Royal Thai Army กองทัพบกไทย (RTGS: Kongthap Bok Thai)
Emblem of the Royal Thai Army
Active	1874
Country	Thailand
Type	Army
Size	790,000 (2012)[1]
Part of	Royal Thai Armed Forces
Garrison/HQ	Bangkok
Motto	เพื่อชาติ ศาสน์ กษัตริย์ และประชาชน (For The Nation, Religions, King, and People)
Colors	Red
March	มาร์ชกองทัพบก (Royal Thai Army March)
Anniversaries	18 January (Royal Thai Armed Forces Day)
Engagements	Franco-Siamese War World War I Franco-Thai War World War II Korean War Vietnam War Cambodian–Thai border stand-off 2008–2010 Thai political crisis
Commanders
Commander-in-chief	Prayuth Chan-ocha
Notable commanders	Phraya Phahol Pholphayuhasena Plaek Pibulsonggram Sarit Dhanarajata Thanom Kittikachorn Prem Tinsulanonda Chavalit Yongchaiyudh Suchinda Kraprayoon Surayud Chulanont Sonthi Boonyaratglin
Insignia
Royal Thai Army Flag
Unit Colour

The Royal Thai army (Thai: กองทัพบกไทย) is the army of Thailand responsible for protecting its sovereignty. It is the oldest and largest branch of the Royal Thai Armed Forces. The army was formed in 1874, partly as a response to new security threats following the Bowring Treaty with Britain, which opened up the country for international trade.

History[link]

Command and control[link]

The Royal Thai Army is commanded by the Commander of the Royal Thai Army (ผู้บัญชาการทหารบกไทย); the current Commander is General Prayuth Chan-ocha, who was confirmed by royal appointment to take over the top post effective October 1, 2010. The Royal Thai Army Headquarters is located in a building on Ratchadamnoen Nok Road in Bangkok, Thailand.

• Commander-in-Chief: General Prayuth Chan-ocha
• Deputy Commander-in-Chief: General Yuthasilp Doychuenngarm
• Assistant Commander-in-Chief: General Theerawat Boonyapradap
• Assistant Commander-in-Chief: General Viroj Buacharoon
• Chief of Staff of the Army: General Prayuth Chan-ocha

List of commanders[link]

Organization[link]

Field organization[link]

The Royal Thai Army is divided into four Army Areas:

• First Army Area - headquartered in Bangkok and is responsible for the country's western and central provinces including the capital city.
  • 1st, 2nd, 9th and 11th infantry divisions, and
  • 2nd cavalry division, and
  • 1st Development division.
• Second Army Area - headquartered in Nakhon Ratchasima and is responsible for the northeastern quadrant.
  • 3rd, 6th infantry divisions, and
  • 3rd cavalry division, and
  • 2nd Development divisions.
• Third Army Area - headquartered in Phitsanulok, responsible for the northern and northwestern parts of the kingdom.
  • 4th,7th infantry division, and
  • 1st cavalry division, and
  • 3rd development division.
• Fourth Army Area - headquartered in Nakhon Si Thammarat, responsible for southern Thailand.
  • 5th,15th infantry division, and
  • 4th development division.

Tactical units[link]

Thai and U.S. Army Soldiers practice tactical maneuvers during exercise Cobra Gold 2006 in Lop Buri.

Altogether the army is organized into the following Tactical Units:

• 9 infantry divisions (including 16 tank battalions),
• 1 armoured division,
• 3 cavalry division (a light armour division),
• 1 special forces division trained and geared for small unit special and airborne operations,
• 1 field artillery division, and
• 1 air defense artillery division.
• 8 independent infantry battalions,
• 3 airmobile companies provided the ground force units with battlefield support.

The Royal Thai Army also controls at least one television network, the Thai Global Network.

