Prasae is an ex-USN Tacoma class frigate – broadly similar to the British River class. These had a relatively low profile in the USN given the huge numbers of destroyers and destroyer-escorts available, and many were transferred to foreign navies.
First commissioned by the US Navy as USS Gallup (PF-47), she was loaned to the Soviets during the war and served in the Soviet Navy as EK-22. After her return to the US, she was then transferred to the Thai Navy, where she served as HTMS Prasae.
Prasae is preserved on land in the town of Prasae in Thailand. She doesn’t appear to have been extensively modified since WWII – the only obvious addition being added radar. She is still covered with ‘gun tubs’ – most of which still have 20mm oerlikons in them.
Prasae is not the easiest place to get to – I couldn’t find any public transport there, and had to rent a car and drive there from Pattaya – about 2 hours each way. The ship was completely unattended – you're just free to walk on and show yourself around. There were no other tourists either – just a couple of the mandatory street vendors selling chips and soft drinks.
There was no access below decks – except for the bridge which is open to the atmosphere from the rear in any case, and in a pretty bad shape.
There is quite a bit of corrosion going on – particularly with fittings and equipment – however there was also a lot of evidence of fresh paint and ongoing maintenance, so she is getting looked after to a degree.
She has awnings up on the decks, which gets in the way of a lot of the photos – but given the prevailing weather conditions (generally either sunny and damn hot, or torrential rain) – probably a reasonable choice.
Apart from the safety sign at the access ladders, the signage around the ship was all in Thai – which is probably unsurprising as I wouldn’t imagine they get a lot of foreign tourists here.
For my money, well worth the effort if you are in the Pattaya area. There aren’t that many of these ships left, and we have to make the most of them while we still have them.
