Thread: Navy Unveils New Amphibious Ship ‘HTMS Chang’

BANGKOK (NNT) - The Royal Thai Navy’s third amphibious transport dock ship, also known as a landing platform dock (LPD) ship, was ceremoniously launched on Wednesday (Jan 4) in China at the Hudong-Zhonghua shipyard near Shanghai. The launching was conducted by the spouse of Navy Deputy Chief Adm Thaloengsak Sirisawat, Aranya Sirisawat.


The ship has been named HTMS Chang, after Chang Island in Trat province. The vessel was purchased as part of the navy’s 20-year plan to have all four of these large amphibious ships in operation by 2036 for various purposes, such as transporting amphibious command and support vessels, supporting submarine operations, participating in marine search and rescue operations, evacuating disaster victims, and supporting marine and portal anti-terrorism operations.


HTMS Chang measures 213 meters in length and 28 meters in width, with a maximum displacement of 20,003 tons and a draft of 17.4 meters. Its maximum speed is 25 knots, and it has a range of 10,000 nautical miles. While the navy’s goal is to have all four amphibious transport dock ships in commission at the same time, the ship was purchased to replace its predecessor, also named HTMS Chang.


In regards to naming new ships, the navy follows a fixed protocol. For amphibious ships, they must be named after an important island in the country, while frigates are named after main rivers, such as Bang Pakong.

Navy Unveils New Amphibious Ship “HTMS Chang”

Hope this one doesn’t sink.

Originally Posted by misskit

The Royal Thai Navy’s third amphibious transport dock ship, also known as a landing platform dock (LPD) ship, was ceremoniously launched on Wednesday (Jan 4) in China at the Hudong-Zhonghua shipyard near Shanghai.

Incompetence coupled with bad workmanship - a recipe for something less than stellar.

Originally Posted by DrWilly

Hope this one doesn’t sink.

Hmm

One moment, please...

The current one

The previous HTMS Chang was launched in 1944 and was purposely sunk in 2012. I would very surprised if the replacement has more than 1/2 the in-service lifespan as the old one!

Originally Posted by qwerty

I would very surprised if the replacement has more than 1/2 the in-service lifespan as the old one!

It'll be alright for the first 5 years and the first year is covered the the statutory Chinese 1 Year consumer guarantee, but after 5 years they would be wise not to take it out in a breeze.

Anyone spot teh "Elephant" in the room.

Odd to choose a title often associated with mindless behaviour.....tusk tusk

The one that sank.

We went to visit it a few years back to see if we could salvage anything.

Originally Posted by david44

Anyone spot teh "Elephant" in the room.

Originally Posted by misskit

The ship has been named HTMS Chang, after Chang Island in Trat province.

I (wrongly?) jumped to the conclusion that it was sponsored by a well known beverage.

Originally Posted by Seekingasylum

In these days of peaceful coexistence under the jackboot of PRC commie imperialism one wonders just why the Thai should need such a vessel which in reality is simply an adjunct to a waterborne tactical attack plan.

Are the Thai islands likely to be occupied by a foreign aggressor who can only be ousted by force? Are the Thai proposing the occupation of another country’s territory by sea invasion?

The fact that they have cited the vessel as a support platform for submarines is quite amusing in the current circumstances. One wonders just how, given the Gulf of Thailand’s depth is scarcely more than an average of 45 metres. Perhaps a reclamation vessel?

Perhaps they should paint HTMS Chang white, as no doubt it will be a white elephant in not too many years just like their aircraft carrier.

Originally Posted by Shutree

I (wrongly?) jumped to the conclusion that it was sponsored by a well known beverage

The envelop ensures M150 is on the side, let's hope they remember teh BUNG hole this time, and the rear admiral reaches around to a professional navy like Dutch Danish British or Norwegiais to explain safety procedures.

I wonder who Thailand is going to hire to drive the ship for them....

Originally Posted by Topper

I wonder who Thailand is going to hire to drive the ship for them....

Red BS boy expert at escapes?

Isn't every Thai naval vessel either amphibius or a submarine?

Originally Posted by misskit

BANGKOK (NNT) - The Royal Thai Navy’s third amphibious transport dock ship, also known as a landing platform dock (LPD) ship, was ceremoniously launched on Wednesday (Jan 4) in China at the Hudong-Zhonghua shipyard near Shanghai. The launching was conducted by the spouse of Navy Deputy Chief Adm Thaloengsak Sirisawat, Aranya Sirisawat.


The ship has been named HTMS Chang, after Chang Island in Trat province. The vessel was purchased as part of the navy’s 20-year plan to have all four of these large amphibious ships in operation by 2036 for various purposes, such as transporting amphibious command and support vessels, supporting submarine operations, participating in marine search and rescue operations, evacuating disaster victims, and supporting marine and portal anti-terrorism operations.


HTMS Chang measures 213 meters in length and 28 meters in width, with a maximum displacement of 20,003 tons and a draft of 17.4 meters. Its maximum speed is 25 knots, and it has a range of 10,000 nautical miles. While the navy’s goal is to have all four amphibious transport dock ships in commission at the same time, the ship was purchased to replace its predecessor, also named HTMS Chang.


In regards to naming new ships, the navy follows a fixed protocol. For amphibious ships, they must be named after an important island in the country, while frigates are named after main rivers, such as Bang Pakong.

Navy Unveils New Amphibious Ship “HTMS Chang”

They might run into some trouble if they only named them after famous battle hardened Thai Naval officers

Originally Posted by Hugh Cow

They might run into some trouble if they only named them after famous battle hardened Thai Naval officers

While we are talking about the illustrious Thai Navy, a quick quiz...
does anybody know the last Thai warship to be sunk in combat, and who sunk it ?

(answer below)

A few years before that the HTMS Prasae a Thai Corvette, ran aground off the coast of Korea during the Korean war. In all fairness though, there was no GPS or Loran in those days so close inshore maneuvering was not as easy as it is now.