21st Infantry Regiment (Thailand)
21st Infantry Regiment, Queen Sirikit's Guard | |
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กรมทหารราบที่ 21 รักษาพระองค์ ในนสมเด็จพระนางเจ้าสิริกิติ์ พระบรมราชินีนาถ พระบรมราชชนนีพันปีหลวง | |
![]() Emblem of the 21st Infantry Regiment, Queen Sirikit's Guard | |
Active | 1950-present |
Country | Thailand |
Branch | ![]() |
Type | Mechanized infantry battalion Elite forces |
Size | Regiment |
Part of | ![]() |
Garrison/HQ | Chonburi, Thailand |
Nickname(s) | Thahan Suea Rachini (ทหารเสือราชินี, the queen's tiger soldiers) |
Colors | Purple |
March | We-Infantry Regiment 21 |
Engagements | |
Decorations | ![]() The Rama Medal for Gallantry in Action[1]
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation[3] |
The 21st Infantry Regiment, Queen Sirikit's Guard (Thai: กรมทหารราบที่ 21 รักษาพระองค์ ในสมเด็จพระนางเจ้าสิริกิติ์ พระบรมราชินีนาถ พระบรมราชชนนีพันปีหลวง) (ร.21 รอ.) is a King's Guard regiment under the 2nd Infantry Division, Queen Sirikit's Guard of the Royal Thai Army. The regiment was created in 1950. It is known as the Queen's Guard or Thahan Suea Rachini (Thai: ทหารเสือราชินี, translated as "Queen's Tiger Soldiers"). It is sometimes referred to as the "Eastern Tigers".[4] The regiment is based in Chonburi.
Origins[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a6/Thailand_in_Korean_War_2.jpg/220px-Thailand_in_Korean_War_2.jpg)
The 1st Infantry Battalion of the 21st Regimental Combat Team[5] was formed on 22 September 1950 by the regent, Rangsit Prayurasakdi, under executive of Prime Minister Plaek Phibunsongkhram, at the request of United Nations Command.[6] Its purpose was to help the US-led UN troops fight the Korean People's Army and the Chinese People's Volunteers in the Korean War. Keeping the justice and the peace of the world was the founding mission of this order.[7] After the war, on 1 August 1955, the group was transferred into Bangkok area.[6]
On 1 August 1959, it changed a status to the 1st Infantry Battalion of 21st Infantry Regiment, Queen Sirikit's Guard, and on 31 July 1968, moved the base to the Fort Nawamintharachini at Chonburi Province. On 1 October 2011, its unit strength changed from an infantry battalion to a Mechanized infantry battalion.[6]
Campaigns[]
- Korean War service called "Little Tigers" in Battle of Pork Chop Hill. They received 12 Silver Stars, 1 Aircraft Order of Merit, and 26 Bronze Star Medals. [6]
- Voluntary service in the Vietnam War in 1968-1969 Called the "Queen's Cobra".
- Suppressed communist terrorists and helped civilians in Nan Province in 1975.
- Received the Order of Rama for stopping Vietnamese border incursions on the Thai-Cambodian border in 1983.
Organization[]
The regiment is composed of three subordinate units: the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Infantry Battalions.
- 1st Infantry Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, Queen's Guard
- 2nd Infantry Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, Queen's Guard
- 3rd Infantry Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, Queen's Guard
Uniform[]
- Rajchawanlop hat with black tuft with the royal cypher of the queen.
- Purple woolen top with black woolen mane embroidered with the queen's cypher on the wrist.
- Black woolen trousers with two purple stripes per side.
Training[]
Selection[]
Trainee must be serve in the 21st Regiment Queen's Guard or be permitted by the Royal Thai Army to attend the training.
Training content[]
The Queen's Tigers run a training course every two years. Its duration is 16 weeks.
- Physical and mental conditioning in preparation for the next phase. This phase takes four weeks. Only those who passing this phase move to the next phase.
- Forest and mountain training (four weeks): This phase focuses on infiltration by air and ground. Small unit tactics. Guerrilla warfare tactics.
- Sea phase (three weeks): Water infiltration and tactical diving. Coastal patrolling, amphibious warfare, living off the sea, parachuting into water.
- Urban phase (three weeks): Urban operations, anti-terrorist ops, hostage rescue, tactical us of motorbikes.
- Air phase (two weeks): Parachuting, parachute packing and problem solving.
Award for completion[]
Those who successfully complete the tiger training course receive a military capabilities plate from the queen. The metal plate is decorated with a purple heart and the queen's cypher. The lower part is a blue ribbon contain the honorific "Tiger Soldier". To both sides of the purple heart are tigers soaring above mountains, waves, and clouds.
Political influence[]
In the 1990s, according to one academic, "...the Eastern Tigers amassed considerable wealth by trading gems with Cambodian Khmer Rouge insurgents based along the two countries' border, a racket which 'directly benefited'... some of its commanders. Within a decade, the Eastern Tigers dominated the Thai military."[4] The Queen's Guard have since had an inordinate influence on Thai politics. Former Queen's Guard commanders led the May 2014 Thai coup d'état that toppled the elected government.[8][4]
Thai military junta , leader of the 2014 Thai coup d'état, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha also started his military career at 21st Infantry Regiment in 1990, which is granted Royal Guards status as the Queen's Guards. In 2002, Prayut served as a deputy commanding general in the 2nd Infantry Division, becoming its commanding general one year later.[9]
See also[]
References[]
- ^ "Decorations" (PDF) (in Thai). Royal Thai Government Gazette. 27 July 1983.
- ^ "Decorations" (PDF) (in Thai). Royal Thai Government Gazette. 1 June 1976.
- ^ "Decorations" (PDF) (in Thai). Royal Thai Government Gazette. 10 August 1954.
- ^ a b c Strangio, Sebastian (21 May 2015). "The Strongman of Siam". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
- ^ "Soldier Vocabulary" (PDF). Inspector General Department (in Thai). Royal Thai Army. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
- ^ a b c d "History of the Little Tiger". myhome211.com (in Thai). 1st Infantry Battalion 21st Infantry Regiment. Archived from the original on 15 July 2013.
- ^ "Army for War" (PDF) (in Thai). Royal Thai Government Gazette. 22 September 1950.
- ^ Chachavalpongpun, Pavin (19 July 2015). "A Thai House Divided" (Opinion). New York Times. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
- ^ Pongsudhirak, Thitinan (2010). "Meaning and implications of general's rise". Bangkok Post.
External links[]
- King's Guard units of Thailand
- Military units and formations established in 1950
- 1950 establishments in Thailand