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Frigate accidently shot at nearby corvette

A near-catastrophe unfolded on March 14, 2024, when the HTMS 'Chon Buri' inadvertently discharged its weapon, firing at the HTMS 'Khirirat'. The frigate had docked at Laem Thian Pier within the Sattahip Naval Base in Chon Buri province and had just completed training on March 13, when a malfunction occurred in its main gun, resulting in a 76 mm round becoming lodged in the barrel. On March 14, RTN technicians were working to remove the bullet from the main gun when the gun accidentally fired and hit the nearby docked HTMS 'Khirirat'. The shooting at point-blank range caused an explosion and fire, injuring 14 sailors who were standing by on the deck of the ship. RTN officials managed to control the fire and rushed the injured officers to the Somdech Phra Nangchao Sirikit Hospital. Eight sailors were discharged from the hospital while the others remain under treatment. The condition of the six officers was not serious. Most of the officers suffered from smoke suffocation and that they would recover soon. The HTMS 'Khirirat' sustained minor damage to its rear but remained capable of operating despite the damage. An investigation into the cause of the accidental shooting was ordered. The accident might have occurred due to a failure to follow training and safety procedures. The HTMS 'Chon Buri' was required to dock at the pier of the Naval Ordnance after training because the location was isolated from the residential community and had no other ships at the dock. At the Naval Ordnance’s pier, technicians were tasked with inspecting and rectifying any malfunctions before the ship returned to its main pier. However, HTMS 'Chon Buri' disregarded these safety protocols and opted to head back to its main dock, the Laem Thian Pier, immediately after training. During repairs, the gun barrel should be positioned at an angle of over 45 degrees from the horizontal to enable any accidental shots to be fired into the sky. It appeared that in this instance, the barrel may have been left at a horizontal angle, resulting in the shot being discharged towards the nearby ship.