Asian Military Review — May 2017

| may 2017 |^31

NAVAL

directory

‘M48’ class mine countermeasures vessel 2
‘Gaeta’ class mine countermeasures vessel 2
‘Chan’ class hydrographic vessel 1
‘Sok’ class hydrographic vessel 1
‘Paruehasabordee’ class 1
hydrographic vessel
‘Rin’ class tug 2
‘Samsan’ class tug 2
‘Klungbadan’ class tug 2

Thailand has previously operated conventional hunter-killer submarines

(SSKs), and it was confirmed in July 2016 that plans to revive Thailand’s

submarine capability continue to move slowly ahead, and that negotiations

with the People’s Republic of China for the supply of three ‘Yuan’ class

SSKs continue. A submarine fleet headquarters has been built at the Sattahip

naval base in western Thailand, and Royal Thai Navy officers are attending

submarine training in Germany and the Republic of Korea.

In January 2017 Daewoo launched the ‘DW 3000’ class frigate, whose

design derives from ROKN’s ‘KDX-1’ class destroyer, and delivery to the navy

is expected in August 2018. Indigenous shipbuilder Marsun completed a series

of sea trials on the country’s first ‘M58’ class patrol boat, HTMS Laemsing, in

August 2016 and the ship was commissioned by the RTN (Royal Thai Navy) in

September 2016. Three more ships in the class are planned for construction subject

to available funding. The second BAE Systems ‘River’ class OPV (Offshore Patrol

Vessel), being licence-built by Bangkok Dock, will be a modified version, fitted

with Boeing RGM-84 Harpoon family active radar homing anti-ship missiles.

Vietnam
■ Vietnam PeoPle’s naVy (VPn)
ship type number in service
‘Gepard 3.0’ class frigate 2. Two more to be delivered in
2017, plus an additional two on
order from Russia.
‘Petya’ class frigate 5
‘Tarantul-1’ class corvette 4
‘Molniya’ class corvette 4. Two under construction and a
potential additional four planned.
‘BPS-500’ class corvette 1
‘Kilo’ class conventional 6
hunter-killer submarine
‘Osa’ class fast attack craft 8

‘Svetlyak’ class offshore patrol vessel 6

‘Turya’ class offshore patrol vessel 5

‘TT-400 TP’ class offshore patrol vessel 6

‘Sonya’ class mine countermeasures vessel 4

‘Yurka’ class mine countermeasures vessel 2

‘Yevgenya’ class mine 2

countermeasures vessel

‘Giao su Vien si Tran Dai Nghia’ 1

class hydrographic vessel

‘K-122’ class transport/logistics vessel 2

‘HQ-996’ class transport/logistics vessel 1

‘ Trường Sa’ class transport/ 7

logistics vessel

‘LST-542’ class heavy landing ship 1

‘Polnochny’ class amphibious assault ship 3

‘HQ-521’ class amphibious assault ship 2

Hanoi is pursuing a three-track response to the People’s Republic of

China’s proactive stance in the South China Sea (please see introduction). Military

garrisons on several of the islands in this stretch of water claimed by Vietnam

have been substantially bolstered; a major acquisition programme of foreign,

and indigenously-built, warships is in progress and Vietnam is actively

promoting links with numerous foreign navies and allowing access to its Da

Nang naval base in the south of the country.

The commissioning of the ‘Kilo’ class conventional hunter-killer

submarines into the VPN (Vietnam People’s Navy) poses a major potential

threat to the People’s Liberation Army Navy, and is of long term strategic

significance, particularly as they are to be equipped with Novator Design

Bureau 3M-54 Klub active radar homing/satellite-guided surface-to-surface

missiles. The last two submarines were commissioned on 28th February 2017.

The ‘Gepard’ class are Vietnam’s first helicopter-capable frigates, and a

number of Kamov Ka-28 naval support helicopters have been upgraded in

Russia to operate from these ships. The last two frigates to be built under a

second contract signed in 2012 were scheduled for delivery in August 2016 and

September 2016. Nevertheless, as a result of ongoing tensions between Russia

and Ukraine, following Russia’s invasion and annexation of Crimea in 2014,

Ukraine refused to deliver components for the ships, media reports indicated.

As such, the delivery was delayed and is now scheduled for mid-2017. Two

more ‘Gepard’ class are on order from Russia, while additional units might be

built in Vietnam in due course. The indigenously-built ‘BPS-500’ class corvette

is undergoing a major upgrade in Vietnam, with Russian assistance.

The Royal Thai Navy ship

Angthong navigates the waters

off the coast of Thailand as part

of an amphibious capabilities

demonstration.

US Navy

AMr