Thailand’s Chinese submarine order hits snag after Germany’s export embargo on MTU engines

[webfact]

A military model of S-26T submarine. Photo: Handout

 

● The first Yuan Class S26T worth US$408 million is being assembled without German engines as promised, said a Thai opposition lawmaker

● German military attaché says German engines cannot be used in Chinese military and defence items

 

Jitsiree Thongnoi

 

Thailand’s purchase of a Chinese-made Yuan Class S26T submarine worth 13.5 billion baht (US$408 million) has stalled over the manufacturer’s failure to obtain German-made diesel engines as stipulated in the contract.

 

State-owned conglomerate China Shipbuilding & Offshore International signed an agreement with Thailand’s Navy in 2017 for the submarine. The Thai navy said the deal was a government-to-government type, however, it bypassed any approval from the military-backed appointed parliament or the office of the auditor general.

 

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The first vessel is expected to arrive in 2024, but a Thai opposition lawmaker – who was on the parliamentary subcommittee scrutinising the navy’s budget for the 2021-22 financial year – revealed last month that the submarine was being assembled without the engines.

 

Yutthapong Charasathien of Pheu Thai, the party linked to exiled premier Thaksin Shinawatra, told a press conference on February 27 that China was currently facing a problem in obtaining engines made by German manufacturer MTU.

 

Full story: https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3169959/thailands-chinese-submarine-order-hits-snag-after-germanys

 

-- © Copyright South China Morning Post 2022-03-11

 

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[RandiRona]

Ohh well...What a loss....NOT!!!

[kwonitoy]

They can park it by the aircraft carrier that doesn't move either.

Kids can visit on kids day.

Money well spent

[Orinoco]

Reckon the Chinese can come up with some copy engines.

They copy everything else from around the world and get away with it.

 

 

Edited March 10, 2022 by Orinoco

[sammieuk1]

So its an elastic band class S26T now ????

[Phuketshrew]

Maybe they could get one of these:

 

There's enough BS around to power it ....

[ezzra]

Orders galore Submarines, F35 and toys of high value, either Thailand has too much money to burn or they're preparing for war, stuff this country does no need, but no surprise as the government run by an army general who's been glued to his seat with no one mounting any opposition so far......

[Chang_paarp]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

● The first Yuan Class S26T worth US$408 million is being assembled without German engines as promised, said a Thai opposition lawmaker

● German military attaché says German engines cannot be used in Chinese military and defence items

 

Nobody bothered to check? ????

This is pretty basic stuff, lots of rules about exporting technology. Must have been some impressive sales presentation.

[Andycoops]

That's what happens when your more interested in the brown envelopes than following the rules.

 

Germany refused to send the engines when it learnt of the so called deal and the end user was Thailand.

 

It's offered a couple of old used subs to bridge the gap but so far the Thais haven't taken them up on it.

 

[IAMHERE]

What is Germany's beef with Thailand? Must not like Thailand to be able to defend its' waters. Not a friend of the Thai's for some reason. 

[mikebell]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

the submarine was being assembled without the engines.

To be parked near the aircraft carrier without aircraft.  It's a done deal, the envelopes have been delivered.

[Ralf001]

3 minutes ago, IAMHERE said:

What is Germany's beef with Thailand? Must not like Thailand to be able to defend its' waters. Not a friend of the Thai's for some reason. 

The issue is the subs are chinese built.

 

no beef with Thailand.

[grego49]

[BritManToo]

25 minutes ago, Chang_paarp said:

Nobody bothered to check? ????

This is pretty basic stuff, lots of rules about exporting technology. Must have been some impressive sales presentation.

More of an impressive brown envelope presentation IMHO.

[Sydebolle]

Well, it took 'em only five years to find out, that the Thai subs are the first of its kind. 

The last time I heard of oarsmen was in connection with galley across the Aegean sea - a few thousand years ago. Well, Somchai and Somsak better learn how to swim; just in case the oarsmanship comes to an unexpected early end. 

What a joke, you could not make up such stories ......... I assume, that the Thai government now will pride itself for having received a "discount" as the submarines are delivered without engines, some decorations are in order and, of course, the civilian elected government will get a military promotion to super general! 

 

[katatonic]

32 minutes ago, IAMHERE said:

What is Germany's beef with Thailand? Must not like Thailand to be able to defend its' waters. Not a friend of the Thai's for some reason. 

They won't supply them to CHINA. A lot of companies won't because they'll just start churning out copies.

Edited March 11, 2022 by katatonic
Mis-spelling

[mtls2005]

As if this submarine fiasco couldn't get any worse?

 

They'll sort out the Hopewell Project and prosecute Red Bull Jr before this thing plies the waters of the shallow Gulf of Thailand.

 

 

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The first vessel is expected to arrive in 2024, but a Thai opposition lawmaker – who was on the parliamentary subcommittee scrutinising the navy’s budget for the 2021-22 financial year – revealed last month that the submarine was being assembled without the engines

No problem, it'll look good moored alongside the aircraft carrier.

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, sammieuk1 said:

So its an elastic band class S26T now ????

Stealth power..... running silent.

[Artisi]

2 hours ago, sammieuk1 said:

So its an elastic band class S26T now ????

Galley slaves, however the major problem is designing the oar / hull sealing system just in case the Thai navy have the gonads to actually submerge a little when their feet can't touch the bottom on the Thai Gulf. 

[mtls2005]

2 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Stealth power..... running silent.

They'll try sails first.

 

 

[RubbaJohnny]

Time for a tug?

 

Or throw a fistful of dollars and few squid at it..........

 

When all else fails it could be used to hide non performing hubs, politicians and seals, I'm sure anchored vertically at "Victory Monument" the con will be visible to all.

[RubbaJohnny]

3 minutes ago, Artisi said:

Galley slaves, however the major problem is designing the oar / hull sealing system just in case the Thai navy have the gonads to actually submerge a little when their feet can't touch the bottom on the Thai Gulf. 

This is where  fiddling with elastic band proficiency comes in, eely , I eely think these people should know about bungs.

[hotchilli]

7 minutes ago, RubbaJohnny said:

This is where  fiddling with elastic band proficiency comes in, eely , I eely think these people should know about bungs.

Especially the one in a sub you don't pull-out.

[PATTAYA12]

Will have to buy some oars 

[Isaan sailor]

Looks like finally Germany has some stones.  China is more a competitor, than a customer.

Edited March 11, 2022 by Isaan sailor

[Will B Good]

Can't they just tow them behind the aircraft carrier?

[mtls2005]

24 minutes ago, PATTAYA12 said:

Will have to buy some oars 

 

Yes, assuming the captain wants to water-ski.

 

 

[Misterwhisper]

2 hours ago, Andycoops said:

Germany refused to send the engines when it learnt of the so called deal and the end user was Thailand.

It's because Germany has very strict child protection laws.

[Emdog]

There seems to be a common assumption that the subs are expected to "move", so may need "engines". Movement and functionality were never part of the equation.