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Trad-class torpedo boat

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Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Trad-class torpedo boat, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 29 November 202516 sources
Trad class torpedo boats
Company typeNaval ship class
IndustryNaval shipbuilding
Founded1930s
Headquarters
Thailand
ProductsTorpedo boats
Template:Infobox ship class overview {{Infobox ship characteristics
Hide header= Header caption= Ship type= Torpedo boat Ship displacement=318 long tons (323 t) standard Ship length=67.97 m (223 ft 0 in) o/a Ship beam=6.4 m (21 ft 0 in) Ship draught=2.13 m (7 ft 0 in) Ship draft= Ship propulsion=* Geared Steam turbines
  • 2 shafts
 Ship power=9,000 shp (6,700 kW) Ship speed=31 knots (57 km/h; 36 mph) Ship range= Ship complement= Ship sensors= Ship EW= Ship armament=* 3 × 76 mm (3.0 in) guns
  • 2 × 20 mm (0.79 in) cannon
  • 4 × 8 mm (0.31 in) machine guns
  • 6 × 450 mm (18 in) torpedo tubes

The Trad class consisted of nine torpedo boats constructed for the Royal Thai Navy during the 1930s by the Italian firm Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico. These vessels were commissioned between 1935 and 1938. During the Battle of Ko Chang in 1941, two units were sunk and a third severely damaged by French naval forces. Nevertheless, the remaining seven boats served extensively, remaining operational until the 1970s.

Construction and design

Beginning in 1934, the Royal Thai Navy initiated a comprehensive modernization program, placing orders with both Italy and Japan. That year, Thailand contracted nine torpedo boats (later known as the Trad class) along with two minelayers from the Italian shipbuilder Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico (CRDA). Additionally, in 1935, Thailand procured two coastal defense ships (the Error: {{sclass}} missing required parameter: ship type (help) class), three small torpedo boats (the Error: {{sclass}} missing required parameter: ship type (help) class), two Sloop-of-war sloops, and four submarines from Japan.

The design adopted from Italy was similar to a downsized version of the Error: {{sclass}} missing required parameter: ship type (help) torpedo boats produced for the Italian Navy. The vessels measured 67.97 metres (223.0 ft)* in overall length and 66.75 metres (219.0 ft)* between perpendiculars, with a beam spanning 6.4 metres (21 ft)* and an average draught of 2.13 metres (7 ft 0 in)*. Their displacement was 318 long tons (323 t)* under standard conditions and reached 470 long tons (480 t)* at full load. Propulsion was provided by two Yarrow boilers feeding Parsons geared steam turbines connected to dual propeller shafts. The machinery delivered an output of 9,000 shaft horsepower (6,700 kW)*, enabling a contract speed of 31 knots (57 km/h; 36 mph), while during trials Trad achieved a top speed of 32.54 knots (60.26 km/h; 37.45 mph) powered by 10,000 shaft horsepower (7,500 kW)*.

Fuel capacity included 102 long tons (104 t)* of oil, granting an operational range of approximately 1,700 nautical miles (3,100 km; 2,000 mi) at an economical speed of 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).

Armament was primarily sourced from Vickers-Armstrongs to maintain compatibility with other British-origin vessels in Thai service. The main battery comprised three 3 inches (76 mm)* anti-aircraft guns, supplemented by two 20 millimetres (0.79 in) cannons and four machine guns for close-in defense. Torpedo weaponry included six 18 inches (460 mm)* tubes arranged in two twin mounts along the centerline and two single mounts positioned forward near the forecastle break. The crew complement totaled approximately 70 personnel, including officers.

By 1971, modifications to the surviving ships involved removing one of the 76 mm guns and both single torpedo tubes across all units, while Trad, Phuket, and Chumporn also had one twin torpedo tube mount removed. These adjustments allowed installation of one or two additional Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60 cannons.

Construction took place at CRDA’s Monfalcone yard, with the initial pair launched in 1935, followed by four more in 1936 and the final three in 1937.

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Service

The initial pair of vessels (Trad and Phuket) reached Bangkok on 19 April 1936. Subsequently, the following two ships, Pattani and Surasdra, arrived in Thailand by the close of that year, while the final five were commissioned in Italy by March 1937.[1] In January 1941, Thailand launched an offensive against French Indochina during the Franco-Thai War.[2] In retaliation for Thai territorial gains on land, a French naval squadron comprising the cruiser Lamotte-Picquet and four sloops engaged a Thai naval contingent on 17 January 1941. This Thai force included the coast defense ship Thonburi alongside three Trad-class torpedo boats: Trad, Cholburi, and Songkla, during the Battle of Ko Chang.[3] The vessels Thonburi, Cholburi, and Songkla were sunk, whereas Trad sustained severe damage.[4] The remaining fleet remained operational until the 1970s, with the last ship being decommissioned in 1977. The Chumpohn was preserved as a museum ship and remains open for public visits today, while both Pattani and Surasdra were deliberately sunk as target practice.

