History of Thai Submarine

History of Thai Submarine (Eng sub)

HTMS Matchanu Class Submariners trained in Japan

In 1937, Royal Thai(Siamese) Navy, had sent  118 seamen to be trained to be submariners by Imperial Japanese submariners. Captain Yatsushiro Sukeyoshi, former CO. of IJN Tatsuta, light cruiser, was a chief instructor.

The first shift departed Bangkok by Japanese transport "Nachisan Maru" on May 31,1936. 

Arrived at Kobe, June 12,1936.

The first shift about 40 men and officers.

Thai submariners stayed at Funabashi Middle School, Tokyo from June,13 to October 25, 1936.

 Maybe the first seminar.

Thais in Kendo training.

Trained for gymnastics.

Both navy ensign at Funabashi school.

Captain Yatsushiro Sukeyoshi (later Rear Admiral), Chief instructor for Thai submariner, died in WWII at Kwajalein Atoll by bomb hit from USS Enterprise's air strike, February 1,1942. 

Japanese language instructor.

Infantry(marine) class at Funabashi.

Thai seamen visited IJN Mikasa on September 15,1936.

Goodbye ceremony, October 22, 1936.

Leaving Funabashi for catching Kobe train in Tokyo, October 25,1936.
Arrived Kobe on the next day.

Thai submariners house at Mitsubishi Dockyard, Kobe

Inside.

 Thai officer on study.

"nice and easy" time.

Submarine technical class.

Lunch at Kobe.

Physical inspection.

Japanese military instructor.

1.Captain Yatsushiro, commanding officer.

2. Lt.commander Goto, executive officer.

3. Lt.commander Murazumi, chief engineer.

4.Lieutenant Shimada, deputy engineer.

5.Sub-lieutenant Hasegawa, boatswain.

6.Another 17 petty officers.

IJN submarine Ro-64 for Thai submariner training.

Japanese and Thai submariners.

HTMS Matchanu class Submarine

 Matchanu Class interior

      HTMS Matchanu class was a Royal Thai Navy small submarine built in Japan in 1937.  Royal Thai(Siamese) navy sent 118 seamen to be trained by Japanese submariners in 1936 until the submarines were completed and brought all of them home in 1938. 

There were 4 submarines in HTMS Matchanu class

The submarines' name were called after a character in Thai literature those who were powerful at sea.

The number painted on their bridge.

1.HTMS  Matchanu "มัจฉานุ"

Called after Hanuman's son (Hanuman is a great monkey hero in Ramayana, ancient Hindu Epic),This is Matchanu picture in Thai version.

Matchanu ,his father(Hanuman) is monkey and his mother(Supanmatcha) is half-fish.

 Hanuman  

 Supanmatcha

No.1 HTMS Matchanu

No.1 Matchanu painting 

Lt.Commander Kanok(Sui) Noppakoon (Center).

HTMS Matchanu' Screw at Royal Thai Navy Museum.

2.HTMS Wirun "วิรุณ"

Matchanu and Wirun at Kobe, Japan 1937.

No.2 Wirun painting

Wirun left Japan.

3.HTMS Sinsamut "สินสมุทร"

Her name "สินสมุทร" was painted on conning tower.

 From the Thai text "เรือดำน้ำสินสมุทร กำลังลงน้ำ ที่อู่ Mitsubishi ใน Kobe วันที่ ๑๔ พค. ๘๐",

"Phlai-Chumphol submarine launching at Mitsubishi Dockyard in Kobe, May 14, 1937.

HTMS Sinsamut at Japan.

another picture at Japan.

 No.3 HTMS Sinsamut

No.3 Sinsamut painting 

4.HTMS Phlai Chumphon "พลายชุมพล"

From the Thai text "เรือดำน้ำพลายชุมพล กำลังลงน้ำ ที่อู่ Mitsubishi ใน Kobe วันที่ ๑๔ พค. ๘๐",

"Phlai-Chumphon submarine launching at Mitsubishi Dockyard in Kobe, May 14, 1937.

Another clearer picture.

No.4 Phlai-Chumphon painting 

Phlai-Chumphon at sea.

     In year 2008, I, as a member of www.thaimsot.com(thai military modeler club), found out that one of our members has some relative or grandfather as a high ranking naval officer (may be an admiral) who may be a commissioner to Japan for acquiring submarines for Royal Thai Navy (Matchanu Class). He receive a model of this submarine class from Mitsui Corp. for a gift. So I quickly save all the pictures he posted but I can't remember his username after the site has changed to the new server and all the data has been deleted. So if you know him or you are that person please email me jiramesh1979@gmail.com ,so i can give you a credit for these fine super rare pictures,Thankyou

  HTMS matchanu submarine, of course it is the first Matchanu sub model in the world.

Some damage after 70 years.

 

and Matchanu class blueprints (may be the original that Japanese gave us).

Credit to anonymous member of www.thaimsot.com

please email me if you know or you're him.

jiramesh1979@gmail.com