Thai Navy will buy submarines

[ramrod711]

If building the economy and returning happiness are indeed the governments priority one, they should build the subs, jobs for a lot of people and lower operating costs because they would never complete them.

[JAG]

So after they waste this money on subs can the next government sue them to get it back?

They aren't worried. They fully expect to be the next government, and the government for the foreseeable future.

Mind you, what they intend and what happens are two different things. But if they fall ( or more likely are pushed) from power I doubt they will stick around to be sued.

[sawadee1947]

yes, I agree, Thailand needs subs. This country is not only the hub of everything but has to defend all resources as gold, diamonds, silver, gas and oil. Every surrounding countries are envy them and would like to attack this highlight of south East Asia.

[ammagic]

Well, since they have managed to sink the economy maybe the subs will help to find out the depths to which it has sunk. Not my original thought - but quite apt I think

[connda]

Once they have subs, there may be that many fewer 'boat people' making it anywhere near the sight of land.

"We don't know what happened. That boat load of Royingha's simply exploded and sunk. There wasn't another vessel in sight!"

[mojorison]

YAWN.... Another trillions kachilian baht taxpayers money wasted flushed down the toilet...

Unfortunately Thailand does not have tax payers. If they did, and had a transparent methodical system, they would have better roads, schools hospitals, welfare, etc etc.

This money is snatched from budgetary cuts... like education, health, roads, etc etc....

So, into the abyss they head.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

If building the economy and returning happiness are indeed the governments priority one, they should build the subs, jobs for a lot of people and lower operating costs because they would never complete them.

AFAIK, there's no notion about Thailand building its own submarines, and thus employing a local workforce to do that.

The Navy's plan is to buy existing subs -- either new or already built -- from some other country that does already build their own, like China.

The only local jobs that will be created by this plan are:

1) the Navy's current submarine staff who currently sit around doing who knows what, and

2) the mia nois, giks and assorted others who will benefit from the generosity of command officers who will suddenly become even more unusually wealthy.

[krdowney]

Possible urgent telephone call fro the navy admiralty to the PM...

Pi krup, sub hi, my rue uu ti nai.... my rue pai nai....

Hunt for Thai October

[Langsuan Man]

This whole saga just goes to show that they just pay lip service to those who really matter

Even His Royal Majesty The King, who is a world renowned sailor, thinks this is a bad idea and has been quite vocal about it

Seems to me that refusing to listen to him should be deemed as being offensive to the monarchy

Maybe someone should be laying charges against the Royal Thai Navy for a change

[soalbundy]

Watch me now, i'm going down.

[MZurf]

So after they waste this money on subs can the next government sue them to get it back?

I wish, but since they graciously granted themselves an amnesty, the very thing that took down the elected government, that won't happen.

[mojorison]

This whole saga just goes to show that they just pay lip service to those who really matter

Even His Royal Majesty The King, who is a world renowned sailor, thinks this is a bad idea and has been quite vocal about it

Seems to me that refusing to listen to him should be deemed as being offensive to the monarchy

Maybe someone should be laying charges against the Royal Thai Navy for a change

Wow... heavy.

[cpofc]

Like a good 'house guest' I try to avoid criticism of my host. But truly I can see no maritime threat, now or into the future, that would require the RTN to operate submarines. Even if they could. Submarines are the most hi-teh pieces of kit man can make. Even more Hi-Tech than that used in the Space program. So who will provide the Hi-Tech, ongoing maintenance? What about the specialised crew training? Weapons? it just doesn't make sense to waste that amount of money. But I guess it looks good in the RTNs Order of Battle listing in 'Janes Fighting Ships'.

A neighbour of mine, who I was having a beer with not even 2 weeks ago works out of Suvarnaphumi for Militarty Logistics, purchase and procurement - His department only works for Army and Air Force. The Navy are a separate entity and do their own purchase and procurement. Something I did not know. I actually asked him about the Chinese Subs and he scoffed and told me it wasn't ever going to happen. The subject was dead and buried. I can't wait to see him again.

Anyway, rather than buy used submarines from the Chinese. I know of a shipyard in South Australia sitting idle at the moment, many trade unionists out of work. The Thais could get a brand new submarine with more defects than a used chinese one! A bargain, provided they were prepared to wait a few decades for delivery. The Industrial Military Complex. Don't you just love it!