Thailand launches two new indigenous coastal patrol boats

One of the new M36 Mk.III patrol boats bound for the RTN. Photo c/o RTN.

Thai boatbuilder Marsun Public Company Ltd has launched two new indigenously designed and built coastal patrol boats for the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) in ceremonies held in the company’s shipyard in Samut Prakan province on 31 July 2020.

The boats, based on Marsun’s M36 Mk. III patrol boat design and called the Tor 111-class, were given the hull numbers 114 and 115, and are the 4th and 5th boats of the class.

The RTN currently operates 3 more units, with hull numbers 111, 112 and 113. 

Improvements were made on these new patrol boats compared to earlier sisterships, as it now uses a 30mm gun mounted on a remote controlled weapon station, unlike earlier models that has a 20mm manually operated Denel Land Systems GI-2 gun.

It is also armed with two .50-caliber heavy machine guns.

The boats have enough spaces for 13 special operators from the RTN’s Naval Special Warfare Command.

Both patrol boats are expected to be delivered and commissioned to the RTN by August 2020.

The M36 Mk. III patrol boats are 36 meters long, has a beam of 7.60 meters, and is powered by 3 Cummins diesel engines, enabling it to reach a maximum speed of more than 27 knots, and a range of 1,200 nautical miles.

The aluminium-hull boats has a crew of 28 officers and sailors


[1] Royal Thai Navy
[2] AAG_Th Thai Defense Page
[3] Marsun Public Company Ltd