U.S. sailors load the MK 62 Quick Strike mine aboard a P-3C Orion aircraft before a mine-laying exercise. Photo by JOC Joseph Krypel, USNR

A Thai Navy diver and a U.S. Navy diver aboard the USS Salvor (ARS 52) check the MK21 hard hat before a dive event. Photo by EM1 Elysian McIntyre, USN

Maritime Boardings
Twenty-two RTN and U.S. Coast Guard personnel conducted symposia on boarding safety, compartment entry, hidden compartment location, and restraining techniques aboard the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Mellon (WHEC 717). A combined boarding of an underway 70-foot (20-meter) Thai fishing vessel capped the training.

U.S. Coast Guard OS1 Victor Santos noted some RTN techniques differed from those of the Coast Guard. “For instance, we use handcuffs and they use rope.” The RTN also use different weapons, he explained. Commenting on the training aboard the Mellon, U.S. Coast Guard Ens. Justin Lian said, “Basically we simulate all the aspects we’ve covered in our past training exercises. First we board the vessel, then approach the master on the bridge and ask for crew specifics, then move forward to a safety inspection of the vessel and search for hidden compartments and missing crewmembers.” According to Ens. Lian, the training always has surprise elements that simulate what might actually take place during maritime boardings.

RTN Lt. Somsak Seeyogaw said, “The [U.S.] Coast Guard has provided us some very interesting and helpful techniques to take into practice.” He noted, “They are very safe and very good for our sailors to learn to ensure their team’s safety.”

Aerial Mine-Laying Exercise
During an aerial mine-laying exercise, RTN F-27 aircraft and U.S. Navy P-3C Orion aircraft deployed two MK 62 “Quick Strike” mines each, over the Gulf of Thailand. Four RTN minesweepers then hunted for the mines.

According to U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Dennis Callahan, working with the RTN during the exercise event was a great opportunity for U.S. aircrews, maintainers, planners, and tactical support personnel. “Every bit of interaction is always a great exchange of knowledge,” he said. “In this particular case, while the P3 Orion and Thai F-27 have similar roles, there’s good sharing of the different types of radar and other equipment being used, as each of the planes flying had on board a two-man observance team from the other nation.”

Although the P-3C Orion crew’s primary mission is normally anti-submarine warfare, the mine-laying mission is not out of the ordinary for P-3Cs.

The P-3C crew dropped their mines at coordinates predetermined by the RTN control ship, HTMS Bangrachan, after making three passes on the drop site to ensure sea-lanes were open and clear of any maritime vessels.  Once the aircraft was in the proper position, the crew proceeded with an on-target drop from both the port and starboard wings at an altitude of 500 feet (152 meters) and a speed of 250 knots, before returning to the airfield.

Enhanced Communications
The Portable Allied Command, Control, and Communications Terminal (PAC3T) on board the RTN frigate, HTMS Taksin, significantly increased communications between the RTN and the U.S. Navy. Before the at-sea exercises, RTN communications specialists and operations personnel learned the system and its capabilities through a series of demonstrations.

“The PAC3T is designed to provide tactical exchange of voice and data between U.S. and allied forces during multinational exercises and operations,” explained U.S. Navy IT1 Rich Miller.  He and his team installed the portable unit, about the size of two office filing cabinets, in a small space on board the RTN frigate. IT1 Miller and two other U.S. Navy technicians were on the HTMS Taksin during the at-sea phase. “This system helps ships see further because you can see what another ship sees,” said U.S. Navy IT2 Matthew Zahm. “The PAC3T display will give a contact’s course and speed, its characteristics, and attributes.”

RTN personnel listen to a U.S. Coast Guardsman explain a questioning technique before a maritime boarding and law enforcement event. Photo by JOC Joseph Krypel, USNR