Defence minister says Thailand needs submarine to protect sea interests

[Bluespunk]

Why bother buying a submarine?

Just get your new mates, the "give and give without ever taking" Chinese, to do whatever you think a submarine will do for you.

I'm sure they'll be more than happy to lift that burden from you.

Lets face it, it's only a matter of time before they decide your territorial waters are theirs.

Edited December 26, 2014 by Bluespunk

[Gunna]

They could buy a second hand one from the Russians - Kursk is going cheap and just needs a new front end with new torpedo tubes.

[arthurboy]

Offshore banks accounts need to be serviced. Simple.

[FireMedic]

Oh my God.....Subs and spacecraft in the same week. They can't even keep the trains on the tracks here.

[MediaWatcher]

This would give then the means to transport, unseen, the Rohingya, and Indian, slaves , away from the pesky eyes of the watching world and Phuketwan.

Edited December 26, 2014 by MediaWatcher

[StefanBBK]

Submarine - utter nonsense

[ChrisY1]

Now they're talking serious money......my guess the finance would be approved prior to any general election.........and then check the bank accounts when this things purchased....if I remember, the Defence Ministry doesn't actually get the funds....the funds go straight to the Navy.....

They have trouble with old huey choppers, blimps and already a white elephant rusting in the docks......a submarine, and it'll be a second hand unit no doubt..... will cause real headaches!!

Edited December 26, 2014 by ChrisY1

[FangFerang]

His Majesty has already stated in a speech that Thailand did not need a submarine.

Why do these generals keep insisting they want one ? Has some power shift

occurred ? Funny stuff.....

http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2011/04/08/on-thailands-submarine-ambitions/

"The utility of submarines to Thailand is disputed, not least by the country’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej. In December 2007, in response to the navy’s annual demand for submarines, the king noted in his birthday address that the boats were unsuitable for the country as the Gulf of Thailand was to shallow for them operate and that they may become stranded in the mud. The navy politely responded by saying the monarch’s advice would be considered in any future plans to acquire submarines."

"

If the Greatest Man in Thailand said it's a bad idea, that is good enough for me,

[Qent]

Need a submarine to protect what?

Waters in the gulf of Thailand are to shallow for submarine operations.

Phfftt...

How do the submarines that DO have port visits in Pattaya get there? Air dropped in?

[HUAHIN62]

If it was stationed on the Phuket coast it will make sense but in the gulf it will ne useless.

[MediaWatcher]

Qent, on 26 Dec 2014 - 18:55, said:

colinneil, on 26 Dec 2014 - 15:15, said:

Need a submarine to protect what?

Waters in the gulf of Thailand are to shallow for submarine operations.

Phfftt...

How do the submarines that DO have port visits in Pattaya get there? Air dropped in?

Bit of a silly question, subs also travel on the surface, once entering open seas they usually dive, the Thai "subs" would rarely venture out of the gulf, besides, with their current track record who would be a Thai submariner, unless you have a death wish. The most sensible thing would be to refit the carrier and send it to "patrol" Thai waters, but hey, we already know Thais lack the ability to maintain it.

[i claudius]

THAILAND the hub of underwater attack subs and exploration,backed up by the latest in aircraft carriers ,soon aircraft as well

[ubonjoe]

A post that violates posting rules and a reply to it has been removed.

[realenglish1]

Submarines where designed to be stealthy in water to surprise the enemy during times of war. What on earth do the Thais want with a submarine.

Expensive toy to play war games with.

Who is the enemy. Oh yes I forget fishing boats from neighboring countries. Sure sneak up on them then surface with the trawler on top of the Sub. Wow what a way

to enforce fishing laws.

[thailiketoo]

Submarines where designed to be stealthy in water to surprise the enemy during times of war. What on earth do the Thais want with a submarine.

Expensive toy to play war games with.

Who is the enemy. Oh yes I forget fishing boats from neighboring countries. Sure sneak up on them then surface with the trawler on top of the Sub. Wow what a way

to enforce fishing laws.

They could also torpedo pirates.

[simonuk]

Haha haha hahaha hahaha . Jesus wept. Really? Thailand needs a sub ??? IT needS ambulances and functioning fire engines (not just in tourist towns). Thailand needs a genuine police force and a genuine government.

This sounds like someone wants a new toy and will go on about it regardless of the cost.

[Sviss Geez]

His Majesty has already stated in a speech that Thailand did not need a submarine.

Why do these generals keep insisting they want one ? Has some power shift

occurred ? Funny stuff.....

http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2011/04/08/on-thailands-submarine-ambitions/

"The utility of submarines to Thailand is disputed, not least by the country’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej. In December 2007, in response to the navy’s annual demand for submarines, the king noted in his birthday address that the boats were unsuitable for the country as the Gulf of Thailand was to shallow for them operate and that they may become stranded in the mud. The navy politely responded by saying the monarch’s advice would be considered in any future plans to acquire submarines."

"

Which sadly again proves, that Thai politicians misuse the Kings name, whenever it suits their agenda!!

A disgrace!!

No it doesn't, the only thing that is proved is that you have a tendency to deliberately distort and ignorantly misinterpretwhat is reported and that, sadly, is the disgrace.

Edited December 26, 2014 by Sviss Geez

[Lupatria]

Gulf of Thailand:

Surface area 320,000 km² (120,000 sq mi) Average depth 45 m (148 ft) Max. depth 80 m (260 ft)

It's a bit like having a fast patrol boat in a public swimming pool. The weirdest justification would be: they are needed to protect our aircraft carrier. But then again TIT.

