Last submariner wants U-boats revived

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Last submariner wants U-boats revived

Published: 5 Sep 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

The last surviving Thai submariner wishes the Royal Thai Navy would start using submarines again, saying they are essential for the defence of the country.

Lt Veera Phetsuwan, 91, Thailand’s last surviving submariner, views a model of a submarine at the Royal Thai Naval Institute in Bangkok yesterday. TAWATCHAI KEMGUMNERD

Lt Veera Phetsuwan, 91, was speaking at the Royal Thai Navy Institute in Bangkok yesterday on Thai Submarine Day.

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banmebkk
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Discussion 27 : 08 Sep 2012 at 11.1127
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Don't waste money on the subs.
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spiceman
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Discussion 26 : 07 Sep 2012 at 02.4226
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Khun Donhuan #24, our greatest threat is not from outside but from within, namely, the on-going political crisis and worsening situation in the Deep South. If buying submarines can fix those problems, I am all for it, but can it? So, why don't we put our House in order first, then, together, we can accomplish anything, including strengthening our Military to safeguard our growing economic power. You don't want to put cart in front of horses, do you?
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spiceman
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Discussion 25 : 07 Sep 2012 at 02.3025
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Khun Donhuan #24, what enemy are you talking about? Since the war with Colonial France prior to WWII, RTN has never gone to war with anyone. That's 66 years ago, OK? Now, tell me what was the reason behind wasting the country's huge fortune on an aircraft carrier glued to its harbor without a single air wing? A Navy is as good as its capability based on specific mission requirement. Submarine, especially, non-nuclear powered one, has severe operational limitations, and its narrow mission profile can be much more economically fulfilled by our antisubmarine & reconnaissance P-3 Orion already in operation. I am afraid without thinking it through (cost-benefit analysis) of what we want our submarines to do, we will end up glueing them to their docks again. Meanwhile, our children, especially, in rural areas, are deprived of the kind of education they truly deserve.
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DONHUAN
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Discussion 24 : 06 Sep 2012 at 10.5924
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One obvious reason besides training the navy in submarine warfare is to prepare them for eventual training / operation in a submarine, pending its acquisition at some point in time; these purchases are inevitable as Thailand is sandwich between two important sea routes e.g., South China Sea and the Indian Ocean. The shallow waters in the Gulf of Thailand or the Andaman does not negate the reasons for not having submarines as an attacking force. Besides patrolling Thailand’s sea lanes, it is more effective as an attacking force, operating further out to the seas to engage enemy forces; all option must be available when dealing with the enemy, real or imagine.
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samut
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Discussion 23 : 06 Sep 2012 at 09.2023
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Everyone knows that Thailand don’t need “Subs” but with the attractive benefit package tied to a purchase it is hard to refuse.
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spiceman
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Discussion 22 : 06 Sep 2012 at 06.0322
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Khun Donhuan #16, RTN can perfect its sub-killing capability without having to waste any money on a single submarine of our own. RTN already operated a number of P-3 Orion, which is an antisubmarine and maritime reconnaissance aircraft, equipped with debt charges and MK-46 arial smart sub-killing torpedoes. Each of our P-3 has a magnetic sensing probe sticking our from the tail cone, designed to detect any magnetic abnormality causing by any submarine diving under the sea below. Having few P-3 patrolling our small and shallow water in the Gulf of Thailand is enough to deter any adversarial subs from sneaking beneath our water uninvited. By the way, each of our MK-46 sub-killing torpedo costs $2.9 million, compared to hundreds of million of dollars for the minimum price of a submarine, not to mention its high operating and maintenance costs.
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spiceman
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Discussion 21 : 06 Sep 2012 at 04.0621
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As far as I know, Thailand is the only country in the world that has a aircraft carrier glued to its dock, and without a single air wing on board. But why? Because there is no money allocated to operate neither the carrier nor the air wing. Meanwhile, it takes up valuable space at the dock, where it can be better utilized for something else that is crucial for the defense of our watery territory. So, submarines for Thailand for mud research? Why not?
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jgriff
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Discussion 20 : 06 Sep 2012 at 00.0020
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Rear Admiral Suriya Pornsuriya, commander of the ''Submarine Fleet'', said the navy is preparing to have submarines, pending submarine procurement, by building a 500 million baht Submarine Tactical Control Centre in the seafront Sattahip district of Chon Buri.

The facility will include a 190 million baht submarine simulator from Germany that will be used for personnel training

1st Why would you have a Rear Admiral of a " Submarine Fleet " if you don't have subs? Because TIT!
2nd Why do you need a submarine simulator when you don't have subs? Because TIT!
3rd What airline company buys a simulator for an aircraft it does'nt have. Simulators are for training and practising what you already have. Sounds like Germany still got the money even though Thailand didn't buy the OLD subs.
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Hypocrisy
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Discussion 19 : 05 Sep 2012 at 19.2319
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"Rear Admiral Suriya Pornsuriya, commander of the ''SUBMARINE FLEET'', said the navy is preparing to have submarines, pending submarine procurement, by building a 500 million baht Submarine Tactical Control Centre in the seafront Sattahip district of Chon Buri"

You've got to be kidding me! the show goes on in Thailand, amazing!
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dao
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Discussion 18 : 05 Sep 2012 at 14.0818
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How about the Army get weapons reflecting their needs .Aircrft crriers ,submarines and fighter jets are not needed .The Army does crowd control for the Police .They battle drug dealeers on the border and they have the odd border squirmish .The rest is down south .They guns helicopters kevlar trucks and a few transport planes .Thats it .
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