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The Royal Thai Army or RTA ( th, กองทัพบกไทย; ) is the
army An army (from Old French ''armee'', itself derived from the Latin verb ''armāre'', meaning "to arm", and related to the Latin noun ''arma'', meaning "arms" or "weapons"), ground force or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on ...
of
Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...
and the oldest and largest branch of the
Royal Thai Armed Forces The Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTARF) ( th, กองทัพไทย; ) are the armed forces of the Kingdom of Thailand. The nominal head of the Thai Armed Forces (จอมทัพไทย; ) is the King of Thailand. The armed forces are ...
.


History


Origin

The Royal Thai Army is responsible for protecting the kingdom's sovereignty. The army was formed in 1874, partly as a response to new security threats following the 1855
Bowring Treaty The Bowring Treaty was a treaty signed between the British Empire and the Kingdom of Siam on 18 April 1855. The treaty had the primary effect of liberalizing foreign trade in Siam, and was signed by five Siamese plenipotentiaries (among them Wo ...
with Britain, which opened the country for international trade.


Current

In modern era, the army has a long history of coups d'état and coup attempts. Its leadership continues to see coup-making as one role of the army. On 22 May 2014 the army deposed the government, appointed military officers to the
national assembly In politics, a national assembly is either a unicameral legislature, the lower house of a bicameral legislature, or both houses of a bicameral legislature together. In the English language it generally means "an assembly composed of the rep ...
, and on 21 August 2014 they elected the army's Commander in Chief, General
Prayut Chan-o-cha Prayut Chan-o-cha (sometimes spelled Prayuth Chan-ocha; th, ประยุทธ์ จันทร์โอชา, ; born 21 March 1954) is a Thai politician and retired army officer who has served as the Prime Minister of Thailand since he ...
, as prime minister. The general retired October 2014 to concentrate on political reform which he said would take at least a year, following which he promised national elections would be held. The existence of an information warfare unit participating in a cyber campaign against government critics was leaked to the public in late February 2020. In 2020 Twitter shut down a network of accounts which were engaged in
information warfare Information warfare (IW) (as different from cyber warfare that attacks computers, software, and command control systems) is a concept involving the battlespace use and management of information and communication technology (ICT) in pursuit of a ...
. According to Twitter “Our investigation uncovered a network of accounts partaking in information operations that we can reliably link to the Royal Thai Army (RTA).” The operation had targeted the political opposition within Thailand. The Thai Army denied that they had been involved in the disinformation operation.


Army components and control

The number of army generals is unclear. One point of comparison: as of 1 November 2019, the
US Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...
had 322 general officers for a force of 471,990 troops. Saiyud Kerdphol is Thailand's oldest general, a veteran of World War II and Korea who retired in 1983 as supreme commander. During his tenure, general officer numbers were based on the number of troops under their command. , only 150–200 four-star generals occupy command positions. Speaking on the topic of army manpower, Saiyud declared that, "Everybody being a general is unbelievable. Full generals don't have a seat to sit in or a job to do."


Command and control

The commanders-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army (ผู้บัญชาการทหารบกไทย) is considered the most powerful position in the Royal Thai Armed Forces. As of 1 October 2020, the commander is General Narongpan Jitkaewthae. * Commander-in-Chief: General Narongpan Jitkaewthae from 1 October 2020 * Deputy Commander-in-Chief: General Jaroenchai Hintao from 1 October 2022 * Chairman of the Royal Thai Army Advisory Board: General Phumipat Chansawang from 1 October 2022 * Assistant Commander-in-Chief: General Suksan Nongbualang from 1 October 2022 * Assistant Commander-in-Chief: General Kriangkrai Srirak from 1 October 2022 * Chief of Staff of the Army: General Ukrit Boontanon from 1 October 2022 * Commander of the 1st Army Area: Lieutenant General Pana Klaewblaudtuk from 1 October 2022 * Commander of the 2nd Army Area: Lieutenant General Sawarat Saengpol from 1 October 2021 * Commander of the 3rd Army Area: Lieutenant General Suriya Iamsuro from 1 October 2022 * Commander of the 4th Army Area: Lieutenant General Shanti Shakuntanak from 1 October 2022 * Commander of the Royal Thai Army Special Warfare Command: Lieutenant General Nattawut Nakanakorn from 1 October 2021


