US embassy cable - 05BANGKOK1187

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 001187 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/BCLTV 
PACOM FOR FPA HUSO 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, MARR, TH, POL/MIL, Tsunami 
SUBJECT: THAILAND:  AMBASSADOR CALLS ON ROYAL THAI NAVY 
COMMANDER ADM SAMPOP 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce.  Reason 1.4 (a and d) 
 
 SUMMARY 
 
1.  (C)  During a February 14 meeting with the Ambassador, 
Royal Thai Navy Commander-in-Chief, ADM Sampop Amrapala, 
noted that over half of the RTN's Phang Nga Naval Base had 
been destroyed by the December 26 tsunami and that it would 
be at least six months before the facility was operational. 
Nonetheless, Sampop was convinced that RTN capabilities in 
the Andaman Sea were not seriously degraded.  Sampop 
explained that the bulk of the RTN's budget was spent on 
maintenance.  If he had any funds he could use to procure 
additional equipment, Sampop would buy surface-to-air Sea 
Sparrow and Anti-Submarine ASROC systems.  Sampop told the 
Ambassador that he looks at the RTN as a force to protect the 
Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea, not as a blue-water 
navy.  END SUMMARY. 
 
TSUNAMI DAMAGE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
2.  (C)  ADM Sampop noted that over 50 percent of the Phang 
Nga Naval Base, the RTN's primary facility on the Andaman 
Sea, was destroyed by the December 26 tsunami.  He estimated 
that it would be at least six months before the facility was 
operational.  That said, Sampop told the Ambassador that the 
RTN's capabilities in the Andaman Sea were not seriously 
degraded.  Sampop agreed with the Ambassador's assessment 
that our joint/combined use of Utapao Thai Navy Air Base and 
our ability to quickly work together to mitigate the impact 
of the tsunami was only possible due to decades of combined 
operations.  CARAT, Cobra Gold and other exercises had paid 
big dividends, he said. 
 
3.  (C)  Sampop said that the beached Thai frigate at Phang 
Nga, the HTMS Kra Buri, would likely be refloated by the 
combined efforts of RTN and civilian contractors. 
 
RTN BUDGET 
 
4.  (C)  While quick to point out that most of the RTN's 
budget was tied up with maintaining existing equipment, 
Sampop said that if he had extra funds, he would concentrate 
on buying Sea Sparrows and ASROCs for the RTN's two 
Knox-class destroyers and Sea Sparrows for his Chinese built 
frigates.  He noted that three engines for RTN Sea Harrier 
aircraft were in the United Kingdom being refitted.  Once 
those engines return, Sampop expected to be able to use his 
Harriers more effectively. 
 
NO PLANS FOR A BLUE WATER NAVY 
 
5.  (C)  In response to the Ambassador's question, Sampop 
suggested that the RTN's primary mission was to protect the 
Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea.  He did not envision 
Thailand developing a blue water naval capability. 
Nonetheless, Sampop expressed a desire to improve RTN-USN 
links and said that he looked forward to the upcoming visits 
of 7th Fleet Commander VADM Greenert and the new PACOM 
Commander.  He was also appreciative of U.S. Government 
assistance in allowing Thai cadets to attend the Naval and 
the Coast Guard Acadamies. 
 
6.  (C)  During the meeting, the Naval Attache complimented 
ADM Sampop on the RTN's use of the VSTOL Carrier, Chakri 
Nareubet, in supporting relief flights to Khao Lak and Phi 
Phi Island.  Sampop appreciated the fact that the relief 
flights represented the longest sustained use of the carrier 
since the RTN purchased the ship from Spain in 1997. 
BOYCE