Thread: HTMS Sukhothai reported sunk in Gulf of Thailand

Grant to surviving crew of HTMS Sukhothai

25 crew and 46 officers received a total of 3,071,000 baht at a ceremony today.
Families of the deceased will receive support from the Department of Naval Welfare.

Why are they wearing masks?

Thai, they think money is the solution to everything.

No wonder the country is such a ghastly mess.

Originally Posted by Seekingasylum

Thai, they think money is the solution to everything.

Don't know

If I had been onboard that plimsoll, a bit of appreciation would be welcomed

I'd prefer money over some medal anyday.

Medals, you stick on idiots

Originally Posted by helge

Medals, you stick on idiots

Or they're given to their family.


43k baht average, which the payout for the majority rank of officer, I'm sure, is higher.

Fucking hell.....

46 officers to 26 crew, that's an odd ratio. Maybe they're including CPO's, but that's still a high number.

Originally Posted by Topper

46 officers to 26 crew, that's an odd ratio.

Thailand

Without knowing, my guess would be that a midsize thai police station has more colonels, majors and liutenants than Salvation Army

Originally Posted by Topper

Fucking hell.....

46 officers to 26 crew, that's an odd ratio. Maybe they're including CPO's, but that's still a high number.

There were 30 extras on board traveling to the naval ceremony, marines plus Coastal and Air Defence staff they'd make up some of the 'officer' group

Originally Posted by prawnograph

There were 30 extras on board traveling to the naval ceremony, marines plus Coastal and Air Defence staff they'd make up some of the 'officer' group

I didn't realize that, thanks.

Thai navy insists there were sufficient life jackets on ill-fated HTMS Sukhothai

The Naval Supply Department has insisted that there were 130 life jackets on board HTMS Sukhothai for the 105 crew members when it sank off Prachuap Khiri Khan province on December 18th, said Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Navy, Admiral Choengchai Chomchoengpaet today (Saturday).


He said an investigation team is in the process of determining why some of the men had claimed that they did not have life jackets, adding that the Royal Thai Navy will be able settle this controversial issue with the public.


Regarding the cause of the sinking of the vessel, he said initial findings show that the ship took on water and listed heavily because the water could not be pumped out fast enough.


The admiral said, however, that other factors, such as testimonies from the surviving crew, had to be taken into consideration to determine the exact cause of the ship’s loss.


The cost of salvaging the ship has been estimated at about 200 million baht.


76 of the crew were rescued, 24 were confirmed dead when their bodies were found and five remain missing.

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thai-na...tms-sukhothai/

Originally Posted by misskit

The admiral said, however, that other factors, such as testimonies from the surviving crew, had to be taken into consideration to determine the exact cause of the ship’s loss.

Poor seamanship, poor equipment maintenance, poor abandon ship training, poor just about anything sure to be published.

opps its gone up

Salvaging the HTMS Sukhothai is costly and perilous, navy chief says

Salvaging the Sukhothai from the Gulf of Thailand could cost over 200 million baht, Royal Thai Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Choengchai Chomchoengpaet said on Friday.

Salvaging the HTMS Sukhothai is costly and perilous, navy chief says

As the new HTMS Chang gets the headlines, suspect the recovery of HTMS Sukhothai will simply be forgotten

Royal Thai Navy needs 200-million-baht budget to salvage HTMS Sukhothai
April 2, 2023

The Royal Thai Navy is currently seeking approval from the Budget Bureau and the Election Commission for the allocation of a budget designated for salvaging the sunken HTMS Sukhothai which sank off the coast of Prachuap Khiri Khan last year.

Navy Spokesperson Adm Pokkrong Monthatphalin stated that the two agencies would have to approve the budget, which totaled around 200 million baht, before Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, in his capacity as Defence Minister, can forward the proposal for cabinet approval.

A contractor will then be selected to carry out the salvage operation, which is expected to be completed 90 days after it begins.

The remaining five missing crew members were recently declared deceased by the Ministry of Defence.

Lack of Able seaman and a dearth of competent officers, they should stick to murdering Royhinga and Gangman style dance routines

Almost a year later

Bidding for salvaging sunken warship slow, HTMS Sukhothai may be pulled up next year: Navy
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2023

The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) is still working on selecting a company to salvage HTMS Sukhothai and the operation may be completed next year, Navy chief Admiral Adung Phan-iam said.

The corvette-class vessel sank in a storm about 20 nautical miles (32 kilometres) off the coast of Bang Saphan district in Prachuap Khiri Khan on December 18 last year with 105 crewmembers on board. Of the 105, only 76 were rescued.

Adung said it would be extremely difficult to salvage a vessel from a depth of 50 metres in as complete a condition as possible.

He said the RTN had to study the licences of bidders who wanted to carry out the salvation operation, so the bidding process was taking time.

