HTMS ''Krabi'' (OPV-551) is an
offshore patrol vessel
A patrol boat (also referred to as a patrol craft, patrol ship, or patrol vessel) is a relatively small naval ship, naval vessel generally designed for Coastal defence and fortification, coastal defence, Border control, border security, or law ...
(OPV) of the
Royal Thai Navy
The Royal Thai Navy ( Abrv: RTN, ทร.; th, กองทัพเรือไทย, ) is the naval warfare force of Thailand. Established in 1906, it was modernised by the Admiral Prince Abhakara Kiartiwongse (1880–1923) who is known as ...
. She is a modified , and was built by
Mahidol Adulyadej Naval Dockyard
Mahidol Adulyadej Naval Dockyard (Thai: อู่ราชนาวีมหิดลอดุลยเดช กรมอู่ทหารเรือ) is a Royal Thai Navy shipyard in Sattahip, Chonburi. It is named after Prince Mahidol Aduly ...
, with design and
technology transfer
Technology transfer (TT), also called transfer of technology (TOT), is the process of transferring (disseminating) technology from the person or organization that owns or holds it to another person or organization, in an attempt to transform invent ...
support from
BAE Systems Surface Ships
BAE Systems plc (BAE) is a British multinational arms, security, and aerospace company based in London, England. It is the largest defence contractor in Europe, and ranked the seventh-largest in the world based on applicable 2021 revenues. ...
.
Additional construction took place at the Royal Thai Navy Mahidol Dockyard in Sattahip.
Construction
The contract for the construction of ''Krabi'' was signed in June 2009,
and construction began in August 2010.
''Krabi'' was launched on 3 December 2011 in a ceremony attended by Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.
After launch, she began outfitting, and is expected to enter service in 2013.
The Thai Navy plans to use ''Krabi'' to patrol Thailand's
Economic Exclusion Zone (EEZ), as well as for fishery and natural resource protection and disaster relief.
''Krabi'' is 91 meters in length, and carries an Oto Melara 76 mm main gun and two MSI 30mm secondary guns for primary defense, as well as machine guns.
It is able to operate an
AgustaWestland AW139
The AgustaWestland AW139 is a medium-lift twin-engined helicopter developed and produced by the Anglo-Italian helicopter manufacturer AgustaWestland, later wholly owned by Leonardo S.p.A. It is marketed at several different roles, including V ...
helicopter flying from a flight deck.
Her top speed is expected to be over ,
and she is powered by two
MAN
A man is an adult male human. Prior to adulthood, a male human is referred to as a boy (a male child or adolescent). Like most other male mammals, a man's genome usually inherits an X chromosome from the mother and a Y chromos ...
16v 28/33D diesel engines, making about .
She is equipped with a Thales Variant surveillance radar, a Thales Lirod Mk2 fire control radar and the Thales Tacticos combat management system.
Operational history
In October 2013 ''Krabi'' participated in the
International Fleet Review 2013
The International Fleet Review 2013 was a review that took place on the week 3 to 11 October 2013, as part of the celebrations to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the entry of the first Royal Australian Navy fleet in Sydney Harbour, on 4 Octob ...
in
Sydney
Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...
,
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
. In May 2016 the Royal Thai Navy said it is planning to deploy its new
H145M helicopters from HTMS Krabi in service with 202 Squadron.
See also
*
List of naval ship classes in service
The list of naval ship classes in service includes all combatant surface classes in service currently with navies or armed forces and auxiliaries in the world. Ships are grouped by type, and listed alphabetically within.
For other vessels, see ...
*
River-class patrol vessel
The River class is a class of offshore patrol vessels built primarily for the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom. A total of nine were built for the Royal Navy (RN), four Batch 1 and five Batch 2. One Batch 1 (), which was the Falklands guard sh ...
(The HTMS Krabi is a modified version of this class)
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Krabi
2011 ships
Ships built in Thailand
Krabi-class patrol vessels of the Royal Thai Navy