The Royal Thai Army or RTA (; ) is the army of Thailand and the oldest and largest branch of the Royal Thai Armed Forces.
History
Origin The Royal Thai Army is responsible for protecting the kingdom's sovereignty. The army was formed in 1874, partly as a response to new security threats following the 1855 Bowring Treaty with United Kingdom, which opened the country for international trade.
Current In modern era, the army has a long history of coups d'état and coup attempts. Its leadership continues to see coup-making as one role of the army.
On 22 May 2014 the army deposed the government, appointed military officers to the national assembly, and on 21 August 2014 they elected the army's Commander in Chief, General Prayut Chan-o-cha, as prime minister. The general retired October 2014 to concentrate on political reform which he said would take at least a year, following which he promised national elections would be held.
The existence of an information warfare unit participating in a cyber campaign against government critics was leaked to the public in late February 2020. In 2020 Twitter shut down a network of accounts which were engaged in information warfare. According to Twitter "Our investigation uncovered a network of accounts partaking in information operations that we can reliably link to the Royal Thai Army (RTA)." The operation had targeted the political opposition within Thailand. The Thai Army denied that they had been involved in the disinformation operation.
Army components and control
The number of army generals is unclear. One point of comparison: as of 1 November 2019, the US Army had 322 general officers for a force of 471,990 troops. Saiyud Kerdphol is Thailand's oldest general, a veteran of World War II and Korea who retired in 1983 as supreme commander. During his tenure, general officer numbers were based on the number of troops under their command. , only 150–200 four-star generals occupy command positions. Speaking on the topic of army manpower, Saiyud declared that, "Everybody being a general is unbelievable. Full generals don't have a seat to sit in or a job to do."
Command and control The commanders-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army (ผู้บัญชาการทหารบกไทย) is considered the most powerful position in the Royal Thai Armed Forces.Thailand: Land of a thousand generals Since 1 October 2024, the commander-in-chief has been General Phana Khlaeoplotthuk.
Commander-in-Chief: General Phana Khlaeoplotthuk since 1 October 2024 Deputy Commander-in-Chief: General Nattawut Nakanakorn since 1 October 2024 Chairman of the Royal Thai Army Advisory Board: General Ekkarat Changkaew since 1 October 2024 Assistant Commander-in-Chief: General Wasu Jiamsuk since 1 October 2024 Assistant Commander-in-Chief: General Chitsanupong Rodsiri since 1 October 2024 Chief of Staff of the Army: General Thongchai Rodyoi since 1 October 2024 Commander of the 1st Army Area: Lieutenant General Amrit Boonsuya since 1 October 2024 Commander of the 2nd Army Area: Lieutenant General Boonsin Padklang since 1 October 2024 Commander of the 3rd Army Area: Lieutenant General Kittipong Chaemsuwan since 1 October 2024 Commander of the 4th Army Area: Lieutenant General Paisan Nusang since 1 October 2024 Commander of the Royal Thai Army Special Warfare Command: Lieutenant General Narongrit Kamphira since 1 October 2024
Structure The army is organized nationally into four army areas:
