Thai commander welcomes new submarine centre, despite lack of subs

[webfact]

Thai Commander Welcomes New Submarine Centre, Despite Lack of Subs


Thailand is yet to acquire any actual submarines like this one pictured in Russia

BANGKOK: -- A Thai navy commander pushed yesterday for the country to acquire its first submarines, following the opening of a new submarine centre in Chonburi province, south-east of Bangkok.

"I think [that having submarines] are necessary because it makes our navy more dynamic and it will be useful for self-defence in the Gulf [of Thailand]," said Panu Punyavirocha, commander of Thailand's submarine unit.

The centre, equipped with a German-made submarine simulator, was opened on Monday to train combat-ready personnel in case the country does acquire submarines.

The navy has been petitioning the government to purchase the vessels.

The navy also plans to send officers for training in Germany to gain knowledge about modern submarine warfare.

Critics of the navy's submarine plans point to the navy's purchase of the aircraft carrier Chakri Nareubet, which the navy had also described as necessary for defence.

Due to budget cutbacks the carrier currently sits at anchor year round serving as a museum ship.

Source: Khaosod English

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/thai-commander-welcomes-new-submarine-centre-despite-lack-of-subs-47278.php


-- Phuket News 2014-07-09

[Thai at Heart]

This country gets more like Springfield every day.

Doh.....

[Basil B]

Beets having an aircraft carrier without planes

[terryp]

thailand

[Snig27]

Surreal.

Maybe the military could store their GT200 detectors there?

[pookiki]

Surreal.

Maybe the military could store their GT200 detectors there?

Or use the blimp for ballast!

No corruption here for sure!

[EyesWideOpen]

Perhaps this navy commander should review the speech in 2007 where His Majesty

said Thailand had no need for submarines due to the fact the Gulf of Thailand was too shallow

for effective submarine operations........ I am amazed the navy is going against his wishes.

If they are worried about submarines of other countries, then perhaps they should contact

America and buy some of their sub hunting aircraft. But not carrier launched. :-)

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/thailand/ssk.htm

"In HM the King's 80th birthday speech in 2007, King Bhumibol used his birthday eve speech to admonish the navy for recently expressing the wish to buy a submarine. His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Tuesday called for national unity in a classic birthday-eve speech that covered a wide range of topics including global-warming, the wisdom of buying submarines and his reason for wearing a pink jacket recently. The King noted that submarines were unsuitable for Thailand, as the Gulf of Thailand is a notoriously shallow body of water."

Edited July 9, 2014 by EyesWideOpen

[h90]

Perhaps this navy commander should review the speech in 2007 where His Majesty

said Thailand had no need for submarines due to the fact the Gulf of Thailand was too shallow

for effective submarine operations........ If they are worried about submarines of other countries,

then perhaps they should contact America and buy some of their sub hunting aircraft. But

not carrier launched. :-)

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/thailand/ssk.htm

"In HM the King's 80th birthday speech in 2007, King Bhumibol used his birthday eve speech to admonish the navy for recently expressing the wish to buy a submarine. His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Tuesday called for national unity in a classic birthday-eve speech that covered a wide range of topics including global-warming, the wisdom of buying submarines and his reason for wearing a pink jacket recently. The King noted that submarines were unsuitable for Thailand, as the Gulf of Thailand is a notoriously shallow body of water."

This speech was actually full of humor......

If I would be the General I would be very ashamed hearing it.....

[smedly]

maybe he will get a sub for Christmas

what on earth is Thailand going to do with a sub - which exact conflict are they going to be involved in and how is a sub going to help

perhaps directing that sort of budget to education would be a better idea

I wonder who funded the sub base ??????? Perhaps the US of A

[seajae]

in the gulf , it wouldnt be able to submerge as its not deep enough, they would be stuck in the mud . These people have some very strange ideas, they need to realize you need deep water for subs to be able to operate as they are designed, I can imagine seeing a thai sub cruising along the surface of the gulf then suddenly coming to a grinding halt as it hits the bottom or the arse end sticking out of the water when it attempts to dive

[Payboy]

The nightlife industry should welcome the news about possible submarine purchases. Long hard and full of seamen.

[Songhua]

'Dive, dive dive'

'Er, there's no water there sir'

[Ricardo]

Perhaps the new facilities might be leased out, to China or the USA, or North Korea ?

Perhaps the Tibetan or Swiss navies need a new local base ?

For sure Thailand itself does not need this facility, IMO.

[h90]

in the gulf , it wouldnt be able to submerge as its not deep enough, they would be stuck in the mud . These people have some very strange ideas, they need to realize you need deep water for subs to be able to operate as they are designed, I can imagine seeing a thai sub cruising along the surface of the gulf then suddenly coming to a grinding halt as it hits the bottom or the arse end sticking out of the water when it attempts to dive

That is almost identically to Kings speech about it

Not deep enough

stuck in the mud.

when diving with the water deep a little bit of it may still stick out of the water

[UbonRatch]

Well judging by Germany's last performance in a war using subs.. would one really go there for top advice? Cheap, cheap comes to mind.

I love paradoxes... a sub centre without a sub.... next will be zoos without animals... damned Thailand beat me to it already.

[GentlemanJim]

The average depth of the Gulf of Thailand is 45 m and it's maximum depth is 80m. HM was/is 100% correct. I wonder how much the sub simulator was? And what the procurement approval process was? Definitly an enterprising German salesman thats for sure.

[ThaidDown]

The Thai Navy Commander should stick to playing with boats in his bath.

He can wear his cap or full uniform if it makes him feel more powerful.

Dive! Dive!

[UbonRatch]

If Thailand does procure a sub, will it be nuclear - or green calor-gas bottles hanging from the sides, and released on long ropes to submerge?

[Thailand]

[philw]

Merry Christmas every body.

Ho, Ho, Ho............................

( The rest self censored, but I wish I was a salesman for SAAB.... )

Edited July 9, 2014 by philw

[ratcatcher]

Part of the new Sub fleet.

[ginjag]

Makes the navy more dynamic ??? subs defending in the gulf ??? defending from who ??? If they get them would they be without fire power ??? they could be used along side the Aircraft (non aircraft) carrier. Aircraft carrier-without aircraft--------------subs to repel any attack from Singapore who may want to invade ??

They would be better getting 50 fast torpedo /patrol boats, or buy some harriers and operate from the aircraft carrier.

[Credo]

Now's a good time to ask for a submarine, with the Military in charge of the government.

[taony]

"I think [that having submarines] are necessary because it makes our navy more dynamic and it will be useful for self-defence in the Gulf [of Thailand]," said Panu Punyavirocha, commander of Thailand's submarine unit.

Sounds like an answer from a beauty pageant.

The navy also plans to send officers for training in Germany to gain knowledge about modern submarine warfare.

Well, there you go.

[Hawk]

Unbelievable.

Why the heck does anyone need a sub in the gulf of Thailand. Or are those pesky illegal Cambodians sneaking in from the sea these days.

I know a guy who has a used U boat for sale, anyone interested, only $100 million.

[NeverSure]

If they had 1,000 brown envelopes they could buy a 500 envelope sub.

[Crushdepth]

#facepalm

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[AGareth2]

prestige

sub hub

[Scott]

One post deleted. Please exercise care in your criticism of the military in Thailand.

[fobuff]

Do not worry.... The subs are comming with the military dictatorship in charge. Dive Dive