Thai Admiral behind the submarine deal defends need for 'dream weapon'

[webfact]

Admiral behind the submarine deal defends need for 'dream weapon'

By Teeranai Charuvastra, Staff Reporter

 

  

Adm. Suriya Suriyaporn stands atop the observation deck of a German submarine during a 2011 visit to Germany. Thailand ended up scuttling a deal to acquire German subs. Photo: Courtesy

 

BANGKOK — For seven years, Adm. Suriya Suriyaporn commanded a submarine division which didn’t have a single submarine.

 

Throughout his navy years, Suriya said he saw the government flirt time and again with buying subs from countries such as Germany, Sweden, South Korea and Russia. Those attempts ended in failure.

 

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics/2017/05/04/brainchild-submarine-program-defends-multibillion-baht-deal-china/

 

-- © Copyright Khaosod English 2017-05-04

[tracker1]

To many subjects to comment about in the story ! but being in charge of a non existent submarine fleet certainly must pay well !

[colinneil]

Those attempts ended in failure, so will this 1.

Playing submariner for 7 years, at what cost to the country?

 

[Bluespunk]

6 minutes ago, colinneil said:

Those attempts ended in failure, so will this 1.

Playing submariner for 7 years, at what cost to the country?

 

More concerned about the cost in human misery when it sinks.

 

Any deal when you get three for the cost of two is going to end in tears.

 

"The offer of three ships immediately swung the decision,” Suriya said. “It was an offer we couldn’t refuse.”

 

Let's hope you never regret that decision.

Edited May 4, 2017 by Bluespunk

[clockman]

Thai men, Children that never grow up!

[optad]

There is no circumstance in which these subs would reverse a  potential negative situation. 

 

And as deterrent you can see from the air in Thai waters, the next regulation will likely be 'no fly zones' around their stealth perimetres. 

 

 

[the guest]

Another fool spewing out rubbish. Thailand needs to get it's priorities right first. Trying to run before you can walk has always been its prime mandate. The infrastructure/services in the country should be the first priority than paying for toys which have no value. 

[anotheruser]

29 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

More concerned about the cost in human misery when it sinks.

 

Any deal when you get three for the cost of two is going to end in tears.

 

"The offer of three ships immediately swung the decision,” Suriya said. “It was an offer we couldn’t refuse.”

 

Let's hope you never regret that decision.

 

When it sinks? If you were forced to do Thai submarine duty it would be a matter of days before sinking to your death would be welcomed. Nothing but Thai music played too loud, a handful of Thai soap opera DVD, mama noodles and steady supply of interesting conversation.

 

 

Edited May 4, 2017 by anotheruser

[worgeordie]

Just watching on the BBC,they report that China is testing a new  commercial airplane

today, that will compete with Boeing and Airbus ,should be ready in couple  of years,

I think Thailand would be interested,they seem to love anything Chinese.

regards worgeordie

[Mister Fixit]

How long before it - 

 

1) sinks

 

2) gets grounded

 

3) someone opens a rather important hatch

 

4) gets lost in  the Gulf of Thailand

 

Boys and their toys, eh?   Nothing but a meaningless vanity project.

[ezzra]

It was reported that most of Thailand's costal and near costal waters are

too shallow for subs activities, and with an absent of clear dangers from

enemies in the foreseeable future, what's the point of having something so

costly that has no use or purpose?.....

[jerojero]

Blah blah blah.... The b's flows again from one of the hundred Generals. I'm important so money must be spent in my area. Arrogance reigns supreme.

[realenglish1]

 I read the article about Thailand falling out of favor with the surrounding countries That will never happen It did not happen in  ww2  Japan did attack Thailand . Guess what a Sub would have been useless  in the fighting

 

Even though the admiral attempted to show reason for a sub reality of it is there is no need for subs  with Thailand He was remembering glory past  It has passed

Spend the money on Fighter Jets I can see that  Or spend it on patrol boats I can see that as well But on a Sub that is sheer lunacy .

 

As I have said many times They just want their Toys so then can say the following

 

Periscope UP......... Lock on Target Load Torpedos ...... Fire One Fire  Two    Dive Dive Dive 

 

Commander: did we sink the  Tourist Boat or did it hit the bridge . 

 

The reason for shooting the tourist boat is because the are no other targets out there Never have been never will be unless you want to torpedo a Tuna

 

Common Guys don;t you get it The public do not want the Subs No need for subs a true waist of Thai resources 

[yellowboat]

The whole deal is about B30billion.  Building surface vessels in Thailand would make more sense for defense purposes. 