He added that the bid winner may be selected next month and sent to the Royal Thai Armed Forces for approval right away, so the salvaging operation can begin.

“We expect the HTMS to resurface in either March or April next year,” Adung said. “The bidding process is almost finished. It’s now in the last step.”

He added that the Navy had sent down scuba divers, and they say the HTMS Sukhothai is still in the same condition and its bow is still pointing towards the shrine of Prince of Chumphon, Admiral Prince Abhakara Kiartivongse, in Chumphon province. The prince is considered the father of the Royal Thai Navy.

^^ Clearly still negotiating the number and content of the manila envelopes.

Originally Posted by misskit

He said an investigation team is in the process of determining why some of the men had claimed that they did not have life jackets, adding that the Royal Thai Navy will be able settle this controversial issue with the public.

Why would any survivor invent such a tale .

There could have been enough on the inventory (perhaps some old or pilfered unusable etc)

Equally they may have been stowed incorrectly or even under lock and key and not readily available at muster station.

God help us if they go nuclear I think that'll be the time to relocate

US, Thailand to hold annual military drills with troops from 30 nations


Snip:


Light salvage operation

Thailand and the United States will also work together on the light salvage of the HTMS Sukhothai, which capsized and sank off Prachuap Khiri Khan province in stormy seas, officials from the two host countries said Friday.

Twenty-nine crewmen died while five remain undiscovered, according to the Royal Thai Navy.

“This salvage, which will be executed as part of Cobra Gold 2024, will hopefully bring some comfort and closure to the families of all the brave sailors and marines who were lost,” U.S. ambassador Robert F. Godec, told a joint news conference at a Thai military headquarters on Friday.

The chief of Royal Thai Navy, meanwhile, denied local reports that the U.S. had forced it to give up a contract with a Chinese-linked company to fully salvage the corvette from the 50 meters-deep seafloor.

“The U.S. Navy’s offer came properly and it has nothing to do with any Chinese company,” commander of the Royal Thai Fleet, Adm. Chatchai Tongsaard, said at the same conference.

He added that the delay was due to the Thai Navy miscalculating its ability to perform the salvage on its own.

The light salvage operation will include a search for the deceased, a damage survey, the retrieval of undamaged components and the destruction of damaged weapons. The ship is likely to be discarded, he said.

US, Thailand to hold annual military drills with troops from 30 nations — BenarNews

Originally Posted by misskit

He added that the delay was due to the Thai Navy miscalculating its ability to perform the salvage on its own.

No shit, Sherlock.

Whereas a full salvage of the wreck is impossible we can all see that the officers responsible for this disaster have evidently salvaged their public reputations given the seeming total absence of any public enquiry or court martial.

No surprise of course.

Navies to Launch “Limited Salvage” Mission for HTMS Sukhothai

The Thai and US navies are set to undertake a "limited salvage" mission for the HTMS Sukhothai, which tragically sank in the Gulf of Thailand in December 2022, resulting in the loss of 29 crew members.


The announcement came during a press event led by Armed Forces Chief of Joint Staff Gen Thitichai Thienthong and US Ambassador Robert F. Godec, outlining the details of the operation scheduled from February 19 to March 4, coinciding with the annual Cobra Gold military exercise from February 27 to March 10.


Admiral Chatchai Thongsaard, commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Fleet, described the mission as a "light salvage" aimed at locating the five missing crew members, gathering underwater evidence for further investigation, deactivating US armaments on the ship, and salvaging specific equipment and armaments. The Thai Navy is contributing several vessels and 40 Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) officials, while the US Navy is providing the Ocean Valor ship and 20 EOD officials for the operation.


Cobra Gold 2024, the backdrop for this mission, is an annual multinational military exercise that fosters cooperation among participating nations, including Thailand, the US, Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, South Korea, and Malaysia, with China, Australia, and India participating in humanitarian aid exercises.


The HTMS Sukhothai sank during a storm off Prachuap Khiri Khan province on December 18, 2022, leading to the rescue of 76 crew members, the death of 24, and five missing, presumed dead.

NNT

^ That "light salvage" seems so light that it's hardly a salvage at all - certainly not a ship salvage, perhaps an equipment salvage, evidence hiding and face saving exercise. That report is rather underwhelming.

Originally Posted by Bettyboo

^ interesting.

If the US is indeed building ties and stopping Chinese ties (with Thais...) that makes good sense. Though stopping the Chinese expansionist mindset is an impossibility as they are long term empire builders (especially under their current despot).

It'd be good for the Thais to get the Sukhothai up too.

Very profound

Maybe they can swap their engineless submarine for a new ship. (one with an engine of course). I'm sure after an exhaustive inquiry they will find the accident was due to brake failure.