MCRT Exercise

[Bossza007]

Maritime Cooperation on Readiness and Training (MCRT)
Top Secret | Share with the United Kingdom​

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In Partnership With​

The Repubic of Thailand​

The United Kingdom​

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Detail

The MCRT Exercise is a result of the Republic of Thailand and the United Kingdom's effort to strengthen close ties between the two countries. The history can be dated back to the Student Exchange Program establishment between two bilateral relationships, in which there was a suggestion of military cooperation, further improving the bond. The MCRT Exercise aims to develop close Armed Forces cooperation between Thailand and the United Kingdom through constructive interaction between friendly navies, improve operational skills, imbibe best practices and procedures, and facilitate doctrinal learning in the maritime domain. The focus of the naval exercise will be anti-surface warfare conducted by the warship and the aircraft that happened during a two-long day drill in the Gulf of Thailand. The Thai and British Armed Forces will use the Sattahip Naval Base as their home.

Objectives

MAR01/PP/01 - Active - General maintenance tasks, pre-deployment preparation, and provision of ordnance, supplies, assets, and services.
MAR01/PP/02 - Active - Pre-coordination with naval routes within the Gulf of Thailand and MCRT's area preparation.
APR01/PP/01 - Pending - Hospitality for the British Forces and coordination with the British commanding officers.
APR01/PP/02 - Pending - Thai and British Forces coordination on collective knowledge and cooperation readiness.
APR01/OP/03 - Pending - Patrolling in the Group of Thailand and responding to known, unknown, and unexpected threats.
APR01/OP/04 - Pending - Thai and British fleet cooperation on naval fleet tactics with anti-surface warfare simulation.
APR01/OP/05 - Pending - Thai Air Forces and British Fleet cooperation on strike missions.

Deployment

First Fleet 1st Frigate Squadron (FS1) 11*Naresuan-class frigate [1,650] 3*Gepard-class frigate [282] Auxiliary Fleet Logistic Support Squadron (LSS) 2*Tanker 23000

District Forces Sattahip District Forces 1,500 Crews Royal Thai Air Force Wing 3​ 407th Fighter "Python" Squadron 17/8 F-16 AM/BM Block 20 MLU 33 Pilots and 500 Ground crew

Coast Guard Fleet 2nd Patrol Squadron (PS2) 5*Pattani-class OPV [420] Royal Thai Naval Air Division U-Tapao RTNAF​ 101st Squadron [80] 16*Kamov Ka-226

 

[Bossza007]

As part of its preparation for the impending MCRT Exercise in the Gulf of Thailand, the Thai Navy and Thai Air Force would begin general maintenance duties, pre-deployment planning, and the provision of ordnance, supplies, assets, and services. They will start by pre-coordinating with MCRT's area preparation and naval routes in the Gulf of Thailand. The Thai Defense Ministry will transmit a message encrypted using NIA's most secure technology, informing recipients of the MCRT Exercise's preparedness and details so they may begin transporting their fleet to Sattahip Naval Base.

Jamie

 

[Jamie]

MARITIME COOPERATION ON READINESS AND TRAINING, 2001
Security Classification: TOP SECRET

Background
The MCRT Exercise is a result of the Republic of Thailand and the United Kingdom's effort to strengthen close ties between the two countries. The history can be dated back to the Student Exchange Program establishment between two bilateral relationships, in which there was a suggestion of military cooperation, further improving the bond. The MCRT Exercise aims to develop close Armed Forces cooperation between Thailand and the United Kingdom through constructive interaction between friendly navies, improve operational skills, imbibe best practices and procedures, and facilitate doctrinal learning in the maritime domain. The focus of the naval exercise will be anti-surface warfare conducted by the warship and the aircraft that happened during a two-long day drill in the Gulf of Thailand. The Thai and British Armed Forces will use the Sattahip Naval Base as their home.

Order of Battle _{All units fully supplied and complemented}
[1] HMS Somerset, Type 23 Frigate

[30] Royal Marine Commandos, 40 Commando RM, A Company
[2] Pacific 22 RIB
[2] Westland Lynx HMA.8, 844 Naval Air Squadron, A Flight​

[1] HMS St Albans, Type 23 Frigate

[30] Royal Marine Commandos, 40 Commando RM, A Company
[2] Pacific 22 RIB
[1] Westland Sea King HC.4, 847 Naval Air Squadron, C Flight​

[1] HMS Torbay, Trafalgar-class Submarine

[1] RFA Wave Ruler, Wave-class Tanker

[1] Westland Lynx HMA.8, 844 Naval Air Squadron, A Flight​

Deployment
Despite delays, which had been communicated with the Thai Navy, the Royal Navy strike group for the MCRT Exercise '01 had finally left the United Kingdom for its voyage to Thailand. Fully supplied and crewed, the two Type 23 Frigates, Trafalgar-class and Wave-class Tanker moved in formation from the English Channel, intending to pass through Gibraltar Strait and the Suez Canal (IO>IN>IM>JM>KM>KL>KK>LK>MJ>NK>OJ>OK). If required, supply stops would be commenced take place at Gibraltar or Diego Garcia based on operation requirements. The route and estimated timings would be provided to the Thai Ministry of Defence through private and encrypted channels to keep them up to date as to the groups whereabouts. During transit, the sailors, Royal Marines and Air Crews conducted regular drills. This ranged from simulated scenarios of taking on water, vessels sinking and being under attack, to name a few. This took place every day with different elements before a ship-wide drill took place once a week.

Bossza007

 

[Bossza007]

Maritime Cooperation on Readiness and Training (MCRT), June 2001
TOP SECRET

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The Royal Navy should have entered Thailand's Exclusive Economic Zone, assuming they would take the most efficient path to the Sattahip Naval Base. HTMS Thung Yang Daeng, a patrol ship in the Gulf of Thailand, would be tracking the British surface ships using its surveillance radar. The Royal Thai Navy will acknowledge the British fleet location since the defense ministries of both Thailand and Britain have been communicating via encrypted and private channels. HTMS Thung Yang Daeng would escort the British fleet to the Sattahip Naval Base. She is smaller than British ships as she approaches two Type 23 Frigates and a Wave-class Tanker. After a commanding officer radio on an encrypted line, she assumes a leading position in front of the British formation. A few sailors assemble on the ship's flight deck, which is currently carrying a Kamov Ka-226, to observe the British fleet as it travels. She will only know the position of HMS Torbay from the British counterpart as she doesn't possess a sonar system.

As the British Fleet approaches the Sattahip Naval Base, they will descry a vast naval base spanning its harbor over 4 kilometers, currently accommodating over 13,000 Royal Thai Navy personnel and 74 ships combined. Many sailors decorate their vessels with Thai and British flags, while others gather near the shore to welcome the British personnel. HTMS Thung Yang Daeng is now leading the British fleet to dock at the prepared space close to HTMS Chao Phraya, a Gepard-class frigate. They can hear roaring sounds from the sky as they anchor at the harbor. When glancing above, where the bright light of the sun is shining, a squadron of F-16 AM/BM releases vibrant colored smoke of the United Kingdom flag over the sky before landing at the U-Tapao airfield. They are part of the Air Force cooperation in the MCRT. The British personnel and their commanding officer would get invited into the Sattahip Naval Base, gaining access to most facilities and receiving hospitality from the Thai side. They would assemble outside at a green field where only participants of the MCRT Exercise meet. They would exchange culture from both navies and partake in activities to foster friendships. The Thai and British commanding officers should have discussed the preparation for the two-day drill, and the Thai and British Forces coordinate on collective knowledge and cooperation readiness.

Jamie