Thai navy commissions six patrol boats
The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) formally received six M21 patrol boats into service on 30 November. These will help replace ten aging patrol boats acquired via US military aid from 1968-76.
In 2013 the RTN received three other boats of the same type.
The RTN’s new patrol boats are built by Marsun, a local dockyard. They displace 45t, and are 21.4m long and can achieve a maximum speed of 30kt. Their range at full load displacement is 350nm at a cruising speed of 15kt. They type has good manoeuvrability and stability.
Armed with a Vektor GI-2 20mm machine gun
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