Thailand in WWII photos

[major grubert]

The three rifle companies would have been armed with either Mausers or the recently imported Arisakas, along with the usual Madsen light machine guns, while the heavy weapons company used Vickers machine guns. The infantry gun platoon was equipped with Japanese 37mm anti-tank guns.

Unfortunately I haven't got around to seriously researching the navy, and so know nothing of company-level TOE for the Marine Division.

[Zaf1]

Thank you very much for your kind information major grubert

[Wisarut]

Hi King Maker,

Where did you find the 2 pictures which show the destructions aboard the "Thonburi", and the one with the officers? Can you tell me who is Commander Luang Prom Viraphan on this picture ?

Have you got other photos on the french-thai war? I'm very interested by this conflict. I'm student and made a master in 2002-2004 on the french-thai war 1940-1941. I encountered some french veterans. I'm looking for thai sources..., specially the complete (year of edition, number of pages, editor...) book of Admiral Jit Songkhaduln named "When the Thonburi fought".

Thanks a lot,

Luang Phrom Weeraphan (KIA on 17 Jan 1941)


HTMS Thonburi - 13 Jan 1941


Extingushing fire in HTMS Thonburi (Taken form HTMS Chang)

Extingushing fire in HTMS Thonburi


SUrvivor of HTMS Thonburi: One has missing right arm due to the fact that the Shell from a French ship (whcih tuned out to be a dude) while he was carrying a shell to feed 40/60 mm gun.

For the case of When the Thonburi fought" by Admiral Jit Songkhadul, you can take the summary here:

http://www.trat.go.th/board/index.php?topic=785.0
http://th.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B8%88% ... 2%E0%B9%8C


Admiral Jit Songkhadul (7 Nov 1916 - 20 Feb 1995) - one of survivors from HTMS Thonburi

You can get the full version of this story from his crematorium tome though (first published in May 1941 - reprinted in the 115-page crematorium tome in 1995 ).

[Wisarut]

Thank you very much much again major gruber. How many soldiers did the Marine battalion had and what type of weapon they used? Do you have more information on the Marine battalion?

Regards

Zaf

Much of the weapons for Royal Thai Marine are the same tyape as RTA (Royal Thai Army) to save the cost including

1. Type 66 rifle
2. Type 46 rifle (AKA Puen Ror Sor) second handed from RTA

3. Type 80 Howitzer (75/40 mm Howizer) - via B Grimm and CO.

Adiran Helmet without sign - via B Grimm and CO.

Type 51 Moutain guns (fom Germany)

5. Type 63 Moutain guns (order from Japan) - much the same as Type 51 Moutain guns from Krupp - 6000 m range - 5 men per set.

6. Type 66 Madsen LMG


7. Type 66 Browing HMG - rechambered to fit into 8-mm caliber bullets

8. Type 77 Vickers Armstrong HMG - rechambered to fit into 8-mm caliber bullets


10. Type 92 HMG (九二式重機関銃, Kyuunii-shiki juu-kikanjuu - in use since 1941 when Thailand is running out of ammo for type 66 and type 77 heavy machinr guns) - Marine also got IJA Grenades,


11. Type 94 37-mm Anti Tank gun (九四式三十七粍速射砲, Kyūyon-shiki sanjyūnana-miri sokushahō)

12. Type 97 20-mm Anti Tank rifle (九七式自動砲, Kyuunana-shiki jidouhō)

13. Type 80 Infantry gun (75 mm)

14. Type 10 Grenade Discharger (50-mm)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... mortar.gif
15. Type 98 Motar (90mm)


Look at this photograph and your doubts will be gone away!

From Khorat with love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKMDXOPvM08

[Wisarut]

For the matter of Marine Uniform, you can take a look here:
BTW, There are 5 Marine battalion and 1 artillery battalion during WWII - and each battalion had 8 companies (later expanded to 10 companies)

15 August 1943: RTN has sent Marines from the 2nd Bat. (Marine) - 5th co., 6th co., 7co. and 8 co. + carriage platoon + medic platoon + a 37-mm Infantry artillery platoon.

20 October 1944: Troop transfer from Kelantan is in need. - so, the 10th company of the 3rd Bat. woudl come to replace the 6th company of the 2nd Inf. Bat.

Furthermore, RTN decided to move the 6th company & the 7th company of the 2nd Inf. Bat.,and Heavy Machine Gun Platoon back to the 1st Inf. Bat while a 37-mm Infantry artillery platoon would be move to the Infasnry gun unit.