Structure

The army is organized nationally into four army areas: * First Army Area - ( th, กองทัพภาคที่ 1) – headquartered in
Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estima ...
, controls troops in 26 provinces in central, eastern, western Thailand and Bangkok. ** 1st Division, King's Guard - ( th, กองพลที่ 1 รักษาพระองค์) (Bangkok) *** 31st Infantry Regiment, King Bhumibol's Guard - ( th, กรมทหารราบที่ 31 รักษาพระองค์ ในพระบาทสมเด็จพระบรมชนกาธิเบศร มหาภูมิพลอดุลยเดชมหาราช บรมนาถบพิตร) **** 1st Infantry Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, King Bhumibol's Guard **** 2nd Infantry Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, King Bhumibol's Guard **** 3rd Infantry Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, King Bhumibol's Guard *** 1st Field Artillery Regiment, King's Guard. - ( th, กรมทหารปืนใหญ่ที่ 1 รักษาพระองค์) **** 1st Field Artillery Battalion, 1st Field Artillery Regiment, King's Guard **** 11th Field Artillery Battalion, 1st Field Artillery Regiment, King's Guard **** 31st Field Artillery Battalion, 1st Field Artillery Regiment, King's Guard *** 4th Tank Battalion 1st Division, King's Guard - ( th, กองพันทหารม้าที่ 4 กองพลที่ 1 รักษาพระองค์) *** 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, King's Guard - ( th, กองพันทหารช่างที่ 1 กองพลที่ 1 รักษาพระองค์) *** 1st Signal Battalion, King's Guard - ( th, กองพันทหารสื่อสารที่ 1 กองพลที่ 1 รักษาพระองค์) *** 1st Combat Medical Battalion, King's Guard - ( th, กองพันเสนารักษ์ที่ 1 กองพลที่ 1 รักษาพระองค์) *** 1st Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols Company - ( th, กองร้อยลาดตระเวนระยะไกลที่ 1) ** 2nd Infantry Division, Queen's Guard - ( th, กองพลทหารราบที่ 2 รักษาพระองค์) (Fort Phromyothi,
Prachinburi Province Prachinburi province ( th, ปราจีนบุรี, , ) is one of Thailand's seventy-seven provinces (''changwat''), it lies in eastern Thailand. Neighboring provinces are (from north clockwise) Nakhon Ratchasima, Sa Kaeo, Chachoengsao, an ...
) *** 2nd Infantry Regiment, Queen Sirikit's Guard - ( th, กรมทหารราบที่ 2 รักษาพระองค์ ในสมเด็จพระบรมราชชนนีพันปีหลวง) - (aka "Burapha Payak" th, บูรพาพยัคฆ์: ) **** 1st Infantry Battalion, Queen Sirikit's Guard **** 2nd Infantry Battalion, Queen Sirikit's Guard **** 3rd Infantry Battalion, Queen Sirikit's Guard *** 12th Infantry Regiment, Queen Sirikit's Guard - ( th, กรมทหารราบที่ 12 รักษาพระองค์ ในสมเด็จพระบรมราชชนนีพันปีหลวง) **** 1st Infantry Battalion, Queen Sirikit's Guard **** 2nd Infantry Battalion, Queen Sirikit's Guard **** 3rd Infantry Battalion, Queen Sirikit's Guard *** 21st Infantry Regiment, Queen Sirikit's Guard - ( th, กรมทหารราบที่ 21 รักษาพระองค์ ในสมเด็จพระบรมราชชนนีพันปีหลวง) - (aka "Thahan Suea Rachini" th, ทหารเสือราชินี: ) **** 1st Infantry Battalion, Queen Sirikit's Guard **** 2nd Infantry Battalion, Queen Sirikit's Guard **** 3rd Infantry Battalion, Queen Sirikit's Guard *** 2nd Field Artillery Regiment, Queen Sirikit's Guard - ( th, กรมทหารปืนใหญ่ที่ 2 รักษาพระองค์ ในสมเด็จพระบรมราชชนนีพันปีหลวง) **** 2nd Field Artillery Battalion, Queen Sirikit's Guard **** 12th Field Artillery Battalion, Queen Sirikit's Guard **** 21st Field Artillery Battalion, Queen Sirikit's Guard **** 102nd Field Artillery Battalion,Queen Sirikit's Guard *** Maintenance Battalion, 2nd Service Support Regiment - ( th, กองพันซ่อมบำรุง กรมสนับสนุนที่ 2) *** 2nd Cavalry Squadron, Queen Sirikit's Guard - ( th, กองพันทหารม้าที่ 2 กองพลทหารราบที่ 2 รักษาพระองค์ ในสมเด็จพระบรมราชชนนีพันปีหลวง) *** 30th Cavalry Squadron, 2nd Infantry Division, Queen Sirikit's Guard- ( th, กองพันทหารม้าที่ 30 กองพลทหารราบที่ 2 รักษาพระองค์ ในสมเด็จพระบรมราชชนนีพันปีหลวง) *** 2nd Signal Corp Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division, Queen's Guard - ( th, กองพันทหารสื่อสารที่ 2 กองพลทหารราบที่ 2 รักษาพระองค์ ในสมเด็จพระบรมราชชนนีพันปีหลวง) *** 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division, Queen's Guard - ( th, กองพันทหารช่างที่ 2 กองพลทหารราบที่ 2 รักษาพระองค์ ในสมเด็จพระบรมราชชนนีพันปีหลวง) *** 2nd Medical Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division, Queen's Guard - ( th, กองพันเสนารักษ์ที่ 2 กองพลทหารราบที่ 2 รักษาพระองค์ ในสมเด็จพระบรมราชชนนีพันปีหลวง) *** 2nd Anti-tank Company, 2nd Infantry Division, Queen's Guard - ( th, กองร้อยต่อสู้รถถังที่ 2 กองพลทหารราบที่ 2 รักษาพระองค์ ในสมเด็จพระบรมราชชนนีพันปีหลวง) *** 12th Military Police Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division, Queen's Guard - ( th, กองพันทหารสารวัตรที่ 2 กองพลทหารราบที่ 2 รักษาพระองค์ ในสมเด็จพระบรมราชชนนีพันปีหลวง) *** 2nd Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols Company - ( th, กองร้อยลาดตระเวนระยะไกลที่ 2 กองพลทหารราบที่ 2 รักษาพระองค์ ในสมเด็จพระบรมราชชนนีพันปีหลวง) ** 9th Infantry Division - ( th, กองพลทหารราบที่ 9) (Fort Surasi, Kanchanaburi Province) *** 9th Infantry Regiment - ( th, กรมทหารราบที่ 9) **** 1st Infantry Battalion **** 2nd Infantry Battalion **** 3rd Infantry Battalion *** 19th Infantry Regiment - ( th, กรมทหารราบที่ 19) **** 1st Infantry Battalion **** 2nd Infantry Battalion **** 3rd Infantry Battalion *** 29th Infantry Regiment - ( th, กรมทหารราบที่ 29) **** 1st Infantry Battalion **** 2nd Infantry Battalion **** 3rd Infantry Battalion *** 9th Field Artillery Regiment - ( th, กรมทหารปืนใหญ่ที่ 9) **** 9th Field Artillery Battalion **** 19th Field Artillery Battalion **** 109th Field Artillery Battalion *** 9th Service Support Regiment - ( th, กรมสนับสนุน กองพลทหารราบที่ 9) **** Transportation Battalion - ( th, กองพันทหารขนส่ง กรมสนับสนุน กองพลทหารราบที่ 9) **** Maintenance Battalion - ( th, กองพันซ่อมบำรุง กรมสนับสนุน กองพลทหารราบที่ 9) **** Combat Medical Battalion - ( th, กองพันเสนารักษ์ กรมสนับสนุน กองพลทหารราบที่ 9) *** 19th Cavalry Squadron - ( th, กองพันทหารม้าที่ 19 กองพลทหารราบที่ 9) *** 9th Combat Engineer Battalion - ( th, กองพันทหารช่างที่ 9 กองพลทหารราบที่ 9) *** 9th Signal Corp Battalion - ( th, กองพันทหารสื่อสารที่ 9 กองพลทหารราบที่ 9) *** 9th Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols Company - ( th, กองร้อยลาดตระเวนระยะไกลที่ 9 กองพลทหารราบที่ 9) ** 11th Infantry Division - ( th, กองพลทหารราบที่ 11) (Fort Somdet Phra Nangklao, Chachoengsao Province) *** 111th Infantry Regiment - ( th, กรมทหารราบที่ 111) **** 1st Infantry Battalion, 111th Infantry Regiment **** 2nd Infantry Battalion, 111th Infantry Regiment **** 3rd Infantry Battalion, 111th Infantry Regiment *** 112nd Infantry Regiment - ( th, กรมทหารราบที่ 112) **** 1st Infantry Battalion, 112th Infantry Regiment **** 2nd Infantry Battalion, 112th Infantry Regiment **** 3rd Infantry Battalion, 112th Infantry Regiment *** Maintenance Battalion, Service Support Regiment, 11th Infantry Division - ( th, กองพันซ่อมบำรุง กรมสนับสนุน กองพลทหารราบที่ 11) ** 2nd Cavalry Division, King's Guard - ( th, กองพลทหารม้าที่ 2 รักษาพระองค์) (Bangkok) *** 27th Cavalry Squadron, King's Guard - ( th, กองพันทหารม้าที่ 27 กองพลทหารม้าที่ 2 รักษาพระองค์ ในพระบาทสมเด็จพระมงกุฎเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว) *** 29th Cavalry Squadron, King Bhumibol's Guard - ( th, กองพันทหารม้าที่ 29 รักษาพระองค์ ในพระบาทสมเด็จพระมหาภูมิพลอดุลยเดชมหาราช บรมนาถบพิตร) *** 1st Cavalry Regiment, King's Guard - ( th, กรมทหารม้าที่ 1 รักษาพระองค์ ในพระบาทสมเด็จพระมงกุฎเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว) **** 1st Cavalry Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, King's Guard - ( th, กองพันทหารม้าที่ 1 กรมทหารม้าที่ 1 รักษาพระองค์ ในพระบาทสมเด็จพระมงกุฎเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว) **** 3rd Cavalry Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, King's Guard - ( th, กองพันทหารม้าที่ 3 กรมทหารม้าที่ 1 รักษาพระองค์ ในพระบาทสมเด็จพระมงกุฎเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว) **** 17th Cavalry Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, King's Guard - ( th, กองพันทหารม้าที่ 17 กรมทหารม้าที่ 1 รักษาพระองค์ ในพระบาทสมเด็จพระมงกุฎเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว) *** 4th Cavalry Regiment, King's Guard - ( th, กรมทหารม้าที่ 4 รักษาพระองค์ ในสมเด็จพระศรีนครินทราบรมราชชนนี) **** 5th Cavalry Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, King's Guard - ( th, กองพันทหารม้าที่ 5 กรมทหารม้าที่ 4 รักษาพระองค์ ในสมเด็จพระศรีนครินทราบรมราชชนนี) **** 11th Cavalry Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, King's Guard - ( th, กองพันทหารม้าที่ 11 กรมทหารม้าที่ 4 รักษาพระองค์ ในสมเด็จพระศรีนครินทราบรมราชชนนี) **** 25th Cavalry Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, King's Guard - ( th, กองพันทหารม้าที่ 25 กรมทหารม้าที่ 4 รักษาพระองค์ ในสมเด็จพระศรีนครินทราบรมราชชนนี) *** 5th Cavalry Regiment, King's Guard - ( th, กรมทหารม้าที่ 5 รักษาพระองค์ ในพระบาทสมเด็จพระมงกุฎเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว) **** 20th Cavalry Squadron, 5th Cavalry Regiment, King's Guard - ( th, กองพันทหารม้าที่ 20 กรมทหารม้าที่ 5 รักษาพระองค์ ในพระบาทสมเด็จพระมงกุฎเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว) **** 23rd Cavalry Squadron, 5th Cavalry Regiment, King's Guard - ( th, กองพันทหารม้าที่ 23 กรมทหารม้าที่ 5 รักษาพระองค์ ในพระบาทสมเด็จพระมงกุฎเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว) **** 24th Cavalry Squadron, 5th Cavalry Regiment, King's Guard - ( th, กองพันทหารม้าที่ 24 กรมทหารม้าที่ 5 รักษาพระองค์ ในพระบาทสมเด็จพระมงกุฎเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว) *** 12th Signal Corp Battalion - ( th, กองพันทหารสื่อสารที่ 12 กองพลทหารม้าที่ 2 รักษาพระองค์) *** Logistic Battalion, 12th Service Support Regiment - ( th, กองพันซ่อมบำรุง กรมสนับสนุนที่12) ** 1st Army Support Command - ( th, กองบัญชาการช่วยรบที่ 1) *** 21st Logistic and Service Battalion - ( th, กองพันส่งกำลังและบริการที่ 21 กองบัญชาการช่วยรบที่ 1) *** 21st Maintenance Battalion - ( th, กองพันซ่อมบำรุงที่ 21 กองบัญชาการช่วยรบที่ 1) *** 21st Ordnance Battalion - ( th, กองพันสรรพาวุธกระสุนที่ 21 กองบัญชาการช่วยรบที่ 1) *** 21st Signal Corp Battalion - ( th, กองพันทหารสื่อสารที่ 21 กองบัญชาการช่วยรบที่ 1) ** 1st Development Division - ( th, กองพลพัฒนาที่ 1) *** 1st Development Regiment - ( th, กรมพัฒนาที่ 2) **** 1st Development Battalion - ( th, กองพันพัฒนาที่ 2) *** 1st Combat Engineer Regiment, King's Guard - ( th, กรมทหารช่างที่ 2 รักษาพระองค์) **** 52nd Combat Engineer Battalion, King's Guard - ( th, กองพันทหารช่างที่ 52 กรมทหารช่างที่ 1 รักษาพระองค์) **** 112th Combat Engineer Battalion, King's Guard - ( th, กองพันทหารช่างที่ 112 กรมทหารช่างที่ 1 รักษาพระองค์) ** Military District Commands - ( th, มณฑลทหารบก) *** 11th Military District - ( th, มณฑลทหารบกที่ 11) *** 12th Military District - ( th, มณฑลทหารบกที่ 12) *** 13th Military District- ( th, มณฑลทหารบกที่ 13) *** 14th Military District- ( th, มณฑลทหารบกที่ 14) *** 15th Military District - ( th, มณฑลทหารบกที่ 15) *** 16th Military District - ( th, มณฑลทหารบกที่ 16) *** 17th Military District - ( th, มณฑลทหารบกที่ 17) *** 18th Military District- ( th, มณฑลทหารบกที่ 18) *** 19th Military District - ( th, มณฑลทหารบกที่ 19) *** 110th Military District - ( th, มณฑลทหารบกที่ 110) * 2nd Army Area ( th, กองทัพภาคที่ 2) – headquartered in
Nakhon Ratchasima Nakhon Ratchasima ( th, นครราชสีมา, ) is one of the four major cities of Isan, Thailand, known as the "big four of Isan". The city is commonly known as Korat (, ), a shortened form of its name. It is the governmental seat of ...
and is responsible for the northeastern quadrant. ** 3rd Infantry Division - ( th, กองพลทหารราบที่ 3) (Fort Suranari, Nakhon Ratchasima Province ) *** 3rd Infantry Regiment - ( th, กรมทหารราบที่ 3) **** 1st Infantry Battalion **** 2nd Infantry Battalion **** 3rd Infantry Battalion *** 8th Infantry Regiment - ( th, กรมทหารราบที่ 8) **** 1st Infantry Battalion **** 2nd Infantry Battalion **** 3rd Infantry Battalion *** 13th Infantry Regiment - ( th, กรมทหารราบที่ 13) **** 1st Infantry Battalion **** 2nd Infantry Battalion **** 3rd Infantry Battalion *** 3rd Field Artillery Regiment - ( th, กรมทหารปืนใหญ่ที่ 3) **** 3rd Field Artillery Battalion **** 8th Field Artillery Battalion **** 13th Field Artillery Battalion **** 103rd Field Artillery Battalion *** 3rd Reconnaissance Cavalry Company - ( th, กองร้อยลาดตระเวนทหารม้าที่ 3 กองพลทหารราบที่ 3) *** 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion - ( th, กองพันทหารช่างที่ 3 กองพลทหารราบที่ 3) *** 3rd Signal Corp Battalion - ( th, กองพันทหารสื่อสารที่ 3 กองพลทหารราบที่ 3) *** 3rd Combat Medical Battalion - ( th, กองพันเสนารักษ์ที่3 กองพลทหารราบที่ 3) *** 3rd Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols Company - ( th, กองร้อยลาดตระเวนระยะไกลที่ 3 กองพลทหารราบที่ 3) ** 6th Infantry Division - ( th, กองพลทหารราบที่ 6) (Fort King Phutthayodfa Chulalok Maharat, Roi Et Province) *** 6th Infantry Regiment - ( th, กรมทหารราบที่ 6) **** 1st Infantry Battalion **** 2nd Infantry Battalion **** 3rd Infantry Battalion *** 16th Infantry Regiment - ( th, กรมทหารราบที่ 16) **** 1st Infantry Battalion **** 2nd Infantry Battalion **** 3rd Infantry Battalion *** 23rd Infantry Regiment - ( th, กรมทหารราบที่ 23) **** 1st Infantry Battalion **** 2nd Infantry Battalion **** 3rd Infantry Battalion *** 6th Field Artillery Regiment - ( th, กรมทหารปืนใหญ่ที่ 6) **** 6th Field Artillery Battalion **** 16th Field Artillery Battalion **** 23rd Field Artillery Battalion **** 106th Field Artillery Battalion *** 6th Reconnaissance Cavalry Company - ( th, กองร้อยลาดตระเวนทหารม้าที่ 6 กองพลทหารราบที่ 6) *** 6th Combat Engineer Battalion - ( th, กองพันทหารช่างที่ 6 กองพลทหารราบที่ 6) *** 6th Signal Corp Battalion - ( th, กองพันทหารสื่อสารที่ 6 กองพลทหารราบที่ 6) *** 6th Combat Medical Battalion - ( th, กองพันเสนารักษ์ที่ 6 กองพลทหารราบที่ 6) *** 6th Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols Company - ( th, กองร้อยลาดตระเวนระยะไกลที่ 6 กองพลทหารราบที่ 6) ** 3rd Cavalry Division - ( th, กองพลทหารม้าที่ 3) (Fort Tinsulanonda, Khon Kaen Province) *** 6th Cavalry Regiment - ( th, กรมทหารม้าที่ 6) **** 6th Cavalry Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment - ( th, กองพันทหารม้าที่ 6 กรมทหารม้าที่ 6 ในสมเด็จพระศรีพัชรินทราบรมราชินีนาถ) **** 21st Cavalry Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment - ( th, กองพันทหารม้าที่ 21 กรมทหารม้าที่ 6) *** 7th Cavalry Regiment - ( th, กรมทหารม้าที่ 7) **** 8th Cavalry Squadron, 7h Cavalry Regiment - ( th, กองพันทหารม้าที่ 8 กรมทหารม้าที่ 7) **** 14th Cavalry Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment - ( th, กองพันทหารม้าที่ 14 กรมทหารม้าที่ 7 ในสมเด็จพระศรีพัชรินทราบรมราชินีนาถ) ** 2nd Army Support Command - ( th, กองบัญชาการช่วยรบที่ 2) *** 22nd Transportation Battalion - ( th, กองพันขนส่งที่ 22 กองบัญชาการช่วยรบที่ 2) *** 22nd Logistic and Service Battalion - ( th, กองพันส่งกำลังและบริการที่ 22 กองบัญชาการช่วยรบที่ 2) *** 22nd Maintenance Battalion - ( th, กองพันซ่อมบำรุงที่ 22 กองบัญชาการช่วยรบที่ 2) *** 22nd Ordnance Battalion - ( th, กองพันสรรพาวุธกระสุนที่ 22 กองบัญชาการช่วยรบที่ 2) *** 22nd Signal Corp Battalion - ( th, กองพันทหารสื่อสารที่ 22 กองบัญชาการช่วยรบที่ 2) *** 22nd Combat Medical Battalion - ( th, กองพันเสนารักษ์ที่ 22 กองบัญชาการช่วยรบที่ 2) ** 2nd Development Division - ( th, กองพลพัฒนาที่ 2) *** 2nd Development Regiment - ( th, กรมพัฒนาที่ 2) **** 2nd Development Battalion - ( th, กองพันพัฒนาที่ 2) *** 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment - ( th, กรมทหารช่างที่ 2) **** 201st Combat Engineer Battalion - ( th, กองพันทหารช่างที่ 201 กรมทหารช่างที่ 2) **** 202nd Combat Engineer Battalion - ( th, กองพันทหารช่างที่ 202 กรมทหารช่างที่ 2) ** Military Districts - ( th, มณฑลทหารบก) *** 21st Military District - ( th, มณฑลทหารบกที่ 21) *** 22nd Military District - ( th, มณฑลทหารบกที่ 22) *** 23rd Military District - ( th, มณฑลทหารบกที่ 23) *** 24th Military District- ( th, มณฑลทหารบกที่ 24) *** 25th Military District - ( th, มณฑลทหารบกที่ 25) *** 26th Military District - ( th, มณฑลทหารบกที่ 26) *** 27th Military District - ( th, มณฑลทหารบกที่ 27) *** 28th Military District- ( th, มณฑลทหารบกที่ 28) *** 29th Military District - ( th, มณฑลทหารบกที่ 29) *** 210th Military District - ( th, มณฑลทหารบกที่ 210) * 3rd Army Area ( th, กองทัพภาคที่ 3) – headquartered in
