The commander of the Royal Thai Navy was on hand when the Air and Coastal Defense Command commenced its annual heavy-gun drills in Sattahip.
Admiral Na Areenij reviewed the weapons drills along with ACDC commander Rear Adm. Sanont Pa-em at the Had Yao Thung Prong shooting range June 2. The practice was part of a larger Navy exercise from May 26-June 5 based in the Maptaphut area of Rayong Province.
Sanont said the ACDC’s live-fire drills by the anti-aircraft division employed a 155-mm medium howitzer, 130-mm medium gun, and 40/60-mm, 40/70-mm and 37-mm anti-aircraft artillery.
A simulation training field was created with the scenario being aircraft bombing of the Hua Had area and naval base.
In addition to targeting practice, the navy’s command-and-control operations, radar and other personnel also were tested for readiness.
The larger Rayong-based exercise saw naval units engage in disaster relief, search-and-rescue and other operations.
On May 30, the 1st Anti-Aircraft Division employed two battalions to spread out on the Rayong training ground and practice strategic artillery shooting and beach landings. In all, 1,784 sailors participated in the war games with two QW-18 anti-aircraft guided missiles, four radar systems and 111 vehicles.
