Chinese tanks arrive ahead of schedule

[snoop1130]

Chinese tanks arrive ahead of schedule

By Jittraporn Senawong 
The Nation

 

Photo from: www.defensenews.com

 

Twenty-eight VT4 battle tanks from China have been delivered to Thailand six months ahead of schedule because of competition on China’s side, Army Commander in Chief General Chalermchai Sittisart said on Wednesday.

 

He did not give further details and denied rumours that the tanks were old and had been left in storage in China.

 

“The tanks are in good condition. Their delivery is about six months ahead of the scheduled period of March next year because of business competition. We will let the media visit them when the required processes is complete,” he said.

 

He said the early arrival would allow the Thai Army to utilise the vehicles faster than expected.

 

The tanks arrived at the naval port of Thung Prong on Monday.

 

They are the first batch of tanks purchased from China North Industries Corporation for Bt4.9 billion.

 

Chalermchai said the tanks were part of the plan to supplement the decommissioned M-41 tanks. The purchase contract was signed in March last year.

 

They have already been moved to the Army Cavalry Centre in Saraburi province for inspection and to be equipped with radio equipment.

 

The Thai Army bought the Chinese tanks as both countries plan to set up a military hardware repair facility in Thailand in the future. They were also the most cost-effective vehicles of their type on the market, he said. 

 

The Army also plans to buy VN1 armoured vehicles from China.

 

This is the second big procurement from China. Last year the Thai Army bought three submarines.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30329063

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-10-11

[tracker1]

“The tanks are in good condition. would not have expected anything less made in China ! Like my rotary hoe , pole saw, pond pumps 1 lasted a week the list goes on quality at Chinas best !

[worgeordie]

2nd hand tanks from China,I mean what could go wrong,i remember years

ago they bought tanks from China and they developed cracks,one thing

for sure they never learn from their mistakes.

regards worgeordie

[bangkokheat]

timely event, problems on the horizon? maybe im just paranoid

[worgeordie]

" We will let the media visit them when the required processes is complete,” he said.
 A.K.A.,after we tart them up a bit.

regards worgeordie

[OMGImInPattaya]

Looks suspiciously like an American M1 Abrams...another cheap Chinese knock-off?

Edited October 11, 2017 by OMGImInPattaya

[Bundooman]

China couldn't believe it's luck! A foreign country, Thailand, who identified, budgeted and purchased, (after due process and transparency - of course), now awaits the conclusion of a planned deal to purchase of a number of redundant tanks it wanted to buy at a 'reasonable' price, (irrespective of their operational suitability).

 

China, being what it is, couldn't wait to fulfil the 1st part of the order in record time ahead of schedule. The balance of the order will arrive within days. 

 

They look like 3D, computerised cardboard cutouts!

 

[wakeupplease]

No elections then as now he has the power to do what he wants with shells against his own people as he does not have the balls to use against another army.

7 minutes ago, Bundooman said:

They look like 3D, computerised cardboard cutouts!

Well Said

 

51 minutes ago, tracker1 said:

“The tanks are in good condition. would not have expected anything less made in China ! Like my rotary hoe , pole saw, pond pumps 1 lasted a week the list goes on quality at Chinas best !

Tracker1 spot on

 

rusted and rotten in 2 years

[jaiyen]

Are they for WW3 or for the election ?

[Cadbury]

2 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Their delivery is about six months ahead of the scheduled period.

Commissions on both sides are not paid until after delivery. Urgency is of the utmost importance.

[Bob12345]

Early delivery because of business competition?

 

That does not make any sense unless instead of making a contract you just promised to pay whoever ships the tanks to you first.

[peterpaintpot]

Why did the Thai Army buy three submarines from China last year? Surely they would have been more useful to the Thai Navy?

[maxpower]

1 hour ago, worgeordie said:

2nd hand tanks from China,I mean what could go wrong,i remember years

ago they bought tanks from China and they developed cracks,one thing

for sure they never learn from their mistakes.

regards worgeordie

You mean like this

 

[ExpatOilWorker]

1 hour ago, OMGImInPattaya said:

Looks suspiciously like an American M1 Abrams...another cheap Chinese knock-off?