[Darren palmer]

2 hours ago, Bluespunk said:

More concerned about the cost in human misery when it sinks.

 

Any deal when you get three for the cost of two is going to end in tears.

 

"The offer of three ships immediately swung the decision,” Suriya said. “It was an offer we couldn’t refuse.”

 

Let's hope you never regret that decision.

Be a crap submarine if it didn't sink..lol..

But a complete waist of money for the thai country  

[anotheruser]

Reminds me of Christmas one year. My Grandparents bought me a remote controlled boat as a present. As it was winter I could only ever try it out in the bath tub. What an awful gift. lol

[heybruce]

" But Suriya said the Gulf of Thailand shares the same average depth as the Baltic Sea, a site of major submarine battles during World War II. Submarines have operated in the gulf in the past, he said."

 

The general seems unaware that capabilities for tracking and killing submarines have improved significantly since World War II.  Submarines would provide an entertaining but expensive way to frighten foreign fishing boats poaching in Thai waters (not a major problem since these waters are largely fished out) but would be useless in a conflict with any moderately capable military.

 

A much more beneficial move for the Thai military would be a total threat oriented restructuring and elimination of most of the excessive numbers of generals and admirals.  Of course we know that isn't going to happen for many reasons, not least of which would be that this would require the military to admit that its primary purpose is to guard against threats to the existing order from within, not to defend against external threats.

Edited May 4, 2017 by heybruce

[Emster23]

Someone should point out to them that surrender ceremony looks much better from deck of a ship or aircraft carrier than it would from a sub. As we know, they love to get as many brass as possible into the photo op, and a conning tower just ain't gonna cut it. Plus danger some admiral may slip off the hull if surrender ceremony held there, and sink like rock under the weight of medals.

[aguy30]

I can not believe that they are still going for this absurd submarine idea. What and who can 3 submarines in the 50 meter deep Gulf of Thailand possibly protect Thailand from?

 

Thailand would benefit more from a coast guard with high speed surface patrol boats with good armament.

Edited May 4, 2017 by aguy30

[Jonmarleesco]

That's one result of wet dreams.

[heybruce]

3 minutes ago, aguy30 said:

I can not believe that they are still going for this absurd submarine idea. What and who can 3 submarines in the 50 meter deep Gulf of Thailand possibly protect Thailand from?

 

Thailand would benefit more from a coast guard with high speed surface patrol boats with good armament.

Good point.  Speed boats would be much better at ensuring that smugglers can't reach Thailand by sea without paying off the appropriate admirals.

 

[sanukjim]

OK lets let the Navy have their submarine as this is the way for them to pocket several billion baht between their Admarials and their staff. The Air Force got their billions from the new airplane buys a few years ago and the Army did very well receiving their billions from those tanks and trucks deals. It is the Navy's time ,but of course the top guy and his boys will not go empty handed.

[CantSpell]

D.4. ....

[Jimbo2014]

Finally a Submarine he can call his.  Be damned Thailand - this man needs something to masturbate to!

[Hereinthailand]

Whats the big deal about them buying subs ??? Its not like any money is coming out of us foreigners pockets. If they want to spend the money its theirs to spend on anything they want. The thai people wanted this gov. and guess what ? they got exactly what they deserve because they dont seem to be able to do anything themselves.

[anotheruser]

1 minute ago, Hereinthailand said:

Whats the big deal about them buying subs ??? Its not like any money is coming out of us foreigners pockets. If they want to spend the money its theirs to spend on anything they want. The thai people wanted this gov. and guess what ? they got exactly what they deserve because they dont seem to be able to do anything themselves.

 

There is nothing wrong with it at all. As I said in the other thread it is better for them to squander it on this than do something even more moronic. That kind of money is dangerous in the wrong hands. If they want a sub to sit next to their carrier let them do it. 

 

 

Edited May 4, 2017 by anotheruser

[Happy Grumpy]

3 hours ago, ezzra said:

what's the point of having something so

costly that has no use or purpose?.....

Transporting Rohingya down to Malaysia without being able to be seen? 

[Lucky mike]

Even more McHale.....

[chainarong]

The whole episode is out of control right from the beginning , it would be more fitting and cheaper to axe the Admiral , at any given time 1 Sub would be in dry dock, having  2 operational subs is like the US having 2 operational jet fighters , useless, where in the world are U going to deploy 2 subs, do they they have missile launch capabilities or just the old torpedo design, all in all a waste of time and money...........................................   

[DrTuner]

Ah .. so if you're in an inactive post, government will buy you toys to stay active? Sounding like a better and better position all the time.

 

In the real world they'd have booted out the useless personnel.