Navy opens 2-month training exercise

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Adm. Luechai Ruddit (seated middle in sunglasses), Commander-In-Chief RTN, presides over the opening ceremony on the deck of HTMS Angthong, Laem Tien Pier, Sattahip Naval Base, Chonburi.

The Royal Thai Navy has launched its biggest training exercise of the year, bringing together forces stationed in the Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea for two months of drills.

Navy commander-in-chief Adm. Luechai Ruddit opened the annual exercise Feb. 28 from the deck of the HTMS Angthong at Sattahip Naval Base. Adm. Sophon Wattanamongkol will lead the training through May 17.

The exercise opened with demonstrations of amphibious tactics to destroy enemy targets and transport injured people via helicopter using forces from the 1st Naval Area Command, Naval Special Warfare Command of Royal Thai Fleet, Royal Thai Marine Corps, and Air and Coastal Defense Command.

The seven stage program begins with disaster relief and crisis response and runs through March 28.

General field and maritime training for three naval units will run March 29-April 17 while joint-training between ships and aircraft of Royal Thai Air Force in the Andaman Sea in Phangnga runs Apr 4-7.

Tactical weapons practice will take place in Phangnga April 3-7 along with simultaneous stealth missions and submarine hunting.

Anti-mining drills will run April 6-7, also in Phangnga, while combined arms live weapons practice will take place in Chantaburi May 13-17.

The Royal Thai Navy has launched its biggest training exercise of the year, bringing together forces stationed in the Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea for two months of drills.