The Matchanu class comprised the only four submarines ever employed by the Royal Thai Navy. They were built in Japan by Mitsubishi, and were in commission from 1938 throughout the Franco-Thai war and World War II. The boats were decommissioned following the Manhattan Rebellion in 1951 and the subsequent dissolution of the navy's Submarine Group.
The Royal Siamese Navy[a] had shown interest in submarines in various procurement proposals dating as early as 1910. However, its expansion plans were limited by financial constraints throughout the early twentieth century.[1] In 1934, Sindhu Kamalanavin, then Chief of Staff of the Navy, led a warship-procurement project which was approved by parliament in 1935. The proposal included a 6.9 million-baht (630,000 GBP at the time) budget for three submarines. Bidding was held in October 1935, and was won by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries of Japan, which offered a price of 820,000 baht (75,000 GBP) each for four boats.[2] Siamese navy officers and sailors were sent to Japan to be trained to operate the submarines by Imperial Japanese Navy personnel.[2]
The submarines were built in Kobe, with the first two being laid down on 6 May 1936. Construction of the others began on 1 October.[2] The first group was launched on 24 December 1936, with the second following on 14 May 1937. The first two submarines were completed and delivered to the Royal Siamese Navy on 4 September 1937, the date the Thai Navy still observes as Submarine Day. The others were delivered on 30 April 1938.[3]
The Thai submarines were relatively small, since they were intended primarily for coastal defence.[2] Each had a displacement of 374.5 tonnes (368.6 long tons; 412.8 short tons) on the surface and 430 tonnes (420 long tons; 470 short tons) when submerged. They were armed with four 450-millimetre (18 in) torpedo tubes, plus a 76/25-millimetre (3-inch) deck gun and an 8-millimetre (0.31 in) machine gun.[5]
CareersEdit
HTMS Matchanu and Wirun at Kobe Port
All four submarines departed Kobe for Thailand on 5 June 1938. They stopped for supplies at Keelung in Japanese-controlled Taiwan on 9 June, and at Manila in the Philippines on 15 June. They arrived at Sattahip Naval Base on 25 June, and were officially welcomed in Bangkok on 29 June.[6] They were commissioned on 19 July, as was the Japan-built coastal defence ship HTMS Sri Ayudhya.
The submarine crews underwent several training exercises in 1938 and 1939. In November 1940, following a number of border skirmishes, the undeclared Franco-Thai War over disputed border areas began when the Royal Thai Air Force made air raids on military bases in French Indochina. The navy was mobilised to protect Thailand's territorial waters, and the submarines conducted reconnaissance in the Gulf of Thailand. However, they were unable to prevent a surprise French naval raid, which resulted in heavy Thai naval losses at the Battle of Ko Chang on 17 January 1941. Following the battle, the submarines were sent to patrol the vicinity of Ream Naval Base in present-day Cambodia,[7] but no further naval clashes took place and Japan soon negotiated an end to the war.
The submarines remained in service throughout World War II, which Thailand officially joined in January 1942, but they saw no combat. However, two of them did serve an unconventional role during the war. On 14 April 1945, five months before the Japanese surrender, Bangkok's Samsen and Wat Liab Power Plants were bombed during Allied air raids, leaving the capital city without electricity. In response to a request from the Bangkok Electricity Authority, the Matchanu and Wirun anchored at the Bangkok Dock Company and served as power generators for one of Bangkok's tram lines.[7]
The superstructure of the Matchanu is preserved at the Naval Museum.
