NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Ratanakosindra 1926

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
รัตนโกสินทร์ [Ratanakosindra]			Armstrong, Elswick, UK	9.1924	21.4.1925	8.1925	stricken 10.1967
สุโขทัย [Sukothai]			Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow, UK	12.1928	19.11.1929	12.1930	stricken 1971

Technical data

Displacement standard, t	886
Displacement full, t	1000
Length, m	48.8 pp 53.0 oa
Breadth, m	11.3
Draught, m	3.28
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 VTE, 2 Yarrow boilers
Power, h. p.	850
Max speed, kts	12
Fuel, t	oil 96
Endurance, nm(kts)	2000(10)
Armour, mm	belt: 57 - 32, deck: (25 - 13) + 25, turrets: 38, barbettes: 38, CT: 120
Armament	2 x 1 - 152/50 EOC TT, 4 x 1 - 76/40 EOC N
Complement	102

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

Program of strengthening of Siamese Navy accepted in 1914 provided the order in the Great Britain of two original armoured gunboats (actually low-freeboard monitors). Total displacement should make 1070t, armament consisted from 4 152mm/50 and 4 76mm/40 Armstrong guns, machinery included VTEs and cylindrical coal-firing boilers. Lead Ratanakosindra was laid down in 1914 by Armstrong in Elswick, but in connection with beginning of the First World War building was suspended, and partially assembled hull was broken up to clear a slipway. Ship was re-ordered in 1924 under changed design. Number of main guns was decreased to two, cylindrical boilers were replaced by Yarrow oil-firing water-tube boilers, also VTEs of a new construction were installed, but with the same power. The given measures have allowed to increase a fuel stowage (normal from 15 to 85t, and full from 50 to 96t) and thus to decrease a draught a little.     Ratanakosindra was built at High Walker, 10.8.1925 she was commissioned and 31.8.1925 departured from Britain to Siam, but those day she received damages as result of collision and returned to builder for repair; she ultimately left Great Britain 29.10.1925. Sukothai ("City of angels": a poetical name of Bangkok) was ordered in 1928 to already Vickers-Armstrong, building was conducted in Barrow.     Ships differed by rather unusual hull structure combining low free board typical for monitors with raised forecastle, improving seaworthiness. On trials Ratanakosindra shown 12.892kts. Outwardly Sukothai differed by increased bridge and transferred on 3m aftward funnel.

Ship protection

Main belt, 2m in height, had 57mm thickness amidships, decreasing to 32mm at ship ends. There were two armoured decks: upper had 25mm thickness over machinery, 19mm over aft end and 13mm over fore end, lower deck was uniform with 25mm thickness. Turrets and barbettes had 38mm protection from all directions, CT had 120mm armour.

Modernizations

mid-1930s, both: + 2 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk II

mid-1940s, both: + 2 x 1 - 20/65 Breda 1939

1960s, both (presumably): + radar

Naval service

Both ships served more than 40 years.