The aircraft carrier Chakri Narubet at the Sattahip military port

Once I was able to visit one of the Thai seaports where Thai warships are based. How it happened, you will learn from the article.

Dear friends, first of all I would like to apologize for not publishing anything for so long. Unfortunately, over time it’s quite a disaster, but I’ll try. I hope for your understanding. Well, now on the topic of the article.

This event happened, as always, spontaneously. My Thai friends, after relaxing on one of the military beaches of Hat Nang Ram, decided to stop by the naval port in order to show me the military ships of Thailand. Since I knew that farangs were strictly prohibited from entering such territories, I was 100% sure that their plan would not be successful, and I would hardly be able to see anything.

Despite this, they still decided to go. As we approached the checkpoint, we were stopped by a military man who asked where we were going.

At that moment, I immediately remembered my independent attempts to visit such places, but I never succeeded.

After a few minutes of conversation, the barrier was opened for us and we entered the territory! I was happily shocked! This is luck, I thought! I really wanted to take a quick look at these combat vehicles!

Most likely it was not an active military base, since there were too many civilians inside, and tours of one aircraft carrier are arranged for Thais.

There was another checkpoint on our way that separated us from Thai military equipment. As soon as we passed the second point, I saw these huge ships!

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general information

Name in English: Chakri Naruebet - Sattahip Port - Chuk Samet Harbor

Address and coordinates: Sattahip, Sattahip District, Chon Buri 20180 12°37'33.6″N 100°54'49.4″E {12.625989, 100.913712}

Opening hours: The aircraft carrier Chakri Narubet is open to visitors daily from 08:00 to 16:00, except Wednesdays, when it can be visited from 12:00.

Entrance fee: Entry to the port and the aircraft carrier HTMS Chakri Naruebet is free.

Telephone: +66-38-439-479

Email: [email protected]

Official website: www3.navy.mi.th

Tail number 911

The three numbers inscribed on board the Chakri, which coincided with the telephone number of the American rescue service, turned out to be prophetic. This ship has always come to the aid of victims of natural disasters, tropical storms and floods, which, alas, are commonplace in Southeast Asia. In addition to evacuating civilians, Chakri helicopters are actively used to search for small vessels in distress.

Chakri Narubet takes on board victims

The aircraft carrier and its crew became savior angels for many victims of the monstrous 2004 tsunami. Day and night, sailors and pilots searched for survivors, treated the wounded, buried the dead and helped repair destroyed schools.

Helpful information

Chakri Narubet is a Thai light aircraft carrier designed to host patrol helicopters, which was first commissioned on March 27, 1997. This 11-deck ship, equipped with modern weapons and long-range radar, is 182 meters long and 30.5 meters wide.

The ship is used for exclusive economic zone patrols and search and rescue operations, but due to lack of funding, the ship is inactive most of the time and is based at anchor in the deep-sea port of Chak Samet.

Unlike other Thai navy ships based at Sattahip Port, the Chakri Narubet aircraft carrier is accessible to the public as a visitor, but only for local residents! It is mentioned on the Internet that in order to visit the aircraft carrier, foreign citizens must first write a letter addressed to the Commander of the Royal Thai Navy. In fact, it is not known where to write, and you will be very lucky if you can get on board the ship, since foreigners are not even allowed to take photographs up close. But there are exceptions, and some lucky ones were still able to visit the aircraft carrier.

Shoemaker without shoes

Russian folk wisdom says: a samurai without a sword is like a samurai with a sword, but only without a sword. The aircraft carrier, costing a third of a billion US dollars and displacing 11 and a half thousand tons, was supposed to carry on board six used Harriers of the Spanish modification AV-8M. In the name of this air power, the ship received a springboard and heat-resistant deck covering.

However, soon after the Chakri was accepted into the fleet, the Asian financial crisis broke out, and the Thai budget no longer had time to service new toys. By 1999, out of nine Harriers delivered, which were already not new, at least only one could fly. After many attempts to obtain at least some spare parts for long-outdated aircraft, “Chakri” finally said goodbye to carrier-based aircraft (which he never really saw). Currently, only S-70B Seahawk helicopters of the Royal Thai Navy operate from it.

Anton Zheleznyak Technical and engineering expert
In fact, the royal desire did not arise out of nowhere. Once upon a time, back in 1989, Typhoon Gay came to the shores of Thailand. And the Thai Royal Navy suddenly discovered that it had no ships capable of operating in such weather, much less carrying out rescue operations using aircraft. By that time, the Thais were also fed up with pirates, poachers and smugglers, and a ship capable of controlling the sea beyond the visible horizon was urgently needed.

