Siamese cunning

13
Siamese cunning


Thailand has very large, albeit very archaic armed forces, which are formally focused on waging both classical and counterguerrilla war.



For a long time, the country was considered a key American ally in the region. It was from Thailand that the USAF raided Vietnam in 1964 – 1973. However, today China has a significant impact on Bangkok.

Weapon Thailand acquires in many countries, its own military-industrial complex is poorly developed. The country is lagging behind the majority of ASEAN neighbors in terms of army rearmament.

The ground forces are divided into 4 armies (or army zones, which are essentially military districts). The 1 Army (headquarters in Bangkok) has 1, 2, 9 th infantry and 1 th development (combines the functions of combat and construction units) divisions, 9 and 29 th infantry regiments. 2 Army (Nakhon Ratchasima): 3, 6, 12-I infantry, 3-I cavalry (light armored) and 2-I development division. 3-I Army (Phitsanulok): 4 and 7-I infantry, 1-I armored, 1-I cavalry, 3-I development division. 4 Army (Nakhon Si Thammarat): 5 I infantry and 4 I development divisions. In addition, the SV includes 11-I (reserve) and 15-I infantry, 2-I cavalry (Royal Guard), artillery, air defense, engineering, 1-I MTR divisions.

Most modern Tanks - 25 Ukrainian "Oplot" (it is planned to supply another 24) and 10 Chinese VT-4 (there will be another 18 to 40). In addition, there are old American M60s (178 units), M48A5 (up to 170), M41A3 (up to 200), as well as 66 "Stingreys" and 104 light English "Scorpions".

There are also “Ukrainians” in the BTR park. These are 168 BTR-3E / E1 plus 9 KShM and 19 auxiliary vehicles based on it. In addition to them - 207 South African “Reva”, American LAV-150 (83), “Dragoon” (43) and M113A1 / 3 (465), up to 20 old English “Saracens”, 10 Singaporean “Bronco”, 450 Chinese Tour 85. There are 6 latest French wheeled self-propelled guns Caesar, as many Israeli ATMOS-2000s and 20 American M109A5s. The towed guns are mostly American: 243 M101, 12 M102, 20 M114, 116 M198. In addition to them - 22 English L119, 39 French LG1, 12 Italian M-56, 32 own M-618A2 and 12 M425, 54 Chinese Tour 59-1, Israeli M-71 (32 units) and M-68 (up to 44). There are more than two thousand mortars, including self-propelled MO-120-RT (200), M125A3 (21), M1064A3 (12) and others. There are 60 old Chinese MLRS Type 85, 18 latest WS-1B and 9 created on their basis in Thailand itself DTI-1. In addition to the 18 self-propelled M901 ATGMs with the TOU ATGM and the 12 Ukrainian BTR-3RKs with the Barrier ATGMs, troops have 500 old American M47 Dragon ATGMs. Armed with military air defense of 8 Italian Spada air defense systems, more than 150 MANPADS (54 Russian Igla-S, 90 Chinese HN-5A, 8 English Starstrik), 54 old American ZSU-24 M163, 12 M-1 and 18 M-42, more than 200 anti-aircraft guns. In the army aviation mostly American and Brazilian light aircraft (three and a half dozen), but there are also Spanish. There are only 7 combat helicopters - American AH-1F Cobra. But in excess of multipurpose and transport: 5 Mi-17V, 12 UH-60, 5 UH-72A, 8 AS550, 10 AW139, up to 110 UH-1H, up to 42 "Bell-206", up to 60 "Bell-212", 16 Enstrom-480V, up to 30 Hughes-300C.

Air Force include 11 airborne wings. The most modern combat aircraft are the Swedish 11 fighters JAS-39 (7 C, 4 training and combat D). There are also American ones: 52 regarding the new F-16 (37 A, 15 B) and 35 of the obsolete F-5 (15 E, 16 T, 1 B, 3 F). As attack aircraft, light aircraft can be used (AU-16A, 23 – 17 of German-French training Alpha Jet, up to 19 of Czech L-32ZA) American reconnaissance aircraft. The fleet includes 39 reconnaissance aircraft (6 of Austrian DA5МРР, 42 American Lirjet-1А), 35 of Swedish AEWS Saab-2. Among the three and a half dozen transport workers 340 Russian "Superjet-2". Training aircraft: 100 New Zealand CT-42, 4 – 7 American T-9D, 41 Swiss PC-22, 9 Austrian DA6. Multipurpose and transport helicopters: 42 "Bell-15", up to 412 UH-34H, 1 S-3 (all - American), 92 European HM7.

