HTMS Taksin
| History | |
|---|---|
 Thailand | |
| Class and type: | Type 053 frigate |
| Name: | HTMS Taksin |
| Namesake: | King Taksin |
| Builder: | China State Shipbuilding Corporation, Shanghai |
| Commissioned: | 1995 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 2,985 tons full load |
| Length: | 120.5 m |
| Beam: | 13.7 m |
| Draught: | 6 m |
| Propulsion: | 1 × General Electric LM2500+ gas turbine and 2 × MTU 20V1163 TB83 diesel engines, driving two shafts with controllable pitch propellers in CODOG configuration. |
| Speed: | 32 knots (59 km/h) max |
| Range: | 4000 nmi(7408 km) at 18 kn |
| Complement: | 150 |
| Sensors and processing systems: | |
| Electronic warfare & decoys: | |
| Armament: |
|
| Aircraft carried: | 1 x Super Lynx 300 |
HTMS (His Thai Majesty's Ship) Taksin (FFG 422), hull number 622, commissioned in 1995, is a modified version of the Chinese-made Type 053 frigate, designed and built by the China State Shipbuilding Corporation in Shanghai. Her sister ship, HTMS Naresuan was delivered in November 1995.
When Thailand ordered four new 053 frigates in 1990, China built them to the (then) latest 053H2 (Jianghu III) standard. Two were modified with helicopter decks in the back. Although the price was excellent (2 billion baht each, compared to 8 billion baht for Western ships), the Thai Navy complained of quality issues. The interior wiring was exposed and had to be re-wired. The ship's battle damage control system was very limited, with poor fire-suppression system and watertight hatches. It's said that if the ship's hull were breached, rapid flooding would lead to loss of the ship. The Thai Navy spent considerable time and effort to correct some of these issues.[8]
The harsh criticisms lead to many improvements in China's shipbuilding industry. By the mid-1990s, the Thai Navy was confident enough to order two enlarged 053 hulls (F25T), later named HTMS Taksin and HTMS Naresuan, to be fitted with Western engines and weapon systems.[1]
Upgrade
On 3 June 2011, Saab announced that it was awarded a contract for the upgrading of the two Naresuan class frigates.[2] The scope of the upgrade will include Saab's 9LV MK4 combat management system, Sea Giraffe AMB, CEROS 200 fire control radar, EOS 500 electro-optics system and data link systems for communications with the newly acquired Royal Thai Air Force Erieye surveillance aircraft.
On 8 August 2012, DSCA announced Thailand's intention to acquire the Evolved Sea Sparrow missile and associated equipment to upgrade the frigates.[3] A letter of offer and acceptance was signed with Raytheon on 14 January 2013.[4]
References
- ↑ Naresuan
- ↑ "Saab receives order from Thailand regarding the upgrading of combat management system and fire control systems". Saab. 3 June 2011.
- ↑ "Thailand – Evolved SEASPARROW Missiles (ESSM)". DSCA. 8 August 2012.
- ↑ "Royal Thai Navy joins nations using Evolved SeaSparrow Missile". Raytheon. 14 January 2013.