Thailand’s Royal Marine has announced that four veteran ships are taken out of service including the legendary HTMS Pinklao – recognized as The world’s oldest major warship still in active service.
The decision was made due to the ships’ advanced wear and the high maintenance costs, which made further operation unsustainable. Discharge came into force 1 October.
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The ship was originally built during World War II under the name USS inhibitions (De-746) And was designed to escort British convoys against German submarine attacks in the Atlantic. Later it was transferred to the Pacific, where it served as an anti -submarine ship, equipped with sonar and torpedoes.
It July 22, 1959 was the destroyer officially transferred to Thailand’s Royal Marine at the Navy yard in New York and renamed to HTMS Pinklao In honor of Kong Rama IV.
For over six decades the vessel had a central role that training and training vessels for cadets and sub -officers, as well as participating in joint exercises with international forces. According to HTM’s Pinklao’s official Facebook page, one of the ship’s most symbolic tasks was a part of The honorary guard for the royal barges by Kaguigal in the Hua Hin – the residence of the deceased Kong Rama IX – Where the ship was often depicted during ceremonial greetings.
With the pension, the world says goodbye to a real maritime icon that has survived generations and witnessed deep geopolitical changes since the post -war period.
In addition to HTM’s Pinkklao, the ships also became HTMS Pupk, HTMS Samui and Htms suriya taken out of service.
Source and pictures: Thaipbs | Thailand’s royal navy. This content was created with the help of artificial intelligence and reviewed by the editorial staff.
