Meklong 1940
Meklong 1965
| Name | No | Yard No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comp | Fate |
| ท่าจีน [Tachin] | Uraga, Yokosuka, Japan | 1936 | 24.7.1936 | 6.1937 | damaged 1.6.1945, BU | ||
| แม่กลอง [Meklong] | 1992- 414 | Uraga, Yokosuka, Japan | 1936 | 27.11.1936 | 6.1937 | TS 1976, stricken 3.1995 |
|
Displacement standard, t |
1400 |
|
Displacement full, t |
2000 |
|
Length, m |
82.0 |
|
Breadth, m |
10.4 |
|
Draught, m |
3.14 |
|
No of shafts |
2 |
|
Machinery |
2 VTE, 2 Kampon boilers |
|
Power, h. p. |
2500 |
|
Max speed, kts |
17 |
|
Fuel, t |
oil 487 |
|
Endurance, nm(kts) |
8000(12) |
|
Armament |
4 x 1 - 120/45 3-shiki, 2 x 1 - 20/65 Breda 1939, 2 x 2 - 7.7/87, 2 x 2 - 450 TT, 1 seaplane (Watanabe WS-103), mines, mechanical minesweeping gear |
|
Complement |
155 (inc. cadets) |
Project history: Ordered under the 1935 programme as multipurpose ships, capable to be used in a wartime as gunboats and escorts, and in peace time for cadets training and "showing the flag". They were designed and built in Japan, that found reflexion in characteristic appearance. Building of 2 more ships was planned, but order was never given out.
Modernizations: early 1950s, Meklong: - seaplane, minesweeping gear; + 2 x 1 - 40/60 Mk 3
1965, Meklong: - 2 x 2 - 450 TT
1974, Meklong: - 4 x 1 - 120/45, 2 x 1 - 20/65; + 4 x 1 - 76/50 Mk 22, 1 x 1 - 40/60 Mk 3, 3 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 4, radars
Naval service: Tachin was hard damaged in result of air bomb hit during raid of British B-24 bombers at Sattahip 1.6.1945; she was never repaired and BU right after war; Maeklong was repeatedly modernized and served as TS till 20.3.1995, now she is stored as a museum ashore in Samutprakan.
Tachin 1937
Meklong 1952
© Ivan Gogin, 2011-15