HTMS Saiburi in Sasebo Harbor, 2008
History
Thailand
NameHTMS Saiburi
NamesakeSai Buri River
Ordered18 July 1988
BuilderHudong Shipyard, Shanghai
Laid down1990
Launched27 August 1991
Commissioned4 August 1992
StatusIn service
General characteristics
Class and typeChao Phraya-class frigate
Displacement
Length103.2 m (338 ft 7 in)
Beam11.3 m (37 ft 1 in)
Draught3.1 m (10 ft 2 in)
Propulsion
Speed30 knots (56 km/h) max
Range3,500 nautical miles (6,500 km) at 18 knots (33 km/h)
Complement168
Sensors and
processing systems
  • SR-60 air/surface radar
  • TR47C fire control radar
  • Racal-Decca 1290 A/D ARPA Navigation radar
  • Anritsu RA 71CA Navigation radar
  • Type 651 IFF
  • Poseidon III combat management system
  • Type SJD-5A sonar
Electronic warfare
& decoys
  • ESM ES-3601-10
  • Decoys 2 × Type 945 GPJ chaff launchers
Armament
Aircraft carried1 × Bell 212 helicopter
Aviation facilitiesFlight deck

HTMS Saiburi (FFG-458) (Thai: เรือหลวงสายบุรี) is the fourth ship of Chao Phraya-class frigate of the Royal Thai Navy, a variant of the Chinese-built Type 053H2 frigate.

Design and description

Saiburi has a length of 103.2 m (339 ft), a beam of 11.3 m (37 ft), a draught of 3.1 m (10 ft) and displacement of 1,676 long tons (1,703 t) standard and 1,924 long tons (1,955 t) at full load. The ship has two shafts and powered with four MTU 20V1163 TB83 diesel engines with 29,440 shp (21,950 kW). The ship has a range of 3,500 nautical miles (6,500 km) while cruising at 18 knots (33 km/h) and top speed of 30 knots (56 km/h). Saiburi has a complement of 168 personnel, including 22 officers.[1]

As a Type 053HT (H) frigate, the ship were armed with one 100 mm/56 Type 79 twin-barreled gun and four 37 mm Type 76 twin-barreled guns. For anti-submarine warfare, the ship is equipped with two Type 86 anti-submarine rocket launchers and two BMB depth charge racks. For surface warfare, Saiburi was equipped with eight C-801 anti-ship missile launchers. She also has a flight deck and able to carry a helicopter, although the ship didn't have a hangar.[1][2]

Saiburi underwent modernization program in 2009. The upgrade includes replacement of old weapons and electronic systems with newer systems, such as new 100 mm/56 Type 79A twin-barreled gun and 37 mm Type 76A twin-barreled remote-controlled guns along with their respective fire control radars and the installation of new C-802A anti-ship missiles.[3][4]

Construction and career

The four ships of the class was ordered on 18 July 1988. Saiburi was laid down somewhere in 1990 at Hudong Shipyard, Shanghai. The ship was launched on 27 August 1991 and was commissioned on 4 August 1992.[1] Upon the ship completion and arrival on Thailand, the shipbuilding quality were deemed to be unsatisfactory and works was needed to improve the ship. The damage control abilities were also upgraded before she entered service.[5]

Upon entering service, Saiburi and her sisters were frequently used for training and rotated monthly to the Coast Guard.[5]

The ship took part in a humanitarian assistance operation in May 2015 by providing food, water, fuel and medical help to the Rohingya and Bengali migrants found adrift on boats in the Andaman Sea to keep them able continuing the journey and prevent them from landing on Thai shores.[6]

On 21–30 March 2022, Saiburi and Naresuan along with a Thai navy S-76B helicopter took part in Exercise Singsiam 2022 with the Republic of Singapore Navy. The sea phase of the exercise were held in the Malacca Strait and Andaman Sea.[7][8]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Saunders 2004, p. 735.
  2. ↑ Gardiner & Chumbley 1995, p. 463.
  3. ↑ "ร.ล.สายบุรี". fleet.navy.mi.th (in Thai). 3 October 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  4. ↑ "ร.ล.กระบุรี". fleet.navy.mi.th (in Thai). 8 October 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  5. 1 2 Saunders 2009, p. 803.
  6. ↑ "Thai ships, planes head out to assist boat people". Bangkok Post. 26 May 2015. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  7. ↑ "Singapore and Thailand Navies Conduct Bilateral Exercise Singsiam". mindef.gov.sg. 28 March 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  8. ↑ "Navies of Singapore and Thailand participate in Exercise Singsiam". naval-technology.com. 29 March 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2022.

Printed sources

  • Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen, eds. (1995). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, Maryland, USA: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.
  • Saunders, Cdre. Stephen (2004). Jane's Fighting Ships 2004-2005. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0710626233.
  • Saunders, Stephen, ed. (2009). Jane's Fighting Ships 2009-2010. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 9780710628886.
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