The GZG Digest V2 #2328

In a message dated 2/7/05 2:01:06 AM,
> owner-gzg-digest@lists.CSUA.Berkeley.EDU writes:

> Date: Sun, 6 Feb 2005 23:46:16 EST

Maybe I'm wrong here, but doesn't Thailand still have an old UK Carrier,

converted to VTOL use?

Have a Good One, DOC Agren    (Lurker on the Digest)

> DOCAgren@aol.com wrote:

> Maybe I'm wrong here, but doesn't Thailand still have an old UK

G'Day

Actually it's a new build (commissioned 1997) variation of the Spanish
Principe de Asturias class CVL (if I remember correctly it has one propeller
and shaft while the Spanish ship has two) which itself was based on the
aborted US Navy design for a sea control ship (a small light carrier designed
to control the area of the surrounding sea, SCS.
Right now ex-SFB players who never made the connection should finally be

going Ahhhh!) . The Royal Thai Navy did acquire about 6-8 second hand
AV-8S Matadors (Spanish version of the Harrier) but for most of it's
service life it has been used as helicopter carrier and patrol vessel rather
than carrier launching fighter jets.

Apparently it has (or at least had) a suite decked out for the Thai royal
family as well.

Cheers

> Derek Fulton wrote:

> Apparently it has (or at least had) a suite decked out for the Thai

I can confirm this.

It also has most of its "fitted for but not with" electronics still "fitted
for but not with".

I had something to do with this project about a decade ago, but much of the
data is sensitive.

The Asian Meltdown in the late 90's really stuffed the RTN plans up.

In a message dated 2/8/05 1:32:51 AM Pacific Standard Time,
> aebrain@webone.com.au writes:

<snip>

The Asian Meltdown in the late 90's really stuffed the RTN plans up.

Yeah, lots of 'great ideas' (some were, some were not) expired under economic
realities. Armies are expensive (but every little nation seems to have one of
some quality), Navies more so (a fair number of small nations have Coast
Guards or token navies) and Air Forces (well, fully functional ones) are

only for nations with big bank accounts. Some times other reasons besides
economic are used to rationalize the decisions but in the end it's really
about 'Can we afford to do this?'

Gracias,