Navy Officially Welcomes HTMS Ang Thong to Fleet

Thailand’s first ship of this kind was built in Singapore at a cost of 4.94 billion baht. The navy plans to order more ships of the same type, because it decommissioned five old auxiliary vessels.

CHON BURI : The navy officially received its new landing platform dock ship, HTMS Ang Thong, at Laem Thien port at Sattahip naval base yesterday.

HTMS Ang Thong is Thailand's first ship of this kind. It was built in Singapore at a cost of 4.94 billion baht.

Royal Thai Fleet commander Kanat Thongpoon said buying HTMS Ang Thong was worthwhile as it had a displacement of 7,600 tonnes and could carry up to 360 personnel for landing operations and 30 administrative officers.

It will be deployed during the US-Thai Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (Carat) exercise next month and on a peace-keeping mission together with HTMSSimilan to tackle Somali pirates next year.

According to Adm Kanat, HTMSAng Thong is also suitable for rescue missions because it has a sick bay, a minor operation room and a dentist room and has doctors on board.

The navy needs more landing ships, of this type he said. It has decommissioned five old auxiliary vessels and HTMS Ang Thong is the only replacement so far. The navy plans to order more ships of the same type.

According to HTMS Ang Thong commander Teerasan Khongman, the new landing craft has a well dock to conveniently launch tanks and boats. It can carry four landing craft with vehicles and personnel.

Also welcomed at the ceremony yesterday were the ship's crew numbering about 150 officers and men.

HTMS Ang Thong's crew members started training on the ship in Singapore two months ago and they will be ready for drills next month. In the Carat exercise, the ship will be used to receive and launch helicopters and amphibious assault vehicles.