By the principle of formation, it is somewhat similar to the Russian army. Let's find out what it is like? They serve in it both by contract and by conscription (there are more contract workers, like ours - 65%), in thai army there is also a special period - the spring call, starting on April 1st. Otherwise, absolute inconsistencies begin. Thais serve in the ground forces for two years, and in the navy for three. They do not have an autumn call, the spring one lasts not three months, but 11 days. The conscripts are much older than ours, they are 21 years old. Those who graduated from any Thai or foreign university and received a bachelor's degree serve 1 year, and you can expect a call from the reserve up to fifty-five years.
Thai and American Army Joint Exercise
Lottery or conscription to the Thai army
The difference is even more striking in the attitude of conscripts to military service. For Thai, service in armed forces of Thailand- winning the lottery. And in the literal sense. All those who have passed the medical examination draw lots - a black or a white ball. The action is so exciting that friends and relatives of Thai recruits come to watch it. It's all about a special patriotic upbringing, well forgotten here in Russia. Any Thai boy sleeps and sees himself serving in the army. This desire has a solid material support. Pay immediately after the call thai soldier is about 7000 baht, and during the service it also rises. As a result of the lottery, only 20 percent of candidates are recruited to serve in the Thai armed forces, the rest can go home.
Such an abundance of potential recruits allows Thais to plan a date for their recruitment. Once in a lifetime, they have the right to come to a recruiting station and announce the reason why they cannot serve in the army in a given year. You don't need to prove anything. The name of the conscript is simply transferred to the next year. Thai students are not even called to the medical board for the entire duration of their studies. They are also respectful of those in the care of elderly parents, if there is no one else to look after them.
Having large potential manpower reserves, thai army allows himself the luxury of choosing the best of the best in terms of physiological parameters. The medical commission recognizes as fit for service in the army only those whose height is not less than 160 cm, the chest girth is more than seventy-six centimeters. A conscript must not have chronic diseases, doctors strictly monitor that AIDS patients do not get into the armed forces of Thailand. Military doctors are especially meticulous about transsexuals, since in this country sex reassignment operations are common.
Are trances being drafted into the Thai army?
In Thailand, a man who has changed sex to "female" is called a katoi (). Until recently shemales in the Thai army did not serve at all. The conscription law, adopted in 1954, required to recognize all who made themselves a cosmetic change of sex (men with female breasts) or complete (with replacement of genitals) mentally unhealthy, not subject to conscription. At the same time, in Thailand, external or complete gender reassignment is not a legal basis for changing a person's status. Born a man remains so for the authorities of the country, regardless of what he has done with his body.
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Do not think that ladyboys cannot serve in the Thai army, most of them have iron nerves and remaining masculine strength (even though they take female hormonal drugs). If a Thai was there before the operation, he will remain so.
Now society in Thailand has become a little less conservative, so the question arose about whether trans people can serve in the Thai army. By order of the King, it was decided that in peacetime only men who do not have physiological differences will be drafted into the army. In special cases or at will - those who have created a female breast. Men who have completely changed their sex are still considered mentally disabled.
Photo of Thai special forces
And now I want to show you photos Thai special forces... The preparation of soldiers for service in special forces is striking in its "perversions". In my opinion, such people are worthy of respect!
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On December 8, 1941, seventy-five years ago, the Imperial Japanese Army's Thailand operation began. It became an integral part of Japan's plan to occupy states and European colonies in Southeast Asia. The Japanese leadership took particular interest in Thailand, since the country was distinguished by a strategically important position - through Thailand it was possible to invade the British colonies of Burma and Malaya. For the invasion to succeed, the Japanese needed control of Thailand's railways, airfields, and ports.
Thailand before the start of the war was a fairly powerful state by Asian standards. To begin with, it was the only Indochina country that escaped colonial fate. Thailand (formerly Siam) was never colonized by any of the European powers, unlike its neighbors - Burma and Malaya, which were under British rule, and Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, colonized by the French. Thailand's buffer position between the colonial possessions of France and Great Britain played a significant role in maintaining its political independence. On the other hand, even at the end of the 19th century, Siamese kings began to make serious efforts for the military and economic modernization of the country. Thus, King Chulalongkorn or Rama V (1853-1910), who ruled in 1868-1910, sought to establish friendly relations with the Russian Empire, which he saw as a patron in the struggle to preserve independence. The King of Siam even visited Russia, met with Emperor Nicholas II. One of the sons of Rama V, Field Marshal Chakrabon Puvanat (1883-1920), not only received a military education in Russia, but also married a Russian citizen Ekaterina Desnitskaya.