Phitsanulok Phitsanulok ( th, พิษณุโลก, ) is an important, historic city in lower northern Thailand and is the capital of Phitsanulok Province. Phitsanulok is home to Naresuan University and Pibulsongkram Rajabhat University, as well a ...
, responsible for the northern and northwestern parts of the kingdom. ** 4th Infantry Division - ( th, กองพลทหารราบที่ 4) (Fort King Naresuan Maharat, Phitsanulok Province) *** 4th Infantry Regiment - ( th, กรมทหารราบที่ 4) **** 1st Infantry Battalion **** 2nd Infantry Battalion **** 3rd Infantry Battalion *** 14th Infantry Regiment - ( th, กรมทหารราบที่ 14) **** 1st Infantry Battalion **** 2nd Infantry Battalion **** 3rd Infantry Battalion *** 4th Field Artillery Regiment - ( th, กรมทหารปืนใหญ่ที่ 4) **** 4th Field Artillery Battalion **** 104th Field Artillery Battalion *** 9th Cavalry Squadron - ( th, กองพันทหารม้าที่ 9 กองพลทหารราบที่ 4) *** 4th Reconnaissance Cavalry Company - ( th, กองร้อยลาดตระเวนทหารม้าที่ 4 กองพลทหารราบที่ 4) *** 4th Combat Engineer Battalion - ( th, กองพันทหารช่างที่ 4 กองพลทหารราบที่ 4) *** 4th Signal Corp Battalion - ( th, กองพันทหารสื่อสารที่ 4 กองพลทหารราบที่ 4) *** 4th Combat Medical Battalion - ( th, กองพันเสนารักษ์ที่ 4 กองพลทหารราบที่ 4) *** 4th Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols Company - ( th, กองร้อยลาดตระเวนระยะไกลที่ 4 กองพลทหารราบที่ 4) ** 7th Infantry Division - ( th, กองพลทหารราบที่ 7) (Fort Chao Khun Nen,
Chiang Mai Province Chiang Mai ( th, เชียงใหม่, ; nod, , ) is the largest Province (''changwat'') of Thailand. It lies in upper northern Thailand and has a population of 1.78 million people. It is bordered by Chiang Rai to the northeast, Lam ...
) *** 7th Infantry Regiment - ( th, กรมทหารราบที่ 7) **** 1st Infantry Battalion **** 2nd Infantry Battalion **** 5th Infantry Battalion *** 17th Infantry Regiment - ( th, กรมทหารราบที่ 17) **** 2nd Infantry Battalion **** 3rd Infantry Battalion **** 4th Infantry Battalion *** 7th Field Artillery Regiment - ( th, กรมทหารปืนใหญ่ที่ 7) **** 7th Field Artillery Battalion **** 17th Field Artillery Battalion ** 1st Cavalry Division - ( th, กองพลทหารม้าที่ 1) (Fort Phokhun Pha Mueang,
Phetchabun Province Phetchabun ( th, เพชรบูรณ์, ) is one of Thailand's seventy-six provinces (''changwat'') lies in lower northern Thailand. Neighbouring provinces are (from north clockwise) Loei, Khon Kaen, Chaiyaphum, Lopburi, Nakhon Sawan, P ...
) *** 12th Cavalry Squadron, 1st Cavalry Division - ( th, กองพันทหารม้าที่ 12 กองพลทหารม้าที่ 1) *** 2nd Cavalry Regiment - ( th, กรมทหารม้าที่ 2) **** 7th Cavalry Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment - ( th, กองพันทหารม้าที่ 7 กรมทหารม้าที่ 2) **** 10th Cavalry Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment - ( th, กองพันทหารม้าที่ 10 กรมทหารม้าที่ 2) **** 15th Cavalry Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment - ( th, กองพันทหารม้าที่ 15 กรมทหารม้าที่ 2) *** 3rd Cavalry Regiment - ( th, กรมทหารม้าที่ 3) **** 13th Cavalry Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment - ( th, กองพันทหารม้าที่ 13 กรมทหารม้าที่ 3) **** 18th Cavalry Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment - ( th, กองพันทหารม้าที่ 18 กรมทหารม้าที่ 3) **** 26th Cavalry Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment - ( th, กองพันทหารม้าที่ 26 กรมทหารม้าที่ 3) *** 21st Field Artillery Regiment - ( th, กรมทหารปืนใหญ่ที่ 21) **** 20th Field Artillery Battalion **** 30th Field Artillery Battalion *** 8th Combat Engineer Battalion - ( th, กองพันทหารช่างที่ 8 กองพลทหารม้าที่ 1) *** 11th Signal Corp Battalion - ( th, กองพันทหารสื่อสารที่ 11 กองพลทหารม้าที่ 1) ** 3rd Army Support Command - ( th, กองบัญชาการช่วยรบที่ 3) *** 23rd Transportation Battalion - ( th, กองพันขนส่งที่ 22 กองบัญชาการช่วยรบที่ 2) *** 23rd Logistic and Service Battalion - ( th, กองพันส่งกำลังและบริการที่ 22 กองบัญชาการช่วยรบที่ 2) *** 23rd Maintenance Battalion - ( th, กองพันซ่อมบำรุงที่ 23 กองบัญชาการช่วยรบที่ 3) *** 23rd Ordnance Battalion - ( th, กองพันสรรพาวุธกระสุนที่ 23 กองบัญชาการช่วยรบที่ 3) *** 23rd Signal Corp Battalion - ( th, กองพันทหารสื่อสารที่ 23 กองบัญชาการช่วยรบที่ 3) *** 23rd Combat Medical Battalion - ( th, กองพันเสนารักษ์ที่ 23 กองบัญชาการช่วยรบที่ 3) ** 3rd Development Division - ( th, กองพลพัฒนาที่ 3) *** 3rd Development Regiment - ( th, กรมพัฒนาที่ 3) **** 3rd Development Battalion - ( th, กองพันพัฒนาที่ 3) *** 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment - ( th, กรมทหารช่างที่ 3) **** 301st Combat Engineer Battalion - ( th, กองพันทหารช่างที่ 301 กรมทหารช่างที่ 3) **** 302nd Combat Engineer Battalion - ( th, กองพันทหารช่างที่302 กรมทหารช่างที่ 3) ** Military Districts - ( th, มณฑลทหารบก) *** 31st Military District - ( th, มณฑลทหารบกที่ 31) *** 32nd Military District - ( th, มณฑลทหารบกที่ 32) *** 33rd Military District - ( th, มณฑลทหารบกที่ 33) *** 34th Military District - ( th, มณฑลทหารบกที่ 34) *** 35th Military District - ( th, มณฑลทหารบกที่ 35) *** 36th Military District - ( th, มณฑลทหารบกที่ 36) *** 37th Military District - ( th, มณฑลทหารบกที่ 37) *** 38th Military District - ( th, มณฑลทหารบกที่ 38) *** 39th Military District - ( th, มณฑลทหารบกที่ 39) *** 310th Military District - ( th, มณฑลทหารบกที่ 310) * 4th Army Area ( th, กองทัพภาคที่ 4) – headquartered in
Nakhon Si Thammarat Nakhon Si Thammarat Municipality ( th, เทศบาลนครนครศรีธรรมราช, ; from Pali ''Nagara Sri Dhammaraja'') is a municipality (''thesaban nakhon'') in Southern Thailand, capital of Nakhon Si Thammarat pro ...
, responsible for southern Thailand, it is the area that serves as the frontine command for those engaged in South Thailand insurgency.
US State Department The United States Department of State (DOS), or State Department, is an executive department of the U.S. federal government responsible for the country's foreign policy and relations. Equivalent to the ministry of foreign affairs of other nati ...
cables leaked by
WikiLeaks WikiLeaks () is an international Nonprofit organization, non-profit organisation that published news leaks and classified media provided by anonymous Source (journalism), sources. Julian Assange, an Australian Internet activism, Internet acti ...
