HTMS Chakri Naruebet

HTMS Chakri Naruebet in the South China Sea in 2001
History
Thailand
NameChakri Naruebet
NamesakeSovereign of the Chakri Dynasty
Ordered27 March 1992
BuilderBazán, Ferrol, Spain
CostUS$285 million (1993)[1]
Laid down12 July 1994
Launched20 January 1996
Commissioned27 March 1997
HomeportSattahip Naval Base
Identification911
MottoRule The Sky, Rule The Sea (ครองเวหา ครองนที)
Statusin active service
Badge
General characteristics
TypeLight aircraft carrier
Displacement11,486 long tons (11,670 t) full load
Length
  • 182.65 m (599 ft 3 in) (oa)
  • 174.1 m (571 ft 2 in) (flight deck)
  • 164.1 m (538 ft 5 in) (pp)
Beam
  • 22.5 m (73 ft 10 in) (waterline)
  • 30.5 m (100 ft 1 in) maximum
Draught6.12 m (20 ft 1 in)
Propulsion
Speed25.5 knots (47.2 km/h; 29.3 mph) (maximum)
Range10,000 nmi (19,000 km; 12,000 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
TroopsUp to 675
Complement
  • 62 officers
  • 393 sailors
  • 146 aircrew
Sensors and
processing systems
  • Hughes SPS-52C air search radar, E/F band
  • 2 × Kelvin-Hughes 1007 navigational radars
Electronic warfare
& decoys
  • Decoys:
  • 4 × SRBOC decoy launchers
  • SLQ-32 towed decoy
Armament
Aircraft carried
Aviation facilities
  • 174.6-by-27.5-metre (573 by 90 ft) flight deck
  • 12° ski-jump
  • Hangar space for 10 aircraft

HTMS Chakri Naruebet (911) (Thai: เรือหลวงจักรีนฤเบศร, meaning 'Sovereign of the Chakri Dynasty', the Thai monarchy's ruling family)[2][3] is the flagship of the Royal Thai Navy (RTN), and Thailand's first and only aircraft carrier, although the RTN refers to her as an "Offshore Patrol Helicopter Carrier".[4][5][6] Based on the Spanish Navy's Príncipe de Asturias design and constructed by Spanish shipbuilder Bazán, Chakri Naruebet was ordered in 1992, laid down in 1994, launched in 1996, and commissioned into the RTN in 1997. The ship is the smallest functioning aircraft carrier in the world.[2]

The aircraft carrier was designed to operate an air group of V/STOL fighter aircraft and helicopters, and is fitted with an aircraft ski-jump. Initial intentions were to operate a mixed air group of ex-Spanish AV-8S Matador Harrier V/STOL aircraft[7] and Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk helicopters. However, by 1999 it was reported that only one Matador was operational due to parts, training, and fiscal limitations,[7][8][9] although three Matadors were spotted on the ship during a show of force after the 29 January 2003 Phnom Penh riots in Cambodia. Her entire Matador jet fleet was removed from service in 2006.[2] Although Chakri Naruebet was intended for patrols and force projection in Thai waters, a lack of funding brought on by the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis meant the carrier has spent most of her career docked at the Sattahip naval base.

Chakri Naruebet has been deployed on several disaster relief operations, including in the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, and in response to separate flooding incidents in late-2010 and early-2011.

  1. ^ "Principe de Asturias Class - Archived 3/99". Forecast International. March 1998. Archived from the original on 1 January 2020. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  2. ^ a b c "Thailand has an aircraft carrier without any aircraft". Business Insider. 12 December 2015. Archived from the original on 12 April 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Werth772 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Pike (ed.), Chakri Naruebet
  5. ^ Chakri Naruebet, Thailand, naval-technology.com
  6. ^ "The welcome ceremony of H.T.M.S. Chakri Naruebet". Royal Thai Navy. Archived from the original on 12 March 2003. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  7. ^ a b "Harrier creates challenges for Royal Thai Navy". Flight International. 5 November 1997. Archived from the original on 12 April 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference Goebel was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference Carp302 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).