The Royal Thai Navy (Abrv: RTN, ทร.; , ) is the naval warfare force of Thailand. Established in 1906, it was modernised by the Admiral Prince Abhakara Kiartiwongse (1880–1923) who is known as the father of the Royal Navy. It has a structure that includes the naval fleet, Royal Thai Marine Corps, and Air and Coastal Defence Command. The RTN headquarters is at Sattahip Naval Base.

The navy operates three naval area commands (NAC): Northern Gulf of Thailand (First NAC); Southern Gulf of Thailand (Second NAC); and the Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean) (Third NAC). RTN also has two air wings and one flying unit on its aircraft carrier.

History

Ancient era

The military naval history of Thailand encompasses over 1300 years of armed struggle, from wars with her regional rivals, the Khmer Empire, Burma, and periods of conflicts with the British Empire and French Indochina during the colonial era.

The naval arm of the army consisted mainly of riverine war craft whose mission was to control the Chao Phraya River and protect ships carrying the army to battle. The warships carried up to 30 musketeers, a large number of rowers and a front 6 or 12-pounder cannons or no guns at all.

The Siamese navy was also supported by Chinese immigrants, mostly in Chantaburi. During the era of Taksin the Great, his army successfully sieged the old capital of Ayutthaya with the help of the Chinese shipwrights who are masters of building war junks, which carried more guns than riverine warcrafts.

Vietnamese-Siamese war

The timeline of emergence of a Siamese sea fleet is unknown. Most of its sailors were foreign, such as Cham, Malay, and Chinese. It is assumed that in this era, Ships designs changed from shallow draft Chinese junk (Reu-Sam-Pau/Reụ̄x s̄ảp̣heā) to deeper draft Kam-pan and sloop; with a short period of copied Vietnamese junks. The most prominent naval battle was at Vàm Nao River.

Franco-Siamese crisis

The Paknam Incident was a navy engagement fought during the Franco-Siamese crisis in July 1893. Three French ships violated Siamese territory and warning shots were fired at them by a Siamese fort and a force of gunboats on the Chao Phraya River in Paknam. In the ensuing battle, France prevailed and blockaded Bangkok. Peace was restored on 3 October 1893 after the British put pressure on both the Siamese and French to reach a negotiated settlement.

World War I

The First World War had no direct impact on Siam due to its distance from the fighting. The war did, however, provide an opportunity for King Rama VI to strengthen his country's position in the international arena. He also used the war as a means to promote the concept of a Siamese nation.

Siamese sailors were part of a volunteer expeditionary force, consisting of medical, motor transport, and aviation detachments. By early-1918, 1,284 men were selected from thousands of volunteers. The force was commanded by Major General Phraya Bhijai Janriddhi and was sent to France.

After World War I Franco-Thai War The Battle of Ko Chang took place on 17 January 1941 during the Franco-Thai War in which a flotilla of French warships attacked a smaller force of Thai vessels, including a coastal defence ship. The HTMS Thonburi was heavily damaged and grounded on a sand bar at the mouth of the Chanthaburi River, with about 20 dead. The Thai transport HTMS Chang arrived at Ko Chang shortly after the French departed and took the Thonburi in tow, before purposefully running her aground in Laem Ngop.

The French suffered 11 men killed. During the post-action investigations, the Thai Navy claimed, based on statements by Thai sailors and the fisherman around Ko Chang and merchantmen in Saigon, that heavy damage was seen to have been caused to the French ship Lamotte-Picquet and her squadron. The battle was a tactical victory by the French Navy over the Thai Navy although the strategic result is disputed. The Japanese intervened diplomatically and mediated a ceasefire. Within a month of the engagement, the French and the Thais had negotiated a peace that ended the war.

World War II

During World War II, Siam allied with Japan after Japan invaded Siam on 8 December 1941. Thailand officially joined the war in January 1942.

Thai submarines saw service throughout World War II, but saw no combat. Two of them did serve an unconventional role during the war. On 14 April 1945, five months before the Japanese surrender, Bangkok's Samsen and Wat Liab Power Plants were bombed by the Allies, leaving the city without electricity. In response to a request from the Bangkok Electricity Authority, the Matchanu and Wirun anchored at the Bangkok Dock Company and served as power generators for one of Bangkok's tram lines.Reynolds, Thailand's Secret War, 304–05 with photograph on 306.

Manhattan Rebellion

During the Manhattan Rebellion of 1951, the navy was involved in a failed coup against Prime Minister Plaek Phibunsongkhram which led to the sinking of flagship HTMS Sri Ayudhya.

Vietnam War In support of South Vietnam and its allies during the Vietnam War, two Thai naval vessels supported ground forces with naval bombardments.

Later years

The navy's combat forces include the Royal Fleet and the Royal Thai Marine Corps. The 130 vessels of the Royal Fleet include 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.

The mission space of the Thailand navy includes rivers and the Gulf of Thailand and the Indian Ocean, which are separated by the Kra Isthmus. Naval affairs are directed by the country's most senior admiral from his Bangkok headquarters. The naval commander in chief is supported by staff groups that plan and administer such activities as logistics, education and training, and various special services. The headquarters general staff function like the corresponding staffs in the Royal Thai Army army and Royal Thai Air Force command structures.