Royal Guards[link]

Army Medical Department[link]

Army Medical Department (กรมแพทย์ทหารบก) belongs to the service segment of the Royal Thai Army. It is responsible for medical affairs, providing medical services at its regular base or in field, giving training to personnel in research and agriculture and supervising the medical divisions of different sectors of the Royal Thai Army. AMED observed 111 years of service in January 2011,^[2] with 110 years of service having been honored by issue of a series of commemorative stamps.^[3]

ATLAS[link]

The Army Tactical Level Advanced Simulation (ATLAS) is an interactive, distributed, constructive simulation used to conduct military Command Post Exercises (CPX) within the RTA. ATLAS utilize a continuous terrain model, incorporates HLA 1516, and displays 1:250,000 1:50,000 and Satellite Imagery. ATLAS was developed between 2002 and 2005 through cooperation with RTA Command and General Staff College (CGSC).

Aviation[link]

The Royal Thai Army is known to operate the following aircraft types:

Origin	Type	Quantity	Remark
Brazil	Embraer ERJ-135LR	5	6 Order.
Spain	CASA C-212-300 Aviocar	6	serial numbers 446 and 447 based with the VIP squadron at Don Mueang Airport.One of these airplanes is no longer in service.
United Kingdom	British Aerospace Jetstream 41	4	serial numbers 41060 and 41094. based with the VIP unit at Don Mueang Airport.
United States	Beechcraft 1900C-1	2	serial numbers 0169 and 0170. based with the VIP squadron at Don Mueang Airport.
United States	Beechcraft 200 King Air	2	serial numbers 0342 and 1165. based within the Lop Buri Army complex.
United States	Bell 206 Jet Ranger	25	Both the Bell 206A and Bell 206B in use.
United States	Bell AH-1F Huey Cobra	7	serial numbers 9996,9997 and 9998, a fourth example serial number 9999 was lost in a crash in 2001. 4 more of the same model were ordered on 2005.[4] RTA also has another 3 AH-1F in storage for spair parts.[5]
United States	Bell UH-1H Iroquois	~90	From US military aid during Vietnam war. Some were bought by RTA through Excess defense articles. Total Delivered from 1968 to 2004 was 174 UH-1Hs.[6] Less than 50% is air-worthy. All operatable UH-1Hs are used by 3 RTA Airmobile Companies.
United States	Bell 212	~50	Used by 1th Airmobile Company, 2th Airmobile Company, 3th Airmobile Company and Department of Army Transportation
United States	Cessna T-41 Mescalero	~30	around 20-30 of these ex US Army fixed-wing trainers still flying.
United States	Cessna U-17B Skywagon	~20	around 15-20 of these Vietnam era FAC aircraft still flying.
United States	Boeing CH-47D Chinook	6	[4]
United States	Maule MX-7	~15	around 15 still flying as liaison and trainer aircraft.
United States	Schweizer S-300C	45	For training and observation.
United States	Enstrom Enstrom 480B	46	For training.
United States	Sikorsky UH-60L/M Blackhawk (S-70A-43)	12(2)	serial numbers 6927,6928,6929,7002,7003,7025 and 7026. 3 more UH-60Ls[7] and 3 more UH-60Ms[8] ordered on August 2009 and July 2011, respectively.S-70A-43 serial number 6928 was destroyed in a crash on 17 July 2011. The gorvernment has also approved the purchase of 2 more UH-60Ms, the order has not yet been placed.
United States	Bell Bell 412EP	2	On order.
Israel	IAI Searcher	4	32 Order.
Russia	Mil Helicopters Mi-17-V5	3	Three helicopters delivered by AN-124-100 RA-82078 to U-Tapao RTNS on 22 February 2011.A photo has appeared of Mi-17 serial number 6403 being offloaded from an AN-124.The serial numbers of the remaining two are 6401 and 6402.
United States	AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven	unknow

Known aviation bases[link]

• Don Mueang Airport (VTBD)
  • Units here include the VIP squadron, flying1 Embrear ERL-135LR serial number 1084/HS-AMP and serial number 1124, 2 Jetstream 41 (serial numbers 41060 and 41094), 2 Casa 212-300 (serial numbers 446 and 447) and 2 Beech 1900C-1 (serial numbers 0169 and 0170) and the 1st Infantry Battalion operating 2 Bell 206B (serial numbers 4422 and 4448), 3 Schweizer S-300C (serial numbers 1340,1366 and 1367) and 2 Cessna U-17B FAC aircraft (serial numbers 1616 and 1617).

