Navy still wants 6 German submarines

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Navy still wants 6 German submarines

Published: 22/04/2011 at 05:52 PM
Online news: Local News

The navy still wants to buy six used Type U206A submarines from Germany, because they are most suitable for its needs, navy chief Admiral Kamthorn Poomhiran said on Friday.

Adm Kamthorn said the Type U206A submarine is most suitable for the Thai navy because it is small and agile, with a displacement of only 450 tonnes.

Moreover, the six submarines would cost the navy only 7.7 billion baht.

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: Writer: Wassana Nanuam; Position: Reporter

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jusa47
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Discussion 14 : 08/05/2011 at 07:40 PM14
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If Thailand will have one of worlds best submarine they should buy a german sub. German subs are state of art subs. Germany built world bests subs in WWII and firts of them buildt and designed in Finland. Project 206 is superb submarine. USA or Russia can not offer better option. Unfortunately Finland can not keep subs, but if can we will buy those boats from Germany. That is shure.
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pete13
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Discussion 13 : 25/04/2011 at 01:37 AM13
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Theres no use in 6 subs that will never have any benefit aside from training to Thailand in the time they can be used. They are outdated and ineffective.

Thailand however has no experience with subs, its well in their interest to train with new technology and concepts. It would be acceptable if Thailand bought THREE of these submarines and decommissioned the most faulty or oldest one right away and put it on land.
The two active ones can and should be execisvely used for live training within their short livespan, the inactive one deployed on land, can be used for simulation exercises and training by the military for current and future generations.
Later they can decomission one of the active ones and use it for spare parts. Repairs and maintenance will also benefit Thailands shipbuilding industry with completely new knowledge to them. The training will go on until the last submarine has to be ineviteably decommissioned.

But with the saved 3.8 million Thailand can actually fund excessive submarine training and aquire a single used newer submarine in about 5 years that may serve Thailand until 2030 (maybe a Kilo class from Russia, China or which is still used even by most mordern militaries and also is INTENDED for use in shallow waters). This also contributes as they will gain experience with two different kind of submarine technologies aswell as old and new building technologies. They can easier and more professionaly handle the maintenance of the new sub and keep it in service longer, with the experience they gained from of the old german ones.

If they want submarines no matter how arguably (in)effective they are for Thailand, they should atleast do it right and not waste taxpayermoney.
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Asian Hand
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Discussion 12 : 24/04/2011 at 08:19 PM12
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This purchase is such a joke it should be added to Robin Williams next show. He will have them rolling in the aisles. But, a few Thai people linked into the procurement of these idiotic toys will sure benefit big time. Even a few on the German side brokering these will be well taken care of. Heh, lets not forget that aircraft carrier Thailand bought which sits tied up because the navy cannot afford to either maintain it or fuel it - but Thailand has one. TIT
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banmebkk
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Discussion 11 : 23/04/2011 at 10:12 AM11
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"six submarines would cost the navy only 7.7 billion baht" - maybe he should buy the sub for Thailand then, it seems so cheap for him.
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smut
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Discussion 10 : 23/04/2011 at 06:58 AM10
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Disc #9: Sadly that 46 Billion has probably already gone into the pockets of the military, court officials who through the coup made the whole thing possible.
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mungo
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Discussion 9 : 23/04/2011 at 02:06 AM9
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Don't worry folks, The 46 billion Seized from Thaksin's 'unusual wealth' case is enough to buy 36 submarines. The country is still up financially thanks to the coup!
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josh
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Discussion 8 : 23/04/2011 at 01:11 AM8
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agrre with D#1
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kasper
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Discussion 7 : 22/04/2011 at 11:52 PM7
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"The 7.7 billion baht to buy six Type U206A submarines from Germany is worthwhile, to protect the country's yearly marine interests of more than 900 billion baht," Adm Kamthorn said.

Can someone explain this to me? What interests is he talking about, and who is he planning to protet those interests from?
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lookmoo
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Discussion 6 : 22/04/2011 at 11:24 PM6
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The subs was designed to stay in service until 2016, if Thailand have the means to refurbish them I cant tell. The subs was designed to operate in the Baltic (which probably requires some small modification due to salt water erosion). They was kept small to be able to operate outside the Warsaw pact harbors.. what harbor they will operate outside in Asia, I can't tell (because then BP will remove my posting).
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geoffo
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Discussion 5 : 22/04/2011 at 08:41 PM5
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"I can guarantee that they can be in commission for more than 10 years," he said

really, so will you put your pension up as part of the guarantee?

Actually we know they will be in commission for a long time as they spend their days tied up to the aircraft carrier because the good Admiral has not got around to thinking about weapons or maintenance yet and there will be no budget for either as usual.
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