AV-8S, Navy’s Little Golden Age
The story of the Royal Thai Navy’s first aircraft carrier, HTMS Chakri Naruebet, is an interesting story, for it has quite a unique origin. After the disaster and tragedy caused by the Kavali Cyclone of 1989, the Royal Thai Navy, realizing their lack of efficient rescue options and rapid rescue capabilities, requested a purchase of a large ship with search and rescue capability with helicopters and aircraft onboard for search and rescue operations, thus, beginning the story of the HTMS Chakri Naruebet.
In the year 1992, the Thai government approved the requisition order for a helicopter carrier, allowing the Royal Thai Navy to conduct a government-to-government purchase of a helicopter carrier with the nation of Spain, leading to the construction and subsequent deployment of HTMS Chakri Naruebet, Thailand’s first helicopter carrier with aircraft carrier’s capabilities, in the year 1997. Alongside the HTMS Chaki Naruebet, the Royal Thai Navy also purchased 9 AV-8S from the Royal Spanish Navy, improving HTMS Chakri Naruebet with several capabilities such as aerial interception, ground attack, Anti-ship and Anti-submarine operations, as well as Close air support and reconnaissance.
A notable utilization of Thai AV-8S was its deployment in the 2003 Phnom Penh riots during Operation Pochentong 1. While it did not see the combat it was built for, the Thai AV-8S fleet was deployed alongside HTMS Chakri Naruebet in the secure and rescue operation and as a backup. In the end, AV-8S didn’t see any combat operations thanks to the diplomatic communication and cooperation between the Thai and Cambodian Governments.
Today, while the AV-8S may no longer be under the Royal Thai Navy’s service, it still serves as an attraction at the Royal Thai Airforce Museum. If you wish to see the aircraft that once served on Southeast Asia’s first and only aircraft carrier, feel free to come and visit the Royal Thai Air Force Museum in Thailand!
References:
Royal Thai Navy - ประวัติความเป็นมาของกองเรือบรรทุกเฮลิคอปเตอร์
Royal Thai Navy - อากาศนาวีในอดีต
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