Defence Minister, Navy Chief Leave For China To Wrap Up Submarine Deal

[webfact]

 

DEFENCE MINISTER SUTHIN Khlangsang and Navy Chief Adm. Adung Pan-iam have quietly departed for China to conclude the trouble-plagued, Chinese-built submarine purchase deal, a government official said Tuesday (Mar. 26).

 

According to the official at Government House, the civilian cabinet member and navy chief flew together to China yesterday in a last-ditch effort to wrap up the long-delayed purchase deal under which the Yuan-class S26T submarine will very likely do without a German-made engine as otherwise specified in the purchase contract.

 

The 12.4 billion baht submarine manufactured by China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co. had earlier recommended a Chinese-made CHD620 engine be installed aboard the submarine in place of the unavailable German-made MTU396 engine.

 

The delivery of Thailand’s first submarine in six decades which had been earlier scheduled for last year has been indefinitely postponed due to the lack of the sought-after engine.

 

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

Photo: Thai Rath

 

Full story: THAI NEWSROOM 2024-03-27

 

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[flyingtlger]

 

12 minutes ago, webfact said:

trouble-plagued, Chinese-built submarine purchase deal

They should have stuck with the German sub........

 

[TheFishman1]

Why in the world does Thailand need a submarine built by China in the first place do you think they could find a better use of that money TIT?

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

According to the official at Government House, the civilian cabinet member and navy chief flew together to China yesterday in a last-ditch effort to wrap up the long-delayed purchase deal under which the Yuan-class S26T submarine will very likely do without a German-made engine as otherwise specified in the purchase contract

So cancel the contract.... no backbone?

[bamnutsak]

Just take the substitute engine and be done with this debacle.

 

Then scuttle it.

 

Out of sight, out of mind. 

 

 

[mikebell]

This was inevitable once Thailand signs ANY contract with China.  No refunds; take it or lose your deposit (commissions for which have already been spent.)

The sub is available much cheaper at any branch of MR. DIY.

[Victor Laszlo]

The mind boggles.

[klauskunkel]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Defence Minister, Navy Chief Leave For China To Wrap Up Submarine Deal

I think they should drive it back home. It would send a message of confidence in the Chinese engine, and if anything did go wrong... som nam na.

[Dan O]

I wish they would all get their story straight. First its on hold, then its a go, then its canceled, then its not a sub but a frigate instead. Then they both got canceled for lack of budget and now its on again

[mfd101]

Classic mix of Thai incompetence & Chinese ruthlessness. No good outcome for the Thai Navy or - more importantly - for Thailand.

[newbee2022]

2 hours ago, TheFishman1 said:

Why in the world does Thailand need a submarine built by China in the first place do you think they could find a better use of that money TIT?

Well, if they would have bought the original in Kiel/Germany they would get value for money....But if you buy cheap you'll get cheap.

However, in the end wasted money for sure. 🙏

[brianthainess]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

The delivery of Thailand’s first submarine in six decades

And when was the last one ever needed? 

[dinsdale]

One of the 1st things they should do upon delivery is check the whole system for tracking devices and data hacking technology.

[brianthainess]

Choppers are needed, not a useless never needed Sub. 

I'd bet it has a tracker installed by the Chins.

[bamnutsak]

10 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

And when was the last one ever needed? 

 

1951?

 

The reason the RTN was on the outs, and submarines were forbidden. 

 

Would make an awesome film, except for the fact that it was a coup/mutiny.

 

 

 

BATTLEFIELD BANGKOK: THE TIME THE NAVY DEFIED THE ARMY – AND LOST

 

Because of the short-lived mutiny, the navy – once a proud rival of the army – was disarmed and sidelined in the halls of power. Its fleet of Mitsubishi-built submarines were decommissioned and sold for scrap.

 

Its collection covers the force’s extensive history, from a 1941 battle with French forces to the recent purchase of three Chinese submarines. But no mention could be found of the dramatic showdown in the Chao Phraya 67 years ago.

 

https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/2018/06/29/battlefield-bangkok-the-time-the-navy-defied-the-army-and-lost/

 

 

 

 

[seajae]

going direct to make sure they get to bring home an extra package/cake box for each of them full of appreciation for accepting the bribe respectful proposition

[Srikcir]

3 hours ago, hotchilli said:

So cancel the contract.... no backbone?

Because it's a contract and requires a large down-payment already paid ($193.7 million) and installment payments already begun. Not to mention a contract between China and Thailand governments and no refund of any payments. 

However, what happened to the Thai government deciding to replace the sub purchase with a frigate? 

"Thailand aims swapping Chinese sub with frigate after troubled deal" By Reuters.com, October 24, 2023

But apparently not a government decision but a Thai navy decision on how Thai taxpayers money is spent?

"The navy has said submarine procurement is vital to Thailand's long-term defence interests."

End of problem.

 

 

 

 

[newbee2022]

50 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

Choppers are needed, not a useless never needed Sub. 

I'd bet it has a tracker installed by the Chins.

Choppers? For what purpose?😵‍💫

[brianthainess]

3 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Choppers? For what purpose?😵‍💫

For a Mirade of 'purposes' from waterbombing to firing torpedoes.  

[mfd101]

1 hour ago, dinsdale said:

One of the 1st things they should do upon delivery is check the whole system for tracking devices and data hacking technology.

I don't imagine that'll be an issue for the Thais, once the sub reaches its home wharf ...

[Enoon]

Great photo choice for the article.

 

That's the Indonesian KRI Nanggala......lost with all hands off Bali in 2021.

 

 

[newbee2022]

26 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

For a Mirade of 'purposes' from waterbombing to firing torpedoes.  

Silly! You're one of that war monger country?🥴

[dinsdale]

36 minutes ago, Enoon said:

Great photo choice for the article.

 

That's the Indonesian KRI Nanggala......lost with all hands off Bali in 2021.

 

 

I guess any old sub pic will do. Quick google search and here it is. The exact image used for the article. The KRI Nanggala 402. Sunk April 2021 with 53 crew. All hands lost..

 

This is extremely poor psuedo journalism. 

[John Drake]

7 hours ago, TheFishman1 said:

Why in the world does Thailand need a submarine built by China in the first place do you think they could find a better use of that money TIT?

 

The sub is needed because it will necessitate permanent Chinese military "technical advisers."

[Dan O]

11 hours ago, klauskunkel said:

I think they should drive it back home. It would send a message of confidence in the Chinese engine, and if anything did go wrong... som nam na.

Well being a submarine it is meant to sink so thats half the navy's battle right there as there pretty good at it. But come rainy season when the river flooding starts they can use it with their other attack fleet to push the water down river and out into the bay like they suggested 2 years ago