By the 1940s. Thailand has managed to create a highly combat-ready armed forces. Their real potential was tested in the Franco-Thai War of 1940-1941. During this time, the post of Prime Minister of Thailand was held by Major General Plek Pibunsongram (1897-1964), who was appointed to this position in 1938. He was a rather extraordinary person who combined the qualities of a clever politician and a good military leader. Back in 1914, Plek (pictured) graduated from the Chulachomklao Military Academy with the rank of second lieutenant and was assigned to the artillery. During World War I, he served as a foreign trainee in France - also in artillery units, and then graduated from the military academy at Poitiers and Fontainebleau. The career advancement of the young officer was facilitated by the revolution that took place in Siam in 1932 and led to the restriction of royal power. After the revolution, Plek Pibunsongram was appointed deputy commander of the artillery of the royal army with the rank of lieutenant colonel, and then promoted to colonel and appointed deputy commander of the army. In 1934 he took over as Minister of Defense. By the way, it was Pibunsongram who initiated the renaming of Siam to Thailand, which followed in 1939.
After becoming prime minister, Pibunsongram strove to turn Thailand into a powerful state - the hegemon of Indochina. Influenced by European right-wing radical ideologies, the Prime Minister advocated the unification of all Thai-speaking peoples and demanded the return to Thailand of the territories of Burma and Cambodia, which were once under the control of the Siamese kings. After Japanese troops invaded French Indochina in September 1940, which did not meet with serious resistance from French troops, Pibunsongram decided that Thailand's "finest hour" had struck and the country would be able to seize the territories that were part of French Indochina.
Anti-French rally in Bangkok in 1941
By this time, the armed forces of Thailand were significantly superior to the French colonial troops stationed in Indochina. If the number of French troops was about 50 thousand soldiers and officers, then 60 thousand people served in the Thai army. In addition, the Thai army had superiority in armament, since there was practically no armored vehicles in the French colonial forces. The French had only 20 outdated Renault FT-17 tanks at their disposal, while the Thai army had 60 Carden-Loyd Mk VI tankettes and 30 Vickers Mk E light tanks. The Thai armed forces also had a significant superiority in the air. Against the French troops, the Thai Air Force planned to use 109 bombers and 25 fighters. As a result of the actions of the Thai Air Force, which undertook the bombing of Vientiane, Phnom Penh and a number of other cities, the infrastructure of French Indochina suffered significant damage. On the ground, Thai troops were also rapidly pushing back the French. Soon, Thailand occupied almost all of Laos and a significant part of Cambodia.
In the end, Japan intervened in the situation, which was kind of an ally of the French Vichy government. With Japanese mediation, a peace agreement was concluded in Tokyo. In accordance with it, the impressive territories were transferred to Thailand - the Cambodian provinces of Battambang and Pailin, Koh Kong, Siem Reap, Banteaymeantey and Oddarmeantey, Preah Vihea, as well as the Lao provinces of Nakhontyapmasak, Sainabuli and part of the province of Luang Phabang.
Since the Thai army was quite easily able to defeat the French colonial troops stationed in Laos and Cambodia, the Japanese command, interested in establishing control over the territory of Thailand, did not dare to attack the country for a long time. Since the Japanese viewed the territory of Thailand exclusively as a "springboard" to the capture of the British colonies of Burma and Malaya, it was important for the Japanese command that the units of the imperial army transferred to Thailand did not suffer serious losses in the battles with the Thai army. If the Thai armed forces offered serious resistance to the Japanese troops, the latter could "get stuck" in Thailand for a long time, which would have negative consequences for Tokyo's plans to invade Burma and Malaya.
For the Japanese government, the best way out would be to establish allied relations with Thailand, so that Bangkok would agree to simply let Japanese troops pass through its territory and allow the use of military infrastructure. Certain circumstances made it possible to hope for such an outcome of events, and above all - the policy of General Pibunsongram, who was ideologically close to the Axis countries and himself had a negative attitude towards the British colonial presence in Indochina and Malaya. In October 1940, Pibunsongram even promised the Japanese command to support the Japanese troops in the battle for Malaya. However, as a pragmatic person, he simultaneously negotiated with the governments of Great Britain and the United States of America, because he understood that Japan could not limit itself to passing through the territory of Thailand, but simply occupy the country. The British leadership promised Pibunsongram support in the event of a Japanese invasion.
