A JOINT light salvage mission being 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, successfully dismantled and raised three starboard torpedo tubes on the seventh day of the 20-day operation, Matichon newspaper said this evening (Feb. 28).
Deployed in the 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 that 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.
During today’s four dives no missing persons were found in the wreck.
The Thai and American divers plus supporting team raised the three torpedo tubes to the Ocean Valor amidst strong winds and one- to one-and-a-half-metre high waves which hampered their work. The bad weather led to the team adjusting their plan with what was not carried out today put off till tomorrow.
Four more dives are scheduled for tomorrow to further search for the missing sailors and remove more torpedo tubes.
CAPTION:
The three torpedo tubes raised to Ocean Valor from the sunken HTMS Sukhothai today, Feb. 28, 2024. Photos: Matichon
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