H.T.M.S. Mae Klong, Royal Navy Museum — Attraction in Laem Fa Pha Subdistrict Administrative Organization

The HTMS Mae Klong at Phra Chulachomklao Fort. I have been to this Fort many times when I lived in Samrong, Samut Prakan. However in the trip during 2015, I managed to tour inside this ship. I also visited the Disappearing guns and managed to take many photos and videos on this trip. Central Thailand One of the most auspicious days in the history of the Royal Thai Navy, Jun 24, 1997 records the first day of introduction of a royal ship museum in Thailand. Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Navy, Admiral Wichit Chamnankarn, at the Chulachomklao Fortress, Phra Samut Chedi Sub-district of Samut Prakan Province, officially opened the museum. The Royal Thai Navy initially planned to display sections of Thai warships, but the new museum, named H.T.M.S Mae Klong Museum, is the first in Thailand to place on display a complete warship. The museum was one project conducted by the Royal Thai Navy to commemorate the 50th anniversary of His Majesty the King's Accession to the Throne, celebrated on June 9, 1996. Declared by the Ministry of Defence to be in a state of disrepair, H.T.M.S Mae Klong decommissioned on July 25, 1996 and went on display to the public at the new museum. Under the statue, there stands an air-conditioned museum exhibiting the military conflict with France. Also on display is the HTMS Mae Klong, an old warship of the Royal Thai Navy preserved as an open-air museum. HTMS Mae Klong was commissioned in 1937. She had been deployed in several missions such as taking part in World War II. The ship also served as a training ship for naval cadets and technical navy students. She was in service for 59 years, including the prestigious duty as a royal ship for King Rama VIII and King Rama IX (His Majesty King Bhumibol, the present King). The ship was decommissioned in 1996. Opening hours: daily 08:00-18:00 hrs. Admission: free If you need a guide, a request must be made to the fort in advance. For more information, please contact the fort, Tel: +66 (0) 2475 6109 or + 66 (0) 2475 6259 Samut Prakan was built to help defend Bangkok from invaders. The name of the city means city wall. In the old days there used to be many forts and guns on both sides of the river. Now, not many of them are left. The biggest fort left is Chulachomklao Fort by the river mouth. In 1893, the guns were fired here for the first and last time against...

Took some time here 2023 01 05 exploring the ship when I visited the old fort that's right next beside and it's a nice day excursion to go out here and get away from busy Bangkok and enjoy a little bit of calm here by the sea and also mouth of the river Chao Phraya. The ship lies fixed on land nowadays in a concrete dock as a museum and it's free to go onboard and explore ( at least at the time I was here ). It's not very big so easy to walk around and you can go almost everywhere, accept down below like the engineroom, but areas like the command bridge is open and also the old observation plattform above. However, to get up there you have to used the steep old stairs so not easy for everyone. All of the old armaments, gunturrets, torpedotubes and AA guns, are still in their place ( probably just replicas or made unusable in some way ). The inside, like the old kitchen,cabins and common areas, are pretty worn down but what can you expect from a ship that's been in service 60 years and been sitting here since around 1996 ( I guess ).

The area is at the far end of a naval base but you can get in without problems, special permitts or prior notification, even as a foreigner ( at least at the time I was here ). There are other small museum areas around here as well, not just the ship and fort, so makes for a good day trip out and there's also a restaurant for some lunch.

The corvette class Mae Klong is Thailands longest serving warship and was built in 1936 in Japan but started it's active service in the Thai Navy the year after. It was in service until 1996 which made it 60 years old ( 59 years in active service ), not only the oldest active warship in Thailand but the second oldest one in the world. Through the years it had some different tasks, not only as a active warship during WW2 when it patrolled the Gulf of Thailand, but also in different important roles such as royal functions and serving as a training ship. It had a armament of four 120mm turretguns, 2 in the front and 2 in the back, and also four 18inch torpedo tubes, 2 on each side. Also had two 20mm AntiAircraft guns.

I have a Youtube channel with videos from different forts & bunkers that I've filmed with both drone and normal camera. Hope you'll check it out...

HTMS Maeklong is the Thailand's warship that serviced longest years from all of the Royal Thai Navy fleet. She was built in Japan in 1937 and out of commission in 1996.

She has served in many occasions ; transportation ship of His majesty King Rama VIII and IX, as a trainee ship for cadets, participated ww2 "Grater East Asia war".

Now she was preserved on concrete as museum with complete equipped and you can access to feel how's it work. If you WW2 history fan you will love it.

The entrance is free but you have to access in Navy base area. Open daily...