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 organizational structure of the former United States Navy, the Royal Thai Navy includes the Naval Fleet, and the Royal Thai Marine Corps. The Royal Thai Navy operates out of Sattahip Naval Base. Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country which operates an aircraft carrier though it is used as a pure helicopter carrier with the retirement of the Harrier fighter wing. Thailand is the 2nd nation of Asia to have 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 4 squadrons and the Second Royal Thai Navy wing has 3 squadrons. Moreover, the Royal Thai Navy also consists of 1 Royal Thai Marine Corps division, 1 Air and Coastal Defence Division, Royal Thai Navy SEALs and 1 Riverine Patrol Regiment.
The Royal 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 Royal Navy and the armed forces of Vietnam, Thailand, Republic of China, Indonesia, West Japan and Philippines.
List of Ships[]
- Chakri Naruebet-class aircraft carrier (1) - 1997
- HTMS Chakri Naruebet (911)
- Mannok-class Utility Landing Craft (3) - 19XX
- HTMS Mannok (LCU -81)
- HTMS Mannai (LCU-782)
- HTMS Manklang (LCU-783)
- Thongkaeo-class Utility Landing Craft (4) - 1982
- HTMS Thongkaeo (LCU 771)
- HTMS Thonglang (LCU 772)
- HTMS Wangnok (LCU 773)
- HTMS Wangnai (LCU 774)
- Sichang-class landing ship (2) - 1987
- HTMS Sichang (LST-721)
- HTMS Surin (LST-722)
- Marsun M55-class Utility Landing Craft (2) - 2010
- HTMS Mattaphon (LCU-784)
- HTMS Ravi (LCU-785)
- Enduance-class landing platform dock (1) - 2012
- HTMS Angthong (LPD-791)
- Chao Praya-class frigate (4) - 1991
- HTMS Chao Praya (FFG-455)
- HTMS Bangpakong (FFG-456)
- HTMS Kraburi (FFG-457)
- HTMS Saiburi (FFG-458)
- Phutthayotfa Chulalok-class (Sangamon class) frigate (2) - 1994
- HTMS Phutthayotfa Chulalok (FFG-461) - former APNS Taughannock (FF-1095)
- HTMS Phutthaloetla Naphalai (FFG-462) - former APNS Pecos (FF-1077)
- Naresuan-class frigate (2) - 1995
- HTMS Naresuan (FFG-421)
- HTMS Taksin (FFG-422)
- Maeklong-class (Defiant class) frigate (2) - 2012
- HTMS Maeklong (FFG-431) - former APNS Memorable (FFG-46)
- HTMS Bangpakong (FFG-432) - former APNS Heroic (FFG-48)
- DW3000F-class frigate (2 UC) - 20XX
- HTMS Tachin (FFG-471) - fitting out
- HTMS Prasae (FFG-472) - under construction
- Tapi-class corvette (2) - 1971
- HTMS Tapi (FF-431)
- HTMS Khirirat (FF-432)
- Ratanakosin-class corvette (2) - 1986
- HTMS Ratanakosin (FS-441)
- HTMS Sukhothai (FS-442)
- Khamronsin-class corvette (3) - 1992
- HTMS Kamronsin (FS-531)
- HTMS Thayanchon (FS-532)
- HTMS Longlom (FS-533)
- S26T-class Hunter-Killer Submarine (3 UC) - 202X
- HTMS Unnamed - under construction
- HTMS Unnamed - under construction
- HTMS Unnamed - under construction
- Cannon-class Destroyer Escort (1) - 1959
- HTMS Pin Klao (DE-1) - former APNS Hemminger (DE-746)
- Makut Rajakumarn-class Frigate (1) - 1973
- HTMS Makut Rajakumarn (FF-433)
- YOG 5-class Replenishment Tanker (1) - 1947
- HTMS Samui (YO-832)
- Chan-class Survey Vessel (1) - 1961
- HTMS Chan (AGOR-811)
- Chuang-class Coastal Tanker (2) - 1966
- HTMS Chuang (YO-841)
- HTMS Chik (YO-842)
- Proet-class Coastal Tanker (2) - 1969
- HTMS Proet (YO-834)
- HTMS Samed (YO-835)
- Prong-class (1) - 19??
