HTMS Chao Phraya

HTMS Chao Phraya (FFG-455) (Thai: เรือหลวงเจ้าพระยา) is the lead ship of her class of frigates for the Royal Thai Navy, a variant of the Chinese-built Type 053H2 frigate.

HTMS Chao Phraya in Port Klang, 2013
History
Thailand
Name	HTMS Chao Phraya
Namesake	Chao Phraya River
Ordered	18 July 1988
Builder	Hudong Shipyard, Shanghai
Laid down	April 1989
Launched	24 June 1990
Commissioned	5 April 1991
Status	In service
General characteristics
Class & type	Chao Phraya-class frigate
Displacement	1,676 long tons (1,703 t) standard 1,924 long tons (1,955 t) full
Length	103.2 m (338 ft 7 in)
Beam	11.3 m (37 ft 1 in)
Draught	3.1 m (10 ft 2 in)
Propulsion	4 × MTU 20V1163 TB83 diesel engines, driving two shafts with controllable pitch propellers
Speed	30 knots (56 km/h) max
Range	3,500 nautical miles (6,500 km) at 18 knots (33 km/h)
Complement	168
Sensors & processing systems	As built Type 354 Eye Shield air/surface radar Type 352C Square Tie surface search radar Type 343 Sun Visor fire control radar (for 100mm) Type 341 Rice Lamp fire control radar (for 37mm) Racal-Decca 1290 A/D ARPA Navigation radar Anritsu RA 71CA Navigation radar Type 651 IFF STN Atlas mini COSYS combat management system Type SJD-5A sonar
Electronic warfare & decoys	ESM Type 923-1 intercept ECM Type 981-3 deception jammer Decoys 2 × Type 945 GPJ chaff launchers
Armament	2 × 100 mm/56 Type 79 twin-barreled guns 4 × 37 mm Type 76 twin-barreled guns 8 × C-801 SSM launchers 2 × Type 86 anti-submarine rocket launchers 2 × BMB depth charge racks

Design and description

Chao Phraya 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). Chao Phraya has a complement of 168 personnel, including 22 officers.^[1]

As a Type 053HT frigate, the ship are armed with two 100 mm/56 Type 79 twin-barreled guns 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, Chao Phraya is equipped with eight C-801 anti-ship missile launchers.^[1]

In August 2020, Royal Thai Navy planned to modernizes Chao Phraya and Bangpakong to have similar capabilities to a modern offshore patrol vessel. The planned upgrade includes replacing the 100 mm guns with 76/62 automatic guns and all four 37 mm guns with a rapid-fire 30 mm autocannon, along with new combat management systems and surveillance systems.^[2]

Construction and career

The four ships of the class was ordered on 18 July 1988. Chao Phraya was laid down in April 1989^[3] at Hudong Shipyard, Shanghai. The ship was launched on 24 June 1990 and was commissioned on 5 April 1991.^[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.^[4]

Upon entering service, Chao Phraya and her sisters were frequently used for training and rotated monthly to the Coast Guard.^[4]

On 1 November 2008, Chao Phraya conducted a passing exercise with USS Chancellorsville and Decatur in the Andaman Sea off the coast of Phuket.^[5]

The ship took part in the search and rescue effort for the missing victims of 2018 Phuket boat capsizing.^[6]

On 24–26 April 2019, Chao Phraya attended joint naval exercise with the People's Liberation Army Navy and other Southeast Asian navies in the waters off Qingdao.^[7]