After the war's end, supplies and parts for the submarines became unavailable because of the Allied occupation and disarmament of Japan. In addition, the Royal Thai Navy's battery factory was unable to produce the powerful batteries needed for the submarines.[1] The Thai submarine service came to an end following a coup attempt against the military government of Plaek Pibunsongkhram known as the Manhattan Rebellion. The failed coup, led by a group of naval officers on 29 June 1951, led to the Navy's being stripped of its power and influence. The Submarine Group was dissolved on 16 July, and all four boats were decommissioned on 30 November 1951.[8]
The submarines were moored for some time in the Chao Phraya River near Siriraj Hospital Pier, but they were finally sold to the Siam Cement Company for scrap. Part of the superstructure of the Matchanu is preserved at the Naval Museum in Samut Prakan Province, almost the only reminder that Thailand once had a submarine fleet.[8]
See alsoEdit
Macchanu, the Ramakien character after whom the submarine and class are named
^ abเรือดำน้ำกับกองทัพเรือไทย. เรือดำน้ำกับกองทัพเรือไทย (in Thai). Naval Education Department, Royal Thai Navy. Archived from the original on 18 April 2013. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
^ abcdกองทัพเรือได้ตกลงใจสร้างเรือดำน้ำเพื่อป้องกันอ่าวไทย. เรือดำน้ำกับกองทัพเรือไทย (in Thai). Naval Education Department, Royal Thai Navy. Archived from the original on 18 April 2013. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
^. เรือดำน้ำกับกองทัพเรือไทย (in Thai). Naval Education Department, Royal Thai Navy. Archived from the original on 1 April 2011. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
^พระราชทานนามเรือทั้ง ๔ ลำ. เรือดำน้ำกับกองทัพเรือไทย (in Thai). Naval Education Department, Royal Thai Navy. Retrieved 6 February 2013.[permanent dead link]
^"สมรรถนะเรือ: ร.ล.มัจฉาณุ (H.T.M.S.Matchanu) และ ร.ล.วิรุณ (H.T.M.S.Wirun)". เรือดำน้ำกับกองทัพเรือไทย (in Thai). Naval Education Department, Royal Thai Navy. Archived from the original on 18 April 2013. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
^. เรือดำน้ำกับกองทัพเรือไทย (in Thai). Naval Education Department, Royal Thai Navy. Archived from the original on 25 October 2014. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
^ abการปฏิบัติงานระหว่างสงคราม. เรือดำน้ำกับกองทัพเรือไทย (in Thai). Naval Education Department, Royal Thai Navy. Archived from the original on 18 April 2013. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
^ abยุบหมวดเรือดำน้ำและปลดระวางประจำการ. เรือดำน้ำกับกองทัพเรือไทย (in Thai). Naval Education Department, Royal Thai Navy. Archived from the original on 18 April 2013. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
October 14, 2023
matchanu, class, submarine, matchanu, class, comprised, only, four, submarines, ever, employed, royal, thai, navy, they, were, built, japan, mitsubishi, were, commission, from, 1938, throughout, franco, thai, world, boats, were, decommissioned, following, manh. The Matchanu class comprised the only four submarines ever employed by the Royal Thai Navy They were built in Japan by Mitsubishi and were in commission from 1938 throughout the Franco Thai war and World War II The boats were decommissioned following the Manhattan Rebellion in 1951 and the subsequent dissolution of the navy s Submarine Group HTMS MatchanuClass overviewBuildersMitsubishi Heavy IndustriesOperators Royal Thai NavyBuilt1936 38In commission19 July 1938 30 November 1951Completed4Scrapped4General characteristicsTypeSubmarineDisplacement374 5 t 368 6 long tons 412 8 short tons surfaced 430 t 420 long tons 470 short tons submerged Length51 00 m 167 32 ft Beam4 10 m 13 5 ft Draught3 60 m 11 8 ft Propulsion2 8 cylinder 1 100 hp 820 kW diesel engines 1 540 hp 400 kW electric motorSpeed14 5 kn 26 9 km h 16 7 mph maximum 10 kn 19 km h 12 mph economical Range4 770 nmi 8 830 km 5 490 mi Test depth60 m 200 ft Complement5 officers amp 28 crewArmament1 76 25 mm gun 1 8 mm gun 4 450 mm torpedo tubes Contents 1 Construction and design 2 Careers 3 See also 4 Notes 5 ReferencesConstruction and design EditThe Royal Siamese Navy a had shown interest in submarines in various procurement proposals dating as early as 1910 However its expansion plans were limited by financial constraints throughout the early twentieth century 1 In 1934 Sindhu Kamalanavin then Chief of Staff of the Navy led a warship procurement project which was approved by parliament in 1935 The proposal included a 6 9 million baht 630 000 GBP at the time budget for three submarines Bidding was held in October 1935 and was won by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries of Japan which offered a price of 820 000 baht 75 000 GBP each for four boats 2 Siamese navy officers and sailors were sent to Japan to be trained to operate the submarines by Imperial Japanese Navy personnel 2 The submarines were built in Kobe with the first two being laid down on 6 May 1936 Construction of the others began on 1 October 2 The first group was launched on 24 December 1936 with the second following on 14 May 1937 The first two submarines were completed and delivered to the Royal Siamese Navy on 4 September 1937 the date the Thai Navy still observes as Submarine