ON THE second day of a light salvage mission undertaken by United States and Thai navies to remove armaments and other objects from HTMS Sukhothai (FSG-442) which capsized and sank in stormy seas late 2022, killing 24 sailors with five others missing, the corvette’s nameplate, a Buddha image and some documents were brought to the surface, TV Channel 7 said tonight (Feb. 23).
Deployed in the 20-day joint US-Thai light salvage mission in the sea off Prachuap Khiri Khan are HTMS Rattanakosin (FSG-441) which is of the same type as the US-built, Ratanakosin-class corvette which sank undersea, the Thai navy’s minehunter HTMS Bang Rachan (MHC-631) and landing craft HTMS Mannai (LCU-783) and the US navy’s tugboat Ocean Valor.
On the first dive today some of the 60 US and Thai navy divers working on this mission successfully recovered HTMS Sukhothai’s nameplate which was considered a good start and raised their morale.
On the second dive photos were taken and the perforation on the left side of the ship’s starboard hull measured.
On the third dive, the bridge was surveyed and photos taken with a Buddha image and some documents brought to the surface.
On the fourth dive, a tear in the wave shield in front of the turret was successfully inspected.
There will also be four dives tomorrow to explore both the exterior and the interior of the HTMS Sukhothai as follows:
– First dive: Inspect the captain’s cabin;
– Second dive: Inspect the room under the turret (OTO 76/62 Gun Mount autocannon) and the tear in the ceiling beneath the wave breaker;
– Third dive: Explore the entrance to the large machinery room;
– Fourth dive: Open the watertight door of the large machinery room at the aft, inspect the emergency electrical equipment room and the Aspide hatch reload.
Moreover RADM Wirudom Muangjeen, the Thai navy’s spokesman, said navy chief ADM Adung Pan-iam assigned VADM Prakob Suksamai to send a letter to the government proposing the return of 90 million baht of the budget for salvaging HTMS Sukhothai for use to further help people.
CAPTION:
Divers from Thai and US navies working on a light salvage of HTMS Sukhothai today, Feb. 23, 2024. Photos: TV Channel 7
Also read: No-sail zone declared during divers’ work on sunken navy ship
Navy shelves project to salvage sunken corvette Sukhothai
Navy wants to raise sunken warship for return to service
Met Dept chief blamed for navy ship sinking
Navy slammed over missing sailors, sunk ship
SDGs will fail to meet 2030 target, but travel & tourism can still be a big help
Probe proposed into Thaksin’s ‘critical illnesses’
Paetongtarn invited by Hun Sen to visit Cambodia