First Army Area - () – headquartered in Bangkok, controls troops in 26 provinces in central, eastern, western Thailand and Bangkok. Command Division - () Headquarters and Headuqarters Company 21st Signal Regiment, 1st Army Area Organic Units () 1st Army Corps Headquarters and Headuqarters Company Combat Division - () First Army Area Operations Center - () Burapa Command aka Burapa Task Force - () Headquarters and Service Company Quick Reaction Force Company Army Aviation Squad Combat Engineer Team Fire Support Unit Military Dogs Platoon Military Intelligence Operations Team Military Intelligence Unit Signal Corps Unit 12th Ranger Forces Regiment - () 13th Ranger Forces Regiment - () Surasee Command aka Surasee Force - () Headquarters and Service Company Army Air Defence Coordination Team Army Aviation Operations Team Combat Engineer Team Civil Affairs Coordination Team Civil Affairs Operations Team Heavy Weapons Platoon Military Intelligence Operations Team Military Intelligence Unit Queen's Cobras Task Force Quick Reaction Force Platoon Reconnaissance Platoon Royal Initiative Projects Coordination Team Signal Corps Unit 14th Ranger Forces Regiment - () 1st Special Forces Training Company - () 11th Ranger Forces Regiment - () 1st Division, King's Guard - () (Bangkok) Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Division, King's Guard 31st Infantry Brigade, King's Royal Guard (Airborne forces and heliborne forces) - () Headquarters and Service Company, 31st Infantry Brigade, King's Royal Guard Heavy Mortar Company Reconnaissance and Surveillance Company 1st Infantry Battalion, 31st Infantry Brigade, King's Royal Guard (Airborne Infantry) 2nd Infantry Battalion, 31st Infantry Brigade, King's Royal Guard (Light infantry) 3rd Infantry Battalion, 31st Infantry Brigade, King's Royal Guard (Light infantry) 1st Artillery Brigade, King's Royal Guard - () Headquarter and Service Battery, 1st Artillery Brigade, King's Royal Guard 1st Artillery Regiment, 1st Artillery Brigade, King's Royal Guard 11th Artillery Regiment, 1st Artillery Brigade, King's Royal Guard 31st Artillery Regiment, 1st Artillery Brigade, King's Royal Guard 1st Engineer Regiment - () 1st Medical Regiment - () 4th Armoured Regiment, 1st Division, King's Royal Guard - () 12th Military Police Regiment () 1st Signal Regiment, King's Royal Guard - () 1st Cavalry Squadron (Reconnaissance) - () 1st Long Range Reconnaissance Company - () 1st Ordnance Company - () 1st Quartermaster Company () Airfield Service and Control Tower Team 1 2nd Infantry Division, Queen's Guard - () (Fort Phromyothi, Prachinburi Province) Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Infantry Division, Queen Sirikit's Guard 2nd Infantry Brigade, Queen's Guard - () - (aka "Burapha Payak" : ) Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Infantry Brigade, Queen's Guard 1st Mechanised Infantry Battalion, Queen's Guard 2nd Infantry Battalion, Queen's Guard 3rd Infantry Battalion, Queen's Guard 12th Mechanised Infantry Brigade, Queen's Guard - () Headquarters and Service Company, 12th Infantry Brigade, Queen's Guard 1st Mechanised Infantry Battalion, Queen's Guard 2nd Mechanised Infantry Battalion, Queen's Guard 3rd Mechanised Infantry Battalion, Queen's Guard 902nd Infantry Brigade, King's Royal Guard -() Headquarters and Service Company, 902nd Infantry Brigade, King's Royal Guard 1st Mechanised Infantry Battalion, 902nd Infantry Brigade, King's Royal Guard 2nd Infantry Battalion, 902nd Infantry Brigade, King's Royal Guard 3rd Infantry Battalion, 902nd Infantry Brigade, King's Royal Guard 2nd Artillery Brigade, Queen Sirikit's Guard - () Headquarters and Service Battery, 2nd Artillery Brigade, Queen's Guard 2nd Artillery Regiment, Queen's Guard 12th Artillery Regiment, Queen's Guard 21st Artillery Regiment, Queen's Guard 102nd Artillery Regiment, Queen's Guard 2nd Service Support Brigade, Queen's Guard Logistic Battalion, 2nd Support Brigade- () Maintenance Battalion, 2nd Support Brigade- () 2nd Armoured Regiment, Queen's Guard 2nd Engineer Regiment, Queen's Guard 2nd Medical Regiment, Queen's Guard 2nd Signal Corps Regiment, Queen's Guard 12th Military Police Regiment 30th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, Queen's Guard - () 2nd Anti-tank Company, Queen's Guard 2nd Long Range Reconnaissance Company Airfield Service and Control Tower Team 2 9th Infantry Division - () (Fort Surasi, Kanchanaburi province) Headquarters and Service