Thread: Memory Lane (In my own language)

(The colorized B&W photo)


HMS Radiant was an R-class destroyer which fought in the WWI as part of the Royal Navy. She was built at Woolston, England and launched November 1916.

During the night of 23th December 1917, while escorting of a convoy off the coast of Holland, she came to the rescue of the Harwich Force destroyers, the Torrent, the Surprise and the Tornado after the destroyers ran into a German minefield.

The Torrent struck a mine and when attempting a rescue, the Surprise and the Tornado also hit mines resulting in the three destroyers being lost.

The Radiant picked up all survivors that could be found. This accounted for twelve officers and sailors with the losses of 252 officers and men from the three destroyers.

After the WWI, the Radiant was paid off and laid up in reserve until sold to the Royal Thai Navy in September 1920. She was renamed Phra Ruang (the name of an ancient king who reigned Sukhothai Kingdom).

It is believed that in order to finance her acquisition, King Rama VI and other senior figures donated personally to the finance fund, making this the first publication donation of money to procure a warship in Siam/Thailand.

The Royal Prince Admiral Abhakara Kiartivongse, the King’s half-brother, went to England to negotiate the purchase personally. It was sold for 200,000 pound which was lower than expected. Then he commanded the ship during its subsequent voyage from England to Thailand.

During WWII, on 29^th January 1943, the submarine USS Trout launched three torpedoes at a destroyer believed to be the Phra Ruang and watched each run true to the target. However, all proved to be duds.

Because of her continued service in the Royal Thai Navy, the destroyer was the last survivor of the Royal Navy's First World War destroyers.

The Phra Ruang was used as a training ship toward the end of her career, removed from the effective list in 1957 and stricken in 1959.

The ship’s bell and wheel are on display at the Naval Museum in the Samut Prakan Province.