Day The others were delivered on 30 April 1938 3 The Thai Navy s submarines were named after literary characters known for their mythical diving abilities from the Ramakien Phra Aphai Mani and Khun Chang Khun Phaen They are 4 HTMS Matchanu II HTMS Wirun HTMS Sinsamut HTMS Phlai ChumphonThe Thai submarines were relatively small since they were intended primarily for coastal defence 2 Each had a displacement of 374 5 tonnes 368 6 long tons 412 8 short tons on the surface and 430 tonnes 420 long tons 470 short tons when submerged They were armed with four 450 millimetre 18 in torpedo tubes plus a 76 25 millimetre 3 inch deck gun and an 8 millimetre 0 31 in machine gun 5 Careers Edit nbsp HTMS Matchanu and Wirun at Kobe PortAll four submarines departed Kobe for Thailand on 5 June 1938 They stopped for supplies at Keelung in Japanese controlled Taiwan on 9 June and at Manila in the Philippines on 15 June They arrived at Sattahip Naval Base on 25 June and were officially welcomed in Bangkok on 29 June 6 They were commissioned on 19 July as was the Japan built coastal defence ship HTMS Sri Ayudhya The submarine crews underwent several training exercises in 1938 and 1939 In November 1940 following a number of border skirmishes the undeclared Franco Thai War over disputed border areas began when the Royal Thai Air Force made air raids on military bases in French Indochina The navy was mobilised to protect Thailand s territorial waters and the submarines conducted reconnaissance in the Gulf of Thailand However they were unable to prevent a surprise French naval raid which resulted in heavy Thai naval losses at the Battle of Ko Chang on 17 January 1941 Following the battle the submarines were sent to patrol the vicinity of Ream Naval Base in present day Cambodia 7 but no further naval clashes took place and Japan soon negotiated an end to the war The submarines remained in service throughout World War II which Thailand officially joined in January 1942 but they saw no combat However two of them did serve an unconventional role during the war On 14 April 1945 five months before the Japanese surrender Bangkok s Samsen and Wat Liab Power Plants were bombed during Allied air raids leaving the capital city without electricity In response to a request from the Bangkok Electricity Authority the Matchanu and Wirun anchored at the Bangkok Dock Company and served as power generators for one of Bangkok s tram lines 7 nbsp The superstructure of the Matchanu is preserved at the Naval Museum After the war s end supplies and parts for the submarines became unavailable because of the Allied occupation and disarmament of Japan In addition the Royal Thai Navy s battery factory was unable to produce the powerful batteries needed for the submarines 1 The Thai submarine service came to an end following a coup attempt against the military government of Plaek Pibunsongkhram known as the Manhattan Rebellion The failed coup led by a group of naval officers on 29 June 1951 led to the Navy s being stripped of its power and influence The Submarine Group was dissolved on 16 July and all four boats were decommissioned on 30 November 1951 8 The submarines were moored for some time in the Chao Phraya River near Siriraj Hospital Pier but they were finally sold to the Siam Cement Company for scrap Part of the superstructure of the Matchanu is preserved at the Naval Museum in Samut Prakan Province almost the only reminder that Thailand once had a submarine fleet 8 See also EditMacchanu the Ramakien character after whom the submarine and class are namedNotes Edit Thailand was known as Siam until 1939References Edit a b eruxdanakbkxngthpheruxithy eruxdanakbkxngthpheruxithy in Thai Naval Education Department Royal Thai Navy Archived from the original on 18 April 2013 Retrieved 6 February 2013 a b c d kxngthpheruxidtklngicsrangeruxdanaephuxpxngknxawithy eruxdanakbkxngthpheruxithy in Thai Naval Education Department Royal Thai Navy Archived from the original on 18 April 2013 Retrieved 6 February 2013 txeruxdanaesrc eruxdanakbkxngthpheruxithy in Thai Naval Education Department Royal Thai Navy Archived from the original on 1 April 2011 Retrieved 6 February 2013 phrarachthannameruxthng 4 la eruxdanakbkxngthpheruxithy in Thai Naval Education Department Royal Thai Navy Retrieved 6 February 2013 permanent dead link smrrthnaerux r l mcchanu H T M S Matchanu aela r l wirun H T M S Wirun eruxdanakbkxngthpheruxithy in Thai Naval Education Department Royal Thai Navy Archived from the original on 18 April 2013 Retrieved 6 February 2013 karedinthangklbpraethssyamkhxngeruxdana 4 la eruxdanakbkxngthpheruxithy in Thai Naval Education Department Royal Thai Navy Archived from the original on 25 October 2014 Retrieved 6 February 2013 a b karptibtinganrahwangsngkhram eruxdanakbkxngthpheruxithy in Thai Naval Education Department Royal Thai Navy Archived from the original on 18 April 2013 Retrieved 6 February 2013 a b yubhmwderuxdanaaelapldrawangpracakar eruxdanakbkxngthpheruxithy in Thai Naval Education Department Royal Thai Navy Archived from the original on 18 April 2013 Retrieved 6 February 2013 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Matchanu class submarine amp oldid 1176100829, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
