Marsun Launches Five M21 Boats for Royal Thai Navy

27 Juli 2018

The launch ceremony of five M21-class patrol boats, 270-274, at Samutprakan, Thailand on 24 July 2018. (photos : Marsun)

Thai shipbuilder Marsun Company Limited has launched another five M21-class patrol boats for the Royal Thai Navy (RTN).

The vessels, which bear pennant numbers from 270 through to 274 respectively, were launched on 24 July at Marsun’s facilities in the country’s Samut Prakan province, said the RTN in an announcement the following day.

The service is now anticipating the delivery of 10 M21 patrol vessels. An earlier batch of five boats in the class was launched by Marsun in February 2018.

The M21 class has an overall length of 21.4 m, an overall beam of 5.56 m, and a hull draught of 1.05 m. It is powered by two MAN diesel engines driving two fixed pitch propellers, and can attain top speeds of more than 30 kt and a range of more than 350 n miles (648 km) at economical speed.

The vessel has carrying capacity for up to 4,000 litres of fuel, 1,200 litres of water, and can accommodate a crew of nine. It can operate up to Sea State 2.

Images of the launch ceremony released by the RTN confirm that each of the five vessels launched on 24 July have been equipped with a 20 mm cannon in the primary position. The class is also armed with one 12.7 mm machine gun with a co-axial 81 mm grenade launcher in the aft section.

The M21 class has also been equipped with one crane-launched rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) at stern, and one inflatable life raft canister on the port side at aft.

Once delivered, all five vessels are expected to be deployed with the RTN’s coastguard squadron and take on duties such as VIP escorts, fishery resources protection, and other maritime constabulary duties in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand.

(Jane's)