If you don't have any submarines, it really is a significant feat to have trained crews!

Well, other matters aside, I can understand why they might want them as a status symbol, what's a navy without submarines and an aircraft carrier, but I would imagine a few fast patrol boats might be more useful.

Useful for what?

What does the navy actually do?

I do not get the feeling they are actually doing something besides keeping their boats afloat and repainting them every now and then.

Thailand is not in war and the only shooting the army does is in it's own cities at its own people. Not much of a role for the navy there.

The navy needs a carrot/caveat to stay on board the Junta bandwagon. If this referendum does not pass its back to square one and article 44 ruling the land. The Junta can say they tried to return democracy to the people but they refused it. So its onto plan B more Junta more Subs military spending for the boys railways to nowhere and increasing Chinese presence in the country like in the South China sea. Have no doubts China wants to control Asia by hook or by crook.