Thai Navy petitions govt to buy submarines

[webfact]

Thai Navy Petitions Govt to Buy Submarines
By Khaosod English


The headquarters of the Royal Thai Navy's submarine division in Chonburi province [Photo: Thai Navy wesbite].

BANGKOK — The Royal Thai Navy has formally submitted a request to the government to buy submarines for its submarine division, which has lacked a single vessel for the last 64 years.

Admiral Kraisorn Chansuvanich, commander of the Thai navy, said he hopes the cabinet will deliberate on the request soon, because submarines are needed to bolster Thailand’s armed forces.

"Neighboring countries like Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore have had submarines in their arsenals for many years," ADM Kraisorn said. "Now that I am here, I think it is a part of the strategy to improve our armed forces. It's my duty to submit the request to the government for consideration. Whether the government will approve it or not is up to them."

He added that the navy does not have any preference for where the submarines are manufactured, as long as they fit Thailand's needs. ADM Kraisorn also urged the government to approve the submarine purchases soon, as acquiring the ships will be a lengthy process.

"Even if the government approved the purchase today, we won’t be able to acquire them instantly, because time will be needed to build the ships and send our personnel to receive training and improve their expertise for one to two years. So, it will take at least five or six years before submarines can enter our service.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1429780945


-- Khaosod English 2015-04-23

[thesetat2013]

Hey! Great idea. They really need sub's because soon the human traffickers will be using them to smuggle people and drugs under the sea instead of in ships

[Mango Bob]

What a waste of money. Having a submarine division for the last 64 years.

[zydeco]

Has anyone missed not having a submarine division for the past 64 years?

[EyesWideOpen]

Hey! Great idea. They really need sub's because soon the human traffickers will be using them to smuggle people and drugs under the sea instead of in ships

Haha, post of the day...... :-)

[issanaus]

Here is a different idea for you, how about you assess the risks that Thailand faces and what it can afford.

You haven't had a sub for 64 years - was there any point where you needed one?

The biggest risk to Thailand security is problems such illegal fishing, people smuggling, commercial intrusions into its exclusive economic zone. If you ask nicely then maybe you could get permission to buy some nice plans from good designer in some place like Sweden and build the smaller navel vessels that you need to patrol Thai waters. This way you could build them in the country and even if they did not float at least it would have stimulated the Thai economy - who know you may even have a new industry

If you have nice offensive weapons then when China and ASSEN countries are facing off in the South China Sea you will be under pressure to support one side or the other - not a good position to be in.

[CaptHaddock]

Why does Thailand need any military at all? It's not as though any of its neighbors have been threatening an invasion in the last 150 years.

[JAG]

A submarine division for forty odd years, and no submarines! You really could not make it up!

[EyesWideOpen]

Why does Thailand need any military at all? It's not as though any of its neighbors have been threatening an invasion in the last 150 years.

The military is apparently needed to stage coups, as historically they have

done little in the way of fighting. ( well except against civilians ...) . No one

has ever used the term battle hardened and Thai military in the same sentence.

It is all a bit moot however, as Thailand signed the Treaty of Amity in the 50s whereas

if Thailand is attacked, America will come in and defend them. So instead

of wasting billions of baht on useless submarines how about helping out

some poor farmers ??

[EyesWideOpen]

A submarine division for forty odd years, and no submarines! You really could not make it up!

When this group of naval personnel enters their submarine headquarters each day,

they must fight to keep a smile off of their face . And what the bleep do they do

all year ? Work on the annual submarine request ?? The mind boggles......

After the aircraft carrier fiasco, am always amazed that the Navy has the balls

to be asking for anything a bit out of the ordinary. Just give them a few patrol

boats and call it good. And they should give blessings each day to Buddha for the fact

that Thailand has no real estate adjoining the South China Sea....

Edited April 23, 2015 by EyesWideOpen

[issanaus]

Why does Thailand need any military at all? It's not as though any of its neighbors have been threatening an invasion in the last 150 years.

That's not correct but as far as I know the last war that a better navy might have helped Thailand was the Franco Siamease war in 1893 - in which case Thailand may still have included Laos - would that count as a victory?

The reality is that what Thailand needs is a glorified coast guard or self defence force. The PM has stated that Thailand wants to be friendly with all countries so why have a navel with offensive capabilities. However it does need to be able to police its waters in fulfilment of it own laws and international obligations. I fail to see how a sub or 2 could help.

[smutcakes]

This is called calling in the rewards for supporting the coup.

[CaptHaddock]

Why does Thailand need any military at all? It's not as though any of its neighbors have been threatening an invasion in the last 150 years.

That's not correct but as far as I know the last war that a better navy might have helped Thailand was the Franco Siamease war in 1893 - in which case Thailand may still have included Laos - would that count as a victory?

The reality is that what Thailand needs is a glorified coast guard or self defence force. The PM has stated that Thailand wants to be friendly with all countries so why have a navel with offensive capabilities. However it does need to be able to police its waters in fulfilment of it own laws and international obligations. I fail to see how a sub or 2 could help.

Thailand never included Laos. At no point in the last thousand years up to and including now would Thailand have been able to fund a military that could resist France or Great Britain much less any superpower if they had decided to invade.

[issanaus]

Why does Thailand need any military at all? It's not as though any of its neighbors have been threatening an invasion in the last 150 years.