in 2006 said: "Military forces totaling approximately 35,000 troops fall under the command of the 4th Army....the 5th Inf Div and the 15th Development Division (three regiments) totaling approximately 20,000 troops are the main units of the 4th Army." ** 5th Infantry Division - ( th, กองพลทหารราบที่ 5) – (Fort Thep Satri Srisunthorn, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province) *** 5th Infantry Regiment - ( th, กรมทหารราบที่ 5) **** 1st Infantry Battalion **** 2nd Infantry Battalion **** 3rd Infantry Battalion *** 15th Infantry Regiment - ( th, กรมทหารราบที่ 15) **** 1st Infantry Battalion **** 2nd Infantry Battalion **** 3rd Infantry Battalion *** 25th Infantry Regiment - ( th, กรมทหารราบที่ 25) **** 1st Infantry Battalion **** 2nd Infantry Battalion **** 3rd Infantry Battalion *** 5th Field Artillery Regiment - ( th, กรมทหารปืนใหญ่ที่ 5) **** 9th Field Artillery Battalion **** 15th Field Artillery Battalion **** 25th Field Artillery Battalion **** 105th Field Artillery Battalion *** 16th Cavalry Squadron - ( th, กองพันทหารม้าที่ 16 กองพลทหารราบที่ 5) *** 5th Reconnaissance Cavalry Company - ( th, กองร้อยลาดตระเวนทหารม้าที่ 5 กองพลทหารราบที่ 5) *** 5th Combat Engineer Battalion - ( th, กองพันทหารช่างที่ 5 กองพลทหารราบที่ 5) *** 5th Signal Corp Battalion - ( th, กองพันทหารสื่อสารที่ 5 กองพลทหารราบที่ 5) *** 5th Combat Medical Battalion - ( th, กองพันเสนารักษ์ที่ 5 กองพลทหารราบที่ 5) *** 5th Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols Company - ( th, กองร้อยลาดตระเวนระยะไกลที่ 5 กองพลทหารราบที่ 5) ** 15th Infantry Division - ( th, กองพลทหารราบที่ 15) – (Fort Ingkhayutthaborihan, Pattani Province) *** 151st Infantry Regiment - ( th, กรมทหารราบที่ 151) **** 1st Infantry Battalion **** 2nd Infantry Battalion **** 3rd Infantry Battalion *** 152nd Infantry Regiment - ( th, กรมทหารราบที่ 152) **** 1st Infantry Battalion **** 2nd Infantry Battalion **** 3rd Infantry Battalion *** 153rd Infantry Regiment - ( th, กรมทหารราบที่ 153) **** 1st Infantry Battalion **** 2nd Infantry Battalion **** 3rd Infantry Battalion *** Service Support Regiment, 15th Infantry Division - ( th, กรมสนับสนุน กองพลทหารราบที่ 15) **** Transportation Battalion - ( th, กองพันทหารขนส่ง กรมสนับสนุน กองพลทหารราบที่ 15) **** Logistic and Service Battalion - ( th, กองพันส่งกำลังและบริการ กรมสนับสนุน กองพลทหารราบที่ 15) **** Combat Medical Battalion - ( th, กองพันเสนารักษ์ กรมสนับสนุน กองพลทหารราบที่ 15) *** 31st Cavalry Squadron - ( th, กองพันทหารม้าที่ 31 กองพลทหารราบที่ 15) *** 15th Combat Engineer Battalion - ( th, กองพันทหารช่างที่ 15 กองพลทหารราบที่ 15) *** 15th Signal Corp Battalion - ( th, กองพันทหารสื่อสารที่ 15 กองพลทหารราบที่ 15) *** 15th Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols Company - ( th, กองร้อยลาดตระเวนระยะไกลที่ 15 กองพลทหารราบที่ 15) ** 4th Army Support Command - ( th, กองบัญชาการช่วยรบที่ 4) *** 24th Logistic and Service Battalion - ( th, กองพันส่งกำลังและบริการที่ 24 กองบัญชาการช่วยรบที่ 4) *** 24th Maintenance Battalion - ( th, กองพันซ่อมบำรุงที่ 24 กองบัญชาการช่วยรบที่ 4) *** 24th Ordnance Battalion - ( th, กองพันสรรพาวุธกระสุนที่ 24 กองบัญชาการช่วยรบที่ 4) *** 24th Transportation Battalion - ( th, กองพันทหารขนส่งที่ 24 กองบัญชาการช่วยรบที่ 4) *** 24th Signal Corp Battalion - ( th, กองพันทหารสื่อสารที่ 24 กองบัญชาการช่วยรบที่ 4) ** 4th Development Division - ( th, กองพลพัฒนาที่ 4) – US State Department cables leaked by Wikileaks in 2006 said: "The Development Division is itself a traditionally 'static unit' that provides engineering, construction and other support to local communities in the South. It is not formally charged with security operations. Indeed, Development Division officers were very proud in stating that they have better relations with the locals than other security elements — and have not been attacked while engaged in construction or relief efforts." *** 4th Development Regiment - ( th, กรมพัฒนาที่ 4) **** 4th Development Battalion - ( th, กองพันพัฒนาที่ 4) **** 401st Combat Engineer Battalion - ( th, กองพันทหารช่างที่ 401) **** 402nd Combat Engineer Battalion - ( th, กองพันทหารช่างที่ 402) ** Military Districts - ( th, มณฑลทหารบก) *** 41st Military District - ( th, มณฑลทหารบกที่ 41) *** 42nd Military District - ( th, มณฑลทหารบกที่ 42) *** 43rd Military District - ( th, มณฑลทหารบกที่ 43) *** 44th Military District - ( th, มณฑลทหารบกที่ 44) *** 45th Military District - ( th, มณฑลทหารบกที่ 45) *** 46th Military District - ( th, มณฑลทหารบกที่ 46) *
Royal Thai Army Special Warfare Command The Royal Thai Army Special Warfare Command ( th, หน่วยบัญชาการสงครามพิเศษ) also known as Pa Wai Airborne ( th, พลร่มป่าหวาย) is the special forces of the Royal Thai Army. I ...
( th, หน่วยบัญชาการสงครามพิเศษ) also known as Royal Thai Army Special force – headquartered in Thale Chup Son, Mueang Lopburi,
Lopburi Lopburi ( th, ลพบุรี, , ) is the capital city of Lopburi Province in Thailand. It is about northeast of Bangkok. It has a population of 58,000. The town (''thesaban mueang'') covers the whole ''tambon'' Tha Hin and parts of Th ...
** 1st Special Forces Division - ( th, กองพลรบพิเศษที่1) *** 1st Special Forces Regiment (Airborne) - ( th, กรมรบพิเศษที่1) *** 2nd Special Forces Regiment (Airborne) - ( th, กรมรบพิเศษที่2) *** 3rd Special Forces Regiment, King's Guard (Airborne) - ( th, กรมรบพิเศษที่3 รักษาพระองค์) **** Ranger Battalion, King's Guard also known as Royal Thai Army Ranger - ( th, กองพันจู่โจม รักษาพระองค์) **** Special Operation Battalion, King's Guard also known as Task Force 90 - ( th, ฉก.90 กองพันปฏิบัติการพิเศษ รักษาพระองค์) *** 4th Special Forces Regiment (Airborne) - ( th, กรมรบพิเศษที่4) *** 5th Special Forces Regiment (Airborne) - ( th, กรมรบพิเศษที่5) The creation of the 15th Infantry Division was announced in January 2005. Defence Minister, General Samphan Boonyanan, was quoted as saying that the new unit, dubbed the "Development Division", would not be a combat unit for fighting Islamic militants, but rather its main mission would be to assist local citizens and develop the region. The military will not ignore its general function of providing safety for the citizens of the region, he added. He said that troops for the new division would undergo training to give them a good understanding of local residents, the vast majority of whom are ethnic Malay Muslims. The division is in fact a transformation of the Pranburi-based 16th Infantry Division. It will now be headquartered at Fort Ingkhayutthaborihan in Pattani, complete with its battalions and companies of military police and communications and aviation personnel, he said. It will also have three separate infantry battalions, one each in Pattani, Yala, and
Narathiwat Narathiwat ( th, นราธิวาส, ) is a town (thesaban mueang) in southern Thailand and capital of Narathiwat Province. The town is in the Mueang Narathiwat District and was established in 1936. As of 2008, the population was 40,521. ...
. Each battalion will include three companies of medical, engineering, and psychological warfare personnel, he said. The government will allocate a budget of more than 18 billion baht for the division over the next four years. The 15th Infantry Division is being established as a permanent force to handle security problems in the Deep South. The division is based in Pattani and is expected to have a combined force of around 10,000. The establishment of this new division, approved by the government in 2005, has yet to be completed. As of this writing, some 7,000 troops deployed in the Deep South are affiliated to this division." In 2012, two new combat formations had been approved by the thai government. The new 7th Infantry Division is based at Mae Rim, near
Chiang Mai Chiang Mai (, from th, เชียงใหม่ , nod, , เจียงใหม่ ), sometimes written as Chiengmai or Chiangmai, is the largest city in northern Thailand, the capital of Chiang Mai province and the second largest city in ...
, and the new 3rd Cavalry Division is based at
Khon Kaen Khon Kaen ( th, ขอนแก่น, ) is one of the four major cities of Isan, Thailand, also known as the "big four of Isan", the others being Udon Thani, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Ubon Ratchathani. It is the capital of Khon Kaen province and ...
.


