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HTMS Makut Ratchakumarn some time around 2010s
The HTMS Makut Ratchakumarn is a frigate of the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) and the sole ship of her class. Her construction marked the first attempt by the RTN to create a proper blue water navy since World War II.
Key Characteristics
- One-of-a-kind Thai frigate armed with two fast-firing 4.5-inch Mark 8 naval guns.
- Has an option of either four Seacat anti-air missiles or three Bofors autocannons with modern radar.
- Average top speed.
History
Spoiler
The Makut Ratchakumarn just after her commission in 1973
In 1969, the Royal Thai Navy placed an order from the Yarrow Shipyard in the United Kingdom for a new frigate based on the design of the Malaysian Navy frigate KD Rahmat. The ship was to have generally the same specifications, with the main difference being the main armament being two single 4.5-inch Mark 8 naval guns on bow and stern each instead of a single 4.5-inch Mark 5 on the Rahmat, the omission of helipad in place of the stern turret, and more advanced FCS ordered from the Netherlands. The new ship was originally to be named Chao Phraya (after the namesake river) but were later renamed to Makut Ratchakumarn (lit. the Crown Prince) in honor of then-Prince Vajiralongkorn (later King Rama X) who was appointed as the Crown Prince around that time.
Stern view of the Makut Ratchakumarn, showing the Seacat missile launchers and Limbo mortars
As with the Rahmat, Makut Ratchakumarn was built with “keelless” technique and therefore has no laid down date. She was launched on 18 November 1971 and commissioned 7 May 1973.
Stern view of the Makut Ratchakumarn after 1988 refit. Note the dual mount Bofors turret in place of where the Seacat launchers used to be
Makut Ratchakumarn’s service life is rather uneventful, with the exception of her modernization between 1985 - 1988 following an engine fire in 1984, which saw the Seacat launcher with a third pair of Bofors AA guns and the addition of a pair of triple-tube PMW-49A anti-submarine torpedoes. Oddly, some source claimed that the Limbo mortar was removed at this time, though videos showed that the ship still retains the mortar to this day.
After the acquisition of the ex-Knox class frigates and the Naresuan-class frigates around late 1990s, the Makut Ratchakumarn was relegated to secondary roles before being retired from active service in 2010. She is currently served as a training ship of the RTN.
Specifications
Spoiler
- Displacement: 1,650 tons standard, 1,900 tons full load
- Length: 97.6 m (320 ft 3 in)
- Beam: 10.97 m (36 ft 0 in)
- Draught: 5.5 m (18 ft 1 in)|
- Propulsion 2 shaft CODOG
- 1 Rolls-Royce Olympus gas turbine 19,500 hp (14,500 kW)
- 1 Crossley Pelstick PA6S diesel 6,000 hp (4,500 kW)|
- Top speed: 26 knots (48 km/h; 30 mph)
- Range: 5,000 nmi (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)|
- Crew: 150
- Sensors & processing systems: Radar - HSA LW-04, HSA WM-22, Decca 626, Sonar 170B, 162, Plessey M27
- Main Armament: 2 x 4.5-inch Mark 8 naval guns.
- Secondary Armaments (original): 2 x 2 40/70 mm Bofors AA guns, 1 x 4 Seacat AAM launcher, 1 x 3 Limbo anti-submarine mortar
- Secondary Armaments (1988): 3 x 2 40/70 mm Bofors AA guns, 2 x 3 PMW-49A anti-submarine torpedoes, 1 x 3 Limbo anti-submarine mortar, 4 x 1 Browning .50 machine guns
Extra images
Sources:
Spoiler
- Gardiner, Robert and Stephen Chumbley. Conway’s All The World’s Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, Maryland USA: Naval Institute Press, 1995. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.
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(https://anyflip.com/tgghy/jvpz/basic) [HTMS Makut Ratchakumarn - Royal Thai Navy]
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https://www.dti.or.th/page_bx.php?cid=24&cno=4278