Marsun Launches Five M21-Class Patrol Boats for Royal Thai Navy

21 Februari 2018

M21-class patrol boats (all photos : RTN)

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

The vessels, which bear pennant numbers from 265 through to 269 respectively, were launched on 15 February at Marsun’s facilities in the country’s Samut Prakan province, according to information released by the RTN on the same day.

The aluminum-hulled 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. The platform is installed with storage tanks that can carry 4,000 litres of fuel and 1,200 litres of water, and can accommodate a crew of nine.

The vessel 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. Shipboard electricity, rated at 220V AC 50 Hz, is provided by two 32kWe 220V generator sets.

The M21 class can be equipped with a manned 20 mm cannon in the primary position, and one 12.7 mm machine gun with a co-axial 81 mm grenade launcher in the aft section. Two 150-round ammunition storage boxes are installed ahead of the vessel’s superstructure to facilitate faster reloading of the 20 mm cannon.

M21 patrol boats already in service with the RTN have been armed with a Denel GI-2 20 mm gun as a primary weapon, but a Marsun official Jane’s spoke to on 20 February was not able to confirm if latter boats will be similarly equipped.

(Jane's)