Royal Thai Navy Takes Delivery of Four M21-class Patrol Boats

15 September 2017

Thailand has taken delivery of four new M21 patrol boats from a local shipbuilder. Vessels will improve the service’s constabulary capabilities in the Andaman Sea, Gulf of Thailand (photo : RTN)

The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) has taken delivery of four new M21-class patrol boats from local shipyard Marsun Company Limited.

The boats, which were ordered from the company in July 2015, were received by the RTN in a handover ceremony held at the Sattahip Naval Base in Thailand’s Chonburi province.

The vessels bear pennant numbers 261, 262, 263, and 264 respectively, and will join three other M21 boats in the same class, which were delivered by the same shipbuilder in May 2013.

According to specifications provided by Marsun, the M21 class features an overall length of 21.4 m, an overall beam of 5.56 m, and a hull draught of 1.05 m. The platform is powered by two MAN diesel engines driving two fixed pitch propellers, and can attain top speeds in excess of 30 kt.

The aluminium-hulled platform can accommodate a crew of nine, and has a mission endurance of 24 hours. It can also carry 4,000 litres of fuel and 1,200 litres of water.

The M21 class features one bow-mounted Denel GI-2 20 mm gun in the foredeck, and one 12.7 mm machine gun with a co-axial 81 mm grenade launcher in the aft section. The patrol vessel can embark one rigid hull inflatable boat at stern.

(Jane's)