Ground defense is intended primarily for the defense of air bases. It includes the 1 battery of the Chinese KS-1СМ ZRK (4 PU), 4 ADATS American ZRK, 30 20-mm ZSU (12 on the chassis of the American BTR V-150, 18 on the chassis of the German BTR “Condor”, I can use, I am now, I’m now), I can use the menu, I can use the “Kdor”, I can use the menu, I can use the “Kdor”; German "Mauser" Mk 60, 8 Chinese Tour 30).

The Thai Navy is the only among the ASEAN countries that have an aircraft carrier. This is the "Chakri Narubet" of Spanish construction. But due to the exhaustion of the resource "Harrier" ship is used only as a helicopter carrier.

The basis of the surface forces are frigates. These are 2 of the Naresuan ship (Chinese 025T project, but with Western armament), 4 Chao Phraya (Chinese 053HT project), 1 Chulalok (American Knox-type), 1 English Makut Rajakuman (used as a patrol and training), 1 "Pin Clao" (American "Cannon", also training). There are 2 missile corvettes "Rattanakosin" (American built) and 5 artillery (3 own type "Hamronsin", 2 American "Tapi"). Patrol ships: 3 Chinese "Hua Hin" and 2 "Pattani" (similar to the latest corvettes project 056), 1 «Krabi» (English «River»), 6 own "Sattahip», 3 T-991, 3 T-994, 3 T-111. Missile boats: Singaporean type 3 type "Prabpapak", Italian type 3 "Ratcharit". Before 100, light boats of various types are counted in the maritime police.

The Navy has 7 minesweepers: 1 own Talang, 2 of Ladya type (Italian Gaeta), 2 Ban Rachan (German М48), 2 Bankeo (American MSC289).

Amphibious forces include 1 DTDs of the "Endurance" type, built in Singapore, 2's own TDCs of the "Sichang" type, more than 50 boats.
Naval aviation has 2 former A-7E deck guns used for training purposes. There is up to 11 reconnaissance aircraft Cessna-T337H, 1 anti-submarine R-X-APX-X, 3 transport (15 German D-7, 228 own N-1, 24 Brazilian ERJ-2LR, 135 American A-AP-X-NUMX, Brazilian ERJ-1LR, 3, American UP-AP-X-NXX, 4 Brazilian ERJ-27LR, 14, American UP-AP-X-NXX, 16 Brazilian ERJ-2LR, 6, American UP-AP-X-NXX, 8, Brazilian ERJ-70LR, 6, US-based AP-X-NXX, 212, 9, 2, 214, Brazilian ERJ-5LR, 76, American UP-AP . Armed with naval aviation and 2-60 anti-submarine helicopters (XNUMX British "Super Lynx», XNUMX-XNUMX American S-XNUMX and XNUMX "Bell-XNUMXASW»), XNUMX and multipurpose vehicles (US XNUMX "Bell-XNUMXST», XNUMX S- XNUMXB, XNUMX MH-XNUMXS).

The Marine Corps, including the 4 Regiment (including the artillery battalion), the intelligence and the headquarters and the intelligence and the intelligence and the intel software, has the 5 Chinese tanks Toure 69II, 72 Ukrainian BTR (36 American AAV-7А1 and 24 V-150, 12 Ukrainian) and 3 54 Ukrainian AAV-36А101 and 12 V-45, 6 Ukrainian, 45, 24 Ukrainian AAV-18АXNUMX and XNUMX V-XNUMX, XNUMX Ukrainian BATS XNUMX of American МXNUMX, XNUMX of Austrian GC-XNUMX and XNUMX GHN-XNUMX), XNUMX of American ТТК “Tou” on “Hummers”, as well as Chinese QW-XNUMX MANPADS.

Thailand is engaged in territorial disputes with two neighboring countries that are also members of ASEAN: Laos and Cambodia. There have been border incidents. With Laos in 1987, there was even a short war. The Thai Armed Forces are stronger than the armies of Laos and Cambodia combined, but behind these countries is Vietnam (the “Hanoi's Ark”), whose forces are superior to the Thai in all respects. In addition, lately, Beijing has influenced Vientiane and Phnom Penh, who, as has been said, is a close ally of Bangkok. The likelihood of border conflicts in a big war is minimal. Thailand’s other potential opponents are not currently visible. As an ally of both Washington and Beijing, Bangkok largely compensates for the archaic nature of its army. Perhaps, hence the slowness of its rearmament.
Our news channels

Subscribe and stay up to date with the latest news and the most important events of the day.

