HTMS Similan
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
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| infobox caption = }} {{Infobox ship image | Ship image = HTMS Similan (16825420969).jpg | image alt = | Ship caption = Stern of Similan in port at the Sattahip Naval Base }} {{Infobox ship career | Hide header = | Ship country = Thailand | Ship flag = {{shipboxflag|Thailand|naval}} | Ship name = Similan | Ship namesake = Similan Islands | Ship ordered = | Ship awarded = 29 September 1993{{sfn|Saunders|2015|p=840}} | Ship builder = Hudong Shipyard{{sfn|Saunders|2015|p=840}} | Ship original cost = | Ship yard number = | Ship way number = | Ship laid down = December 1994{{sfn|Saunders|2015|p=840}} | Ship launched = 9 November 1995{{sfn|Saunders|2015|p=840}} | Ship sponsor = | Ship christened = | Ship completed = | Ship acquired = | Ship commissioned = 12 September 1996{{sfn|Saunders|2015|p=840}} | Ship recommissioned = | Ship decommissioned = | Ship maiden voyage = | Ship in service = | Ship out of service = | Ship renamed = | Ship reclassified = | Ship refit = | Ship struck = | Ship reinstated = | Ship homeport = | Ship identification = Hull number: 871{{sfn|Saunders|2015|p=840}} | Ship motto = | Ship nickname = | Ship honors = | Ship captured = | Ship fate = | Ship status = Active | Ship notes = | Ship badge = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship class = Replenishment oiler{{sfn|Saunders|2015|p=840}} | Ship displacement = 23,369 tons (full load){{sfn|Saunders|2015|p=840}} | Ship length = {{convert|171.4|m}}{{sfn|Saunders|2015|p=840}} | Ship beam = {{convert|24.6|m}}{{sfn|Saunders|2015|p=840}} | Ship height = | Ship draught = {{convert|9|m}}{{sfn|Saunders|2015|p=840}} | Ship draft = | Ship depth = | Ship hold depth = | Ship decks = | Ship deck clearance = | Ship ramps = | Ship ice class = | Ship power = | Ship propulsion = *2 x HD-SEMT-Pielstick 16 PC2 6V400 diesel engines;{{sfn|Saunders|2015|p=840}}
| Ship sail plan = | Ship speed = {{convert|19|kn}}{{sfn|Saunders|2015|p=840}} | Ship range = {{convert|10,000|nmi}} at {{convert|15|kn}}{{sfn|Saunders|2015|p=840}} | Ship endurance = | Ship test depth = | Ship boats = | Ship capacity = 9000 tons of fuel oil, water, and stores{{sfn|Saunders|2015|p=840}} | Ship troops = | Ship complement = 157{{sfn|Saunders|2015|p=840}} | Ship crew = | Ship time to activate = | Ship sensors = * Type 354 air/surface search radar
| Ship EW = | Ship armament = | Ship armour = | Ship armor = | Ship aircraft = 1 x Sikorsky S-70{{sfn|Wertheim|2013|p=735}} | Ship aircraft facilities = Hangar and flight deck{{sfn|Wertheim|2013|p=735}} | Ship notes = }} |
HTMS Similan (871) ({{langx|th|เรือหลวงสิมิลัน}}) is a replenishment oiler (AOR) of the Royal Thai Navy. She was intended to support the aircraft carrier {{HTMS|Chakri Naruebet}} and its escorts. Similan was constructed in the People's Republic of China at the Hudong Shipyard through a 1993 contract with the China State Shipbuilding Corporation. The ship was commissioned in 1996.{{sfn|Saunders|2015|p=840}} Similan is the largest ship in the Thai navy and the largest naval ship exported by China.{{cite news |last1=Auto |first1=Hermes |title=China to build naval ship for Thailand, the largest yet for a foreign country |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/china-to-build-naval-ship-for-thailand-the-largest-yet-for-a-foreign-country |access-date=13 September 2022 |work=The Straits Times |agency=China Daily/Asia News Network |date=16 September 2019 |language=en}}{{efn|Some reports expected the record to be broken by {{ship|HTMS|Chang|LPD-792}}, though the latter's displacement was later reported as 20,003 tonnes, less than Similan{{'s}}.{{cite news|last=Nanuam |first=Wassana |date=6 January 2023 |title=Navy names new transport ship 'Chang' |work=Bangkok Post |url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2476289/navy-names-new-transport-ship-chang |access-date=30 March 2023}}}}
The design is a flush-decked development of the Chinese Type 905 AOR resembling the French Durance;{{sfn|Wertheim|2013|p=735}} the builder referred to the design as Type R22T.{{sfn|Saunders|2015|p=840}}{{sfn|Wertheim|2013|p=735}} Similan was a sister ship or the precursor to the later Chinese Type 903.{{sfn|Saunders|2015|p=160}}{{sfn|Wertheim|2013|p=133}}
Design
Similan has two refueling stations on each side. Solid cargo is transferred by helicopter.{{sfn|Wertheim|2013|p=735}}
The ship was planned to be armed with Chinese weapons; four Type 76 twin 37 mm naval guns and the Type 341 radar were not fitted.{{sfn|Wertheim|2013|p=735}}
Career
Similan deployed together with {{HTMS|Pattani}} in 2010 and {{HTMS|Narathiwat}} in 2011 to combat piracy off the coast of Somalia as part of Combined Task Force 151.{{cite news |last1=Panrak |first1=Patcharapol |title=Uneventful Somalia mission ends for Navy task force |url=https://www.pattayamail.com/news/uneventful-somalia-mission-ends-for-navy-task-force-8377 |access-date=13 September 2022 |work=Pattaya Mail |date=7 December 2011}}
Notes
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References
{{Reflist}}
Sources
- {{cite book |editor-last=Saunders |editor-first=Stephan |title=Jane's Fighting Ships 2015-2016 |publisher=Jane's Information Group |date=2015 |isbn=978-0710631435}}
- {{cite book |last=Wertheim |first=Eric |title=The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Systems |date=2013 |edition=16 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland |isbn= 978-1591149545}}
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