Handover of Type 071ET LPD HTMS Chang in China

18 April 2023

LPD HTMS Chang 792 operated as submarine tender in Thai Navy (all photos :  AAG, Ryan Chan)

The ceremony to receive a large landing ship HTMS Chang (3rd ship), Royal Thai Navy (RTN: Royal Thai Navy) at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding Group (HZ) shipyard near Shanghai, People's Republic of China on 17 April 2023. It happened about a week after the document signing ceremony on April 9, 2023 at the garage  the Hudong Zhonghua is the most significant milestone in a project spanning four years.

The Royal Thai Navy signed a supply contract for a Type 071ET LPD (Landing Platform Dock) class with China on September 9, 2019, in the amount of approximately 6,100,000,000 baht ($200 million). The ship was taken out of the dry dock of the HZ shipyard on December 23, 2021 and had a ceremony, officially launched the boat into the water on January 4, 2023.

A large multi-purpose landing ship supporting submarine operations (submarine tender). HTMS Chang (3rd ship) is based on a Type 071-class landing ship stationed by the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), with the Royal Thai Navy as its first export customer. HMS Chang will be stationed in Amphibious and Combat Support Service Squadron (ACCS), Royal Thai Fleet (RTF) added to the ship. Landing ship of the Navy HTMS Ang Thong (3rd ship) that is already in service

HTMS Chang (3rd ship) will be used in amphibious operations (AMPHIBEX: Amphibious Exercise) to support the Thai Marine Corps (RTMC: Royal Thai Marine Corps). Until the Naval Special Warfare Command (NSWC: Naval Special Warfare Command, RTN SEAL) and the Air and Coastal Defense Command (ACDC).

The aft flight deck has three take-off points for the operations of medium-sized helicopters such as the Sikorsky SH-60B Seahawk anti-submarine helicopter and the Royal Air Force's Schiebel Camcopter S-100 of Royal Thai Naval Air Division (RTNAD).

In addition to being a command ship and supporting submarine operations and submarine rescue and rescue  landing ships at Royal Navy Dockyard Elephants will be used in maritime search and rescue missions, and disaster relief for the people .

HTMS Chang (3rd ship) is scheduled to depart Shanghai, China on April 18, 2023, traveling through the Taiwan Strait in a manner Innocent passage, with China sending warships to follow escort at some distance.

HTMS Chang (the 3rd ship) is scheduled to arrive at Chuk Samet Pier,  Sattahip Naval Base Chonburi Province, Thailand, on April 25, 2023 at about 15:00. As no weapons or combat systems have yet been installed, HMS Chang is expected to be armed in Thailand later when the ship arrives.

(AAG)