Royal Thai Navy The Royal Thai Navy ( ) is the navy of Thailand and part of the Royal Thai Armed Forces , it was established in the late 19th century . Admiral Prince Abhakara Kiartiwongse ( 1880 – 1923 ) is " The Father of Royal Thai Navy " . Similar to the organizational structure of the United States , the Royal Thai Navy includes the Naval Fleet , and the Royal Thai Marine Corps . The Royal Thai Navy operates out of Sattahip Naval Base . Thailand is the only Southeast Asia n country which operates an Aircraft carrier though it is used as a pure helicopter carrier with the retirement of the Harrier fighter wing . The Royal Thai Navy operates in three Naval Area Commands : The Royal Thai Navy also has two air wings , operating 40 fixed - wing aircraft and 30 helicopters from Utapao , Songkhla and Phuket . The First Royal Thai Navy wing has 4 squadrons and the Second Royal Thai Navy wing has 3 squadrons . Moreover , the Royal Thai Navy also consists of 1 Royal Thai Marine Corps division , 1 Air and Coastal Defence Division , Royal Thai Navy SEALs and 1 Riverine Patrol Regiment . The United States Navy and Royal Thai Navy conduct the annual joint operation Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training ( CARAT ) . CARAT is an annual series of bilateral maritime training exercises between the U . S . Navy and the armed forces of Singapore , Thailand , Malaysia , Indonesia , Brunei and Philippines . Command and Control . The Royal Thai Navy is commanded by the Commander - in - Chief of the Royal Thai Navy , currently Admiral Surasak Rounroengrom , who was appointed in 2011 . The Royal Thai Navy Headquarters is located in Derm Palace , Wang Derm Road , Bangkok , Thailand . Fleet . The majority of the vessels of the Royal Thai Navy are from the United States ( nearly half , over 50 of RTN ' s 130 + vessels ) . However , RTN also has craft from Spain , Britain , Italy , Singapore , Japan , Canada , Netherlands , People ' s Republic of China and Australia . Additionally , Thailand does produce many of their own vessels , in particular those of smaller displacement . Thai dock for example Royal Thai Naval Dockyard , Asian Marine Services , Marsun Shipbuilding , Italthai Marine , and Bangkok Dock . Thai dock built Corvette , OPV , and Patrol Boat . Future Thai dock plan built Frigate . Royal Thai Naval Air and Coastal Defence Command . Coastal Defense Command was formed in 1992 under the control of the Royal Fleet Headquarters , with one coastal defence regiment ( equipped with 155 mm artillery ) and one air defence regiment ( equipped with 40 mm and 37 mm anti - aircraft guns as well as HN - 5A MANPAD s ) . Personnel were initially drawn from the Royal Thai Marine Corps but are now being recruited directly . The First Coastal Defence Regiment is based near the Marine Corps facility at Sattahip . The First Air Defence Regiment near the Naval Air Wing at Utapao . Coastal Defence Command was greatly expanded in 1992 , following the government ' s decision in 1988 to charge the RTN with the responsibility of defending the entire Eastern Seaboard and Southern Seaboard Development Project . The Second Air Defence Regiment , based at Songkhla , was then formed on the following year . Some analysts believe this element will eventually grow to a strength of up to 15 , 000 . They also interested in S - 300 or S - 400 SAM to upgrade their air defnse system .