Thailand to upgrade fleet, chooses Chinese to provide three submarines

[webfact]

Thailand to Upgrade Fleet, Chooses Chinese to Provide Three Submarines
Thailand reportedly plans to buy three Chinese-made submarines for the Royal Thai Navy at a cost of 355 million dollars each.

BANGKOK: -- Three Chinese-made submarines worth 355 million dollars each may be purchased by Thailand for its Royal Navy, the newspaper Bangkok Post reported on Friday, citing a source in the country's procurement committee.

The decision was made on Thursday, when the majority of the 17-strong committee said "yes" to the Chinese submarines, saying that it was the "best value for money". Other committee members remained split between offers from South Korea and Germany.

According to the source, the committee voted to buy the Chinese submarines because they are "equipped with superior weaponry and technology and are also able to stay underwater longer."

Full story: http://sputniknews.com/asia/20150626/1023868397.html

-- SPUTNIK News 2015-06-26

[i claudius]

So will they be as well as or to replace "the yellow submarine" in Pattaya?

[halloween]

"Chinese submarines .......... able to stay underwater longer."

No doubt. How good are they at re-surfacing?

[smutcakes]

Well they did not stand idle for the coup for nothing.....

[Somtamnication]

Well, Thais want to explore the ocean floor, so buy the 3 Chinese submarines!

[PatOngo]

Please remember to close the hatch before submersing!

[peptidebomber]

But how will the Thai military use submarines against their own people? More guns, rubber bullets and wire ties would be more useful.

[Just1Voice]

I'll give them 2 years before they sink all three of the.

[ExPratt]

Perhaps the Submarines are to escourt the Great Conveys of High speed rail equipment

[steelepulse]

Sputnik news, the leading authority on all things Thai military focused.

[Crazy chef 1]

Well, Thais want to explore the ocean floor, so buy the 3 Chinese submarines!

for what to see rubbish???

[halloween]

But how will the Thai military use submarines against their own people? More guns, rubber bullets and wire ties would be more useful.

Let me guess, you live in Isaan. Down here in the more salubrious coastal areas, we have ferries, fishing boats, cruise liners, merchant marine and other targets of opportunity. OTOH, we see the military more as protection from mercenary thugs.

[NongKhaiKid]

"Chinese submarines .......... able to stay underwater longer."

No doubt. How good are they at re-surfacing?

With Thai crews they may be able to stay under for a very long time.

[ExPratt]

Das Sandal

[smutcakes]

But how will the Thai military use submarines against their own people? More guns, rubber bullets and wire ties would be more useful.

Let me guess, you live in Isaan. Down here in the more salubrious coastal areas, we have ferries, fishing boats, cruise liners, merchant marine and other targets of opportunity. OTOH, we see the military more as protection from mercenary thugs.

So where do you live which mercenary thugs are a problem? Just the other day you said you lived in QLD?

[smedly]

why don't they make them for themselves ?

oh I forgot, Thailand can't actually design and make anything for themselves - vehicles - electronics - infrastructure - heavy industry - railroads - aircraft - Pharma all of which are foreign technologies - they are the hub of wishful thinking all resulting from misdirected funds/corruption and an underfunded inept education system, the only thing they are good at is abusing tourists and greed

- 3rd world

[Fat Haggis]

But how will the Thai military use submarines against their own people? More guns, rubber bullets and wire ties would be more useful.

Let me guess, you live in Isaan. Down here in the more salubrious coastal areas, we have ferries, fishing boats, cruise liners, merchant marine and other targets of opportunity. OTOH, we see the military more as protection from mercenary thugs.

So where do you live which mercenary thugs are a problem? Just the other day you said you lived in QLD?

Lalaland?

[JacChang]

Actually if you read the owner's manual correctly, once the submarine is submerged in the ocean, it never comes back up.

[Fat Haggis]

why don't they make them for themselves ?

oh I forgot, Thailand can't actually design and make anything for themselves - vehicles - electronics - infrastructure - heavy industry - railroads - aircraft - Pharma all of which are foreign technologies - they are the hub of wishful thinking all resulting from misdirected funds/corruption and an underfunded inept education system, the only thing they are good at is abusing tourists and greed

- 3rd world

They make good som tam, and counterfeit watches, clothes and DVDs actually, maybe this all comes from China too!! 5555

[toybits]

I am sure those will be very useful during the next flood at Ayuthaya and Bangkok. Also Don Muang. Oh, it is soo nice when you are untouchable.

[peptidebomber]

But how will the Thai military use submarines against their own people? More guns, rubber bullets and wire ties would be more useful.

Let me guess, you live in Isaan. Down here in the more salubrious coastal areas, we have ferries, fishing boats, cruise liners, merchant marine and other targets of opportunity. OTOH, we see the military more as protection from mercenary thugs.

Haha, are these the same mercenary thugs that pay bribes to the navy? Naive much

[Chao Lao Beach]

Will they be parked next to the Thai Aircraft Carrier ?

[waitforusalso]

Thank god the army came & stopped the previous government from wasting taxpayers' money!

[halloween]

But how will the Thai military use submarines against their own people? More guns, rubber bullets and wire ties would be more useful.

Let me guess, you live in Isaan. Down here in the more salubrious coastal areas, we have ferries, fishing boats, cruise liners, merchant marine and other targets of opportunity. OTOH, we see the military more as protection from mercenary thugs.

So where do you live which mercenary thugs are a problem? Just the other day you said you lived in QLD?

Short term memory loss again? I WORK for 6 months of the year in Qld, I LIVE in Thailand. Much of this situation is brought about by changes in the Oz pension regulations where residence is required for the last 2 years before claiming the OAP. By working 6 months, I become a tax resident, which makes it hard to dispute my residence status even if I am abroad much of the year. The money is nice, too, even if much less than I earned before becoming incapacitated.

No, mercenary thugs are not a problem on Samui TYVM.

[ezzra]

Initially it was one submarine, now when the Chinese say: hey YOU Thai man, I have these

last 3 subs I want sell, I make you special price, you buy man?

[realenglish1]

Oh com on They think that Chinese submarines are better than German Subs Not in a long shot Better Technologies? Give me a break

The Chinese have better Tea money

[halloween]

why don't they make them for themselves ?

oh I forgot, Thailand can't actually design and make anything for themselves - vehicles - electronics - infrastructure - heavy industry - railroads - aircraft - Pharma all of which are foreign technologies - they are the hub of wishful thinking all resulting from misdirected funds/corruption and an underfunded inept education system, the only thing they are good at is abusing tourists and greed

- 3rd world

Designing one from scratch would be a hugely expensive and time consuming - it is much cheaper to buy a made unit or tested design. AFAIK they don't even have the ship-building capacity to construct from a design.

Oz is going through a similar debate, not even sure where they are up to with it. IIRC China is NOT considered a source.

[hutchings1963]

I just wonder who the crews are going to be,will they put lady boys in them.

[max72]

Down with the populists investing in schools, health care, medicines, agriculture, industry ! Taxpayers money shouldn't be wasted in that way !

Just buy billions of dollars in weapons (to massacre the starving population when it protests). That's what Thailand needs......to keep being the pariah of the world.....

[tx22cb]

What a waste of money. Over a billion dollars for 3 useless submarines, which will be permanently moored within 5 years.

I wish they had used this money to upgrade airports, more international fibre-optic internet cables, and other useful infrastructure.

I searched on Ebay, and I hope they change their minds and get these instead. I see 2 people are already watching .... so hurry.