HTMS Naresuan

HTMS (His Thai Majesty's Ship) "Naresuan", hull number 621, commissioned in 1995, is a Chinese-made Type 053 frigate, designed and built by the China State Shipbuilding Corporation in Shanghai. Her sister ship, HTMS "Taksin" was delivered in November 1995. The ships came at 2,000 million baht each, much less than the 8,000 million baht price tag for Western-built frigates. The Royal Thai Navy, however, was dissatisfied with the quality of workmanship, and required extensive rework. Among other problems, the ships had extremely limited resistance to battle damage, virtually no damage control facilities, and only rudimentary fire-suppression systems; it also appeared that a hull breach would quickly lead to rapid flooding and loss of the ship. [ [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/thailand/naresuan.htm Naresuan ] ]

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