Royal Thai navy takes delivery of 3 patrol boats

The Royal Thai Navy took delivery of three new patrol boats to guard the coastline and provide security for the royal family.

Navy commander Adm. Surasak Runroengrom accepted the vessels from shipbuilder Marsun Co. May 16 at the Sattahip Naval Base’s Laem Thien Pier. The boats then were handed over to Coast Guard Squadron commander Rear Adm. Surapol Khuptaphan.

The patrol boats replace three older vessels operating in the Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea, guarding against drug traders, smugglers and illegal fishing fleets. They are also tasked with providing security for the royal family.

Marsun spent 26 months building the three boats, which measure 21.4 meters long and 5.6 meters wide. They have a top speed of 30 knots, range of 350 nautical miles and can operate continuously 24 hours.

The nine-person crew has three weapons at their disposal: a 20mm gun on the bow, half-inch machine gun on the stern and an 81mm grenade launcher.

Pattaya Mail

Royal Thai Navy Needs B13bn for New Frigate

The Royal Thai Navy will ask the cabinet to approve a budget of 13 billion baht for a new frigate to be built by a South Korean shipyard.

Navy chief Adm Surasak Rounroengrom said the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters is scrutinising the budget proposal and later will forward it to the Ministry of Defence. Once approved, it will be submitted to the cabinet for consideration, he said.

DSME DW3000H frigates (photo : Navy Recognition)

A navy source said the navy had set up several sub-committees to coordinate with the Korea-based shipbuilding and offshore contractor.

A navy selection committee last month chose Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering to build the new frigate, a navy source said.

The company was one of two South Korean firms in the final round of bidding, organised by the navy panel.

Three other three foreign firms were eliminated in the previous rounds - from Spain, Italy and China.

The source said the high-capability frigate to be built by Daewoo would be based on the company’s type DX II frigate, which has a displacement of 5,000 tonnes, with modifications to meet the Thai navy’s special requirements.

The new navy ship will have a displacement of between 3,000 and 4,000 tonnes.

Navy chief of staff Chakchai Phucharoenyot, who chaired the selection committee, earlier told the media the navy also asked the company to install a Combat Management System (CMS) which can be allied to the systems already installed in the frigates HTMS Naresuan and HTMS Taksin.

The new frigate, which would be the first South Korean-built naval vessel in the Thai fleet, is expected to be ready for commissioning in two years, Adm Chakchai said.

Bangkok Post

Thai Marine Corps Receive Upgraded V-150 Commando

Admiral Phucharoen Chief of Naval Staff visit a demonstration of armored vehicle V-150 Commando which has been upgraded on May 9, 2013 at the field test of vehicles at the Alligator Battalion, Marine Corps, Sattahip, Chonburi Province.

V-150 Commando which has completed the upgraed (all photos : acdc)

Navy has led the armored vehicle V-150 Commando to the Marine Corps and the three southern border provinces, which allows to use of armored vehicles were damaged by long use. Navy brought this armored vehicle to repaired and now has improved and completed.

With visiting the demonstration armored vehicle V-150 Commando, the Naval Staff to get to know the performance and capabilities of armored vehicle V-150 Commando prototype which has been successfully upgraded.

(Royal Thai Navy PR)

South Korea has been Chosen to Build Thai Navy Frigate

The Royal Thai Navy has chosen a South Korean naval ship manufacturer to build a new frigate that will cost about 13 billion baht.

DSME DW-3000H frigates - length : 114m, width 13.8m, displacement 3.000 ton, top speed of 28 knots, main gun 76 mm, 8 tubes ESSM anti-air missiles in vertical launch version, 20mm CIWS, 30mm cannon (MSI DS30), torpedo tubes, stealth mast will be at Thales I-Mast 400/I-Mast 500 (all photos : Defense Studies)

An RTN selection committee announced on Friday it had chosen Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering to manufacture the frigate, a navy source said.

The company was one of the last two South Korean firms to enter the final round of the bid organised by the RTN panel.

The other three foreign firms ousted from the previous rounds were from Spain, Italy and China.

RTN chief of staff Chakchai Phucharoenyot, who chaired the panel, said Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering was selected because it had proposed specifications for the frigate that were in line with the navy's demands.

The navy also asked the company to manufacture a Combat Management System (CMS) which can be allied to the systems installed in the frigates HTMS Naresuan and HTMS Taksin, he said.

The frigate, which will be the first South Korean-manufactured navy ship in Thailand, is expected to be commissioned in two years' time, Adm Chakchai said.

The new frigate will have a displacement of between 3,000 and 4,000 tonnes.

The cabinet earlier approved the RTN's procurement of two frigates with a budget of 30 billion baht. The frigates will be considered for manufacturing one by one.

According to the navy source, the RTN preferred European frigates but they were too expensive.

Meanwhile, a Defence Ministry source revealed that Defence Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat will lead military top brass on a visit to Russia between Tuesday and next Monday to bolster military ties.

Thai delegates will inspect the armaments industry in Russia, the source said.

Bangkok Post