regional naval directory
‘Sok’ class hydrographic vessel ‘Paruehasabordee’ class hydrographic vessel ‘Rin’ class tug ‘Samsan’ class tug ‘Klungbadan’ class tug
The ROCN Pan Shi is Taiwan’s largest-ever indigenously built warship. With an unusually comprehensive outfit of weapons and sensors for an auxiliary ship, this new vessel has, in addition to her underway replenishment capability, the potential to exercise a sea control role © Taiwan Ministry of National Defence
frigates to Taiwan as of April 2014, but Taiwan is likely to commission only two of them, after extensive modernisation.
Thailand
Royal Thai Navy Ship Type Number in Service ‘Chakri Naruebet’ class aircraft carrier 1 ‘Knox’ class frigate 2 ‘Naresuan’ class frigate 2 ‘Modernised Jianghu’ class frigate 4 ‘Ratanakosin’ class corvette 2 ‘Tapi’ class corvette 2 ‘Khamronsin’ class corvette 3 ‘River’ class offshore patrol vessel 1 ‘Pattani’ class offshore patrol vessel 2 ‘Makut Rajakumarn’ class offshore patrol vessel 1 ‘Hua Hin’ class offshore patrol vessel 3 ‘PSMM Mk.5’ class offshore patrol vessel 6 ‘Tor 991’ class offshore patrol vessel 3 ‘Tor 994’ class offshore patrol vessel 3 ‘M58’ class offshore patrol vessel 1 ‘M36’ class offshore patrol vessel 3 ‘MBM-230’ class fast attack craft 3 ‘FPB-45’ class fast attack craft 3 ‘MV-400’ class fast attack craft 3 ‘Cannon’ class training ship 1 ‘Endurance’ class amphibious support ship 1 ‘Normed PS-700’ class tank landing ship 2 ‘Marsun M55’ class utility landing craft 2 ‘Thongkaeo’ class utility landing craft 4 ‘Mannok’ class utility landing craft 3 ‘Similan’ class replenishment vessel 1 ‘Jula’ class replenishment vessel 1 ‘YOG-5’ class replenishment vessel 1 ‘Prong’ class replenishment vessel 1 2 ‘Proet’ class replenishment vessel ‘Matra’ class replenishment vessel 1 ‘Chuang’ class replenishment vessel 2 ‘MSC-289’ class mine countermeasures vessel 2 ‘Thalang’ class mine countermeasures vessel 1 ‘M48’ class mine countermeasures vessel 2 ‘Gaeta’ class mine countermeasures vessel 2 ‘Chan’ class hydrographic vessel 1
1 1 2 2 2
Thailand previously operated conventional hunter-killer submarines (SSKs), and plans to revive this capability are moving ahead, according to local media reports. A submarine fleet headquarters has been built at Sattahip Naval Base, and Royal Thai Navy officers are attending submarine training in Germany and the Republic of Korea. The Royal Thai Navy is in contact with prospective suppliers in the People’s Republic of China, Germany, the Republic of Korea, Russia and Sweden for the purchase of up to three SSKs. Other plans include the construction of a second ‘DW 3000F’ class frigate, and an additional ‘River’ class Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPVs), as well as further ‘M58’ class OPVs. Finally, the fleet’s ‘Naresuan’ class frigates are undergoing a major upgrade of sensors and weapons fire control systems.
Vietnam
Vietnam People’s Navy Ship Type Number in Service ‘Gepard 3.0’ class frigate 2, 2 more in build in Russia ‘Petya’ class frigate 5 ‘Sigma’ class corvette 2 in build in the Netherlands ‘Tarantul-1’ class corvette 4 ‘Moiniya’ class corvette 4, 4 more in build in Vietnam ‘BPS-500’ class corvette 1 ‘Kilo’ class conventional hunter-killer submarine 3, three more in build in Russia ‘Osa’ class fast attack craft 8 ‘Svetlyak’ class offshore patrol vessel 6 ‘Turya’ class offshore patrol vessel 5 ‘TT-400 TP’ class offshore patrol vessel 4, 2 more in build ‘Sonya’ class mine countermeasures vessel 4 ‘Yurka’ class mine countermeasures vessel 2 ‘Yevgenya’ class mine countermeasures vessel 2 ‘Giao su Vien si Tran Dai Nghia’ class hydrographic vessel 1 ‘K-122’ class transport/logistics vessel 2 ‘HQ-996’ class transport/logistics vessel 1 ‘Trường Sa’ class transport/logistics vessel 7 ‘LST-542’ class heavy landing ship 1 ‘Polnochny’ class amphibious support ship 3 ‘HQ-521’ class amphibious support ship 2 The People’s Republic of China has become extremely assertive in the South China Sea, including in areas within Vietnam’s continental shelf and its Exclusive Economic Zone. To this end, Hanoi is pursuing a three-track response: Military garrisons on a number of Vietnam-claimed islands have been substantially bolstered; a major acquisition programme of foreign, and indigenously built, warships is in progress; and Vietnam is actively promoting links with numerous foreign navies. The commissioning of ‘Kilo’ class conventional hunter-killer submarines into the Vietnamese People’s Navy (VPN) poses a major potential threat to the People’s Liberation Army Navy and is of long term strategic significance. The ‘Gepard’ class are Vietnam’s first helicopter-capable frigates, and a number of VPN Kamov Ka-28 naval support helicopters have recently been upgraded in Russia to operate from these ships. Additional ‘Gepard’ class ships might be built in Vietnam in due course. Finally, the VPN’s ‘BPS-500’ class corvette is undergoing a major upgrade in Vietnam, with Russian assistance. AMR
| may 2015 |
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