Command and control

The Royal Thai Navy is commanded by the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Navy, currently, Admiral Jirapol Wongwit, who was appointed in 2024. The Royal Thai Navy headquarters is in Bangkok. Commander-in-Chief, Royal Thai Navy: Admiral Jirapol Wongwit Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Royal Thai Navy: Admiral Chonlathit Navanukroh President, Royal Thai Navy Advisory Group: Admiral Worawut Pruksarungruang Assistant Commander-in-Chief, Royal Thai Navy: Admiral Pichit Srirungruang Chief of Staff, Royal Thai Navy: Admiral Pairote Fuengchan Commander-in-Chief, Royal Thai Fleet: Admiral Nattaphon Diewwanich

Naval Area Commands Naval Area Commands

The Royal Thai Navy operates three naval area commands: First Naval Area Command: responsible for the northern part of Gulf of Thailand Second Naval Area Command: responsible for the southern part of Gulf of Thailand Third Naval Area Command: responsible for the Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean)

District forces Navy Fleet District Forces Northern Gulf of Thailand Fleet Southern Gulf of Thailand Fleet Andaman Sea Fleet Royal Thai Naval Air District Forces U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield Chanthaburi Airstrip Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Navy Base Songkhla Royal Thai Navy Airfield Phuket Royal Thai Navy Airfield Narathiwat Airstrip Navy Bases District Forces Sattahip Naval Base Bangkok Naval Base Phang-nga Naval Base Songkhla Naval Base Phuket Naval Base Samui Naval Base Trat Naval Base

Organization Naval Headquarters Naval Fleet Naval Logistics Support Group Naval Education, Research and Development Group Naval Task Forces Other units Naval Headquarters Naval Secretariat Department Naval Administration Department Naval Personnel Department Naval Intelligence Department Naval Operations Department Naval Logistics Department Naval Communications and Information Technology department Naval Civil Affairs Department Office of the Naval Comptroller Naval Finance Department Naval Inspector General Naval Internal Audit Office Naval Acquisition Management Office Judge Advocate General of the Royal Thai Navy Office of Security Coordination with the Internal Security Operations Command, Royal Thai Navy Royal Thai Fleet Patrol Squadron 1st Frigate Squadron (FS1) 2nd Frigate Squadron (FS2) Helicopter Carrier Squadron (HCS) Submarine Squadron (SS) Mine Squadron (MS) Amphibious and Combat Support Service Squadron (ACSSS) Coast Guard Squadron (CGS) Riverine Squadron (RS) Royal Thai Naval Air Division (RTNAD) Naval Special Warfare Command (NSWC) Fleet Training Command (FTC) Fleet Support Division (SD) First Naval Area Command Bangkok Naval Base Sattahip Naval Base Ship Repair Facilities, Sattahip Naval Base Sattahip Commercial Port, Royal Thai Navy Naval Music Division Second Naval Area Command Songkhla Naval Base Third Naval Area Command Phang Nga Naval Base Royal Thai Marine Corps (RTMC) Air and Coastal Defence Command (ACDC) Naval Military Police Regiment (NMPR) Phra Chulachomklao Fort Royal Thai Navy Counter-Piracy Task Group Royal Thai Naval Dockyard (RTND) Naval Electronics Department (NED) Naval Public Works Department (NPWD) Naval Ordnance Department (NORDD) Naval Supply Department (NSD) Naval Medical Department (NMD) Naval Transportation Department (NTD) Naval Hydrographic Department (HD) Naval Welfare Department (NWD) Naval Science Department (NScD) Naval Education Department (NED) Naval Command and Staff College (NCSC) Naval Line Officers School (LOS) Naval Rating School (NRS) Naval Non Commissioned Officers School (NCOS) Naval Recruit Training Center (RTC) Royal Thai Navy Language Center (RTNLC) Naval Strategic Studies Center (NSSC) Royal Thai Naval Academy (RTNA) Naval Research and Development Office (NRDO) Mekong Riverine Unit Chanthaburi and Trat Border Defense Command, Royal Thai Marine Corps Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Center 1st Naval Area Command Maritime Enforcement Command Center 2nd Naval Area Command Maritime Enforcement Command Center 3rd Naval Area Command Maritime Enforcement Command Center Border Patrol Flotilla Naval Operations Center Thai Volunteers for National Defense at Sea Center Royal Thai Navy Command Center Klai Kangwon Palace Watch Keeping Group Southern Thailand Operations Force Southern Thailand Air Task Unit Andaman Sea Operations Force Andaman Sea Operations Group Thai-Myanmar Border Fishery Coordination Center Thai Maritime Enforcement Coordinating Center Thai Maritime Enforcement Directorate Center U-Tapao International Airport Navy Disaster Relief Center Plutaluang Royal Thai Navy Golf Course Salaya Navy Golf Course Navy Welfare Coordination Center Naval Supply Center, Naval Supply Department

Royal Thai Naval Dockyard The Naval Dockyard was on Arun amarin Road, Siriraj Subdistrict, Bangkoknoi District, Bangkok. It has constructed and repaired ships since the reign of King Mongkut. As ships grew larger, King Chulalongkorn ordered the construction of a large wooden dock. He presided over the opening ceremony on 9 January 1890, a date now considered the birth of the Naval Department. Its headquarters is now at Mahidol Adulyadej Naval Dockyard, Sattahip District, Chonburi Province.

Ships built during the reign of King Rama VIII, Ananda Mahidol: HTMS Sarasin-class: Fisheries boat; displacement 50 tons; three ships in this class Coast Guard Boat 9 class: Coast Guard boat; displacement 11.25 tons; four ships in this class HTMS Prong: Tanker; displacement 150 tons Ships built during the reign of King Rama IX, King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great: HTMS Khamronsin (II)-class: Corvette; displacement 450 tons; three ships in this class HTMS Hua Hin-class: Patrol gunboat; displacement 530 tons; three ships in this class HTMS Sattahip (I)-class: Torpedo boat; displacement 110 tons Tor.91-class: Patrol Boat: displacement 115 tons; nine ships in this class