More like a Ruski Tank.

 

https://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.asp?armor_id=624

[thurien]

1 hour ago, Bundooman said:

They look like 3D, computerised cardboard cutouts!

 

this is what I instantly thought myself...

[JAG]

When I saw the headline I surmised that they had been driven in, via Laos...

[Ricardo]

44 minutes ago, peterpaintpot said:

Why did the Thai Army buy three submarines from China last year? Surely they would have been more useful to the Thai Navy?

"buy three submarines"

 

They didn't, they merely made a down-payment on one sub.

[Thongkorn]

2 hours ago, OMGImInPattaya said:

Looks suspiciously like an American M1 Abrams...another cheap Chinese knock-off?

All tanks are a knock off from britain's tanks,

[BangkokNicky]

28 tanks is somebody expacting a party on the street soon or later 

[observer90210]

Hopefully the chaps driving these toys won't be as rash as quite a many driver in the country...

[Chris Lawrence]

Check the compliance plate and build plate.

 

Now they have to pay.

[chickenslegs]

1 hour ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

More like a Ruski Tank.

 

https://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.asp?armor_id=624

Well spotted. That is a dead ringer for the tank in the OP, down to the last nut, bolt and rivet.

 

My guess is that the picture in the OP is just a "library photo" chosen by the Nation journo. who couldn't be arsed to find a photo of the real Chinese tank.

[stickyrice2000]

The Chinese is smart.  Get everything settled before the Thai backs out of the deal.  

[baboon]

2 hours ago, observer90210 said:

Hopefully the chaps driving these toys won't be as rash as quite a many driver in the country...

Why? It isn't as though they have to worry about a Honda smashing into the side of them. And as for traffic jams, what traffic jams? Just go over the top and point your cannon at any irate motorists...

[janclaes47]

22 minutes ago, baboon said:

It isn't as though they have to worry about a Honda smashing into the side of them.

 

You realize that they are made in China, yes?

[baboon]

23 minutes ago, janclaes47 said:

 

You realize that they are made in China, yes?

Oh dear. This might be the point where I have to slink off with my tail between my legs...

[Enoon]

7 hours ago, worgeordie said:

2nd hand tanks from China,I mean what could go wrong,i remember years

ago they bought tanks from China and they developed cracks,one thing

for sure they never learn from their mistakes.

regards worgeordie

 

Are you sure they were Chinese tanks?:

 

"The Stingray suffered its own complications. After roughly five years of service, around half of the Stingrays had turret and hull armor cracks. These issues led to accusations of the military purchasing "untested prototypes" and the corruption that allowed such a trade.

Cadillac Gage sent a team to Thailand to investigate. The results were unexpected. The reason for the cracks was that the army had been running illegal "races" with the vehicles with each crew competing for the highest jump they could achieve. The highest jump was discovered to be over two meters! The investigators directly linked the cracks to this "performance", but in the end Cadillac Gage offered to repair all the vehicles for free, a deal which the Thai military gleefully accepted."

 

 

Thailand bought some Chinese tanks, but not because they thought they were any good:

 

"Thailand did buy other armored vehicles as well, most notably approximately 100 Chinese Type 69 MBTs. However, they were not bought for their qualities (the tank was obsolete by 1987), but for political reasons - in exchange for a cessation of Chinese support for Thai Maoist rebels. The price agreed for the Chinese tanks was very low, but, unfortunately, so was their quality and not a single Chinese vehicle was in running condition by 1997, making the Thai press question any further arms deals with China."

 

https://aw.my.com/us/news/general/temple-guardian

 

 

 

Edited October 11, 2017 by Enoon

[mduras01]

Uber just got a face lift


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

[Stargeezr]

And Thailand needs tanks for what purpose? Are the protesters getting too

rowdy?

Geezer

[thesetat2013]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

We will let the media visit them when the required processes is complete,” he said.

Doesn't he mean they will let the media there to see them once they have a facelift and make them look newer? 

 

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Their delivery is about six months ahead of the scheduled period of March next year because of business competition

What business competition? Seems to me this was an order purchased and the Chinese gave them what was left behind. Their is no competition when you place an order from a manufacturer... Thais will believe anything if they actually believe this.