Jim D Burns
Posts: 4013
Joined: 2/25/2002 From: Salida, CA. Status: offline
|
How About including the Thai Navy for Japans side? Here's what I have, not sure if it saw much (if any) action, but it would be nice for historical interest to include it I think. Ratanakosindra and Sukhothai (886 tons) PG, 12 knots, 2x6inch guns and 4x3 inch DP guns. British built gunboats, extremely compact and more thickly armored than many cruisers (2.5 inch belt armor). The 6 inch guns fired 100lb shells to 20,430 yards. Sri Ayuthia and Dhonburi (2,265 tons) PG, 15.5 knots, 4x8 inch guns and 4x3 inch DP guns. Japanese design from same theory as the Ratanakosindras and similar in appearance, but much enlarged. the 8 inch mounts may have had 45 degree elevation; with 4 inch turret armor, they quadrupled the thickness given to Japanese cruiser turrets. Taksin and Naresuan (5,500 tons) CL, 30 knots, 6x6 inch guns and 6x3 inch guns, 6x21 inch TT, 2 AC. CL design from Italy (retained there as Etna and Vesuvio) with armor thinner than in the gunboat classes. the 6 inch guns would probably have been the latest Italian 55cal model. Sinsamudar, Vilun, Machanu and Blajunbol (370/430 tons, Displacement Surfaced/Submerged) Costal subs, 14.5/8 knots, 1x3 inch DP gun, 5x21 inch TT. Japanese built coastal subs; Their gun armaments may have consisted of ligght weapons only. Tachin and Meklong (1,400 tons) MSW, 17 knots, 4x4.7 inch guns, 4x21 inch TT. Japanese built sloops used for minesweeping and training, a sluggish but otherwise sound design. The 4.7 inch shells weighed 45 lbs. Phra Ruang (1,035 tons) DD, 35 knots, 3x4 inch guns, 1x3 inch DP gun, 4x21 inch TT. Thornycroft "R"-class DD purchased after WWI. The main guns fired 31 lb shells. Chow Phraya (840 tons) PG, 16 knots, light guns. Ex-British "Hunt" class sloop used as gunboat. Bangrachan and Nhongarhai (368 tons) ML, 13 knots, 2x3 inch DP guns, 142 mines. Italian built ML. Trad class (318 tons) MTB, 31 knots, 3x3 inch DP guns, 6x17.7 inch TT. Nine Italian built TB; one of the only Thai orders with high speed. Sriya Monthon (225 tons) PC, 14 knots, light guns. Coast Guard vessel. Kantan, Takbai and Kyongyai (110 tons) MTB, 19 knots, 1x3 inch DP gun, 2x17.7 inch TT. Japanese built TB. Sarasindhu, Thiew Uthock and Travane Vari (50 tons) PC, 9 knots, light guns. Fishery protection vessels designed in italy but built in Bangkok. Thailand bought two batches of 55 foot Thornycroft boats, 1-5 (11 tons, 2x17.7 inch TT, 37 knots) and the slightly updated 6-9 (16 tons, 2x17.7 inch TT, 40knots). The Thai's themselves may have completed boats numbered 10-12 to a Thornycroft design. The above was taken from Richard Worths book "Fleets of World War II". Jim
< Message edited by Jim D Burns -- 11/29/2004 6:25:07 PM >
_____________________________
|