Tactical units

The army is organised into the following formations: * Nine infantry divisions (including 16 tank battalions) * One armoured division * Three cavalry divisions (light armoured divisions) * One Special Warfare Command trained and equipped for small unit
Special forces Special forces and special operations forces (SOF) are military units trained to conduct special operations. NATO has defined special operations as "military activities conducted by specially designated, organized, selected, trained and equip ...
and airborne operations The Army Tactical Level Advanced Simulation (ATLAS) is an interactive, distributed, constructive simulation used to conduct military
Command Post Command and control (abbr. C2) is a "set of organizational and technical attributes and processes ... hatemploys human, physical, and information resources to solve problems and accomplish missions" to achieve the goals of an organization or e ...
Exercises (CPX). ATLAS displays a continuous terrain model, incorporates HLA 1516, and displays 1:250,000 and 1:50,000 maps and satellite imagery. ATLAS was developed between 2002 and 2005 through co-operation with the
Army Command and General Staff College The United States Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC or, obsolete, USACGSC) at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, is a graduate school for United States Army and sister service officers, interagency representatives, and international military ...
(CGSC).


Army Medical Department

Army Medical Department (AMED) () belongs to the service segment of the Royal Thai Army. It is in charge of medical affairs, and providing medical care, both in the field and on base, training personnel in research and agriculture and supervising the other medical divisions within the Royal Thai Army. AMED observed 111 years of service in January 2011, with 110 years of service having been honoured by issue of a series of commemorative stamps. AMED operates
Phramongkutklao Hospital Phramongkutklao Hospital () is a hospital located in Ratchathewi District, Bangkok, Thailand. It is a military hospital for the Royal Thai Army and a teaching hospital for Phramongkutklao College of Medicine which trains doctors for the Royal Thai A ...
in Bangkok and Ananda Mahidol Hospital in Lopburi, along with smaller hospitals at each fort, as well as Phramongkutklao College of Medicine (PCM).


Air Division

Royal Thai Army Aviation Center The Royal Thai Army Aviation Center ( th, ศูนย์การบินทหารบก) is the administrative organization in the Royal Thai Army responsible for * Conduct research and develop to define doctrines and make textbooks in sc ...
(กองบินทหารบกไทย) belongs to the service segment of the Royal Thai Army Areas: *
Don Mueang International Airport Don Mueang International Airport ( th, ท่าอากาศยานดอนเมือง, , , or colloquially as , ) is one of two international airports serving the Bangkok Metropolitan Region, the other one being Suvarnabhumi Airp ...
(VTBD) ** Units include the
VIP A very important person or personage (VIP or V.I.P.) is a person who is accorded special privileges due to their high social status, influence or importance. The term was not common until sometime after World War 2 by RAF pilots. Examples inc ...
squadron, flying two
Embraer ERJ-135 The Embraer ERJ family (for Embraer Regional Jet, model names EMB-135, EMB-140 and EMB-145) are regional jets designed and produced by the Brazilian aerospace company Embraer. The family includes the ERJ135 (37 passengers), ERJ140 (44 passenger ...
LRs (serial number 1084/HS-AMP and serial number 1124), two
Jetstream 41 The British Aerospace Jetstream 41 is a turboprop-powered feederliner and regional airliner, designed by British Aerospace as a stretched version of the popular Jetstream 31. Intended to compete directly with 30-seat aircraft like the Embraer ...
s (serial numbers 41060 and 41094), two Casa 212–300s (serial numbers 446 and 447), and two Beech 1900C-1s (serial numbers 0169 and 0170) and the 1st Infantry Battalion operating two Bell 206Bs (serial numbers 4422 and 4448), three Schweizer S-300Cs (serial numbers 1340, 1366 and 1367), and two Cessna U-17B FAC aircraft (serial numbers 1616 and 1617). * Bang Khen (3 km south of Don Mueang) ** The Royal Squadron flies three Bell 212s and two Bell 412s (serial numbers 36332 and 36333). There is also a special transport unit flying around 10–12 Bell 212s and one or two Bell 206s. * Fort Surasi (
Kanchanaburi Kanchanaburi ( th, กาญจนบุรี, ) is a town municipality (''thesaban mueang'') in the west of Thailand and part of Kanchanaburi Province. In 2006 it had a population of 31,327. That number was reduced to 25,651 in 2017. The town ...
) ** The 9th Infantry Division operates two Bell 206Bs (the serial number of one is 4424), and two or three Schweizer S-300Cs. There is also a detachment of UH-1Hs from an Air Mobility Company based here. * Fort Chakraphong (
Prachinburi Prachinburi ( th, ปราจีนบุรี, , ) is a town (''thesaban mueang'') in central Thailand, capital of Prachinburi Province. It covers the entire tambon Na Mueang of the Mueang Prachinburi District (city district). As of 2000, the ...
) ** The " 2nd Infantry Division, Queen Sirikit's Guard", was operating two Bell 206Bs (serial numbers 4446 and 4361), three Schweizer S-300Cs (serial numbers 1343, 1344, and 1345), and two Maule MX-7s (one serial number known is 099) in 2004, however it is likely the Maule MX-7s may now not be operated by this unit now. A detachment of this unit (with, in 1998, one Bell 206 and one Maule MX-7) was operating from Watthana Nakhon (VTBW) near the Cambodian border. *
Phitsanulok Airport Phitsanulok Airport ( th, ท่าอากาศยานพิษณุโลก) is an airport serving Phitsanulok, a city in the Phitsanulok Province of Thailand. The airport is south of the city's downtown area. Airlines and destination ...
(VTPP) ** Loc 16 degrees 46'58.58N,100 degrees 16'44.84E elevation 154 feet/47 metres. ** Runway 14/32 length 9,843 x 148 feet (3,000 x 45 metres) ** Operating from here is the 4th Infantry Battalion with Bell 206Bs, Schweizer S-300Cs, Cessna U-17Bs, and Maule MX-7s. * Fort Suranari ( Khorat) ** The main flying unit here is the 3rd Infantry Battalion flying two Bell 206Bs (serial numbers 4396 and 4447), two Schweizer S-300Cs (serial numbers 1337 and 1339), and two Cessna U-17Bs (serial numbers 1454 and 1618). ** This field also hosts a detachment of up to three Bell 212 helicopters from one of the Air Mobility Companies. * Fort Princess Srinagarindra (
Lopburi Lopburi ( th, ลพบุรี, , ) is the capital city of Lopburi Province in Thailand. It is about northeast of Bangkok. It has a population of 58,000. The town (''thesaban mueang'') covers the whole ''tambon'' Tha Hin and parts of Th ...
), the main base complex of Royal Thai Army Aviation, including training, technical school, aircraft maintenance, and aircraft storage. The main airfield here is called Sa Pran Nak (VTBH). ** Loc 14 degrees 56'58.02N, 100 degrees 38'34.88E elevation 95 feet (29 metres). ** Runways 01/19 3,300 x 98 feet (1,006 x 30 metres) and 06/24 3,890 x 98 feet (1,186 x 30 metres) ** Operating units here include: *** Gong Bin Bau ( Light Aviation Company ) – operating Cessna U-17Bs, Cessna T-41s, and Searcher MKIIs *** Gong Bin Pee-ak Moon Tee Nung ( 1st Air Mobility Company ) – operating Bell UH-1Hs and Bell 212s *** Gong Bin Pee-ak Moon Tee Song ( 2nd Air Mobility Company ) – operating Bell UH-1Hs (US Excess Defense Articles Program) and Bell 212s *** Gong Bin Pee-ak Moon Tee Sam ( 3rd Air mobility Company ) – operating Bell UH-1Hs, Bell 206Bs, Bell AH-1F Huey Cobras (eight) and Bell 212s *** Gong Bin Pee-ak Moon Tee Gou (pasom) ( 9th Air Mobility Company ) ixed – operating Bell UH-1Hs (US Excess Defense Articles Program) and Sikorsky S-70-43 Black Hawks (six) with six more on order. *** Gong Bin Sanub-sanoon Tua Pai (General Support Aviation Battalion) – operating Boeing CH-47D Chinooks, Bell UH-1Hs, and Mil Mi-17V5s *** The army aviation centre is based here, which conducts conversion training for the army. Types operated are Cessna T-41Bs (ex-US army surplus), Maule MX-7s, and Schweizer S-300C piston trainer helicopters. *** The two former VIP Beechcraft 200 King Air aeroplanes (serial numbers 0342 and 1165), are also based here. Their present role is unknown. These aeroplanes were modified in the US in the late 1990s. **A separate airfield within the Lopburi complex (around 3 km south of Sa Pran Nak) houses the 5th Aircraft Maintenance Company. This unit is responsible for maintenance and storage of army aircraft and helicopters. ** The 5th Infantry Division operates the following aviation assets from a small airfield within the army reserve at
Nakhon Si Thammarat Nakhon Si Thammarat Municipality ( th, เทศบาลนครนครศรีธรรมราช, ; from Pali ''Nagara Sri Dhammaraja'') is a municipality (''thesaban nakhon'') in Southern Thailand, capital of Nakhon Si Thammarat pro ...
(not at the airport): two Bell 206B-3s (serial numbers 4382 and 4427), three Schweizer TH-300Cs (serial numbers 1371, 1372, and 1373) and two Maule MX-7s (serial numbers 114 and 115). A detachment of helicopters can be found here from the Air Mobility Companies based at Lopburi.


