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CARAT Headquarters
Working with counterparts like Thai Navy Cmdr. Silsamut Pancha, head of operations for Royal Thai Navy Frigate Squadron 1, and Thai Navy Cmdr. Suwat Donsakul, Commanding Officer of HTMS Rattanakosin, the CARAT headquarters team dealt with a variety of issues. They used cell phones, land lines, and face-to-face coordination to ensure that exercise events occurred smoothly. The two Thai Navy officers were pleased with CARAT events. “We get knowledge and experience from this exercise,” said Cmdr. Suwat. “We learn new high technology and tactics.“ Commenting on the U.S. Navy’s use of a drone to simulate an attacking missile, Cmdr. Suwat said, “We don’t have drone targets, and the [use of one as an] anti-submarine target [was excellent].” He also noted, “It is good to improve my link to communications with [the] U.S. Navy, CARAT is [the] one chance each year to do that.” They also noted the useful engineering, medical, and dental civic action projects (ENCAP, MEDCAP, and DENTCAP) taking place in the region. “The people in the Sattahip area are very happy with ENCAP, MEDCAP, DENTCAP,” said Cmdr. Silsamut.
In a cross-decking exercise, Thai Navy officers spent three days aboard the USS Harpers Ferry, while their U.S. Navy counterparts spent a similar amount of time aboard the Royal Thai Navy ship HTMS Prathong (LST 715). Both ships performed maneuvers that simulated an underway replenishment. Said Thai Navy Lt. j. g. Komol Kongboonrak, “It’s great for the Thai Navy. I got the opportunity to see and learn about some of the more advanced systems that the U.S. Navy uses. Specifically in CIC [Combat Information Center], where I got to observe how LCAC [Landing Craft, Air Cushion] operations are conducted, and I also got to see how the air search radar works.” U.S. Navy Ens. Leonard Ouzts said his visit to HTMS Prathong was “one that I will never forget. I got to see how another nation’s navy works first hand.” Live-fire Assault Thai and U.S. Marines conducted several live-fire assaults on an objective at Ban Chan Khrem firing range. “It was a great opportunity for us to get out and train with some of our host country counterparts and practice a large-scale assault on a live-fire range,” said U.S. Marine CWO4 Ken McAlpine. U.S. Marines conducted their assault, followed by Thai Marines. “The Royal Thai Marines showed us how they operated,” said U.S. Marine Sgt. Andres Burgos. “We needed to know how they would assault the objective, so we could coordinate the other aspects of the attack.” The other elements of the attack included Thai and U.S. Marine mortar sections, combat engineers, and infantry platoons. All these elements came together for the final live-fire assault. The assault began with combat engineers setting up several charges to breech a concertina-wire obstacle for the infantry platoons to pass through on their final rush to the objective. “The U.S. Marines brought many weapons and equipment that we in the Royal Thai Marines do not have,” said Thai Marine PO1 Pitak Tiwastapon, a Commando V-150 [light armored vehicle] driver. “We were able to learn how [U.S. Marines] move in combat, and we even got to shoot some of their weapons. It is a very valuable experience for the Royal Thai Marines.” Ship Search and Seizure Aboard the USS Vincennes, a Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) team of U.S. Navy and Coast Guard personnel showed Thai counterparts how the team seizes control of a ship’s bridge. Thai Navy Lt. Wongpaibool Atthasit said, “We learned how to search the ship. I really liked the pressure point techniques we saw.” He noticed differences in the methods of the two navies, including the team’s use of pepper spray as a restraint. He noted, “We have no pepper spray.” Thai Navy Lt. Phipat Karnjunda pointed out variations as well. “[This is] the first time seeing some of this equipment,” he said as he gestured toward the team’s plastic restraints. Thai sailors were intrigued with the unimpressive-looking restraints used for handcuffing.
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