrol boats: 26
• Fast Attack Craft-Missile (FAC-M): 6
• Amphibious assault vehicle: 9
• Mekong River Patrol Boats:77
• Fleet support ships: 15
• Mine Counter Measure Vessels: 7 (Lat Ya class

[edit] RTN Flying Unit

RTN Flying Unit consists of 2 Wings, each has 3 squadrons. HTMS Chakri Naruebet also has its own flying unit, consisting of 2 squadrons.

[edit] Personnel

• Royal Thai Marine Corps: 20,000 men
• Naval Air Force: 1,700 men

[edit] SEALs

[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 Spain, 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] News

News about Thai Navy procurement project

[edit] Main Fleet

• New anti-ship missile - Royal Thai Navy has announced it wishes to purchase a C-802 to replace C-801 on Chao Phraya-class Frigate. The deal also includes the upgrade of Radar, Electronic Warfare, etc. RTN also aims to buy LY-60 SAM, if funds are allocated.^[1]

• New LPD - The Thai Cabinet approved a package of defense modernization deals in a meeting on 9 September 2008. This clears the RTN to purchase an LPD to be designed and built by ST Marine of Singapore, believed to be based on the Endurance-class LPD. The ship will be delivered in 2012 at a cost of around US$150million.^[2]

[edit] RTN Flying Unit

• New tactical transport helicopter - United States announces the permission to sell 6 MH-60S Navy Hawk's to Thai Navy to enhance search and rescue capability. RTN already signed contact for 2 units and the other 4 will be procured year by year^[3]

According to the news on 4 Dec 2007. RTN decided to launch a plan to buy 14 new helicopter. This include 4 MH-60S and additional 4 Super Lynx 300, also plan to buy the attack helicopter to replace AV-8S while still keep option open for a fixed-wing aircraft.^[4]

• VIP and MEDEVAC aircraft - Royal Thai Army and Royal Thai Navy signed contact with Embraer to purchase 2 ERJ-135. 1 aircraft to each force. It will uses for VIP transportation. RTN version also have a MEDEVAC capability.^[5]

[edit] RTN Marine Crops and SEALs

• New APC - RTN signed contact to procure 12 BTR-3E1 from Ukraine. This would add to V-150 currently in service in Royal Thai Marine Corps.^[6]

[edit] Indigenous Product

• Small patrol ship - By The King initiated, Thai Navy build and commissions its new patrol crafts T.991 Class. The first ship, T.991, was built in the Royal Thai Navy Dock. Another 2, T.992 and T.993, was built by Mason Shipbuilding in Thailand. These ships also inspected and evaluated closely by The King who gave many ideas to this project. He and The Queen also lead the commissioning ceremony on 30 April 2007.^[7] Project to build T.994 - T.996 are underway.

• Local-build OPV - On 11 November 2008, Cabinet approves the plan to build RTN's new offshore patrol vessel (OPV) in the deal worth 3 billion Baht. ($USD 85 million) Although RTN still did not unveil the design, the vessel will be built in Mahidol dockyard in Thailand.^[8]

• Special mission boat - On 3 March 2008, RTN launch four new special operation fast craft in Marsun shipbuilding dockyard in Samut Prakan Province. They will commission in Naval Special Warfare Command for the operation of Royal Thai Navy SEALs.^[9]

• Local-build LCU - On 3 March 2008, keel laying ceremony was performed in Marsun shipbuilding dockyard on RTN new LCU landing craft. Work is expect to complete in 2009 - 2010.^[9]

• Underwater craft - Naval Research & Development Office of Royal Thai Navy has awarded contacts to Bangkok Dockyard Co., Ltd. to build an Underwater craft. The craft is 20 tons in displacement and cost 5 million Bath.^[10]

[edit] 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
• Military ranks of the Thai armed forces
• Royal Thai Naval Academy

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• (Thai) Official site
• Global Security – Thailand navy

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