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Arms and Education: The Deployment of Soldiers for Overseas Study and the Development of the Thai Navy in the 1940s

  • SUVANNABHUMI
  • Abbr : SVN
  • 2026, 18(2), pp.211~235
  • DOI : 10.22801/svn.2026.18.2.211
  • Publisher : Korea Institute for ASEAN Studies
  • Research Area : Social Science > Area Studies > Southeast Asia
  • Received : May 15, 2025
  • Accepted : January 12, 2026
  • Published : July 31, 2026

Thep Boontanondha 1

1Faculty of Liberal Arts, Mahidol University, Thailand.

Accredited

ABSTRACT

After the Revolution of 1932, the military government sought to strengthen the armed forces. The Royal Thai Navy was also given priority by the government, as it lacked both the quality and quantity of battleships and sophisticated officers. Consequently, the Thai government decided to purchase battleships from Italy and Japan, which led the navy to send sailors to train and study in these countries. Therefore, the military importance of Italy and Japan became crucial to the navy, seemingly replacing Britain, which had previously played a significant role in developing the Thai navy. However, the Thai government did not want to rely solely on one country, so it adopted a strategy of balance-of-power diplomacy by sending officers to study in Britain as well. Meanwhile, tensions in global politics, particularly Japan and Italy, both Axis powers, seeking to expand their influence over Thailand, prompted the British government to shift its military policy. Previously reluctant to allow Thai midshipmen and officers to train or study with its forces, Britain eventually permitted Thai officers to train aboard British battleships and attend the British Naval Academy. Hence, Thailand's balancing strategy helped the Thai navy quickly develop its forces by sending soldiers abroad for training.

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