PM confirms Thai Navy to get three Chinese submarines

March 23, 2017 09:52 
By The Nation
 

BANGKOK: -- It’s finally Chinese submarines for Thailand. But the government had to pay for only two and the third one was “a free gift”, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha revealed at his weekly press briefing yesterday.

 

The announcement by the PM ends a wait of over two decades for the Navy.

 

Thailand had four submarines in 1937, the first country in Asean to have submarines and only the second in Asia.

 

Made in Japan, they became damaged over time and were beyond repair. Following the defeat of Japan in World War II, the submarines were discharged in 1951.

 

Since then, Thailand has never had any submarines. The Thai Navy revived its quest for some submarines to be deployed in the Thai waters, especially in the Gulf of Thailand, in 1995. 

 

Several western countries – Germany, Sweden, France – and Russia were eager to offer new submarines at good prices, but the Navy’s dream was hampered by budget shortage and political problems.

 

In 2010, the Navy made another try, eyeing six submarines from Germany, though they were second hand. The Navy then readjusted the plan, eyeing one brand new submarine from either Germany or South Korea, but even that bid was suspended.

 

It was only when the current military government took power in 2014 that the Navy felt itself closer to realising its dream.

 

The three submarines are Yuan Class S26 T, which have been developed exclusively for Thailand based on China’s Yuan Class Type 039 A. 

 

They would be nearly 78 metres long and 9 metres wide, equipped with the latest technology AIP (Air Independent Propulsion) system, that would allow them to dive consecutively up to 21 days without surfacing. Normal nuclear-based submarines can dive around seven to 10 days.

 

The deal would cost Thailand Bt3.6 billion.

 

Sensing the criticism of the Navy’s obsession with acquiring submarines, Prayut urged the public to understand why the country needed the subs, and that too from China.

 

“The submarines from China are the cheapest with the quality relatively acceptable. It has also offered services after purchase, something extra that we have received. I asked my Deputy Prime Minister Prawit [Wongsuwan], and he is ready for any examination of their worthiness.

 

“We are not rich, and we don’t have much money to spend [on them]. We cannot build them on our own so we have to buy them from others,” said Prayut.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30310014

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-03-23

I have not noticed any operational or strategic reason for the purchase. "Having a dream to own a submarine" is not sufficient reason to spend large sums from the national budget, neither is the fact that they are cheap or include after-sale service.

 

The way the purchase is justified by the government is frankly very odd and sounds like a child wanting a toy which will be put aside 2 weeks after purchase.

 

Could you imagine the same article written about a developed nation with more transparent government? I couldn't.

Is "quality relatively acceptable" an accurate translation? Strange (and somewhat unnerving) choice of words.


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6 minutes ago, webfact said:

Made in Japan, they became damaged over time and were beyond repair.

We all know what that means in Thai speak: zero maintenance

The deal would cost Thailand Bt3.6 billion.
ups
Where is the rest of the 36 billion?

So thailand gets nuclear reactors in their waters?

Buy two get one! What a deal. lol

It should have been 2 Subs and 1 recovery vessel,that would make more sense.

regards worgeordie

14 minutes ago, webfact said:

developed exclusively for Thailand

With Che Guevara decals? 

3 minutes ago, fruitman said:

So thailand gets nuclear reactors in their waters?

Diesel,Electric I hope !

regards Worgeordie

4 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

It should have been 2 Subs and 1 recovery vessel,that would make more sense.

regards worgeordie

I think you forgot the ton of baking powder to make it go down and up.

 

The Chinese subs are the cheapest   

After 2 months they will break down, then sit at the docks for years, and years, no money to fix them.

China wont care, you paid your money, to tough just have to live with it.

2 minutes ago, colinneil said:

The Chinese subs are the cheapest   

After 2 months they will break down, then sit at the docks for years, and years, no money to fix them.

China wont care, you paid your money, to tough just have to live with it.

Just like the 500 buses they bought from china, nobody knows where they are now.

 

I first have to see the submarines before i believe it.

16 minutes ago, fruitman said:

So thailand gets nuclear reactors in their waters?

I highly doubt that these are nuclear powered subs.

30 minutes ago, fruitman said:

So thailand gets nuclear reactors in their waters?

 

They are not nuclear. They are diesel-electric, although the original version for the Chinese navy is thought to be also equipped thus: "039A class is equipped with an air-independent propulsion system"  which is not a nuclear system.  The Thai version may also be so equipped.

 

This from the article: "Normal nuclear-based submarines can dive around seven to 10 days."  is an excellent example of the confused, irrelevant and  nonsensical disinformation that "journalists" throughout the world spread.

 

In fact:

"Nuclear subs, on the other hand, typically have endurance – submerged or not – of 90-100 days"

AIP vs nuclear submarines « Defense Issues

 

 

Edited March 23, 20179 yr by Enoon

And why does Thailand need Submarines anyway? They have managed for decades without them, and the only thing worth noting in the Gulf is pollution.