• Bang Khen (3 km south of Don Mueang)
  • The Royal Squadron flies 3 Bell 212 and 2 Bell 412 (serial numbers 36332 and 36333) from here. There is also a special transport unit flying around 10-12 Bell 212 and 1 or 2 Bell 206 based here.

• Camp Surasri
  • The 9th Infantry Battalion operates 2 Bell 206B (the serial number of 1 is 4424), and 2 or 3 Schweizer S-300C. There is also a detachment of UH-1H from an Air Mobility Company here.

• Camp Jakapong (Prachin Buri)
  • The 2nd Infantry Battalion "The Queen's Guard" was operating 2 Bell 206B (serial numbers 4446 and 4361), 3 Schweizer S-300C (serial numbers 1343, 1344 and 1345) and 2 Maule MX-7 (one serial number known is 099) in 2004, however it is likely the Maule MX-7 may now not be operated by this unit now. A detachment of this unit (with in 1998 1 Bell 206 and 1 Maule MX-7) was operating from Watthana Nakhon (VTBW) near the Cambodian border.

• Phitsanulok Airport (VTPP)
  • Loc 16 degrees 46'58.58N,100 degrees 16'44.84E elevation 154 feet/47 meters.
  • Runway 14/32 length 9843 feetx148/3000x45 meters
  • Operating from here is the 4th Infantry Battalion with Bell 206B,Schweizer S-300C,Cessna U-17B and Maule MX-7.

• Camp Suranaree (Khorat)
  • The main flying unit here is the 3rd Infantry Battalion flying 2 Bell 206B (serial numbers 4396 and 4447), 2 Schweizer S-300C (serial numbers 1337 and 1339) and 2 Cessna U-17B (serial numbers 1454 and 1618).
  • This field also hosts a detachment of up to 3 Bell 212 helicopters from one of the Air Mobility Companies.

Lop Buri, the main base complex of the Royal Thai Army Aviation, which includes training, technical school, aircraft maintenance and aircraft storage.

• The main airfield here is called Sa Pran Nak (VTBH)
  • Loc 14 degrees 56'58.02N,100 degrees 38'34.88E elevation 95 feet/29 meters.
  • Runways 01/19 3300x98 feet/1006x30 meters and 06/24 3890x98 feet/1186/30 meters
  • Operating units here include
    • Gong Bin Pee-ak Moon Tee Nung - in English Air Mobility Company 1 - operating Bell UH-1H and Bell 212
    • Gong Bin Pee-ak Moon Tee Song - in English Air Mobility Company 2 - operating Bell UH-1H (US Excess Defense Articles program)and Bell 212
    • Gong Bin Pee-ak Moon Tee Sam - in English Air mobility Company 3 - operating Bell UH-1H,Bell 206B,Bell AH-1F Huey Cobra(8) and Bell 212
    • Gong Bin Pee-ak Moon Tee Gou (pasom) - in English Air Mobility Company 9 (Mixed) - operating Bell UH-1H(US Excess Defense Articles program) and Sikorsky S-70-43 Black Hawk(6) with 6 more on order.
    • Gong Bin Sanub-sanoon Tua Pai - in English General Support Aviation Battalion - operating Boeing CH-47D Chinook, Bell UH-1H and Mil Mi-17V5
    • The army aviation centre is based here, which conducts conversion training for the army. Types operated are Cessna T-41B (ex US army surplus), Maule MX-7, Schweizar S-300C piston trainer helicopters.
    • The 2 former VIP Beechcraft 200 King Air airplanes, serial numbers 0342 and 1165 are also based here. Their present role is unknown. These airplanes were modified in the USA in the late nineties.

A separate airfield within the Lop Buri complex (only around 3 km south of Sa Pran Nak) houses the 5th aircraft maintenance Company. This unit is responsible for maintenance and storage of army aircraft and helicopters.

