ON THE second day of a light salvage mission undertaken by United States and Thai navies to remove armaments and other objects from HTMS Sukhothai (FSG-442) which capsized and sank in stormy seas late 2022, killing 24 sailors with five others missing, the corvette’s nameplate, a Buddha image and some documents were brought to the surface, TV Channel 7 said tonight (Feb. 23).

 

Deployed in the 20-day joint US-Thai light salvage mission in the sea off Prachuap Khiri Khan are HTMS Rattanakosin (FSG-441) which is of the same type as the US-built, Ratanakosin-class corvette which sank undersea, the Thai navy’s minehunter HTMS Bang Rachan (MHC-631) and landing craft HTMS Mannai (LCU-783) and the US navy’s tugboat Ocean Valor.

 

On the first dive today some of the 60 US and Thai navy divers working on this mission successfully recovered HTMS Sukhothai’s nameplate which was considered a good start and raised their morale.

 

On the second dive photos were taken and the perforation on the left side of the ship’s starboard hull measured.

 

by TNR Staff

TOP: Divers from Thai and US navies working on a light salvage of HTMS Sukhothai, Feb. 23, 2024. Photo: TV Channel 7

 

Full story: THAI NEWSROOM 2024-02-24

 

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I thought naval vessels had two nameplates, one either side of the bridge. Is there also a ship's bell?

Sixty divers for a wreck in relatively shallow water seems excessive. I thought the plan was to recover the ship.