Thai navy's submarine

[LiH]

I have seen an article said that the Japanese gave four submarines to the Thai navy, is that true?If so,who knows their details and their final result?Deeply thanks!

[Takao]

That statement is technically false. The submarines were not given to Thailand, but were purchased by Thailand. The four submarines were: H.T.M.S. MATCHANU, H.T.M.S. WIRUN, H.T.M.S. SINSAMUT, and H.T.M.S. PHLAI-CHUMPHON. The submarines were designed and built at the Mitsubishi Naval Dockyards. All four submarines were delivered to Thailand on 19 July, 1938. The four submarines were active until their decommissioning in 1951. The H.T.M.S. MATCHANU was roughly equivalent in size to the German Type II submarine. Of note, is the fact that the sail and gun of the H.T.M.S. MATCHANU are preserved at the Royal Thailand Naval Museum. http://www.navy.mi.th/navalmuseum/001_h ... in_eng.htm

[LiH]

Thanks. Does anyone knows where I can find more details about them?

[Akira Takizawa]

Thanks. Does anyone knows where I can find more details about them?

Here are some photos of them.

http://www.horae.dti.ne.jp/~fuwe1a/newpage56.html

Taki

[Jerry Asher]

Not a real answer---BUT I have ordered from and am awaiting from the UCLA Library a book in Hebrew that focuses on submarine warfare in the Gulf of Thailand. Speaking of stange topics and strange languages this borders on the bizarre. How many Hebrew readers can there be? In any case I am hoping that it will help round out our knowledge. Perhaps there is a book in Thai that would be less subject to error in telling the Thai side.

[King Maker]

Here are more pictures.
http://www.thaimsot.com/phpbb/viewtopic ... 09e3e47359
http://www.gunsandgames.net/smf/index.php?topic=47536.0

The Royal Navy Museum also have preserve HTMS Matchanu. Best information is from Armed Forces and Navy's official histories. There is also one picture book that is devote on Thai submarine force.

[Sewer King]

At least one of these RTN submarines closely resembles Japan's Kaichu-type (K5) medium submarines, such as the RO-33. Sister boat RO-34 had also been built at Mitsubishi, like those for the Thais. However, there seem to be some differences in the conning towers.

I thought there might be passing mention of the Thai subs in Carpenter and Polmar's Submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy (US Naval Institute Press, 1986). The German and Italian boats taken into the IJN are well-covered in that book. But the ones Japan built for Thailand were not, if the authors stayed strictly with their title subject. In contrast, many leading books about Germany's and Japan's warplanes often mention those that were built for their allies, co-belligerents, and neutrals.

... I have ordered from and am awaiting from the UCLA Library a book in Hebrew that focuses on submarine warfare in the Gulf of Thailand. Speaking of strange topics and strange languages this borders on the bizarre. How many Hebrew readers can there be?

Not at all bizarre if it is an Israeli book, which examines submarine warfare in Thai waters. Today the RTN no longer keeps a submarine force as it once did. But the Israeli Defense Forces Navy has three German-built submarines in its coastal defense role. Despite its success even during the worst of the 1973 war, the IDF/N is much overshadowed by the fame of the IDF Ground and Air Forces. And fighting in close coastal waters is sometimes overlooked by the attentions of modern ocean-going naval powers, so an obscure Israeli study of that might look strange today.

-- Alan

[Wisarut]

Not a real answer---BUT I have ordered from and am awaiting from the UCLA Library a book in Hebrew that focuses on submarine warfare in the Gulf of Thailand. Speaking of stange topics and strange languages this borders on the bizarre. How many Hebrew readers can there be? In any case I am hoping that it will help round out our knowledge. Perhaps there is a book in Thai that would be less subject to error in telling the Thai side.

Well, RTN wanted to have 3 summarines to protect Gulf of Siam ... so the called a bidding and Mitsubishi has offered the best deal - cheap and officer the 4th sumarine in the contract at the price of abotu 800,000 Baht ... alogn with the training in Japan ...

After training, RTN men manage to run 4 sumarine from Japan to Siam - with a stop at Taiwan and Phillipines ... without the assitance ...

However, the sub are not much in use other than recon aroudn th gulf of Siam [Gulf of Thailand] ... Nevertheless, 2 of 4 submarines have run the engines to produce electricity for Bangkok Tram [Bang Kholaem line - City Pillar - Thanon Tok] after Samsen Power Plant and Wat Liab Power Plant were bombed away in the afternoon of 14 April 1945. However, the voltage were not very good - too closed to the submarine - it has brun the traction motor too war from the submarine - the tram would not be able to run ... It takme about a few months for Wat Liab Power Plant to resume electric supply for Bangkok Tram but Samsen power plant need antoehr 4 years to be back ...

After the war, 4 submarines were dilapidated condition and spares parets are not avaialble since Mitsubish was no longer prudcign spare parts including Batteries for Submarines. ... and After the failed Manhattan revolt by some yougn Navy officers in 1951, The goverment has decomissioned all 4 submarines ... and Nay has to sell those submarines as a scrap to Siam Cement at 500000 Baht ... while preserving only one at Navy Museum (opposite of Naval Academy)

[Wisarut]

More on Siamese Submarines

Displacement: 374.5 ton (floating) 430 ton (under sea)
Dimension: Length 51 m Beam 4.1 m height to tower 11.65 m
Draft : 3.6 m
Armaments: One 76-mm cannon, four 45-cm torpedo tubes (All Thai torpido launchers are 18-inch type [45-cm])
Engines: Two 8-cylinder diesel @ 1100 HP, 540HP Generator
Speed: 10 knots (ecojnomic)
Operatign range: 74770 nautical mile
Crews: 33 men (5 Cos, 28 Enlisted)

HTMS Matchanu submarine
Krill Laying: 6 May 1936
Launching: 24 December 1936
Depart from Mitsubishi SHipyard (Kobe): 5 June 1938
Reaching Siam: 29 June 1938
Commissioned: 19 July 1938
Decommissioned: 30 November 1951


HTMS Wirun
Krill Laying: 6 May 1936
Launching: 24 December 1936
Depart from Mitsubishi SHipyard (Kobe): 5 June 1938
Reaching Siam: 29 June 1938
Commissioned: 19 July 1938
Decommissioned: 30 November 1951


HTMS Sinsamut
Krill Laying: 1 October 1936
Launching: 14 May 1937
Depart from Mitsubishi SHipyard (Kobe): 5 June 1938
Reaching Siam: 29 June 1938
Commissioned: 19 July 1938
Decommissioned: 30 November 1951

HTMS Plaichumphon

Krill Laying: 1 October 1936
Launching: 14 May 1937
Depart from Mitsubishi SHipyard (Kobe): 5 June 1938
Reaching Siam: 29 June 1938
Commissioned: 19 July 1938
Decommissioned: 30 November 1951



REF: http://www.navy.mi.th/navalmuseum/002_h ... e_thai.htm

[Wisarut]

Here is the old photo of HTMS Matchanu
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... 495&type=1
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... 690&type=1


Old Documentary about the Royal Thai Navy submarines
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2H96D4XMQL8

more about Thai submarines is here
http://rach1968.blogspot.com/2014/09/blog-post_5.html