Royal Thai Marine Corps (RTMC: Royal Thai Marine Corps) has demonstrated the capabilities of light amphibious tanks. or the Norinco VN16 amphibious assault vehicle (AAV: Amphibious Assault Vessel)
During a visit to the unit of the 1st year military preparatory students, class 64, AFAPS: Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School, at Krom Luang Chumphon Camp, Sattahip District, Chonburi Province, on December 16, 2021.
It was launched for the first time during the automotive parade ceremony on the occasion of farewell to military service personnel in September 2021.
The VN16 amphibious assault vehicle was also brought to demonstrate amphibious operations from sea to coast in conjunction with the 12 AAV7A1 amphibious vehicles of the Royal Thai Army Amphibious Vehicle Battalion that has been modernized by Chaiseri Metal & Rubber Co. Ltd.
Norinco, China delivered 3 VN16 amphibious assault vehicles to the Thai Marines within just 8 months since the announcement of the procurement selection is considered very fast.
Understand that the Thai Marines Royal Thai Navy Want to procure VN16 Phase 2, adding 3 more cars to complete 6 cars in the fiscal year 2022, which may be expanded to 9 cars in total 12 cars if not cut from the defense budget first Including the supply of 2 Panus R600 8x8 wheeled armored vehicles and a prototype amphibious combat vehicle (AAV: Amphibious Assault Vehicle) project by the National Defense Technology Institute DTI (Defence Technology Institute).
Expected in the near future Three Chinese VN16 amphibious assault vehicles will be deployed in the tank company, Amphibious Armored Battalion Marine Corps (Marine Tank Company, Marine Armored Amphibian Vehicle Battalion, MarDiv) to be re-established by consolidation Amphibious Vehicle Battalion Colonel of the Royal Thai Navy with the AAV7A1 amphibious vehicle stationed with the Marine Tank Battalion, Colonel Rd. Gen., according to the plan to restructure the forces of the new Marine Corps.
(AAG)