warspite1
Posts: 41353
Joined: 2/2/2008
From: England
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..and here they are:
[4531 Sri Ayuthia - by Robert Jenkins]
.B Engine output: 5,200 hp
.B Top Speed: 15.5 knots.
.B Main armament: 4 x 8-inch (203mm), 4 x 3-inch (76.2mm) guns
.B Displacement (standard): 2,265 tons
.B Thickest armour: 2.5-inch (belt)
.P In the early thirties the Siamese navy was very small, consisting of just
two small, British built, coastal defence ships and a collection of elderly
torpedo and gunboats.
.P In the mid-thirties, a new Siamese government authorised an increase in
military expenditure and in particular an increase in naval spending. Siam turned
to Japan and Italy for construction of new coastal defence ships, sloops, torpedo
boats and submarines. The largest of the vessels ordered for the new navy were
two cruisers, although the outbreak of the Second World War meant that they were
never delivered by the Italian builders.
.P As a result, at the outbreak of the war in September 1939, the largest ships
in the Siamese navy were the Sri Ayuthias, a class of two coastal defence ships
that were built for the Siamese navy by the Japanese between 1936 and 1938. The
two ships were named Sri Ayuthia (Ayutthaya) and Dhonburi (Thon Buri) after
ancient capitals of Siam.
.P They were not especially powerful or well armoured ships, certainly when
compared to coastal defence vessels in vogue with the Scandanavian countries, but
their four 8-inch guns, fitted in two twin turrets, were capable of packing a
considerable punch. Anti-aircraft (AA) defence was provided by four single 3-inch
guns supported by four 40mm guns for close-range AA protection.
.P Armour defence was not particularly heavy - certainly when compared with their
European counterparts - and both belt and deck armour was more akin to that given
to contemporary cruisers rather than coastal defence ships.
.P These were slow ships, capable of just over 15 knots.
.P Both vessels were badly damaged during the Battle of Koh Chang, the main naval
engagement of the French-Thai war of 1941. The Siamese tried to take advantage of
the recent French defeat at the hands of Germany and so seize disputed border
areas on the Indo-China-Siam border. The battle took place on the 17th January,
when the French cruiser Lamotte-Picquet and her sloop escorts, decisively
defeated ships of the Siamese navy. The Siamese lost three torpedo boats, and
both of the Sri Ayuthias had to be beached to ensure they did not sink after
being badly damaged. Unfortunately for HTMS Dhonburi, she sank later anyway when
under tow.
.P Her sister was luckier and after being repaired, was to survive the war. HTMS
Sri Ayuthia was scrapped in 1951.
.P Note one World In Flames counter (Sri Ayuthia) is marked with a CA (heavy
cruiser) symbol and one (Dhonburi) with CL (light cruiser). This marking has no
effect on game play other than to indicate that Dhonburi is only available when
playing with Cruisers In Flames.
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England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805  |
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