Uncertainty in relations with Thailand ultimately led the Japanese command to decide to invade the country. 
In Tokyo, they were worried that Bangkok would sooner or later conclude an alliance with Great Britain, and then the situation in Indochina would become much less advantageous for the Japanese. General Terauchi Hisaichi (1879-1946, pictured), commander of the Southern Army Group of the Imperial Japanese Army, ordered the Japanese invasion of Thailand. On December 8, 1941, units of the Imperial Guards Division, which was part of the 15th Army, invaded Thailand in the region of Battambang province. At about the same time, on the morning of December 8, units of the 3rd Battalion of the Imperial Guards Regiment landed in Samut Prakan, which were tasked with securing the capture of Bangkok. However, the Japanese did not enter into a clash with the Thai units.
Meanwhile, Chumphon was invaded by units from the 1st Battalion of the Imperial Army's 143rd Infantry Regiment. Unlike other Japanese units, they faced serious opposition from the Thai troops stationed in the area. The 3rd Battalion of the 143rd Infantry Regiment and the 18th Airborne Regiment of the Imperial Army landed in Nakhon Si Thammarat on the night of December 7-8. They were opposed by the headquarters of the 6th Division of the Royal Thai Army and the 30th Infantry Battalion of the Royal Army. Thai troops immediately engaged the Japanese paratroopers. Parts of the royal army continued fighting with Japanese forces until noon on December 8 and ceased fire only after the corresponding order was received from Prime Minister Pibunsongram. The Japanese paratroopers also met fierce resistance during the landing in Pattani. Here, soldiers of the 42nd Infantry Battalion of the Royal Army, commanded by Khun Inkhayutboriharn, who died in this battle, entered into battle with the Japanese. Another Japanese unit, the 2nd Battalion of the 143rd Regiment, landed at Prachuapkirikhan, where the airfield and base of the 5th Squadron of the Royal Thai Air Force was located. Here the Japanese managed to defeat the local garrison relatively quickly and establish control over the city. However, the Japanese failed to capture the airfield, the resistance of the Thai pilots and airfield service units turned out to be so fierce. The defenders of the airfield fought until they received an order from the Prime Minister for a ceasefire.
At Khaokhorhong, Thailand's 41st Infantry Battalion and 13th Artillery Battalion took up positions on the roads to Malaya, preparing to repel an attack by Japanese paratroopers. These units then retreated to Hatyai, where the next clash between Thai and Japanese forces took place. Fighting continued, as elsewhere in the country, until noon, when a ceasefire was ordered. The Prime Minister of the country, Pibunsongram, made a decision that was quite beneficial for Thailand not to get involved in a war with Japan, which promised to be extremely bloody and difficult for the country, but entered into negotiations with the Japanese command and soon concluded an armistice. Japanese troops were able to use Thai territory to attack Malaya.
On December 21, 1941, Prime Minister Pibunsongram signed an alliance with Japan. Thus, Thailand became the only sovereign state in Southeast Asia to become an ally of Japan in World War II. The signing of the union treaty was followed by an even more radical step - on January 25, 1942, the Thai government declared war on Great Britain and the United States of America. However, this decision by Prime Minister Pibunsongram caused an extremely negative reaction from a significant part of the Thai political elite. 
Many senior officials were convinced that declaring war on Britain and the United States was against Thailand's national interests. They were convinced that the Japanese would sooner or later be defeated by the allies, and then Thailand would have to answer for the actions of its prime minister. In protest against the declaration of war, Thai Foreign Minister Pridi Panomyong (1900-1983) resigned. Panomyong (pictured), considered a liberal and pro-Western politician, was very unhappy with the irresponsible step of Pibunsongram and even decided to leave such a serious state post. Seni Pramot, the Thai ambassador to the United States, also sharply criticized the declaration of war, who even refused to recognize the declaration of war as valid and did not transmit it to the representatives of the American diplomatic department.
Instead of leaving the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs Panomyong, Premier Pibunsongram appointed Wichita Wichitwathakan, who held in 1938-1942, the head of the Foreign Ministry. the post of Minister of Culture and known as the ideologue of the right-wing radical forces in Thailand. Pibunsongram himself and his associates were convinced that the declaration of war was the right step, as it allowed the Thai army to take part in hostilities on the side of Japan and created the prerequisites for the seizure of a number of new territories by Thailand. In 1943, Japan transferred to Thailand two principalities of the Shan region in northeastern Burma, which had for Pibunsongram great importance since the Shans also belonged to the Thai peoples. In addition to the Shan principalities, the principalities in the north of Malaya were transferred to Thailand, which, as Pibunsongram believed, were also previously included in the orbit of the Siamese state's influence.
