HTMS Chakri Naruebet (911) (, meaning 'Sovereign of the Chakri Dynasty', the Thai monarchy's ruling family) Based on the Spanish Navy's design and constructed by Spanish shipbuilder Bazán, Chakri Naruebet was ordered in 1992, laid down in 1994, launched in 1996, and commissioned into the RTN in 1997. The ship is the smallest functioning aircraft carrier in the world (currently only operates helicopters). and Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk helicopters. However, by 1999 it was reported that only one Matador was operational due to parts, training, and fiscal limitations, Although Chakri Naruebet was intended for patrols and force projection in Thai waters, a lack of funding brought on by the 1997 Asian financial crisis meant the carrier has spent most of her career docked at the Sattahip naval base.
Chakri Naruebet has been deployed on several disaster relief operations, including in the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, and in response to separate flooding incidents in late-2010 and early-2011.
Design
The original plan was to acquire a vessel from Bremer Vulcan, but the Thai government cancelled this contract on 22 July 1991.
Armament and aircraft
thumb|HTMS Chakri Naruebet at [[Sattahip Naval Base|left]]
Chakri Naruebet is fitted with two .50-caliber machine guns, four 20 mm autocannons and three Matra Sadral sextuple surface-to-air missile launchers firing Mistral missiles. The missile launchers were installed in 2001.
The carrier was designed to operate an air group of up to six AV-8S Matador V/STOL aircraft, plus four to six S-70B Seahawk helicopters. The inoperative Matadors were finally eliminated from service lists in 2006.
The flight deck measures . There are provisions to install an SPS-64 surface search radar and a hull-mounted sonar, but neither has been fitted as of 2008.
During a network-centric exercise of the Royal Thai Navy in March 2021 networked data links were established between Gripen fighters and HTMS Chakri Naruebet, and for the first time.
Construction
thumb|HTMS Chakri Naruebet at [[Changi Naval Base for International Maritime Review]]
Work on the Thai carrier commenced in October 1993, although it was not until 12 July 1994 that the hull was laid down.
Sea trials were conducted from October 1996 to January 1997, the latter part of which was in coordination with the Spanish Navy.
Role and operational history
Chakri Naruebet is the first aircraft carrier to be operated by a Southeast Asian nation. She is assigned to the Third Naval Area Command, and her intended duties include operational support of the RTN's amphibious warfare forces, patrols and force projection around Thailand's coastline and economic exclusion zone, disaster relief and humanitarian missions and search-and-rescue (SAR) operations. The carrier's main task was to search for and assist any fishing vessels affected by the storm. Chakri Naruebet was sent to Ko Tao in late-March during the 2011 Southern Thailand floods, as the heavy storms causing the flooding had isolated the island, requiring the evacuation of tourists and local citizens.
In 2021 it was reported that Chakri Naruebet usually spends only a day each month at sea, though it had recently sailed through the Singapore Strait. The ship is open to tourists when it is docked at its home port.
See also
- List of naval ship classes in service