Thailand is obsssed with image. Having submarines makes them feel better than their neighbours and there really cannot be any other reason for their purchase.

$3.6 billion plus running costs for a feel good factor? Another utterly stupid waste of money.

Edited March 23, 20179 yr by darksidedog

18 minutes ago, ThaidDown said:

I think you forgot the ton of baking powder to make it go down and up.

 

I remember those in the cereal packets

4 minutes ago, darksidedog said:

And why does Thailand need Submarines anyway? They have managed for decades without them, and the only thing worth noting in the Gulf is pollution.

Thailand is obsssed with image. Having submarines makes them feel better than their neighbours and there really cannot be any other reason for their purchase.

$3.6 billion plus running costs for a feel good factor? Another utterly stupid waste of money.

 

Because the megalomaniac seeks to mould Thailand in his own image, that of the intimidating bully:

 

"Thailand will buy submarines "not for battle, but so that others will be in awe of us," Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the nation's former military chief and current head of its ruling junta, said at a 2016 press conference."

 

Thailand and China: Brothers in arms- Nikkei Asian Review

 

 

Whoever crews these subs will be helping to dispel the idea there are no brave Thai men.

 

It is to be doubted whether there are any military-strategic research reports on the necessity of submarines for Thailand.
A pleasure-shopping without sense and reason at the expense of taxpayers. 

“The submarines from China are the cheapest with the quality relatively acceptable".
“We are not rich, and we don’t have much money to spend [on them]. We cannot build them on our own ...."

These are all arguments that speak against this purchase.
The reason for the purchase must then be another.

Simply madness, only big boys toys and having no real use.

25 minutes ago, darksidedog said:

And why does Thailand need Submarines anyway? They have managed for decades without them, and the only thing worth noting in the Gulf is pollution.

Thailand is obsssed with image. Having submarines makes them feel better than their neighbours and there really cannot be any other reason for their purchase.

$3.6 billion plus running costs for a feel good factor? Another utterly stupid waste of money.

Iirc the whole deal for 3 of them was 1 billion us$....no idea where the 3.6 billion baht comes from.

 

But who cares, 3 for the price of 2 is a nobrainer for the Thai....maybe they even get some Pierre Cardin boxershorts for half price with them...

Edited March 23, 20179 yr by fruitman

The sole purpose of an attack submarines is to sink shipping.

Makes you wonder which nations ships the Navy considers a sufficient threat to justify three submarines, especially in the Gulf of Thailand.

Then of course they will want to test fire the torpedoes to make sure they work!

Time to cancel that cruise and get the lads off the oil rigs!

Iirc the whole deal for 3 of them was 1 billion us$....no idea where the 3.6 billion baht comes from.
 
But who cares, 3 for the price of 2 is a nobrainer for the Thai....maybe they even get some Pierre Cardin boxershorts for half price with them...

I was just thinking about this and 3.6 bil does seem like a deal.
Perhaps a typo?

12 minutes ago, tomacht8 said:

It is to be doubted whether there are any military-strategic research reports on the necessity of submarines for Thailand.
A pleasure-shopping without sense and reason at the expense of taxpayers. 

“The submarines from China are the cheapest with the quality relatively acceptable".
“We are not rich, and we don’t have much money to spend [on them]. We cannot build them on our own ...."

These are all arguments that speak against this purchase.
The reason for the purchase must then be another.

Against:

We can't afford them.

We don't actually need them.

They're crap.

They cost a fortune to maintain and run.

 

For:

'I say we're having them and that's that.'

 

Yes, it all makes perfect sense when you think about it...

1 hour ago, inactiveposter said:

Is "quality relatively acceptable" an accurate translation? Strange (and somewhat unnerving) choice of words.


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' Now hear this, This is your captain speaking. We are shortly to dive the submarine, the first time for the Royal Thai Navy for 75 years.

It's only natural that you may be nervous, but don't worry, the boats quality is relatively acceptable!"

1 hour ago, Misterwhisper said:

We all know what that means in Thai speak: zero maintenance

According to Wikipedia, the main use of the submarine fleet in World War II was to provide electricity to keep the trams running after an allied air raid in 1945!

6 minutes ago, theguyfromanotherforum said:

 

I was just thinking about this and 3.6 bil does seem like a deal.
Perhaps a typo?

 

Maybe they bought 3 empty submarines only for show...no weaponsystems installed, no computers/radio's and so on...maybe they even can't dive and will be parked next to the aircraft carrier.

They are not needed, wast of money and they cost a lot to maintain and run.

 

Buy some surface vessels to police for illegal fishing.. sounds far more reasonable. 

They could use any money saved on the third submarine to widen the dock at Sattahip, so they could keep that fantastic white elephant HTMS Chakri Naruebet company (that wonderful aircraft carrier, which is only used for disaster relief and the odd training exercise because it is too expensive to run, and has no operational V/STOL aircraft which can take off and land on its deck).