However, for the Thai people, the consequences of Pibunsongram's policies were rather negative. The Japanese occupation led to the deaths of thousands of Thais who were mobilized into labor armies for the construction of military infrastructure. The economic situation has deteriorated sharply. Eventually, the Free Thailand Movement was created, led by opposition politicians Seni Pramot and Pridi Panomyong. Finally, in July 1944, Parliament passed a vote of no confidence to Pibunsonggram. He was forced to leave the post of prime minister of the country, while retaining, however, the post of commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The new head of government was the much more moderate politician Quang Apaiwong (1902-1968), an officer of Khmer origin who had previously served in the king's personal guard. His government began to establish contacts with the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition, trying to get out of the war with minimal losses. In connection with the defeat of Japan, the Thai government appealed to the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition with a request for peace. On January 1, 1946, a peace treaty was signed, according to which the country was deprived of all acquired in 1941-1943. lands and paid an indemnity to Great Britain. They tried to try General Pibunsongram as a war criminal, but the court acquitted him. In 1948, he again returned to power in the country, this time safely reorienting himself to cooperation with the United States - under anti-communist slogans.
The Thai Armed Forces are composed of the Land Forces (Royal Thai Army), the Naval Forces and the Air Defense Forces. The basis of the country's modern military policy is a defensive doctrine aimed at building an army, equipping it and arming it, and basing it tactically primarily for defense purposes. However, this was not always the case. During the military dictatorship of Field Marshal Pibunsongkram, military policy was built according to the laws of a militaristic state with territorial claims. In those days, from the end of the 30s to the end of the 40s, the army was built according to the laws of offensive tactics. The Thai army at different times fought against France, Japan, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia. During the Indochina wars of the 50s-70s and the subsequent numerous military coups and revolutions in neighboring countries - Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, the military situation on the country's borders was not just explosive, but in fact was a border war. During these years, the territory of Thailand in its border zones has repeatedly become a theater of operations against the invading troops of Vietnam (during its war with the United States, and then with Cambodia), Laos (in its post-revolutionary period), the Cambodian army of the Khmer Rouge. In addition, in addition to the regular military units of neighboring countries, partisan brigades of communist militants invaded Thailand's territory, which were often joined by their own red brigades - combat units of the underground communist party.
The recruitment of the army is carried out in Thailand on the basis of a mixed system: contract service and conscription for compulsory military service, the period of which is 2 years for ground units, 3 years for the navy. The age of the call is 20 years. If there are valid reasons not related to the state of health, each conscript has the right to self-deferment - the conscript who has declared the need for self-deferment in the military commissariat of his territory is included in the draft lists for the next year. At the same time, the conscript does not have to prove the degree of validity of the reasons - his statement and indication of the reason, which he considers valid for himself, is sufficient. There is no repeated self-deferral. Mandatory deferrals are provided for students, as well as for persons with dependent disabled parents in the absence of other relatives who can take care of them. During the medical examination of potential conscripts, not only the somatic and mental health of conscripts is taken into account, but also their anatomical data - height, weight: young men who are less than 160 cm tall or weigh less than 50 kg (and there are some among some ethnic groups and tribes), conscription are not subject. The "contract soldiers" familiar to Russians make up about 65% of the total number of the armed forces. The age limit for recruiting reservists registered with the military is 55 years old.
In the 1970s and 1980s, Thailand, with the help of the United States, carried out a second program of modern rearmament of the army, navy and aviation, and in the mid-90s, a third program of deep reform and re-equipment. Military cooperation with the United States continues today: the United States is assisting in the supply of modern weapons, equipping Thai enterprises for the production of weapons and ammunition, replacing old weapons with new ones, training military specialists now on the basis of Thailand's own military academies.
Modern Thailand since 1987 has been coexisting with all neighboring states in the regime of complete mutual recognition of borders, and the absence of any mutual territorial claims. The military-political doctrine is now being developed not by the military command, but by the country's civil political power with the participation of military specialists.
