3rd Infantry Division (Thailand)

The 3rd Infantry Division (Thai: กองพลทหารราบที่ 3) (พล.ร.๓.) is an infantry division of the Royal Thai Army, it is currently a part of the Second Army Area The unit is composed of the 3rd Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Regiment, and 23rd Infantry Regiment.

Burma Front Map show the conflict of Japanese-Thai forces and Allies forces.
3rd Infantry Division
Thai: กองพลทหารราบที่ 3
Unit insignia
ActiveApril 13th 1928–present
CountryThailand
Branch Royal Thai Army
TypeInfantry
RoleInfantry
SizeInfantry Division
Part ofSecond Army Area
Garrison/HQFort Suranari, Nong Phai Lom, Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Thailand
Engagements
Websitehttps://3rddiv.rta.mi.th/web2/(in Thai)
Commanders
Current
commander		Major General Sawat Saengphon
Ceremonial chiefField Marshal Phin Choonhavan

History

Around the year 1892s in the reign of King Somdej. King Chulalongkorn Nakhon Ratchasima There are plentiful robbers. Causing trouble for citizens throughout Later, in the year 1894, King Nong Ya Ya Krom Luang Sappasitthiprasong Is the High Commissioner Came up to clean up Preliminary cases and suppression of criminal outlaws With a follow-up of 28 troops under the command of Lieutenant Mom Amplalakawong Na Ayutthaya. Royal following Still remain to preserve the city of Nakhon Ratchasima, which is called "Nakhon Ratchasima Guard"

Set up camp in the area of ​​Phra Phirinthorn Pool The so-called "Sa Wan" on Kudan Road, opposite Wat Burab at present. In the year 1895, the unit was expanded and established as the 5th Infantry Regiment. King Chulalongkorn proceeded to visit the troops. And granted Thongchai Chalermpol To the 5th Infantry Regiment on December 22nd, 1900. In the year 1903, the military unit was expanded to Ratchasima Military Division And in the year 1903s, it was changed to the 5th Division, with Lieutenant Colonel Be the first commander After the reorganization of the army, the 5th Division was transformed into the 3rd Division on April 13, 1928, and on September 16, 1982, the Army changed its name again to "3rd Infantry Division.

In the year 1940s, in the case of the Franco-Thai War between Thailand and France, the 3rd Division was transformed into a "Ubon Division" under the Isan Army, with Colonel Luang Chamnan Strategic. As a commander, has led the brave troops to fight with the French Until being able to successfully capture Champasak In January 1941, the commanding unit was the 21st Infantry Battalion or the 2nd Infantry Battalion, the 13th Infantry Regiment.

On 5 January 1941, following the report of a French attack on the Thai border town of Aranyaprathet, the Thai Burapha and Isan Armies launched an offensive on Laos and Cambodia. The French response was instantaneous, but many units were simply swept aside by the better-equipped Thai forces. The Thai army swiftly overran Laos, but the French forces in Cambodia managed to rally and offer more resistance.[1]

At dawn on January 16, 1941, the French launched a large counterattack on the Thai-held villages of Yang Dang Khum and Phum Preav, initiating the fiercest battle of the war. Due to poor coordination and nonexistent intelligence against the entrenched and well-prepared Thai forces, the French operation was stopped and the fighting ended with a French retreat from the area. However, the Thais were unable to pursue the retreating French, as their forward tanks were kept in check by the gunnery of French Foreign Legion artillery.

With the situation on land rapidly deteriorating for the French, Admiral Decoux ordered all available French naval forces into action in the Gulf of Thailand. In the early morning of 17 January, a French naval squadron caught a Thai naval detachment by surprise at anchor off Ko Chang island. The subsequent Battle of Ko Chang was a tactical victory for the French and resulted in the sinking of two Thai torpedo boats and the disabling of a coastal defense ship, with the French suffering no casualties.[2] Fearing the war would turn in France's favor, the Japanese intervened, proposing an armistice be signed.

In the year 1941, World War II occurred. Isan army returned to the 3rd Division under the leadership of Colonel Luang Chamnan strategically led his forces to fight in the Great East Asia War under the Phayap Army to seize the city of Chiang Tung. Which is the capital city of Shan States As well as successfully seizing the city of La Muang and keeping the city until the war was calm and the unit was withdrawn as the last unit.

In the year. After World War II ended, the world entered the Cold War era. Between free world doctrine and communism Which Thailand is considered an important goal In the spread of communism In order to eventually occupy the Indochina region The first armed conflict was held on 8 August 1965, which was later called "The Day of the Gun Break".

The communist victory in Vietnam in 1975 emboldened the communist movement in Thailand, which had been in existence since the 1920s. After the Thammasat University massacre of leftist student demonstrators in 1976 and the repressive policies of right-wing Prime Minister Tanin Kraivixien, sympathies for the movement increased. By the late-1970s, it is estimated that the movement had as many as 12,000 armed insurgents,[3] mostly based in the northeast along the Laotian border and receiving foreign support. By the 1980s, however, all insurgent activities had been defeated. In 1982 Prime Minister Prem Tinsulanonda issued a general amnesty for all former communist insurgents.

Order of battle of 3rd Infantry Divistion (1942-1945)
  • 3rd Infantry Division - Major General Phin Choonhavan
    • 7th Infantry Regiment (Nakhon Ratchasima) which consisted of
      • 19th Infantry Battalion (Nakhon Ratchasima)
      • 20th Infantry Battalion (Nakhon Ratchasima)
      • 21st Infantry Battalion (Nakhon Ratchasima)
    • 8th Infantry Regiment (Surin) which consisted of
      • 17th Infantry Battalion
      • 18th Infantry Battalion
      • 52nd Infantry Battalion
    • 9th Infantry Regiment (Ubon Ratchathani) which consisted of
      • 25th Infantry Battalion (Ubon Ratchathani)
      • 26th Infantry Battalion (Ubon Ratchathani)
      • 27th Infantry Battalion (Ubon Ratchathani)
    • 7th Artillery Battalion (Nakhon Ratchasima)
    • 8th Artillery Battalion (Nakhon Ratchasima)
    • 9th Artillery Battalion
    • Motorcycle Reconnaissance Squadron
    • Tank squadron

Organization

3rd Infantry Division Headquarters
  • 3rd Infantry Division
    • 3rd Infantry Regiment
      • 1st Infantry Battalion
      • 2nd Infantry Battalion
      • 3rd Infantry Battalion
    • 8th Infantry Regiment
      • 1st Infantry Battalion
      • 2nd Infantry Battalion
      • 3rd Infantry Battalion
    • 13rd Infantry Regiment
      • 1st Infantry Battalion
      • 2nd Infantry Battalion
      • 3rd Infantry Battalion
    • 3rd Field Artillery Regiment
      • 3rd Field Artillery Battalion
      • 8th Field Artillery Battalion
      • 13th Field Artillery Battalion
      • 103rd Field Artillery Battalion
    • 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion
    • 3rd Signal Corp Battalion
    • 3rd Medical Battalion
    • 3rd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron
    • 3rd Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols Company
    • Quartermaster Supply Unit
    • Light Ordnance Unit
    • Military Police Company
    • 21st Military Circle
    • Fort Suranari Hospital

See also

References
  1. Vichy versus Asia: The Franco-Siamese War of 1941
  2. "The Battle of Koh Chang (January 1941)" netmarine.net
  3. Thailand Communist Insurgency 1959–Present Archived 5 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Onwar.com. Retrieved on 18 January 2012.
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