Landmark· Trat mainland (Laem Ngop)· Thailand
Koh Chang Naval Battle Memorial (1941)
12° 10.7′ N · 102° 23.3′ E
The Royal Thai Navy's memorial at Laem Ngop to the Battle of Ko Chang, fought on 17 January 1941 when a Vichy French squadron surprised the Thai fleet among these islands. Thirty-six Thai sailors died. A ship-shaped museum and a statue of Prince Chumphon, father of the Thai navy, face out toward the battle site.
Practical
OpenStreetMap maps the memorial and museum at Laem Ngop. According to Wikipedia, the battle took place at the Ko Chang anchorage; the torpedo boats Songkhla and Chonburi were sunk, and the coastal defence ship Thonburi was badly damaged and run aground. Every 17 January the Royal Thai Fleet holds a ceremony here with a religious service, the release of marine animals and a wreath floated for the sailors lost off Koh Lim (Pattaya Mail, 2019). A smaller Prince Chumphon shrine stands at Bang Bao on Koh Chang. Reach the memorial by road from the Thammachat or Laem Ngop piers.
Best for
History stop on a mainland day
Nearby
- Thai Navy Memorial Day (17 January)Right here
- Laem Ngop Pier (Immigration and Port)0.5 NM away
- Ao Thammachat Ferry Pier5.2 NM away
- Khlong Nonsi Waterfall5.2 NM away
- Than Mayom Waterfall6.3 NM away
- Ao Sapparot Ferry Pier6.7 NM away
- Khlong Chao Lueam Waterfall6.9 NM away
- Blues Blues Restaurant (Khlong Son)7 NM away