Military districts

The army is divided into districts, whereby the first digit of the district indicates the army (first, second, third or fourth) responsible for its supervision. The names of forts are from locations or influential figures in Thailand's history. These are as follows:


Budget

The RTA budget for FY2021 is 107,662 million
baht The baht (; th, บาท, ; sign: ฿; code: THB) is the official currency of Thailand. It is divided into 100 ''satang'' (, ). The issuance of currency is the responsibility of the Bank of Thailand. SWIFT ranked the Thai baht as the 10th-m ...
, down from 112,815M baht in FY2020.


List of Military Engagements

* Burmese–Siamese wars *
Siamese–Vietnamese wars The Siamese–Vietnamese wars were a series of armed conflicts between the Siamese Ayutthaya Kingdom and Rattanakosin Kingdom and the various dynasties of Vietnam mainly during the 18th and 19th centuries. Several of the wars took place in moder ...
*
Anglo-Siamese War The Anglo-Siamese War (or Anglo-Thai WarOm Prakash, ''The New Cambridge History of India, Volume 2, Part 5: European Commercial Enterprise in Pre-Colonial India'' (Cambridge University Press, 1998), p. 289.) was a brief state of war that existed ...
*
Siege of Bangkok The siege of Bangkok was a key event of the Siamese revolution of 1688, in which the Kingdom of Siam ousted the French from Siam. Following a coup d'état, in which the pro-Western king Narai was replaced by Phetracha, Siamese troops besieged the F ...
*
First Anglo-Burmese War The First Anglo-Burmese War ( my, ပထမ အင်္ဂလိပ်-မြန်မာ စစ်; ; 5 March 1824 – 24 February 1826), also known as the First Burma War, was the first of three wars fought between the British and Burmese ...
*
Haw wars The Haw Wars ( th, สงครามปราบฮ่อ) were fought against Chinese quasi-military refugee gangs invading parts of Tonkin and the Siam from 1865–1890. Forces invading Lao domains were ill-disciplined and freely demolished B ...
*
Franco-Siamese War The Franco-Siamese War of 1893, known in Thailand as Incident of Thai solar calendar#Rattanakosin Era, R.S. 112 ( th, วิกฤตการณ์ ร.ศ. 112, , ) was a conflict between the French Third Republic and the Rattanakosin Kingdom, ...
*
World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
** Western Front * Boworadet rebellion *
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
**
Franco–Thai War The Franco-Thai War (October 1940 – January 28, 1941, th, กรณีพิพาทอินโดจีน, Krṇī phiphāth xindocīn; french: Guerre franco-thaïlandaise) was fought between Thailand and Vichy France over certain areas o ...
**
Pacific War The Pacific War, sometimes called the Asia–Pacific War, was the theater of World War II that was fought in Asia, the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean, and Oceania. It was geographically the largest theater of the war, including the vast ...
**
South-East Asian Theatre The South-East Asian Theatre of World War II consisted of the campaigns of the Pacific War in the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Indochina, Burma, India, Malaya and Singapore between 1941 to 1945. Japan attacked British and American terr ...
** Burma Campaign ** Malayan Campaign *
Cold War The Cold War is a term commonly used to refer to a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, the Western Bloc and the Eastern Bloc. The term '' cold war'' is used because the ...
**
Korean War , date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...
** Malayan Emergency **
Laotian Civil War The Laotian Civil War (1959–1975) was a civil war in Laos which was waged between the Communist Pathet Lao and the Royal Lao Government from 23 May 1959 to 2 December 1975. It is associated with the Cambodian Civil War and the Vietnam War ...
**
Cambodian Civil War The Cambodian Civil War ( km, សង្គ្រាមស៊ីវិលកម្ពុជា, Romanization of Khmer#UNGEGN, UNGEGN: ) was a civil war in Cambodia fought between the forces of the Communist Party of Kampuchea (known as the Khme ...
**
Vietnam War The Vietnam War (also known by #Names, other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vie ...
**
Communist insurgency in Thailand The communist insurgency in Thailand was a guerrilla war lasting from 1965 until 1983, fought mainly between the Communist Party of Thailand (CPT) and the government of Thailand. The war began to wind down in 1980 following the declaration of an ...
** Communist insurgency in Malaysia **
Third Indochina War The Third Indochina War was a series of interconnected armed conflicts, mainly among the various communist factions over strategic influence in Indochina after Communist victory in South Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia in 1975. The conflict primari ...
**
Indochina refugee crisis The Indochina refugee crisis was the large outflow of people from the former French colonies of Indochina, comprising the countries of Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, after communist governments were established in 1975. Over the next 25 years and ...
**
Cambodian–Vietnamese War The Cambodian–Vietnamese War ( km, សង្គ្រាមកម្ពុជា-វៀតណាម, vi, Chiến tranh Campuchia–Việt Nam), known in Vietnam as the Counter-offensive on the Southwestern border ( vi, Chiến dịch Phản ...
**
Vietnamese border raids in Thailand After the 1978 Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia and subsequent collapse of Democratic Kampuchea in 1979, the anti-Hanoi Khmer Rouge fled to the border regions of Thailand, and, with assistance from China, Pol Pot's troops managed to regroup and ...
**
Thai–Laotian Border War The Thai–Lao Border War or know in Thai as Battle of Ban Romklao ( th, สมรภูมิบ้านร่มเกล้า or ยุทธการบ้านร่มเกล้า; December 1987 – February 1988) was a short confront ...
*
Persian Gulf War The Gulf War was a 1990–1991 armed campaign waged by a Coalition of the Gulf War, 35-country military coalition in response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Spearheaded by the United States, the coalition's efforts against Ba'athist Iraq, ...
*
War on drugs The war on drugs is a global campaign, led by the United States federal government, of drug prohibition, military aid, and military intervention, with the aim of reducing the illegal drug trade in the United States.Cockburn and St. Clair, 1 ...
**
Internal conflict in Myanmar Insurgencies have been ongoing in Myanmar since 1948, the year the country, then known as Burma, gained independence from the United Kingdom. The conflict has largely been ethnic-based, with several ethnic armed groups fighting Myanmar's ...
** 2010–2012 Myanmar border clashes *
1999 East Timorese crisis The 1999 East Timorese crisis began with attacks by pro-Indonesia militia groups on civilians, and expanded to general violence throughout the country, centred in the capital Dili. The violence intensified after a majority of eligible East Timo ...
**
International Force East Timor The International Force East Timor (INTERFET) was a multinational non-United Nations peacemaking task force, organised and led by Australia in accordance with United Nations resolutions to address the humanitarian and security crisis that took ...
*
Global War on Terrorism The war on terror, officially the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT), is an ongoing international counterterrorism military campaign initiated by the United States following the September 11 attacks. The main targets of the campaign are militant ...
**
Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) was the official name used synonymously by the U.S. government for both the War in Afghanistan (2001–2014) and the larger-scale Global War on Terrorism. On 7 October 2001, in response to the September 11 at ...
**
Iraq War {{Infobox military conflict , conflict = Iraq War {{Nobold, {{lang, ar, حرب العراق (Arabic) {{Nobold, {{lang, ku, شەڕی عێراق (Kurdish languages, Kurdish) , partof = the Iraq conflict (2003–present), I ...
** OEF - Afghanistan ** OEF - Horn of Africa * Operation Pochentong * Southern Insurgency *
United Nations peacekeeping Peacekeeping by the United Nations is a role held by the Department of Peace Operations as an "instrument developed by the organization as a way to help countries torn by conflict to create the conditions for lasting peace". It is distinguished ...
**
United Nations Iraq–Kuwait Observation Mission The United Nations Iraq–Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM) was established on April 9, 1991 following the Gulf War by Security Council Resolution 689 (1991) and fully deployed by early May 1991. The task of joint military observers was to mo ...
** United Nations Operation in Burundi **
United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor The United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET), ( pt, Administração Transitória das Nações Unidas em Timor Leste), was a United Nations mission in East Timor that aimed to solve the decades long East Timorese cri ...
**
United Nations–African Union Mission in Darfur The African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (known by its acronym UNAMID) is a joint African Union (AU) and United Nations (UN) peacekeeping mission formally approved by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1769 on 31 J ...
**
United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan ('UNAMA'') is a UN Special Political Mission tasked with assisting the people of Afghanistan. UNAMA was established on 28 March 2002 by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1401. Revie ...
**
United Nations Mission in Sudan The United Nations Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS) was established by the UN Security Council under Resolution 1590 of 24 March 2005, in response to the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the government of the Sudan and the Sudan ...
* Cambodian–Thai border stand-off * Thai political crisis ** 1933 Siamese coup d'état **
Siamese coup d'état of 1947 Siamese describes something of or related to Siam (now called Thailand), or more specifically the region of Central Thailand, usually including Southern Thailand. Siamese may refer to: Animals *Siamese cat, a domestic cat breed *Siamese crocod ...
** Siamese coup d'état of 1948 ** Army General Staff plot (1948) ** Silent Coup (1951) ** 1973 Thai popular uprising ** 1976 Thai coup d'état and 6 October massacre ** October 1977 Thai coup d'état ** 1991 Thai coup d'état ** Black May (1992) ** 2006 Thai coup d'état **
2009 Thai political unrest A series of political demonstrations and following unrest occurred in Thailand from 26 March to 14 April 2009 in Bangkok and Pattaya against the government of Abhisit Vejjajiva and the military crackdown that followed. Up to 100,000 people demon ...
** 2010 Thai political protests ** 2014 Thai coup d'état


