Pictures courtesy of Amarin

 

The Royal Thai Navy has officially taken delivery of six 155mm self-propelled howitzers with a firing range of more than 40 kilometres, marking a significant step in strengthening the nation’s defence capabilities.

 

The handover ceremony took place at the Royal Thai Marine Corps Headquarters, Krom Luang Chumphon Camp, in Sattahip District, Chonburi Province. Admiral Natthaphon Diewwanich, Commander of the Royal Thai Fleet, accepted the artillery systems on behalf of the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. The event was attended by senior naval officers, government officials and service personnel.

 

The acquisition is part of a three-year procurement programme, running from fiscal years 2023 to 2025, with a total budget of 929 million baht. The package includes six artillery systems for a company-sized unit, an automated fire-control system, a weather radar, spare parts, accessories and full technology transfer and training for naval personnel.

 

The weapons were developed through collaboration between Thailand’s Defence Industry and Energy Centre and Israel’s Elbit Systems, integrating the ATMOS artillery system with Tatra 6x6 trucks from the Czech Republic. The howitzers are capable of firing six rounds per minute and have undergone full testing and evaluation in Thailand.

 

Navy officials described the project as a “milestone in national security” and a demonstration of Thailand’s growing capacity to produce and sustain its own defence equipment. The completed systems have already passed all contractual trials, with training programmes successfully delivered to Royal Thai Navy personnel.

 

The new artillery is expected to enhance the Navy’s ability to safeguard Thailand’s sovereignty on land, both through deterrence and defensive operations.

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Amarin 2025-08-22

 

 

 

Suppose they have to do something while waiting for their new sub...

5 minutes ago, JoePai said:

Suppose they have to do something while waiting for their new sub...

 

Certainly makes more sense than purchasing a submarine

Why does the  navy need land based artillery?  It can't be for practice as marine based weapons have different characteristics.

Do the Asean Now  anti Israel contingent know about this? Perhaps they will go protest at the navy base and let the Thais know that they shouldn't buy Israeli products.

Will the self-propelled howitzers be mounted on large navy vessels to improve naval efficiency?

59 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

Why does the  navy need land based artillery?  It can't be for practice as marine based weapons have different characteristics.

Do the Asean Now  anti Israel contingent know about this? Perhaps they will go protest at the navy base and let the Thais know that they shouldn't buy Israeli products.

They are going to drive them onto the battleships and strap them down!

More toys for the boys

My guess is that they're going to the Marines.

 

Thailand has only three (3) branches of the military, Army, Navy, and Air force.

 

The Royal Thai Navy has personnel that have chosen or appointed to be Marines which deploy on land and sea but still fall under the  designation as Naval personnel.

Next all Thais will be provided with Self-Propelled cars which do not exceed the speed limit; can manage a U-turn on full lock AND will not start if the driver is drunk. 

These new naval vessels don't look particularly seaworthy.

Aren't howitzers tanks?  Not tank looking like 

28 minutes ago, phil2407 said:

Aren't howitzers tanks?  Not tank looking like 

 

No, howitzers are long-range indirect fire artillery.

Tanks are short-range direct fire line-of-sight.

26 minutes ago, phil2407 said:

Aren't howitzers tanks?  Not tank looking like 

 

 No, they are artillery pieces capable of indirect fire.  That is, capable of lobbing shells from a concealed position behind a hillock.  Or on to a reverse slope.  The German howitzers outfought the British field guns at Mons, because they were out of sight, with their fire directed by forward observers reporting by telephone.  Although it ought to perhaps be mentioned that the British field guns were highly effective in mowing down swathes of massed German infantry using what was essentially canister-shot.

Marines are normally expected to be used in an amphibious role.
Makes sense that Thailand with its long coastlines should possess Marines if there is a potentially hostile power with strong marime forces capable of threatening landings on its coastal areas.
Is this the case?

 

Does the Thai Navy possess the landing-craft necessary to deploy its Marine forces and their equipment (including these 155 mm S.P. guns)?

 

Also needed is the means to select targets not directly visible to the gunners, and to guide their fire (using drones or satellites).