page_title: Royal Thai Navy
section_title: Present day
hierarchical_section_title: Royal Thai Navy / History / Present day
caption_attribution_description: The Royal Thai Naval vessel HTMS CHAKRINARUEBET (CVH 911) in the South China Sea.
context_page_description: The Royal Thai Navy, Thailand's naval warfare force, was established in 1906. It was modernised by the Admiral Prince Abhakara Kiartiwongse who is known as the father of the Royal Navy. It has a structure that includes the naval fleet, Royal Thai Marine Corps, and Air and Coastal Defence Command. The RTN headquarters is at Sattahip Naval Base.
  The navy operates three naval area commands: Northern Gulf of Thailand; Southern Gulf of Thailand; and the Andaman Sea. RTN also has two air wings and one flying unit on its aircraft carrier.
context_section_description: The navy's combat forces include the Royal Fleet and the Royal Thai Marine Corps. The 130 vessels of the Royal Fleet include frigates equipped with surface-to-air missiles, fast attack craft armed with surface-to-surface missiles, large coastal patrol craft, coastal minelayers, coastal minesweepers, landing craft, and training ships.
  The mission space of the Thailand navy includes rivers and the Gulf of Thailand and the Indian Ocean, which are separated by the Kra Isthmus. Naval affairs are directed by the country's most senior admiral from his Bangkok headquarters. The naval commander in chief is supported by staff groups that plan and administer such activities as logistics, education and training, and various special services. The headquarters general staff function like the corresponding staffs in the Royal Thai Army army and Royal Thai Air Force command structures.
caption: HTMS Chakri Naruebet
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