On the morning of March 14, a concerning incident occurred at the Sattahip Naval Base in Thailand's Chon Buri province involving the HTMS Chonburi, a Royal Thai Navy patrol ship. The HTMS Chonburi accidentally fired upon another Thai warship, the HTMS Khirirat, injuring 14 of its crew members. The mishap was attributed to a malfunction in the HTMS Chonburi's gun, which fired a shell that struck the rear of the frigate HTMS Khirirat, causing a fire onboard.
Following the incident, the captain of the HTMS Chonburi was relieved of duty and transferred to an inactive position. The Royal Thai Navy is conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the misfire to determine accountability.
Prior to the accident, the HTMS Chonburi had returned to the naval base for gun repairs after encountering difficulties during a drill the day before. The ship's cannon safety system, which is over 40 years old, may have played a role in the malfunction.
The HTMS Khirirat, a patrol warship with a 50-year history, sustained damage from the accidental firing. Five of the 14 injured crew members were reported to have suffered serious injuries due to smoke inhalation. The Royal Thai Navy has assured that compensation will be provided to all those who were injured in the incident.
Basic safety protocols, such as ensuring the ship's gun turret was not aimed at another vessel, appear to have been overlooked during the attempt to clear the jammed rounds, leading to the unfortunate incident. The Navy is emphasizing the importance of adherence to safety procedures to prevent such incidents in the future.
