What’s Next for Thailand’s New Mini-Submarine Quest?

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What’s Next for Thailand’s New Mini-Submarine Quest?

While it is still early days, Bangkok has shown some signs of making inroads.

By Prashanth Parameswaran

 

Last week, a British engineering group announced that it had won the contract to help Thailand design its midget submarines. Though few specifics have been publicly disclosed thus far, the development has nonetheless put the spotlight once again on Bangkok’s decades-old aspirations in this domain.

 

As I noted before in these pages, over the past few years, Thailand has made some notable advances in terms of realizing its decades-long aspiration to acquire submarines. The most headline-grabbing of these was the approval of a deal to purchase submarines from China, initially concluded back in 2015.

 

In July, on a separate note, news publicly surfaced that the current Thai government under Prayut Chan-o-cha was moving forward with a new project to design a so-called “midget” or mini-submarine, which had been in the works since late last year.

 

Full story: https://thediplomat.com/2018/10/whats-next-for-thailands-new-mini-submarine-quest/

 

-- THE DIPLOMAT 2018-10-23

[kotsak]

Mini/midget sizes won't do, they don't fit their ego.

 

[bluesofa]

I thought this was something that Mini-Me Prawit would be keen on.

[stanleycoin]

Mini subs, mini people, mini member, mini brain.  all sound about right

[Phuketshrew]

I think Elon still has a couple of mini subs available - that is if he can extricate them from where the sun don't shine ????

[worgeordie]

I suppose the numbers of mini Subs,will depend

on how many mini submariners,they can find.

that are also daft enough to want to go in/on

one.

regards worgeordie

[yellowboat]

"unofficially named “Chalawan Class,” would take approximately seven years, with a surface displacement of 150-300 tons, a crew of 10, and a range of 300 nautical miles."

 

Narco subs have better range and only cost US$1million.

 

Snark aside, mini subs are, if memory serves, suppose to be for coastal defenses or clandestine use. The big subs from China look to be big toys.

[connda]

I'm sure they'll be eying that ฿140 billion in health care funds for the 52 million average Thai citizens to pay for this boondoggle. 
Of course, hand-off of the ฿130 billion in health care funds for the 18 million well-to-do Thais who work for the government.

[connda]

4 hours ago, stanleycoin said:

Mini subs, mini people, mini member, mini brain.  all sound about right

No doubt a 'dead-friend' may donates some mini subs to mini-me. 

[stanleycoin]

16 minutes ago, yellowboat said:

Narco subs have better range and only cost US$1million.

And way more relaxing on the way, 

[HarrySeaman]

" BMT said it had been contracted “to recommend submarine-specific engineering management best practice to help the RTN minimize risk during the design phase.” "

 

[Humpy]

Has anybody seen the airship or aircraft carrier lately !!? What will mini subs be used for ? ......that's if they can find their way through the rubbish and sewage around the coastline !

[natway09]

I think the author is 20 years ahead of his time

He has found the weed already 555

[quandow]

These jokes just write themselves!

[Justgrazing]

Hahaha .. They best be fitting satnav unless they wanna end up lost in ( the  ) Bath like this Russian sub .. 

[Justgrazing]

Young Poseidon pick it up like it was a toy .. 

[chama]

On 10/23/2018 at 4:07 AM, connda said:

I'm sure they'll be eying that ฿140 billion in health care funds for the 52 million average Thai citizens to pay for this boondoggle. 
Of course, hand-off of the ฿130 billion in health care funds for the 18 million well-to-do Thais who work for the government.

Sounds like they will be following the U.S. blueprint. Hope they are small enough to hang on the wall upon retirement because any other use sounds questionable.

[jerojero]

Another stupid waste of public funds. Nuff said!