Navy wants to buy 2 subs | Bangkok Post: news

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Navy wants to buy 2 subs

Published: 22/01/2011 at 02:46 AM
Newspaper section: News

The Royal Thai Navy wants to buy two second-hand submarines at a cost of 6-7 billion baht.

A source said the navy had decided to submit the plan to the cabinet to be approved in principle.

The navy has set up a committee to conduct a feasibility study.

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: Writer: Wassana Nanuam; Position: Reporter

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toni
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Discussion 10 : 25/01/2011 at 07:41 PM10
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#9, I'm a thai and I understand your concern. But you have to look at the history of the armed forces' equipment procurement and importantly utilization. Its been completely useless, while top brass keep making excuses. I honor the service of our men and women, its just the management thats needs a radical change. Same goes to politics.
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banmebkk
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Discussion 9 : 24/01/2011 at 02:35 PM9
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Can't imagine people here are so negative about the nations protection, oh wait - the majority of you aren't from Thailand. If you see how much sea borders Thailand, it would make good sense to have a couple of submarines at their disposal. Thailand's military spending as a percentage of GDP is very small compare to it's neighbors. Compare to its bordering neighbors, Laos spends less, Thailand is just a bit ahead of Cambodia, and Vietnam spends 2x more than Thailand. But Thailand is a lot more develop than its bordering neighbors other than malaysia and singapore.

Corruption during the procurement process is another story.
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ricefield
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Discussion 8 : 22/01/2011 at 10:48 PM8
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This is an important purchase. How else will the Navy manage to sneak up on Somali pirates, and return home triumphant, rather than with their heads hung low. It will also make a great attraction on Children's day like the Aircraft carrier that's tied to the dock.
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mphilips
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Discussion 7 : 22/01/2011 at 06:43 PM7
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How are submarines going to help the Thai military against Bangkok protesters? Are the klongs deeper than we think?
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shame
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Discussion 6 : 22/01/2011 at 03:36 PM6
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remember to close hatch is all important
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wakeup
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Discussion 5 : 22/01/2011 at 02:19 PM5
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Vietnam has just spent 80 billion baht on their military budget for 2011, you really have to ask yourself why (China). Thailand would as well, be crazy not to keep up with Burma and Cambodia on either side of their borders and present a reasonable deterrence to China's growing power and influence.
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kasper
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Discussion 4 : 22/01/2011 at 09:13 AM4
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I am looking forward to the government explaining just a single combat scenario in which a submarine would be useful? I have been thinking of quite extreme possibilites such as a third world war, but even in that scenario I cannot find a useful spot for a Thai submarine!

I suspect the money has to be spent in order for someone to gain a profit, so I suggest the navy buy a small fleet of rescue helicopters instead. They can be used for a range of purposes during peace time, and refitted for combat if necessary.
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kasper
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Discussion 3 : 22/01/2011 at 09:06 AM3
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This is typical Thai reasoning at it's best.

"The navy has stressed the need to acquire submarines because Thai sailors have little knowledge of submarine technology, which is constantly upgraded."

Well, they also have little knowledge of space flight, so perhaps the navy should buy a space ship?
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tansri
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Discussion 2 : 22/01/2011 at 06:37 AM2
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BTW if we have to spend 400 billion baht to get support from military against protest that's sounds like a ransom (6,000 baht per capita). We all know military spending has no economic value and how quickly it goes into top brass accounts with no audit trail. I wonder we might be better off with TS economics, at least part of it went into the country economics.
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tansri
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Discussion 1 : 22/01/2011 at 06:24 AM1
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The kid next door has a new bike. Can I have one too, a second hand one will do? Sounds like the Navy also wants a new toy just because our neighbors have it, not that it's needed nor to modernize (second hand??). What happened to the aircraft carrier, Chakri Naruebet, at 12 billion baht? The wikipedia said, Chakri Naruebet is usually only operational for a single day per month for training, with the rest of the time spent alongside as a "part-time tourist attraction". Thai media have nicknamed the ship "Thai-tanic", and consider her to be a white elephant. By 1999, only one Matador (Sea Harrier jump jet that came with her) was operable. However she played important role during the tsunami rescue operation.
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