Testing the Capability of HTMS Chang for the First Time

10 Juni 2023

Royal Thai Navy (RTN)'s new LPD-792 HTMS Chang(III)" has testing its capabilities at sea (all photos : RTN)

On May 29, 2023 at 1:00 p.m., Admiral Choengchai Chomchoengphaet, Commander-in-Chief travel to HTMS Chang to visit to test the capabilities of HTMS Chang in the area of ​​the upper Gulf of Thailand and Hat Yao, Sattahip District, Chonburi Province.

A large landing ship of the Royal Thai Navy the new HTMS Chang (3rd ship) was visited by the media on May 19, 2023, almost a month after the ship arrived from Shanghai, China, at Chuk Samet Por, Sattahip Naval Base Chonburi Province, Thailand on April 25, 2023.

A briefing to convey the characteristics of a floating dock amphibious landing craft HTMS Chang (3rd ship) also provided information about plans to install weapons on ships that will be made in Thailand at Mahidol Adulyadej Navy Dockyard. It consists of four M2 .50 caliber heavy machine guns, two 20 mm machine guns, a 76 mm naval main gun and a 30 mm secondary machine gun.

By operating the installation period of one year limit 950 million baht ($27.6 million) is required to be approved in the annual budget if there is an order to set sail for a mission immediately.

The first training to test the capability of HTMS Chang during 22-30 May 2023 by inviting the commander of the Navy and the media to attend the AMPHIBEX amphibious operation demonstration and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR).

The Chinese-built Type 071ET amphibious assault ship operation of the VN16 amphibious assault vehicle, the AAV7A1 RAM/RS amphibious vehicle, the BTR-3E1 8x8 armored personnel carrier and Thai Marine Corps HMMWV truck.

Including operations on the flight deck of four helicopters, including transport helicopter S-76B, transport helicopter MH-60S Knighthawk, transport helicopter Airbus Helicopters H145M and an anti-submarine helicopter SH-60B Seahawk.

(AAG)