HTMS Pinklao, among four, bows out of service

The Thai Navy will decommission four ships, including HTMS Pinklao, due to deterioration over prolonged service. Repairs and maintenance are now so expensive that they are no longer considered viable for further operations.

The decommissioning will take effect on Oct 1.

The United States transferred Hemminger (DE-746), an escort destroyer, to the Thai Navy on July 22, 1959, at the Naval Shipyard in New York. The warship had originally been assigned to convoy escort duties, protecting British merchant convoys from German submarine attacks.

Later, it and other American destroyer escorts were redeployed to the Pacific as anti-submarine warfare vessels, equipped with sonar and torpedoes.

After World War II, when Thailand became a close ally of the United States, she received one ship of this class. The vessel was renamed HTMS Pinklao, after King Rama IV.

For more than half a century, this frigate has served the nation as "a mentor ship" for naval cadets and petty officer trainees, as well as a training ship in joint exercises with international forces.

According to the HTMS Pinklao Facebook page, one of the proudest duties of the ship’s commanders and crew was serving as part of the guard of honour for the royal barges at Klai Kangwon Palace in Hua Hin, the residence of the late King Rama IX. The late King was often seen photographing the vessel during salutes.

Other vessels to be decommissioned include HTMS Phuket, HTMS Samui and HTMS Suriya.