Aircraft carrier Chakri Naruebet (“Chakri Naruebet”)

This is the only aircraft carrier in Thailand, which was built by the Spaniards in 1994 - 1997. I was only able to look at it from the outside; I was not allowed inside.

Aircraft carrier Chakri Naruebet (“Chakri Naruebet”)

Fortunately, I was with the Thais, and they got there without any problems. I asked my friend to take a photo inside.

Aircraft carrier Chakri Naruebet inside

They say that at the present time the aircraft carrier is not combat-ready and is under reconstruction. It is often used as a landing spot for helicopters or as a jetliner for the Royal Family.

Naresuan-class frigates

In addition to the aircraft carrier, there are several Naresuan-class frigates here. These ships are capable of repelling both air attacks and striking both ground and water targets.

Naresuan-class frigates

These two frigates are like an inseparable family, always and everywhere with their big brother Chakri Naruebet .

Thai Navy

Tail Nadu's armed forces are said to be among the strongest in SEA. They include not only ground forces, but also sea forces. They include:

Navy
Naval aviation
Marine Corps

Thai sailor
Thailand has quite a few ships in service; today I will show you those that I was able to look at while here.

Whose Angkor Wat is it?

However, one day “Chakri” almost had to fight. In 2003, fake news appeared in Cambodian newspapers that a Thai actress had declared the ancient temple complex of Angkor Wat a “Thai national treasure.” Out of excess of feelings, Cambodians, with the connivance of the authorities, staged anti-Thai pogroms in their own capital. And at the same time they burned the Thai embassy along with a portrait of His Majesty Rama the Ninth.

The Thais, for whom the royal person is a sacred figure, were furious. And they sent the main forces of the fleet, consisting of the Chakri and four frigates, to the shores of their enraged neighbors. If the pogroms continued, they were ordered to instill in the Cambodians respect for the Thai monarchy by force of arms.

Fortunately for everyone, passions subsided, and the pilots of the Chakri machines did not have to bomb the already long-suffering Phnom Penh. So to this day, the most militant task of the small but proud “Chakri” and its air group remains the active persuasion of neighboring fishermen to stay away from Thailand’s exclusive economic zone.

White Elephant of the Navy

Even during the creation of the aircraft carrier, caustic journalists drew an analogy with a white elephant. The fact is that in ancient times, Thai monarchs applied special non-violent punishment to those close to them who fell out of favor. As a sign of “special favor”, subjects were given possession of 1 of 10 sacred white elephants.

Taking into account the cost of all the rituals, the cost of maintaining a “living gift” amounted to a tidy sum and could send even an inveterate embezzler around the world.

In this case, the role of such an animal could have been played by an aircraft carrier. To prevent the ship from destroying the country’s treasury instead of enemy ships, the ill-fated “Chakri” spent the lion’s share of the time at the pier in the tourist city of Pattaya. The ship's crew conducted something like military training only... once a month.

Currently, the aircraft carrier lives at the Royal Navy base in Sattahip, but is still available for excursions (if you send a letter with a corresponding request to the Commander-in-Chief of the Thai Navy, then a citizen of another state can get on the ship).

The ship was repaired and slightly improved, and the Chakri constantly takes part in interstate exercises at sea. Thanks to the luxurious cabin intended for representatives of the ruling dynasty, the aircraft carrier was awarded the nickname “the most expensive yacht for monarchs in the world.” However, its main - and quite worthy - function is not related to combat operations.

Aircraft carrier without planes

The ship, priced at $300,000,000 and with a displacement of 11,500 tons, according to the original plan, was supposed to carry 6 used Harriers of the Spanish version of the AB-8M. For the sake of these air machines, a springboard was constructed on the ship and the deck was covered with material resistant to high temperatures.

But some time after the ship was accepted into service by the Thai Navy, a major economic crisis broke out in Asia. The country's treasury did not have extra funds to maintain the Chakri. By 1999, out of 9 used aircraft delivered to Thailand, only 1 was capable of taking off.

After lengthy and repeated attempts to get parts for the old Harriers, the aircraft carrier finally lost hope of seeing carrier-based aircraft (which practically never saw its side).

Currently, only S-70B Seahawk helicopters of the Royal Thai Navy take off from Chakri.

HTMS Similan

Well, another ship that deserves attention is HTMS Similan . It entered service in 1996. The main purpose of the ship is to support warships with food, ammunition, spare parts and other necessities. This is a kind of mobile warehouse.

HTMS Similan

All these ships are currently based at the military base in Satahipa, near Utapao airport. Which was formed in 1937 and is considered the largest Royal Naval base .

Of course, this is just a small part of Thailand’s military equipment, I think there are many more ships, but these are the ones that we can look at today.