• The 5th Infantry Division operates the following aviation assets from a small airfield within the army reserve at Nakhon si Thamarat(not at the airport),2 Bell 206B-3(serial numbers 4382 and 4427),3 Schweizer TH-300C(serial numbers 1371,1372 and 1373)and 2 Maule MX-7(serial numbers 114 and 115).A detachment of helicopters can be found here from the Air Mobility Companies based at Lop Buri.

• The 6th Infantry battalion is based near Ubon Ratchatani.

Rank and insignia[link]

Equipment[link]

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (April 2011)

Infantry weapons[link]

Small arms[link]

Name	Type	Caliber	Origin	Notes
Type 86,M1911	Semi-automatic pistol	.45 ACP	Thailand/ United States	M1911A1 pistols produced under license.
Beretta 92	Semi-automatic pistol	9x19mm Parabellum	Italy
Heckler & Koch USP	Semi-automatic pistol	.45ACP	Germany	Used by Special forces.
Heckler & Koch MP5	Submachine gun	9x19mm Parabellum	Germany
UZI	Submachine gun	9x19mm Parabellum	Israel
Heckler & Koch UMP	Submachine gun	9x19mm Parabellum	Germany	UMP9 submachine guns used by Special force.
Type 56	Assault rifle	7.62×39mm	China	Used in small numbers mainly by the Thahan Phran. Former Thai Communist rifle.
Type 56-1	Assault rifle	7.62×39mm	China	Used in small numbers mainly by the Thahan Phran. Former Thai Communist rifle.
Type 11,Heckler & Koch HK33	Assault rifle	5.56mm	Thailand/ Germany	Thai license produced version of the Heckler & Koch HK33. Standard infantry rifle. Used by Royal Thai Armed Forces and Army Reserve Force Students.
IMI Tavor TAR-21[9][10]	Assault rifle	5.56mm	Israel	Standard infantry rifle.
IMI Galil	Assault rifle	5.56mm	Israel	Used in small numbers.
Steyr AUG	Assault rifle	5.56mm	Austria	Used by Special forces.
M16A1/A2/A4	Assault rifle	5.56mm	United States	Standard infantry rifle. Aging M16A1 will be replaced by IMI Tavor TAR-21 and M16A4.
CAR-15	Assault rifle	5.56mm	United States
M4A1 Carbine	Assault rifle	5.56mm	United States	Used by Special forces, Some were equipped with SOPMOD kit.
SAR 21	Assault rifle	5.56mm	Singapore	Used by Special forces.
M1 Garand	Semi-automatic rifle	.30-06	United States	Locally known as the Type 88 self-loading rifle (ปลยบ.88). Used by Royal Guards and by Army Reserve Force Students as a non-firing training rifle.
M1/M2 Carbine	Semi-automatic rifle	.30	United States	Locally known as the Type 87 carbine (ปสบ. 87) Used by Army Reserve Force Students as a non-firing training rifle.
SIG-Sauer SSG 3000	Sniper rifle	7.62mm	Switzerland
SR-25	Sniper rifle	7.62mm	United States
FN MINIMI	Light machine gun	5.56mm	Belgium
Heckler & Koch HK21	Light machine gun	5.56mm	Germany
IMI Negev[9]	Light machine gun	5.56mm	Israel	Over 1,100 purchased. Delivery is ongoing.
Type 56 LMG	Light machine gun	7.62x39mm	China	Used in small numbers mainly by the Thahan Phran. Former Thai Communist machine gun.
FN MAG-58	General purpose machine gun	7.62mm	Belgium	Standard GPMG for Thai Armed Forces 4,000 delivered between 2008-2010.
M60	General purpose machine gun	7.62mm	United States	Replaced by the FN MAG-58.
M2 Browning machine gun	Heavy machine gun	12.7mm	United States
Type 54 HMG	Heavy machine gun	12.7x108mm	China	Mounted on Type 69 and Small number of V-150
Mk 19 AGL	Automatic grenade launcher		United States
M72 LAW	Rocket launcher		United States
BGM-71 TOW	Anti-tank guided missile		United States

