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Royal Thai Navy

Although Thailand had small naval components throughout much of its long history, the development of a modern navy capable of carrying out combat missions dated from the post-World War II period. Thereafter, the size and efficiency of the Royal Thai Navy increased steadily. Of the three service branches, the navy was the least involved in national politics and therefore was able to concentrate more of its time and efforts on its security mission.

The navy's combat forces included the Royal Fleet and the Royal Thai Marine Corps. The 130 vessels of the Royal Fleet included frigates equipped with surface-to-air missiles, fast attack craft armed with surface-to-surface missiles, large coastal patrol craft, coastal minelayers, coastal minesweepers, landing craft, and training ships.

Naval affairs were directed by the country's most senior admiral from his Bangkok headquarters. The naval commander in chief was supported by staff groups that planned and administered such activities as logistics, education and training, and various special services. The headquarters general staff functioned like those of corresponding staffs in the army and air force command structures.

Thailand's naval fleet, though small, operates primarily out of the sprawling, modern naval station at Sattahip, southeast of Bangkok. The Royal Navy has a marine corps, modeled on the American pattern, skilled in both amphibious and jungle operations. The The RTN has personnel strength of 64,000. This complement includes the manpower of the Naval Air Arm (1,200), Marine Corps (20,000) and Coastal Defense Command. There are 27,000 conscripts in the navy; enlistment is for two years of national service. Reportedly, it is the least politicized of the three services, although the navy is developing a blue-water capability which may increase political prominence. Thailand's Andaman Sea region is the likely focus of such an initiative. Procurements have been consistent with this plan. A major concern for the navy is distributing its new equipment in the most efficient way.

The RTN has had its budget doubled since 1986 and submarines currently top the navy's wish list which Thailand operated before the Second World War. In the late 1990’s Thailand came close to procuring conventional submarines, with the German Type209 and Swedish Type A-19 Gotland-class on the shortlist. It has been reported that the navy is currently examining second hand Israeli Gall-class boats and Russian Amur-class attack subs. Israel, which has done a lot of defense contracting business with Thailand, has reportedly offered the RTN two second hand Gall subs at an inexpensive cost. Sources said the Israelis offered the "very cheap" subs as training vessels while new subs with SIGINT capability were under construction. In addition, sources report that the Russians made a very attractive offer to sell its Amur class submarines. A major addition to the Royal Thai Fleet is the vertical/short take off and landing (VSTOL) carrier Chakri Naruebet, built by Bazan-Ferrol of Spain, and delivered to the RTN in 1997. Although acquisition of its full complement of VSTOL aircraft and helicopters will be substantially slowed by the cutbacks imposed on defense purchases, it did come with seven AV-8S and two TAV-8S Matador (Harrier) STOL attack aircraft. Six new-build S-70B-7 Seahawk multi-mission helicopters are also on board. The 11,400-ton displacement ship was the first air-capable vessel to enter service in Southeast Asia. The RTN designation of offshore patrol helicopter carrier (OPHC) reflects the ship's chief peacetime roles of disaster relief, search and rescue, exclusion zone surveillance and environmental protection. However, the navy also acknowledges that the ship has potential as a regional sea control asset during times of crisis. Due to the costs of operational deployment the carrier is rarely at sea and its harrier jump-jets are almost all non-operational because of a shortage of spare parts (specifically engines). Rivalry between the Royal Thai Marine Corps and the new Air and Coastal Defense Command (ACDC) is of national concern. The navy is also taking steps to upgrade its maintenance and support capability, partly as a result of the acquisition of the large aircraft carrier and replenishment ship. The Chuk Samut facility within Sattahip Navy Base includes a first-class dry dock built by Hyundai.

The RTN has received large annual budgets to procure modern platforms and weapons in recent years based on piracy in the region and the anticipated "grab for resources in the Spratlys" that may threaten Thai shipping lanes. In recent years, the Thai government has placed greater emphasis on the RTN, in line with the growing feeling that the country's maritime interests are most threatened; these include 80 off shore oil platforms, as well as the country's vast fishing fleet (the third largest in the world). Disputed maritime borders and SLOC must also be monitored and defended. The purchase of the aircraft carrier has also been partially justified by the navy with reference to a required search and rescue capability for offshore platforms and for general disaster relief operations. A greater role than mere defensive duty is envisaged for the RTN. The government's decision to purchase an assault carrier has signaled its willingness to develop a genuine blue-water capability. As maritime disputes have grown in number and magnitude since the end of the cold war, so the need for such a capacity seems to have grown. There are indications that Thailand wants not only to increase its capability in its own territorial waters but also in the Andaman Sea. Although Thailand appreciates the prestige of military hardware, she is way behind Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and even Vietnam in submarine capability. Over the years, the RTN has acquired a mix of European, US and Chinese platforms-sometimes with tragic consequences, as they are not interoperable. The mission spaces of Thailand navy are including Thai Gulf and Indian Ocean, separated by land, and river.

The RTN has big ambitions but there are difficulties to overcome. One is the limited time at sea given to its personnel and equipment. A combination of low budget priorities, lack of spare parts and maintenance funding, and the country's past economic difficulties all detract from readiness. In addition, few personnel are sent for overseas training. Exercises are conducted with several partners including the U.S., Australia, and Malaysia, but Thai participation in these operations tends to be fairly low-key. A small number of Chinese naval personnel are known to be serving on Thai ships as part of the training process linked with the acquisition of Chinese platforms and systems but these are short-term deployments.