Thailand has an aircraft carrier with no aircraft

For a brief period in the late 1990s, Thailand was the only country in southeast Asia that possessed one of the ultimate symbols of military strength: an aircraft carrier.

Its carrier, the HTMS Chakri Naruebet, was meant to be a point of pride for Thailand and symbolize the developing country's power.

Then the late 1990s Asian financial crisis hit Thailand. Bangkok's grand plans for its carrier were significantly hobbled. Commissioned in 1997, the same year the financial crisis struck the country, the Chakri Naruebet — which means "Sovereign of the Chakri dynasty," the Thai monarchy's ruling family — was mostly consigned to sitting in port due to lack of funding.

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