Company, 9th Infantry Division 9th Infantry Brigade - () Headquarters and Service Company, 9th Infantry Brigade 1st Infantry Battalion 2nd Infantry Battalion 3rd Infantry Battalion 19th Infantry Brigade - () Headquarters and Service Company, 19th Infantry Brigade 1st Infantry Battalion 2nd Infantry Battalion 3rd Infantry Battalion (Designated as First Army Area Rapid Deployment Force) 29th Infantry Brigade - () Headquarters and Service Company, 29th Infantry Brigade 1st Infantry Battalion 2nd Infantry Battalion 3rd Infantry Battalion 9th Artillery Brigade - () Headquarters and Service Battery, 9th Artillery Brigade 9th Field Artillery Regiment 19th Field Artillery Regiment 109th Field Artillery Regiment Service Support Brigade - () Headquarters and Service Company Medical Regiment Maintenance Regiment Transportation Regiment Detachment, Service Support Brigade, 9th Infantry Division 9th Engineer Regiment 9th Signal Regiment 19th Cavalry Regiment 9th Army Aviation Company 9th Long Range Reconnaissance Company 2nd Field Military Police Company, 12th Military Police Regiment Fort Surasi Hospital Light Ordnance Division Quartermaster Division 11th Infantry Division - () (Fort Somdet Phra Nangklao, Chachoengsao province) Headquarters and Service Company, 11th Infantry Division 111th Infantry Brigade - () Headquarters and Service Company, 111th Infantry Brigade 1st Infantry Battalion 2nd Infantry Battalion 3rd Infantry Battalion 112th Mechanised Infantry Brigade (Stryker Regiment Combat Team) - () Headquarters and Service Company, 112th Infantry Brigade (Stryker Regiment Combat Team) Heavy Mortar Company Reconnaissance and Surveillance Company 1st Mechanised Infantry Battalion (Stryker Battalion Combat Team) 2nd Mechanised Infantry Battalion (Stryker Battalion Combat Team) 3rd Mechanised Infantry Battalion (Stryker Battalion Combat Team) Service Support Brigade, 11th Infantry Division - () Maintenance Regiment, Service Support Brigade, 11th Infantry Division - () 2nd Cavalry Division, King's Royal Guard - () (Bangkok) Headquarters and Service Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Division, King's Royal Guard 1st Armoured Brigade, King Mongkutklao's Guard Headquarters and Service Troop, 1st Cavalry Brigade, King's Royal Guard 1st Armoured Regiment, 1st Cavalry Brigade, King's Royal Guard 3rd Armoured Regiment, 1st Cavalry Brigade, King's Royal Guard 17th Armoured Regiment, 1st Cavalry Brigade, King's Royal Guard 4th Armoured Brigade, King's Royal Guard - () (Fort Adisorn, Saraburi province) Headquarters and Service Squadron, 4th Armoured Brigade, King's Royal Guard 5th Armoured Regiment, 4th Armoured Brigade, King's Royal Guard 11th Armoured Regiment, 4th Armoured Brigade, King's Royal Guard 25th Armoured Regiment, 4th Armoured Brigade, King's Royal Guard 5th Armoured Brigade, King's Royal Guard - () Headquarters and Service Troop, 5th Armoured Brigade, King's Royal Guard 20th Armoured Regiment, 5th Armoured Brigade, King's Royal Guard 23rd Armoured Regiment, 5th Armoured Brigade, King's Royal Guard 24th Armoured Regiment, 5th Armoured Brigade, King's Royal Guard 27th Cavalry Regiment, King's Royal Guard (Fort Adisorn, Saraburi province) 29th Cavalry Regiment, King's Royal Guard - () (Phaya Thai district, Bangkok) 12th Signal Regiment, King's Royal Guard, 2nd Cavalry Division, King's Royal Guard - () 12th Service Support Brigade - () Maintenance Regiment 1st Forward Division Support Company - () 2nd Forward Division Support Company - () 12th Quartermaster Division, 2nd Cavalry Division, King's Royal Guard Airfield Service and Control Tower Team 8, 2nd Cavalry Division, King's Royal Guard Combat Service Support Division - () 1st Army Combat Service Support Command - () 21st Logistics and Service Regiment, 1st Army Combat Service Support - () 21st Maintenance Regiment, 1st Army Combat Service Support - () 21st Ordnance Ammunition Depot Regiment, 1st Army Combat Service Support - ()