The Royal Thai Navy has located, examined, and recorded the wrecks of Chonburi and Songkla. However, the released documentation is limited and does not provide detailed insights into their current conditions beyond confirming their intact status.[4]

Ships

Note: Dates for construction and delivery differ among sources.

Construction data
Name Pennant no.[4] Laid down[4] Launched Commissioned Fate[4]
HTMS Trad 11 9 February 1934 26 October 1935[5][6][7][lower-alpha 1] 19 April 1936[1] Used as a target ship sunk by Gabriel missile launches from HTMS Harn Hak Satru and HTMS Prab Porapak; guns repurposed as saluting artillery at Wichaiprasit fortress
HTMS Phuket 12 7 January 1934 28 September 1935[5][6][7][lower-alpha 2] 19 April 1936[1] Decommissioned and scrapped; main guns installed as saluting weapons at Wichaiprasit fortress
HTMS Pattani 13 31 March 1935 16 October 1936[5][6][7][lower-alpha 3] Late 1936[1] Deliberately sunk as a target during Thailand’s inaugural EXOCET missile test from HTMS Wittayakom
HTMS Surasdra 21 31 March 1935 28 November 1936[5][6][7][lower-alpha 4] Late 1936[1] Sunk as a target by HTMS Bangpakong employing a C-801 anti-ship missile on July 7, 1994
HTMS Chandaburi 22 6 June 1936 16 December 1936[6][7][lower-alpha 5] March 1937[1] Eventually dismantled and scrapped
HTMS Rayong 23 6 June 1936 11 January 1937[5][1][7][lower-alpha 6] March 1937[1] Scrapped after decommissioning
HTMS Chumpohn 31 7 July 1936 18 January 1937[5][1][7][lower-alpha 7] March 1937[1] Preserved as a museum vessel
HTMS Chonburi 32 22 August 1936 10 February 1937[1][lower-alpha 8] March 1937[1] Sunk on January 17, 1941 during the Battle of Koh Chang
{{Ship|HTMS|Songkla|1936|} 33 29 August 1936 9 February 1937[1][lower-alpha 9] March 1937[1] Sunk on January17,1941 at the Battle of Koh Chang


Notes

  1. ↑ 29 September 1935 according to Whitley.[4]
  2. ↑ 26 October 1935 according to Whitley.[4]
  3. ↑ 28 November 1936 according to Whitley.[4]
  4. ↑ 14 November 1936 according to Whitley.[4]
  5. ↑ 28 November 1936 according to Whitley,[4] 18 January 1937 according to Conways.[5]
  6. ↑ "16 December 1936 according to Whitley."[4]
  7. ↑ "12 January 1937 according to Whitley."[4]
  8. ↑ "18 January 1937 according to Whitley."[4]
  9. ↑ "10 February 1937 according to Whitley."[4]

Citations

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named zvorp232
  2. ↑ Dear & Foot 1995, p. 1107
  3. ↑ Rohwer & Hümmelchen 1992, p. 48
  4. ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Whitp227
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named conways22p411
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Fock 1989, p. 231
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 Blackman 1953, p. 354

References

  • Blackman, Raymond V. B., ed. (1953). Jane's Fighting Ships 1953–54. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company Inc.
  • Blackman, Raymond V. B., ed. (1971). Jane's Fighting Ships 1971–72. London: Sampson Low Marston & Co., Ltd. ISBN 0-354-00096-9.
  • Dear, I. C. B.; Foot, M. R. D., eds. (1995). "Thailand". The Oxford Companion to World War II. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 1106–1107. ISBN 0-19-866225-4.
  • Fock, Harald (1989). Z-Vor!: Internationale Entwicklung und Kriegseinsätze von Zerstörern und Torpedobooten: 1914 bis 1939. Herford, Germany: Koelers Verlagsgesellschaft mbH. ISBN 3-7822-0207-4.
  • Gardiner, Robert; Chesneau, Roger, eds. (1980). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
  • Rohwer, Jürgen; Hümmelchen, Gerhard (1992). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945. London: Greenhill Books. ISBN 1-85367-117-7.
  • Whitley, Michael (2000). Destroyers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia. London: Cassell & Co. ISBN 1-85409-521-8.

Template:WWII Thai ships

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