SURVEY: Does Thailand need Submarines?

[Scott]

The Royal Thai Navy has defended its Bt22.5-billion deal to purchase two more submarines following public complaints that the money should be spent on relieving people’s suffering amid the Covid-19 crisis.  In your opinion, do you think this is a good move? 

 

https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1179241-navy-country-needs-submarine/page/4/?tab=comments#comment-15745407  

 

https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1179629-thailand’s-submarine-purchase-cannot-be-scrapped-but-can-be-postponed/

 

 

[yellowboat]

Thailand does not need conscripts nor does it need submarines, unless it wants to align itself with the Chinese military.  

 

According to Wikipedia, the Japanese subs did very little during the war.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matchanu-class_submarine

One acted as a power source for a tram line after a power plant was bombed by the Allies.  The military only acts in its own interests and can do whatever they want.  Hopefully they will get voted out next time around.  They are an embarrassment to the good people of Thailand. 

 

"Navy Chief of Staff Adm Sittiporn Maskasem said any delay in purchasing the subs could affect the country's marine security and Thailand’s credibility in international trade."    The Chinese are good business people.  They will take slow payments due to the pandemic caused by them.  Marine security from whom?   China?   Again, what an embarrassment.  

Edited August 30, 2020 by yellowboat

[dbrenn]

Other countries' navies have them, so why not Thailand's? 

[RotBenz8888]

7 hours ago, Scott said:

money should be spent on relieving people’s suffering amid the Covid-19 crisis.  I

I heard Thailand has a solid economy and huge cash reserves. If that's the case, surely they would be able to afford both? 

Edited August 30, 2020 by RotBenz8888

[JusticeGB]

The Gulf of Siam isn't deep enough to hide submarines so the second they leave the docks they can be tracked leaving them totally ineffective. 

[Bender Rodriguez]

the army has been the problem in thailand for the last 100+ years

 

coups after coup and we are in one now

[Misterwhisper]

It does not matter whether Thailand "needs" submarines or not.

 

The only point of consideration is that the boys WANT them; hence they'll treat themselves. And public opinion has no bearing on that decision whatsoever. Period.

[kingstonkid]

While it is a good idea it has to be looked at as not more important than people

[klauskunkel]

Thailand doesn't need what the Generals want.

[tifino]

the brass is simply wanting to generalate kickbacks 

[connda]

Thailand is not a blip on the radar of world powers.  So they need subs for what purpose?
None that I can think of.  Well, torpedoing fishing trawlers from other nations possibly.  Which is a great reason to never have a sub. 

This is like your 8 year old wanting a thorough-bred race horse after you offered to buy her a puppy.

[fxe1200]

We must not forget, that the Royal Navy has maintained and paid an active submarine division for almost 70 years, but has not one submersible ship. Now after all that time, they want to stop twiddling their thumps and insist on that new expensive toy. I believe that the navy should dissolve the division immediately.

 

 

[DirtyHarry55]

Did they need these? Nope yet got them anyway.

 

 

[transam]

1 hour ago, dbrenn said:

Other countries' navies have them, so why not Thailand's? 

Shallow water......????

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[tifino]

1 hour ago, fxe1200 said:

We must not forget, that the Royal Navy has maintained and paid an active submarine division for almost 70 years, but has not one submersible ship. Now after all that time, they want to stop twiddling their thumps and insist on that new expensive toy. I believe that the navy should dissolve the division immediately.

 

 

more like 119 years...  and it is really only the US and the CCP that have submersible ships   the long flatbed ones that roll on roll off low draft units below the sea level

 

 

i.e. 

[worgeordie]

In a couple of years after they come into service they will be

docked next to the aircraft carrier (with no planes),so the Kids

can visit on Children's day. Amazing Thailand.

regards Worgeordie       P.S. I hope the instructions are not in Chinese, like most of

                                         the products you buy from China.

[Jack Hna]

If it helps get there yaba to customers.

[jvs]

Is it going to be a second Thai Airways?Then it is definitely useful for certain people.

Any use for the nation,the normal Thai people?

I have not heard one Thai person say anything good about it.

[rvaviator]

I like to understand how they will be useful ?  

 

What practical operational capability will they have ?

 

I would have thought if anything they need fast surface going ships to allow effective control for fishing vessels, smugglers etc ....

 

Or aircraft / drones with radar capability for monitoring surface and air traffic.

 

I just can not see how they can have a practical use.  Do they think they are going to sink the next Belgrano  for when 'country X' will invade Thailand ?

 

If the argument is to have some cool toys to play with ... That argument I can understand.     

[Don Mega]

Power projection, a costly exercise in muscle flexing that serves no other purpose.

[rvaviator]

Maybe can buy some slightly used min subs from US when they are sold on auction ?

If anything - the fast intercept Zodic looks way more useful than a Chinese sub if combined with surface radar.

[rwill]

They will be handy for rescue operations when Bangkok floods.

[Don Mega]

5 minutes ago, rwill said:

They will be handy for rescue operations when Bangkok floods.

They could use them to push flood water out.

[chilli42]

Everyone should have a submarine.  I had a couple when I was a child and had endless hours of fun with them in the swimming pool.  I don’t see why the Thai navy should be deprived of such an enjoyable past time.  After all, it’s entirely possible that they did not have their own submarines when growing up.  This perhaps explains their current fascination with them.  

[maxx58]

Only if it's a Yellow Submarine!

[PatOngo]

The question is not whether Thailand needs submarines or not....of course they don't need them, the question is how much the filthy snouts will make from the purchase. Just like the Chakri Naruebet, a total waste of taxpayer money but a few happy, putrid snouts! The people who run this country are an utter disgrace!

[AgMech Cowboy]

With as much coastline that Thailand enjoys and the problem that they encounter from pirates and smugglers (and there are more than you think or read about), I don't have a problem with the purchase of a couple of subs. Considering the future of Cambodia and the possibility of China increasing their activity in the GOT, and the sea grab by the CCP in the S.China Sea, I think purchasing submarines from the CCP was ludicrous. India, France, USA or even Russia would have been better. The CCP will probably have a backdoor to the system and take control when they want.

[englishoak]

Definitely needs at least another 10 subs, 2 more aircraft carriers 3 more squadrons of fighter jets,  a few stealth bombers and at least 250 new tanks... just in case of... yknow... "that dangerous foreign enemy" 

[mikesil]

Of course we need more submarines!  I do hope that people will soon come to realize the underlying wisdom of this brilliant move.

 

Restrictions are about to be lifted on tourists entering from all over the world.  There will be folks pouring in from the US, Brazil, Russia, Europe, and other places now dealing with millions of Covid cases.  Obviously, the government plans to issue a new submarine to every family for purposes of self-isolation.

 

As it happens, my neighbourhood has no water nearby but a lot of vehicular traffic.  I am planning to order one with wheels and a horn.

[transam]

5 minutes ago, englishoak said:

Definitely needs at least another 10 subs, 2 more aircraft carriers 3 more squadrons of fighter jets,  a few stealth bombers and at least 250 new tanks... just in case of... yknow... "that dangerous foreign enemy" 

They will have to stop paying out zillions on upgrading old F5's first to do all that...????