- HTMS Prong (YO-833)
- Jula II-class Auxiliary Tanker (1) - 1980
- HTMS Jula (YO-831)
- Sok-class Survey Vessel (1) - 1982
- HTMS Sok (AGOR-812)
- Similan-class (Qinghaihu class) Replenishment Vessel (1) - 1996
- HTMS Similan (AOR-871)
- Paruehasabordee-class Survey Vessel (1) - 2008
- HTMS Paruehasabordee (AGOR-813)
- Matra-class Replenishment Vessel (1) - 2014
- HTMS Matra (YO-???)
- MSC 289-class Minesweeper (2) - 1965
- HTMS Bankaeo (MSC-612)
- HTMS Donjai (MSC-613)
- Thalang-class Minesweeper (1) - 1980
- HTMS Thalang (MSC-621)
- M48-class Minesweeper (2) - 1987
- HTMS Bangrajun (MSC-631)
- HTMS Nong Sarai (MSC-632)
- Gaeta-class Minesweeper (2) - 1999
- HTMS Ladya (MSC-633)
- HTMS Ta Dindang (MSC-634)
- Makut Rajakumarn-class Patrol Vessel (1) - 1973
- HTMS Makut Rajakumarn (FF-433)
- FPB 45-class fast attack craft (3) - 1976
- HTMS Probbrorapak (FAC-311)
- HTMS Hanhak Sudtru (FAC-312)
- HTMS Soo Pirin (FAC-313)
- BMB 230-class fast attack craft (3) - 1979
- HTMS Ratcharit (FAC-321)
- HTMS Vitiyakom (FAC-322)
- HTMS U-domdej (FAC-323)
- MV400-class fast attack craft (3) - 1983
- HTMS Chonburi (FAC-331)
- HTMS Songkla (FAC-332)
- HTMS Phuket (FAC-333)
- PSMM Mk.5 Patrol Vessel (6) - 1983
- HTMS Satahip (PC-521)
- HTMS Klongyai (PC-522)
- HTMS Takbai (PC-523)
- HTMS Kangtang (PC-524)
- HTMS Thepa (PC-525)
- HTMS Theai Mueang (PC-526)
- Hua Hin-class Patrol Craft (3) - 2001
- HTMS Huahin (PC-541)
- HTMS Klang (PC-542)
- HTMS Sriracha (PC-543)
- Pattani-class Offshore Patrol Vessel (2) - 2005
- HTMS Pattani (OPV 511)
- HTMS Narathiwat (OPV 512)
- Tor.991-class Patrol Craft (3) - 2007
- HTMS Tor-991 (T.991)
- HTMS Tor-992 (T.992)
- HTMS Tor-993 (T.993)
- Tor.994-class Patrol Craft (3) - 2011
- HTMS Tor-994 (T.994)
- HTMS Tor-995 (T.995)
- HTMS Tor-996 (T.996)
- Krabi-class (River class) Offshore Patrol Vessel (1, 1 UC) - 2013
- HTMS Krabi (PC-551)
- HTMS Trang (PC-552) - fitting out
- M21-class Patrol Craft (10) - 2013
- HTMS Tor-228 (T.228)
- HTMS Tor-229 (T.229)
- HTMS Tor-230 (T.230)
- HTMS Tor-231 (T.231)
- HTMS Tor-232 (T.232)
- HTMS Tor-233 (T.233)
- HTMS Tor-234 (T.234)
- HTMS Tor-235 (T.235)
- HTMS Tor-236 (T.236)
- HTMS Tor-237 (T.237)
- M36-class Patrol Craft (3) - 2014
- HTMS Tor-111 (T.111)
- HTMS Tor-112 (T.112)
- HTMS Tor-113 (T.113)
- Laemsing-class Patrol Vessel (1, 2 UC) - 2016
- HTMS Laemsing (PC-561)
- HTMS Unnamed (PC-562)
- HTMS Unnamed (PC-563)