Captain Pichet Tanaset, RTN, Naval Attache and Assistant Defence Attache, Royal Thai Embassy, Washington D.C. attended the hand-over ceremony of H.T.M.S. NAKHA, the last of the World War II LCS class navy ships, to the National Association of USS LCS(L) 1-130. The event, held at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California, on November 9-10, 2008, was co-chaired by Rear Admiral Surasak Rounroengrom, Director General of the Directorate of Naval Intelligence of the Royal Thai Navy and Mr. Christopher M. Lehman, PhD, Chairman of LCS 102 Retrieval Committee
-------------------------------------

Director General of the Directorate of Naval Intelligence and Deputy Consul-General of Thailand in Los Angeles attended the Reception of the National Association of USS LCS(L)1-130 on November 9, 2008

Naval Attache and Assistant Defence Attache, Deputy Commander of Amphibious Squadron, Deputy Consul-General of Thailand in Los Angeles and Mr.William J. Mason, Ph.D Chairman, LCS 102 Retrieval Committee

Flags carried by  Vallejo Sea Scouts

Rear Admiral Mark Balmert, Commander Expeditionary Strike Group Three

Mr.John F. Lehman Former Secretary of the Navy

Director General of the Directorate of Naval Intelligence and Mr.William J. Mason signed the transfer document.

The last Commander of H.T.M.S. NAKHA lowered the Navy’s Flag.

Director General of the Directorate of Naval Intelligence, Deputy Consul-General, and the Communication Officer of LCS-102

A handshake between Lieutenant Dick Jones, the first Commander and Lieutenant Panucha, the last Commander.

Officers and Thais attending the Ceremony.

LCS-102 was built in 1945 and commissioned for the United States Navy during WW II. After WW II, the ship was lent to the Japanese Self Defense Force, and then in 1966 to Thailand where it served as His Majesty’s Ship, under the name H.T.M.S. Nakha, with the Royal Thai Navy for more than 40 years as part of its Amphibious Landing Fleet. With the Royal Thai navy, she performed all-purpose duties, ranging from her major role as platform for fire support for troops landing on beaches against an entrenched enemy to support roles such as air defense, radar picket duty and fire fighting.

LCS-102, powered by 2 diesel engines, is 47.4 meters long and seven meters wide, with a displacement of 387 tones. The maximum speed is 12 knots with the range of 5,500 miles.