[Just1Voice]

NEWS FLASH: Today, February 1st, Thailand received their first submarine from China.

Two weeks later:

NEWS FLASH. The 1st ever Thai submarine sank today when the Captain ordered it to dive, and someone forgot to close the hatches.

[Qent]

"The Gulf of Thailand is relatively shallow: its mean depth is 45 metres (148 ft) ..." Wiki

I'd love to see folks on TV suggest uses for this submarine since 'sub' 'marine' isn't an option.

Never too late to educate yourself.

One example among many:

Control of submarine operating in shallow waters

http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpls/abs_all.jsp?arnumber=1295621

[Sviss Geez]

NEWS FLASH: Today, February 1st, Thailand received their first submarine from China.

Two weeks later:

NEWS FLASH. The 1st ever Thai submarine sank today when the Captain ordered it to dive, and someone forgot to close the hatches.

NEWS FLASH. You're really funny. Don't give up your day job.

[Qent]

Qent, on 26 Dec 2014 - 18:55, said:

colinneil, on 26 Dec 2014 - 15:15, said:

Need a submarine to protect what?

Waters in the gulf of Thailand are to shallow for submarine operations.

Phfftt...

How do the submarines that DO have port visits in Pattaya get there? Air dropped in?

Bit of a silly question, subs also travel on the surface, once entering open seas they usually dive, the Thai "subs" would rarely venture out of the gulf, besides, with their current track record who would be a Thai submariner, unless you have a death wish. The most sensible thing would be to refit the carrier and send it to "patrol" Thai waters, but hey, we already know Thais lack the ability to maintain it.

What is silly is the notion that subs transit the entire Gulf on the surface all the way to Pattaya.

It is also silly to not recognize the Gulf is not the only body of water the subs could operate in.

It is also silly not to recognize that various naval operations are performed much better by submarines as opposed to carriers.

[Qent]

Submarines where designed to be stealthy in water to surprise the enemy during times of war. What on earth do the Thais want with a submarine?

Update your woefully outdated and minimal knowledge base.

A start:

The Evolving Role of Submarines

http://www.submarineoperations.com/AgendaSection.aspx?tp_day=27737&tp_session=6671

The Enduring Importance of Submarines

http://www.revolutionobserver.com/2014/09/the-enduring-importance-of-submarines.html

[klauskunkel]

Thailand needs submarine

yes, they do, actually they need two (one for each coast), and once they have that, they need someone to drive it. Well, can't be that hard...how about...Chalerm? He'll want it in pink, though - that's gonna scare all the neighbors.

[elgordo38]

So long as they buy from the shelf not like OZ and invest in an unknown Collins class that now is ok but in the early stages was a pig, Thailand must understand that maintenance up keep is high and between the subs and the rail projects will possibly blow the Thai budget on up - keep out of the water.

Talk to the Brits they should have some for sale. Canada bought a couple from them years ago and one caught fire crossing the ocean to Canada. I think someone died. Now some years later I think they are still in port being refurbished. They should call them White Elephants. Kind of reminds me of a snow machine I once had. The rule of thumb was drive a mile fix an hour.

[MediaWatcher]

Qent, on 26 Dec 2014 - 20:21, said:

MediaWatcher, on 26 Dec 2014 - 19:07, said:

Qent, on 26 Dec 2014 - 18:55, said:

Qent, on 26 Dec 2014 - 18:55, said:

colinneil, on 26 Dec 2014 - 15:15, said:

colinneil, on 26 Dec 2014 - 15:15, said:

Need a submarine to protect what?

Waters in the gulf of Thailand are to shallow for submarine operations.

Phfftt...

How do the submarines that DO have port visits in Pattaya get there? Air dropped in?

Bit of a silly question, subs also travel on the surface, once entering open seas they usually dive, the Thai "subs" would rarely venture out of the gulf, besides, with their current track record who would be a Thai submariner, unless you have a death wish. The most sensible thing would be to refit the carrier and send it to "patrol" Thai waters, but hey, we already know Thais lack the ability to maintain it.

What is silly is the notion that subs transit the entire Gulf on the surface all the way to Pattaya.

It is also silly to not recognize the Gulf is not the only body of water the subs could operate in.

It is also silly not to recognize that various naval operations are performed much better by submarines as opposed to carriers.

What is even sillier is that you have completely forgotten what you said, then posted a reply that's completely irrelevant.

[MediaWatcher]

klauskunkel, on 26 Dec 2014 - 20:38, said:

Quote

Thailand needs submarine

yes, they do, actually they need two (one for each coast), and once they have that, they need someone to drive it. Well, can't be that hard...how about...Chalerm? He'll want it in pink, though - that's gonna scare all the neighbors.

Actually they need one so they are no longer the laughing stock, of the world, when every year they celebrate submarine day.....

[Qent]

^ ^ mediawatcher, try to learn how to quote posts properly and try again.

Edited December 26, 2014 by Qent

[Briggsy]

What happened to the aircraft carrier again?

[soalbundy]

They are confusing need and want. I doubt that they need one, but they want one. I am curious about what interests they need to protect that can't be protected from above the water.

Apart from which a submarine is an offensive weapon,not a defensive weapon. Who are they going to try and scare with second hand old tech submarines in shallow water.