Ground Forces
The tactical structure of the ground forces is based on the task of protecting the country from potential armed aggression by the land units of the alleged enemy. When choosing the tactics of the ground forces and their weapons, the state of the military potential of the neighboring border countries - Laos and Cambodia, which about 20-25 years ago did not differ in their friendly attitude towards Thailand - were taken into account, first of all. However, the state of the military potential of these countries is still an order of magnitude inferior to the military potential of Thailand. Based on the principle of reasonable sufficiency of the defensive potential, Thailand forms the base of weapons and the number of its army units. With a rich and long history, the Royal Thai Army is a key national defense weapon. The army commander and his extensive headquarters of military specialists, stationed in Bangkok, carry out all the main functions of managing the army, equipping and re-equipping it, supplying it, conducting exercises and maneuvers, and forming tactical plans and plans for the country's defense.
Flag of the Royal Thai Army
Organizationally, the army consists of regional army formations. The 1st Army, headquartered in Bangkok, has in its area of responsibility the eastern and central provinces of the country, including the capital. The 2nd Army covers the northeast of the country and is headquartered in Nakhon Ratchasima. The region of responsibility of the 3rd Army, stationed in Pitsanulok, is the northern and northwestern provinces. The 4th Army is responsible for the south of the country, and its headquarters are located in Nakhon Si Tammarat.
The tactical organization of the army is represented by the 7th infantry divisions, which include 5 tank battalions. As independent units, the army includes 1 armored division, 1 cavalry division, reinforced with light armored vehicles, 8 independent infantry battalions, 2 special units for conducting local operations in limited areas of the territory, including special airborne detachments, 3 special auto-armored infantry support units parts. The basing of ground units is carried out on the principle of deep coverage of the interior territory of the country, military units are quartered not in the form of large military conglomerates, but in the form of small and medium-sized formations located in almost every province of the country. The bases include not only purely infantry units, but also the infantry support forces attached to them in the form of tank formations, motorized infantry, armored vehicles and artillery.
Chevron ground forces
To maintain the regime of internal order, cavalry units are also lodged here, which are used within the cities as a support force for the royal police. Large military units of permanent deployment also exist, but they are located along the former "problem borders" in the north, north-west and north-east of Thailand.
In 1987, on the initiative of the commander of the Royal Army, General Chaovalit Yongchaiut, the number of the bureaucratic army superstructure was drastically reduced - instead of 200 generals, the army remained 80. The number of the army was 223 thousand people, including all "accompanying" services - command, control, communications, computer support, cadres of the military intelligentsia (engineers, doctors, quartermasters, military teachers).
The system of military ranks has also been somewhat modified and is now the following. Senior officers (in descending order): field marshal (since 2002 only the king has this rank), general, lieutenant general, major general, colonel, lieutenant colonel, major, captain, lieutenant, second lieutenant.
Junior officer ranks (in descending order): master sergeant, commissioned officer 1st class, commissioned officer 2nd class, sergeant major, staff sergeant, sergeant, bombardier, corporal.
The most profound army reforms were carried out during the period when the command armed forces was in the hands of the current Prime Minister of Thailand Surayud Chulanont from October 1998 to September 2002. He reduced the size of the army to 190 thousand people, of which only 80 thousand were conscripts. In addition, elite military units were created: 2 special corps as part of the 4th regional army, 2 mixed infantry divisions, 3 mechanized divisions, 1 special artillery battalion, 4 special air divisions and 3 mobile air groups, 19 engineer battalions.
The structure of the units of the ground army at the present time is as follows. The 1st regional army of the Center includes 4 infantry divisions, which include 8 battalions of motorized infantry, 4 battalions of armored vehicles, 9 artillery divisions, as well as auxiliary engineering units, 1 reserve division and 1 reserve battalion of motorized infantry. The 2nd Regional Army (Northeast) includes 3 regular infantry divisions and 1 reserve infantry division, which include 6 motorized infantry battalions, 1 infantry battalion, 3 mechanized battalions, and 1 armored vehicle battalion. The 3rd Regional Army (North) includes 1 infantry division, 1 armored vehicle division, 1 reserve division. The 4th Regional Army (South) includes 1 infantry division and 1 reserve division, which include 1 mechanized battalion, 4 battalions of motorized infantry, 3 battalions of armored vehicles, 1 separate artillery battalion. A separate command manages the special forces of the Thai army, including 2 divisions of special forces, a reserve division of special forces.
The armament of the ground army includes M16 rifles, light anti-tank weapons of the M72 system, M47 Dragon anti-tank missile launchers, and RPG-2/7 anti-tank missiles.