13 comments
Information
Dear reader, to leave comments on the publication, you must sign in.
  1. +1
    3 December 2017 06: 26
    Indochina is China’s “soft underbelly”, only Vietnam is at least opposed to them. The future “Great Asian sphere of universal co-prosperity”!
  2. 0
    3 December 2017 06: 55
    Clearly, the role is the same as in Ukraine.
    1. +2
      3 December 2017 07: 57
      Thailand is more interesting than sexturism, not its own sun. laughing
  3. +1
    3 December 2017 13: 21
    While reading, several questions arose: 1) stronghold tanks, the author claims that the delivery of 24 stronghold tanks is expected, and there are periodic reports that the contract has been broken and the Chinese have subscribed to their tanks. What to believe? 2) Thailand, apparently, has a rubber booty or how to explain that they are “friends” with China and the USA. 3 “66 Stingers”, 104 light English “Scorpion.” Always believed that “Stinger” - MANPADS and “Scorpio” - tanks (already outdated design), and with what fright MANPADS turned into a tank?
    The Thai army is able to fight only with partisans or with an enemy whose armed forces are in their infancy. Judge for yourself: 196 armored personnel carriers of Ukrainian origin, 2 08 South Africans, + Americans, Chinese 4 different systems and beat me with a shovel, if in the event of hostilities there will not be a question with components, but with artillery. Their quartermaster’s office should crack its head: try to supply the entire breakthrough with accessories and ammunition
    1. 0
      3 December 2017 13: 27
      > "Oplot" tanks The author claims that 24 "Oplot" tanks are expected to be delivered, and there are reports from time to time that the contract has been broken and the Chinese have sueed with their tanks. What to believe?

      The contract is not broken and there have never been such reports in reliable (not propaganda) media. Thailand simply refused to purchase optional Oplot BMs, which were supposed to be taken after 49 cars, instead they purchased VT-4.

      Under the old contract, all tanks should be delivered, judging by the news, they will be delivered before the end of the year, because 13 vehicles (the last batch) are now awaiting acceptance from the Thai side at the plant.
    2. +1
      3 December 2017 15: 07
      Stingray tank is a light tank, quite new, here is a photo
  4. +1
    3 December 2017 17: 13
    with such a variety of armaments, the Thai army of a single use, a protracted war, it can not overcome
  5. +1
    3 December 2017 21: 35
    Slightly reminiscent of self-parsing))) It seems that in Thailand, each subdivision, starting with a company, decides what and how to arm itself, depending on the capabilities of the salary and sponsors.
    1. +1
      3 December 2017 23: 26
      Quote: nikpwolf
      Slightly reminiscent of parsing))

      Yes, diversity is still something, in Russian - multiples. Yes There, even a couple of our SSJ-100s are available. They bought it, they intercepted it ... Like Letov (or, more precisely, Neumoev): "With the world, in theory - the dead countryman ..." For the first time, at least to designate the database, that's enough for them. Further - or someone will fit in for them, or surrender. Although, as indicated in the article, they, in principle, have no one to fight. Well, perhaps some guerrillas will draw in the jungle.
  6. +1
    4 December 2017 03: 36
    And the sly ones, why?
  7. 0
    4 December 2017 06: 21
    what a black pouch on the stomach of a guy with a gun to the top?
    1. 0
      12 December 2017 14: 14
      Perhaps to dump empty stores. Although crawling with such a "kangaroo" will be very uncomfortable ...
  8. 0
    7 December 2017 20: 39
    APU and Aydar help them

"Right Sector" (banned in Russia), "Ukrainian Insurgent Army" (UPA) (banned in Russia), ISIS (banned in Russia), "Jabhat Fatah al-Sham" formerly "Jabhat al-Nusra" (banned in Russia) , Taliban (banned in Russia), Al-Qaeda (banned in Russia), Anti-Corruption Foundation (banned in Russia), Navalny Headquarters (banned in Russia), Facebook (banned in Russia), Instagram (banned in Russia), Meta (banned in Russia), Misanthropic Division (banned in Russia), Azov (banned in Russia), Muslim Brotherhood (banned in Russia), Aum Shinrikyo (banned in Russia), AUE (banned in Russia), UNA-UNSO (banned in Russia), Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People (banned in Russia), Legion “Freedom of Russia” (armed formation, recognized as terrorist in the Russian Federation and banned)

“Non-profit organizations, unregistered public associations or individuals performing the functions of a foreign agent,” as well as media outlets performing the functions of a foreign agent: “Medusa”; "Voice of America"; "Realities"; "Present time"; "Radio Freedom"; Ponomarev; Savitskaya; Markelov; Kamalyagin; Apakhonchich; Makarevich; Dud; Gordon; Zhdanov; Medvedev; Fedorov; "Owl"; "Alliance of Doctors"; "RKK" "Levada Center"; "Memorial"; "Voice"; "Person and law"; "Rain"; "Mediazone"; "Deutsche Welle"; QMS "Caucasian Knot"; "Insider"; "New Newspaper"