Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 11, 2026

HTMS Similan

HTMS Similan (871) is a replenishment oiler (AOR) of the Royal Thai Navy. She was intended to support the aircraft carrier HTMS Chakri Naruebet and its escorts. Similan was constructed in the People's Republic of China at the Hudong Shipyard through a 1993 contract with the China State Shipbuilding Corporation. The ship was commissioned in 1996. Similan is the largest ship in the Thai navy and the largest naval ship exported by China.

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Jun 11, 2026
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Stern of Similan in port at the Sattahip Naval Base
History
Thailand
NameSimilan
NamesakeSimilan Islands
Awarded29 September 19931
BuilderHudong Shipyard1
Laid downDecember 19941
Launched9 November 19951
Commissioned12 September 19961
IdentificationHull number: 8711
StatusActive
General characteristics
Class & typeReplenishment oiler1
Displacement23,369 tons (full load)1
Length171.4 metres (562 ft)1
Beam24.6 metres (81 ft)1
Draught9 metres (30 ft)1
Propulsion
Speed19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph)1
Range10,000 nautical miles (19,000 km; 12,000 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)1
Capacity9000 tons of fuel oil, water, and stores1
Complement1571
Sensors &
processing systems
Aircraft carried1 x Sikorsky S-702
Aviation facilitiesHangar and flight deck2

HTMS Similan (871) (Thai: เรือหลวงสิมิลัน) is a replenishment oiler (AOR) of the Royal Thai Navy. She was intended to support the aircraft carrier HTMS Chakri Naruebet and its escorts. Similan was constructed in the People's Republic of China at the Hudong Shipyard through a 1993 contract with the China State Shipbuilding Corporation. The ship was commissioned in 1996.1 Similan is the largest ship in the Thai navy and the largest naval ship exported by China.3a

The design is a flush-decked development of the Chinese Type 905 AOR resembling the French Durance;2 the builder referred to the design as Type R22T.12 Similan was a sister ship or the precursor to the later Chinese Type 903.56

Design

Similan has two refueling stations on each side. Solid cargo is transferred by helicopter.2

The ship was planned to be armed with Chinese weapons; four Type 76 twin 37 mm naval guns and the Type 341 radar were not fitted.2

Career

Similan deployed together with HTMS Pattani in 2010 and HTMS Narathiwat in 2011 to combat piracy off the coast of Somalia as part of Combined Task Force 151.7

Notes

Notes

  1. Some reports expected the record to be broken by HTMS Chang (LPD-792), though the latter's displacement was later reported as 20,003 tonnes, less than Similan's.4
References

References

  1. Saunders 2015, p. 840.
  2. Wertheim 2013, p. 735.
  3. Auto, Hermes (16 September 2019). "China to build naval ship for Thailand, the largest yet for a foreign country". The Straits Times. China Daily/Asia News Network. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  4. Nanuam, Wassana (6 January 2023). "Navy names new transport ship 'Chang'". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  5. Saunders 2015, p. 160.
  6. Wertheim 2013, p. 133.
  7. Panrak, Patcharapol (7 December 2011). "Uneventful Somalia mission ends for Navy task force". Pattaya Mail. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
Sources

Sources

  • Saunders, Stephan, ed. (2015). Jane's Fighting Ships 2015-2016. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0710631435.
  • Wertheim, Eric (2013). The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Systems (16 ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1591149545.