Tank equipment: medium tanks М-60А3 and М-48А5 in a total of 283 units; heavy tanks 69-II (a copy of the Soviet T-55) - over 50 units; Stingray light tanks - 106 units, FV101Scorpion light tanks - 154 units, M41 Bulldog light tanks - 200 units.
Mobile armored vehicles: YW531 - 450 units, APCKondor - 18 units, LAV150 - 138 units, M113 - 340 units.
Artillery: T85-130mm - 60 units, T83-122mm - 40 units, M-109A5-155mm - 20 units, GHN-45A5-155mm - 42 units, M-71Soltam-155mm - 32 units, M198-155mm - 62 units, M114-155mm - 56 units, T59-1-130mm - 15 units, GiatLG1-105mm - 24 units, M101-105mm - 285 units, M102-105mm - 12 units, M618A2-105mm - 32 units, T59-57mm anti-aircraft - 24 units, BoforsL40-40mm anti-aircraft - 48 units, Т74 65 / 37mm - 122 units, М163-20mm - 24 units, М167-20mm - 24 units.
Naval forces
The system of tactical formation of the Thai naval forces is almost entirely borrowed from the organization of similar forces of the United States. The naval forces of Thailand include 2 types: the navy and the marines. The main base and command are stationed in Sattahip (near the Pattaya resort), where the central command of the US Pacific Naval Base was previously located.
Thailand naval flag
The entire "zone of responsibility" of Thailand's naval forces is divided into three sections and, accordingly, three command headquarters: Zone 1 (the eastern part of the Gulf of Thailand - the former Gulf of Thailand), Zone 2 (Western part of the Gulf of Thailand), 3- i Zone (western waters of Thailand in the Andamant Sea of the Indian Ocean). Naval aviation headquarters are based in two zones of command: in U-Tapao (1st zone - near the airport) and in Songkla (2nd zone).
Thailand Marine Corps Flag
Within the framework of military cooperation, a number of countries have signed an agreement on mutual military assistance at sea and the conduct of joint naval exercises and maneuvers (USA, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and the Philippines). The Thai naval forces are armed with separate ships and formations: 1 strategic aircraft carrier ("Chakri Dynasty"), 10 naval frigates (including 2 large classes FFG461 and FFG462), 7 corvettes, 6 missile cruisers, 9 amphibious ships, 77 patrol ships, 15 river patrol boats, 7 mine ships. As part of the naval aviation: 44 fighters, 8 helicopters of air artillery.
Strategic aircraft carrier "Chakri Dynasty"
The number of naval forces in manpower is 18 thousand people, the number of personnel of the naval aviation is 1,700 people. The strategic aircraft carrier Chakri Dynasty entered service in 1997. Its maximum displacement is 11486 tons, length is 182.6 meters, width is 21.9 meters, draft is 6.2 meters, speed is 26.2 knots. It carries 6 AV-8SHarriers and 4 S-70BSeahawks-class fighters, as well as a helicopter formation. In addition to one aircraft carrier, the backbone of Thailand's naval forces are also two large frigates: "Puchaiodfa Chulalok" (the proper name of King Rama I) and "Puchaletla Nafalai" (the proper name of King Rama II). The first of them entered service with the Thai naval forces from the United States, first on lease, and since 1999 has been the property of the kingdom.
Frigate "Puchaiodfa Chulalok"
Its length is 133.5 meters, width is 14.4 meters, speed is 27 knots, radar of the SPS-40B 2-D system. The number of the crew is 250 people. The ship is equipped with a cannon fire guidance system, a rocket fire system, 8 ASROC cannons, 4 Harpoon cannons, 4 120 mm Mk-32 torpedo cannons. A reconnaissance helicopter is based on board.
Air Force
The Thai Air Force was first founded in 1911 under King Watchirawuta. They originally consisted of 8 aircraft (4 Briget and 4 Neuport). Now in service there are 315 air vehicles, including such models of combat vehicles as L-39 (34 units), AlphaJet (25 units), AU-23 (21 units), F-16 (61 units), F-5 ( 46 units), as well as C-130 transport aircraft and helicopters (12 units), BT-67 (9 units), UH-1 Iroquois helicopter (20 units), G222 (6 units), GAF N22B Nomad patrol aircraft (19 units), reconnaissance aircraft LearJet 35A (2 units) and IAI201 (3 units).