Lt. Kawi Hawcharoen was back to The Marine Division.

http://www.navy.mi.th/marines/web_home_ ... a_war.html
http://www.navy.mi.th/marines/web_home_ ... a_war.html

[Wisarut]

More on Marine Development

1942: 2 Marine Infantry Battalion + 1 Marine Artillery Battalion (All in Sattahip)
1st Marine Battalion - 2 rifle companies + 1 heavy machine gun company (12 HMGs) - Inf. Bat.
2nd Marine Battalion - 2 rifle companies + 1 heavy machine gun company (12 HMGs) - Inf. bat
4th Marine Battalion - 1 Artillery Company (Mountain Gun) + 2 Artillery Companies (75/40 mm Caliber Bofors Infatrny gun)
+ Anti-Tank corps (4 companies - using 20-mm & 37-mm Anti Tank + 50-mm grenade launcher) - Art. bat

Furthermore Marine has 1 Marien engineer, 1 Signal company and 1 reconnessant company in within Marine Dept. (Sattahip)

In 1943, RTN establishing 1st Marine Circle (Bangkok) + 2nd marine circle (Sattahip) to replace BKk Naval station and Sattahip Naval station for the Marine.
New Units:
3rd Marine Battalion - 2 rifle companies + 1 heavy machine gun company (12 HMGs) - Inf. bat in Sattahip
4th Marine Battalion - 2 rifle companies + 1 heavy machine gun company (12 HMGs) - Inf. bat in BKK

Renamed: 4th Marine Battalion (Artillery) - the 11th Marine Battalion

1944: Moving 3rd Marine Battalion to Chanthaburi (now Fort Taksin)
October 1944: One marine Infantry Company to protect Phuket Naval unit unti lA;llied foprces had bombe away the building of Phuket Naval unit + 1 Marine Platoon to protect Naval Wireless station in Songkla

1945: Establishing the 5th Marine Battalion - 2 rifle companies + 1 heavy machine gun company (12 HMGs) - Inf. bat in BKK

1951: Marine Coupr Dissolved due to political circumstance (Mahattan revolt) - ONLY one marine unit left in Satthip in form of Sattahip Naval Station Security Guard unit

1953: Marine get US Military aiud replacign the good old 8-mm Mauser (Type 46 rifle) and IJA Heavy Machine guns with M1 Gerard (Springfield) and M2 Browing HMG.
1954: Establishing Specila Naval station Defence at Fort Taksin, Chanthaburi
1955: Reestablsihg Marine Dept.
REF: http://www.navy.mi.th/newwww/document/h ... hap305.htm
http://www.navy.mi.th/newwww/document/h ... hap506.htm

[gita30897]

Hi i'm thai and new member of this forum
Thanks for all picture and data
could anybody give me about royal thai army uniform with description
thanks

im just high school student , my English is bad pls understand

[Wisarut]

Hi i'm thai and new member of this forum
Thanks for all picture and data
could anybody give me about royal thai army uniform with description
thanks

im just high school student , my English is bad pls understand

Green+Khakhi uniform with Adrian Helmet and the putee for the NCOs - CO would be Top Boots

[gita30897]

thanks

[Dobbyyoda]

@BKG

Technically Thailand was never part of the Axis powers, although Phibun did try to get Thailand in. Thailand was only allied with Japan but not in the treaty with any of the other powers. Phibun failed to get Thailand as part of the axis powers could be attributed to Direk Jayanama (Chaiyanam) who tried to hinder Phibun's effort from the moment he found out Phibun's plans.

Also, I know it is hard to find information about this topic, but I am doing an essay on this (i might post my essay-after its been graded of course, or i could be in trouble for plagiarism) and I have found some book sources and free ebooks that helped

here are a few
http://www.thereformedbuddhist.com/2010 ... war-2.html

Political and Military Tasks of the Free-Thai Movement to regain national sovereignty and independence by Pridi Banomyong

Thailand's Secret War: The Free Thai, OSS, and SOE during World War II by Bruce E. Reynolds

The Thai resistance Moevement during the Second World War By John B. Haseman

[major grubert]

Phibun failed to get Thailand as part of the axis powers could be attributed to Direk Jayanama (Chaiyanam) who tried to hinder Phibun's effort from the moment he found out Phibun's plans.

Credit for that should also go to the Japanese themselves, as Eiji Murashima and E. Bruce Reynolds have noted in their respective works.

[Peter H]

Visiting Japan in 1942.

Does anyone know who this is?

Looks too stocky to be Plaek Pibulsongkram.

[Peter H]

More...

[Wisarut]

Visiting Japan in 1942.

Does anyone know who this is?

Looks too stocky to be Plaek Pibulsongkram.

Nope, that's General Phraya Phahol Pholphayuhasena (Phot Phahonyothin)the leader of Army faction within People Party.

This must be the photo series during the Amicable Visit in 1942, after becoming the first Stateman (then Called as Chetthaburut - the First Citizen) afte stepping down from the position of Prime Minister in December 1938.

[Peter H]

Thanks,much appreciated.

Peter