Rocket, grenade, and missile systems[link]

Name	Type	Quantity	Origin	Notes
M203	Underbarrel Grenade launcher		United States
M79	Single-shot Grenade launcher		United States
Type 56 RPG	Rocket-propelled grenade		China	Used in small numbers mainly by the Thahan Phran. Former Thai Communist shoulder-fired missile .
Type 69 RPG	Rocket-propelled grenade		China	Used in small numbers mainly by the Thahan Phran. Former Thai Communist shoulder-fired missile .
Carl Gustav	Shoulder-fired missile		Sweden
M72 LAW	Shoulder-fired missile		United States
M47 Dragon	Anti-Tank Guided Missile	400	United States
HN-5A[11]	Man-portable air defense system		China
9K38 Igla	Man-portable air defense system	220	Soviet Union	Part of order placed in 2010.[11]

Vehicles[link]

Utility vehicles and prime movers[link]

Name	Type	Quantity	Origin	Notes
Humvee[11]	Utility vehicle	+1200	United States
Mercedes-Benz MB 230G	Light Utility Vehicle	+500	Germany
M151	Utility vehicle	+550	United States
M813	Prime Mover	+500	United States
M35 2-1/2 ton cargo truck	Prime Mover	+1000	United States
Isuzu	Prime Mover	+2000	Japan/ Thailand	RTA use Isuzu FTS 800 4x4
UNIMOG	Prime Mover	+1500	Germany	RTA use U1100/L 4x4
LMTV	Prime Mover	+750	United States	Thai Army have 4 series of LMTV are M1083,M1085,M1088 and M1089.
M911	HETS	N/A	United States

Armoured fighting vehicles[link]

Name	Type	Quantity	Origin	Notes
M60A3	Main Battle Tank	178	United States	Ex-US Army .
M48A5 Patton	Main Battle Tank	150	United States
T-84 Oplot-M	Main Battle Tank	0(49)	Ukraine	Up to 200 may be acquired. First order of 49 tanks was placed in September 2011 although there are no official announcements from the Royal Thai Army. So far, the government has just approved 7.155 billion Baht to purchase the first 49 T-84 Oplot main battle tanks to be assigned to the 2nd Cavalry battalion (Royal Guard at Fort Chakkraphongse, Prachinburi), the 4th Cavalry Battalion (Royal Guard at Kiakkai, Bangkok), the 8th Cavalry battalion (Fort Suranari, Nakhon Ratchasima), and the 9th Cavalry Battalion (Fort Ekathotsarot, Phitsanuloke).
FV101 Scorpion CVR(T)	Light tank	154	United Kingdom
Stingray	Light tank	106	United States
Condor	Armoured personnel carrier	40+	Germany
BTR-3E1	Armoured personnel carrier	96(+121)	Ukraine	96 ordered in 2008. Deliveries was delayed due to changes in engine and transmission. Additional 6 gifted by the Ukrainian Government. Second order of 121 announced in August 2011.[12]
Type 85	Armoured personnel carrier	396	China
Reva	Armoured personnel carrier	80+	South Africa	Mine-protected vehicle.
First Win	Armoured personnel carrier	21	Thailand	Mine-protected vehicle.
Saracen	Armoured personnel carrier	20	United Kingdom
M113A1/A3/A4	Armoured personnel carrier	450	United States
M901A3	Tank destroyer	18	United States
V-150 Commando	Armoured car	113	United States

Artillery[link]

Field artillery[link]

