Thai navy receives HTMS Krabi ship

CHON BURI, Thailand, August 26 (TNA) - The Royal Thai Navy has received the HTMS Krabi ship, made in the Kingdom to be part of the Thai naval fleet. Thai Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Surasak Rounroengrom presided over a ceremony to obtain the offshore patrol vessel HTMS Krabi at the Sattahip Naval Base in the country's eastern seaside Chon Buri province. The Royal Thai Navy bought the blueprint of HTMS Krabi from BVT Surface Fleet Co of the United Kingdom and Bangkok Dock Co, a state enterprise of the Royal Thai Navy, and the Mahidol Adulyadej naval dockyard under the Royal Thai Naval Dockyard built the 2.8-billion-baht vessel in four years. HTMS Krabi is 90.50 meters long and 13.50 meters wide with the displacement of 1,969 tons. The gunwales are 7.70 meters high. Its draught is 3.80 meters. Its top speed is 23 knots and its operational range is 3,500 nautical miles at the speed of 15 knots. Important weapons deployed on the ship include a 76mm automated gun by Oto Melara S.P.A. Co of Italy and two 30mm guns on a single platform supplied by MSI - Defence Systems Limited of Britain. The vessel is also equipped with a command and patrol system supplied by Thales Nederland B.V. of the Netherlands. Its personnel comprise 92 officers and its helipad can accommodate one Super Lynx helicopter. HTMS Krabi will be deployed at the Patrol Squadron of the Royal Thai Fleet. (TNA)