Air force emblem
Air force bases are located in several deployment zones: Bangkok, Nakhon Ratchasima, Chang Mai, Udon Thani, Songkla, Ubon Ratchatani, etc. In total, there are 4 air divisions stationed at 9 territorial bases. There is a separate base for training flights, which is used by students of the military academy. The base is armed with training aircraft CT-4E (20 units), Pilatus PC-9 (23 units).
Characterizing the overall size and equipment of the army, we can confidently say that by the standards of the countries of Southeast Asia, Thailand is quite seriously armed, if not to say that it even refers to a certain extent to the militarized states. In any case, on the Indochina Peninsula, he shares the first place with Vietnam. There are no other competitors in terms of army power.
28.09.2014Thailand or the Kingdom of Thailand is a state located in the southwestern part of the Indochina Peninsula and in the northern part of the Malacca Peninsula (Southeast Asia). In the southwest, the country is washed by the waters of the Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean), in the southeast - by the Gulf of Thailand (South China Sea).
Thailand owns numerous islands, among which the largest are Koh Samui, Phangan, Phuket and Pratong. The north of the country is covered with mountain ranges. The highest point in Thailand is Mount Doi Ithanon (2576m). 20% of the country's territory is forests. The largest rivers are Menam-Chao-Phraya, Mekong with the Mun tributary. The Kingdom of Thailand is located on the axis of influence of China and India.
Thailand borders:
- -in the east with Cambodia and Laos.
- -in the west with Myanmar
- -in the south with Malaysia
Square
Occupies an area of 514 thousand km, of which the sea zone is 2.23 thousand km. The maximum length of the territory from west to east is 780 km, from north to south - 1650 km. Most of the borders were established in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in accordance with treaties imposed on Thailand and its neighbors by Britain and France. By area, Thailand is the 50th country in the world and is slightly smaller than Yemen and slightly larger than Spain.
Thailand is an active member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, and the WTO. Recently, Japan, the USA, and China have become the largest trading partners.
Some ASEAN countries (Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia), from EU member states - Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands. In the near future, Thailand wants to establish trade relations with South Korea, Russia and many more.
Conflicts of Thailand with other states
Conflict situations with some of Thailand's neighbors. For example, since the late 1980s. there was a dispute between Thailand and Cambodia over the territorial affiliation on which the Preah Viheray temple is located. In 2011, the conflict even reached its climax in the sense that armed clashes broke out on the border. There were similar conflicts in 2008-09. As a result, the international court ruled to designate this territory for Cambodia, which is why there are still disagreements.
Also, the Thai-Laotian dispute over the border along the river is known. Mekong. After armed clashes on the border in the late 1980s, an agreement was reached on the creation of a joint border commission. The demarcation line continues, the differences on some islands on the river have not been overcome. Mekong.
There were also disputes between Thailand and Malaysia. Regarding the delimitation of the border in the area of the river. Kolok and about the delimitation continental shelf in the Gulf of Thailand. Both disputes are still considered officially unresolved.
Thailand has winding borders, it is classified as an irregularly shaped state, therefore, because of this, there may be difficulties with the protection of the state, especially since Thailand is a lowland in many respects, which is washed by the seas, which again, on the one hand, undermines security. + border conflicts. But on the other side of the sea, these are ports, trade routes, so this is favorable, + Thailand is not an isolated state and has a sufficient number of neighbors and external relations with the world.
Ethnic boundaries
Thailand is one of the most homogeneous in racial Lana Southeast countries Asia. 75% of the population are Thais, about a third are Lao, 14% are Chinese (there are enough of them everywhere). Also, Malays live there in the south. The Malays made up the third major ethnic group.
Malays are mostly Muslims, which makes them isolated from other peoples, and historical disputes and proximity to the border with Malaysia, which has been argued about for many centuries, sometimes cause serious conflicts and protests from the Malays. Malays live in the south and often come from there news of international conflict.
Fruit of Thailand (photo with names)
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Tsunami in Thailand 2004
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On April 1, both in the Russian Federation and in Thailand, the spring conscription began. But unlike the Russian one, the Thai call takes place only once a year and lasts not three months, but only 11 days. On these days, all men who have reached the age of 21 must come to recruiting centers for a mark. Everyone flocks here - Buddhist monks, transvestites, and ordinary Thai guys. The latter will be able to try their luck and get into the army. The fact is that serving in the Kingdom is considered a duty of honor and the conscription quota is usually about 20% of potential recruits, so the authorities are holding a lottery.