That's not correct but as far as I know the last war that a better navy might have helped Thailand was the Franco Siamease war in 1893 - in which case Thailand may still have included Laos - would that count as a victory?

The reality is that what Thailand needs is a glorified coast guard or self defence force. The PM has stated that Thailand wants to be friendly with all countries so why have a navel with offensive capabilities. However it does need to be able to police its waters in fulfilment of it own laws and international obligations. I fail to see how a sub or 2 could help.

Thailand never included Laos. At no point in the last thousand years up to and including now would Thailand have been able to fund a military that could resist France or Great Britain much less any superpower if they had decided to invade.

You are correct - it was Siam not Thailand

"The Franco-Siamese War of 1893 was a conflict between the French Third Republic and the Kingdom of Siam. Auguste Pavie, French vice consul in Luang Prabang in 1886, was the chief agent in furthering French interests in Laos. His intrigues, which took advantage of Siamese weakness in the region and periodic invasions by Vietnamese rebels from Tonkin, increased tensions between Bangkok and Paris. Following the conflict, the Siamese agreed to cede Laos to France, an act that led to the significant expansion of French Indochina"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Indochina

You are right about the navy

[Somtamnication]

What a farce. We know they can take it down, but the 64000 baht question is: Can they bring it back up?

[worgeordie]

I think we all know why they really want them, just like the Aircraft carrier without planes,

the cracked Chinese tanks,the leaking blimp,and the bomb detectors that did not work.

regards worgeordie

[JAG]

Looking at the photo which accompanies the original post and judging by the gold braid on their caps,there are rather a lot of senior officers in this outfit.

One wonders what they have to gain from the process of purchasing a submarine.

[ratcatcher]

Looking at the photo which accompanies the original post and judging by the gold braid on their caps,there are rather a lot of senior officers in this outfit.

One wonders what they have to gain from the process of purchasing a submarine.

Quite correct JAG, too much scrambled egg, not enough toast!

[ratcatcher]

Perhaps if the navy could come to some agreement with the supplier of the above subs, maybe Thailand could kill two stones with one bird. "We all live in a Yellow Submarine" could be the academy's new hymn.

These are suitable for use in shallow waters and could accommodate around 30 voyagers and they could tour the superb coral reefs in the Gulf of Siam and the Andaman Sea around Phuket.

If there was a potential incident with a rogue Chinese destroyer, a phone call to the US Navy in the area would save the day.

A win-win situation for all. TAT will explode with positive news.

[Just1Voice]

First off, the coastal waters off of Thailand are too shallow to support any necessity for a submarine, so the only place they could be of use is in the Adaman Sea.

Second, just who is the hell are they worried about attacking them from the sea?

Some good coast guard ships and cutters would be much less expensive, and a much more viable alternative.

So, it will take 5 years to get them, but my guess is only 2 more to sink them.

This isn't about "national security". It's all about "face" and fattening bank accounts, period!

[phoenixdoglover]

Start with this:

Edited April 23, 2015 by phoenixdoglover

[issanaus]

A good link for anyone who wonders what the dreams of the navy are to 2030

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

[Snig27]

First off, the coastal waters off of Thailand are too shallow to support any necessity for a submarine, so the only place they could be of use is in the Adaman Sea.

Second, just who is the hell are they worried about attacking them from the sea?

Some good coast guard ships and cutters would be much less expensive, and a much more viable alternative.

So, it will take 5 years to get them, but my guess is only 2 more to sink them.

This isn't about "national security". It's all about "face" and fattening bank accounts, period!

That last sentence is the key one.

[Nbarch]

Is it me or is this just sheer coincidence that after 64 years they suddenly need a submarine or two? Is some small yellow chap pulling their strings?

I will look forward to reading the cost basis analysis report.

[Prbkk]

This is just the start. Wait for the Airforce bid to come in : .....fly me to the moon and let me play among the stars, let me see what spring is like on Jupiter and Mars....

[mr chow]

Here's a submarine that Thailand really needs!

[kaorop]

This is called calling in the rewards for supporting the coup.

Yes, anyone glance at the tv around 8 am and 6 pm EVERY day? (rhetorical)

Troops, Jets, Ships, Missiles but no Sub, what a disgrace.

You can bet if one does get grafted into service it will be a feature everyday.

Which is all it would be useful for, nationalism!

[JAG]

Since it will be underwater (possibly permanently) how will they feature it?

[h90]

Why does Thailand need any military at all? It's not as though any of its neighbors have been threatening an invasion in the last 150 years.

Thailand had a lot small problems with Cambodia, Lao Myanmar in the past. You see what happens with countries with weak military in Libya, Iraq, Ukraine and you see what does not happen in countries with strong military in North Korea and Iran. Not judging who is right and who is wrong just how a strong military keeps peace.

[h90]

A submarine division for forty odd years, and no submarines! You really could not make it up!

When this group of naval personnel enters their submarine headquarters each day,

they must fight to keep a smile off of their face . And what the bleep do they do

all year ? Work on the annual submarine request ?? The mind boggles......

After the aircraft carrier fiasco, am always amazed that the Navy has the balls

to be asking for anything a bit out of the ordinary. Just give them a few patrol

boats and call it good. And they should give blessings each day to Buddha for the fact

that Thailand has no real estate adjoining the South China Sea....

As they have the aircraft carrier already I would suggest they buy two Tu-95 and the biggest and cheapest submarine they can find worldwide.

No problem that the Tus will never fly and they submarines never dive but they look nice.