Equipment


Rank structure


Businesses and infrastructure

The army owns more than 30 golf courses nationwide. The army also owns boxing stadium, 100 petrol stations, racecourses, hotels, retail and coffee shops, and radio and television airwaves (by one count, the armed forces have ownership in 537 radio and TV stations). In early 2020, the army entered an agreement with the
Finance Ministry A finance minister is an executive or cabinet position in charge of one or more of government finances, economic policy and financial regulation. A finance minister's portfolio has a large variety of names around the world, such as "treasury", " ...
to turn over to the ministry the management of businesses unrelated to the army's mission. In a related move, army commander General Apirat Kongsompong decreed that retired generals must move out of army-owned housing to free space for serving officers. , about 100 retired generals and colonels inhabit army accommodations. Some ex-generals, like PM Prayut Chan-o-cha and deputy PM
Prawit Wongsuwan Prawit Wongsuwon ( th, ประวิตร วงษ์สุวรรณ, , ; born 11 August 1945) is a Thai politician who is serving as the First Deputy Prime Minister and previously served as Minister of Defence from 2008 to 2011 during th ...
were exempted immediately from eviction because of their "contribution to society". The Thai Defence Ministry position is that there is no law prohibiting retired officers from occupying military housing. In January 2021, the RTA signed a memorandum of understanding with the
Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) ( th, การไฟฟ้าฝ่ายผลิตแห่งประเทศไทย; ) is a state enterprise, managed by the Ministry of Energy, responsible for electric power ge ...
(EGAT) to study the feasibility of constructing solar farms on 4.5 million
rai RAI – Radiotelevisione italiana (; commercially styled as Rai since 2000; known until 1954 as Radio Audizioni Italiane) is the national public broadcasting company of Italy, owned by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. RAI operates many ter ...
of army land to generate 30,000
megawatt The watt (symbol: W) is the unit of power or radiant flux in the International System of Units (SI), equal to 1 joule per second or 1 kg⋅m2⋅s−3. It is used to quantify the rate of energy transfer. The watt is named after James ...
s of electricity. Following up, on 22 February 2021 a meeting was called by the President of Royal Thai Army Radio and Television Channel 5 with energy firms interested in winning a piece of what is projected to be a 600 billion
baht The baht (; th, บาท, ; sign: ฿; code: THB) is the official currency of Thailand. It is divided into 100 ''satang'' (, ). The issuance of currency is the responsibility of the Bank of Thailand. SWIFT ranked the Thai baht as the 10th-m ...
project. The Energy Ministry was not represented at the meeting. Critics have questioned why the army is involved in energy procurement, in contravention of existing regulations, and why Thailand needs more electricity when it already has 59% reserve capacity and more capacity under construction.


Broadcasting


Radio and television channel list


Free-to-air TV

* TV5 HD1 * Channel 7 operated by Bangkok Broadcasting & Television Company Limited (BBTV)


Satellite TV

* TGN


Radio

* Royal Thai Army Radio Network, all 126 stations


See also

*
Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters The Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters ( th, กองบัญชาการกองทัพไทย) or the RTARF HQ, is the "mostly ornamental" joint headquarters of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, which is composed of the Royal Thai Army, ...
* Royal Thai Army Radio and Television *
Border Patrol Police The Border Patrol Police ( th, ตำรวจตระเวนชายแดน); (BPP) is a Thai paramilitary police under the jurisdiction of the Royal Thai Police, responsible for border security and counterinsurgency. History The Thai Bo ...
*
Thahan Phran The Thahan Phran (ทหารพราน; literally "hunter soldiers"; AKA Thai Rangers) AKA the Royal Thai Paramilitary Force is a paramilitary light infantry force which patrols the borders of Thailand and is an auxiliary of the Royal Tha ...
* Battle of Phou Pha Thi, (Northeastern Laos, March 1968)
covert Secrecy is the practice of hiding information from certain individuals or groups who do not have the "need to know", perhaps while sharing it with other individuals. That which is kept hidden is known as the secret. Secrecy is often controvers ...
Border Patrol "volunteers" *
Thai–Laotian Border War The Thai–Lao Border War or know in Thai as Battle of Ban Romklao ( th, สมรภูมิบ้านร่มเกล้า or ยุทธการบ้านร่มเกล้า; December 1987 – February 1988) was a short confront ...
*
Cambodian–Thai border dispute The Cambodian–Thai border dispute (Khmer–Thai border dispute) began in June 2008 as part of a century-long dispute between the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Kingdom of Thailand involving the area surrounding the 11th-century Preah Vihear Tem ...
*
Chao Phraya Bodindecha ''Chao Phraya'' Bodindecha ( th, เจ้าพระยาบดินทรเดชา, km, ចៅ ឃុន បឌិន, 13 January 1776 – 24 June 1849), personal name Sing Sinhaseni (), was a prominent military figure of the early Rat ...
*
Military history of Thailand The military history of Thailand encompasses a thousand years of armed struggle, from wars of independence from the powerful Khmer Empire, through to struggles with her regional rivals of Burma and Vietnam and periods of tense standoff and confl ...
* Rajabhakti Park *
Special forces of Thailand Royal Thai Army Royal Thai Army Special Warfare Command also known as Royal Thai Army Special Forces * Special Warfare Center ** Special Warfare School *** Basic Training Course *** Ranger Training Center *** Airborne Training Center *** Speci ...


References


External links

* {{Authority control 1874 establishments in Siam Military units and formations established in 1874 de:Thailändische Streitkräfte