(12 photos total)
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1.24-year-old transgender Nopparat (right) and a Buddhist monk (left) wait in line to speak to officers during a conscription at a Bangkok school on April 3, 2015. In the Thai army they serve both by contract and by conscription (there are more contract servicemen, as in the Russian Federation - 65%). Volunteers serve for six months, but the rest have to rely on the lottery, which takes place over 10 days at recruiting centers throughout Thailand. Conscripts who are considered physically incapable, mentally retarded, as well as those who have significantly changed their appearance, such as transgender people, are exempted from service. (Photo by Athit Perawongmetha / Reuters)
2. Having large potential manpower reserves, the Thai army allows itself the luxury of choosing the best of the best in terms of physiological parameters. During the medical examination of potential recruits, not only mental and somatic health is taken into account, but also such anatomical data as weight, height and chest circumference. In order to serve in the army, a young man must have a height of at least 160 cm and a weight of at least 50 kg, and a chest girth of at least 76 cm. are among some tribes and nationalities). Also, do not call on AIDS patients and those suffering from chronic diseases. In the photo: conscripts are waiting for the weigh-in. (Photo by Athit Perawongmetha / Reuters)
3. Young people and Buddhist monks are waiting for the start of the annual lottery in Bangkok school. All those who have passed the medical examination draw lots - a red or black card. Any Thai boy sleeps and sees himself serving in the army. This desire has a solid material support. Immediately after the call, the salary of a Thai soldier is about 7000 baht, and during the service it also increases. And this is a fairly decent amount of money, considering that they live in the army with everything ready. (Photo by Athit Perawongmetha / Reuters)
4. The young man is glad that he was lucky enough to pull out a red card during the lottery. Despite the fact that conscripts can also be sent to the extreme south of the country, where Islamic separatists have been regularly organizing terrorist attacks for many years, a lot of volunteers are joining the army, about 10% of the total number of conscripts. (Photo by Athit Perawongmetha / Reuters)
5. Volunteers can choose from three divisions of the armed forces: Royal Army, Navy and Air Force. Service also depends on education. For example, a graduate with a high school diploma or its equivalent, and those with a military education, must serve two years if pulled out a red card; however, if they volunteer, their service life will be cut in half, i.e. they will have to serve only a year. Likewise, conscripts with an associate's degree or higher are required to serve only a year, but if they volunteer, the term will be halved to 6 months. (Photo by Athit Perawongmetha / Reuters)
6. The atmosphere of the lottery is very similar to gambling, friends and relatives come to cheer for young people. As a result of the lottery, only 20% of candidates are called up to serve in the Thai armed forces, the rest can go home. (Photo by Athit Perawongmetha / Reuters)
7. Officers prepare red and black cards for the annual recruitment lottery. (Photo by Athit Perawongmetha / Reuters)
8. 21-year-old Sitiphan with his son. The action of the military lottery is so exciting that friends and relatives of Thai recruits come to watch it. (Photo by Athit Perawongmetha / Reuters)
9. The abundance of potential recruits allows Thais to plan the date of their conscription. Once in a lifetime, they have the right to come to a recruiting station and announce the reason why they cannot serve in the army in a given year. You don't need to prove anything. The name of the conscript is simply transferred to the next year. Thai students are not even called to the medical board for the entire duration of their studies. They are also respectful of those who are in the care of elderly parents, if there is no one else to look after them. In the photo: young conscripts await their turn at the admissions office in Bangkok. (Photo by Athit Perawongmetha / Reuters)
10. According to the 1954 Draft Law, all Katoy (or, in other words, transsexuals) were declared mentally abnormal during a medical examination and released from the army, regardless of whether or not genital surgery was performed. Now this diagnosis will not be attributed to ladyboys, so as not to humiliate their feelings, and even under some circumstances they will be able to call them for service. In the photo: transgender people (behind) sit in line with the rest of the recruits. (Photo by Athit Perawongmetha / Reuters)
12. All conscripts are divided into three types: real men who look like they are; transsexuals who have made themselves breasts; transsexuals who have completely changed their sex. But even in the latter case, according to Thai law, a kathoi cannot change documents and still legally remains a man. Therefore, under normal conditions, only the first type will be recruited, but with a shortage of recruits, the second type will also be recruited, despite the female breast. Photo: An officer writes a number on the hand of Tanompong, a 21-year-old transgender man, while being drafted into the army in Bangkok. (Photo by Athit Perawongmetha / Reuters)