Name	Type	Quantity	Origin	Notes
L119	105 mm towed howitzer	34	United Kingdom
LG1 Mk II	105 mm towed howitzer	24	France
M101	105 mm towed howitzer	285	United States
M102	105 mm towed howitzer	32	United States
M618A2	105 mm towed howitzer	32	Thailand
Type 59-1	130 mm towed howitzer	54	China
GHN-45	155mm towed howitzer	42	Austria
Soltam M-71	155mm towed howitzer	32	Israel
M198	155 mm towed howitzer	250	United States	130 unit were purchased in September 2011
M114	155 mm towed howitzer	56	United States
CAESAR	155 mm Self-Propelled Howitzer	6	France
M109A5	155 mm Self-Propelled Howitzer	20	United States
Type 82	130 mm Multiple rocket launcher	60	China	Mounted on Type 85 hulls.
WS-1	302 mm self-propelled multiple rocket launcher	unknow	China	Adapted by Thailand's Defense Technology Institute, Royal Thai Army as DTI-1.The rocket was mounted on Volvo FM-400 6x6

Anti-aircraft artillery[link]

Name	Type	Quantity	Origin	Notes
M163 VADS	20 mm Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun	24	United States
M167 VADS	20 mm towed anti-aircraft gun	24	United States
Type 74	twin-barrel 37 mm towed anti-aircraft gun	122	China
Bofors L60/70	40mm towed anti-aircraft gun	48	Sweden
M3 Half-track	4 M2HB machine guns	unknow	United States	M16 MGMC Series
Type 59	57 mm towed anti-aircraft gun	24	China

Future procurements[link]

Infantry weapons[link]

Vehicles[link]

Army Aviation[link]

• UH-60 Black Hawk - On 6 August 2009, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible foreign military sale to the Government of Thailand of three Black Hawk helicopters and associated equipment and logistic support for an estimated cost of $150 million.^[13]
• VIP/Medivac aircraft - The Royal Thai Army signed a contract with Embraer to purchase a ERJ-135 for VIP transport use.^[14] On 12 January 2009, Royal Thai Army signed a second contract to buy another aircraft with VIP and Medivac capability.^[15]

See also[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Army of Thailand

• Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters
• Special Activities Division
• Royal Thai Army Radio and Television
• Border Patrol Police
• Thahan Phran
• Battle of Phou Pha Thi, (Northeastern Laos, March 1968) covert Border Patrol "volunteers"
• Thai–Laotian Border War
• South Thailand insurgency
• Cambodian–Thai border dispute
• Type 45 Siamese Mauser
• Chao Phraya Bodindecha

References[link]

1. ^ Anthony H. Cordesman; Robert Hammond (16 May 2011), THE MILITARY BALANCE IN ASIA: 1990-2011, Center for Strategic and International Studies, p. 70, http://csis.org/files/publication/110516_South_Asia-AsiaMilitaryBalance2011.pdf, retrieved 27 June 2011 
2. ^ 111 Years
3. ^ "110 Years of Army Medical Department, RTA. Commemorative Stamps". Catalog. SiamStamp. 2009-11-25. http://www.siamstamp.com/catalogue/index.php?id=888. Retrieved February 18, 2011. 
4. ^ ^{a b} http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php
5. ^ http://www.army.mil/article/46906
6. ^ http://www.thai-aviation.net/files/Army.pdf
7. ^ http://www.dsca.mil/PressReleases/36-b/2009/Thailand_09-49.pdf
8. ^ http://www.dsca.mil/PressReleases/36-b/2011/Thailand_11-28.pdf
9. ^ ^{a b} Patrick Winn (12 September 2009). "Thailand Plans $191.3M Arms Purchase". http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=3722292&c=ASI&s=LAN. 
10. ^ "Cabinet nod for buying Israeli rfiles". Bangkok Post. 15 September 2009. http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/154451/cabinet-nod-for-buying-israeli-rifles. 
11. ^ ^{a b c} "SIPRI Trade Register". Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php. 
12. ^ http://www.armyrecognition.com/august_2011_news_defense_army_military_industry_uk/thailand_will_buy_121_additional_btr-3e1_armoured_vehicles_personnel_carrier_from_ukraine_0708111.html
13. ^ DSCA UH-60L Black Hawk Helicopter
14. ^ Embraer Press Release Embraer sign contracts with the Royal Thai Army and the Royal Thai Navy
15. ^ Flight International Thailand buys third ERJ-135

External links[link]

• Official website

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