Pattaya's Dive Sites
Pattaya's 3rd Shipwreck: The HTMS Kood (Kut)

• See Also: HTMS Khram Wreck
• See Also: Pattaya's Other Dive Sites

Pattaya was confirmed as Thailand's shipwreck-diving capital on Sept. 17, 2006 when the Royal Thai Navy sunk the HTMS Kood, known marginally as the Kut, just 45 minutes from Pattaya Beach. The Kood, originally a World War II U.S. landing ship, becomes the area's third wreck available for recreational divers and the closest one to shore.

The Kood began service as LSM-333 in the U.S. Navy. It was transferred to the Thai Navy in October 1946 where it was rebranded the LS1-1 and named after Koh Kood, an island of Thai city of Trat. It is a sister ship of the HTMS Khram (also named for an island), which was sunk off Koh Phai in February 2003. The Khram, now a thriving artificial reef, is Pattaya's most-popular dive site, a title it may not have once coral and marine life start calling the Kood home.

The ship was scuttled about 340 meters off the northeast tip of Koh Sak. bottom of the wreck lies at 31.5m,the deck at 26m and the top of the conning tower at 12m. Thus, the bulk of the vessel will only be accessible to those with an Adventure Diver or greater certification. Enriched air divers will get even more bottom time.

Thai officials had been talking for more than a year about sinking another vessel for divers and to improve the marine ecosystem off Pattaya, but once the decision on where to sink the vessel was made, authorities moved quickly. Without any publicity, the vessel was towed to the site on Sept. 16 and sunk the next day.

HTMS Kood Fact Sheet

LSM-1 Class Landing Ship Medium

• Laid down: 13 July 1944, at Pullman Standard Car Manufacturing Company, Chicago, IL.
• Launched (date unknown)
• Commissioned USS LSM-333, 25 November 1944, LT. William Russell Schulhof, USNR in command
• During World War II LSM-333 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the:
  • Okinawa Gunto operation;
    (a) Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 28 April to 18 May 1945
• Decommissioned, 28 July 1946
• Struck From the Naval Register (date unknown)
• Transferred in October 1946 to Thailand and named HTMS Kood (LSM-1)
• Decommissioned by Thai Navy, previously moored at the Amphibious Headquarters
• Final Disposition Struck from the Royal Thai Navy List in 1990, retained for use as spare parts in Royal Thai Navy
• LSM-333 received one battle star for World War II service

Specifications

• Displacement 520 t.(light), 743 t.(landing) 1,095 t.(fully loaded)
• Length 203' 6" o.a.
• Beam 34' 6"
• Draft light, 3' 6" forward, 7' 8" aft, fully loaded, 6' 4" forward, 8' 3" aft
• Speed 13.2kts, (max.), (928 tons displacement)
• Complement 4 officers, 54 enlisted
• Armament one single bow mounted 40mm gun, four single 20mm gun mounts
• Vehicle/Boat Capacity 5 medium or 3 heavy tanks, or 6 LVT's, or 9 DUKW's
• Troop Accommodations 2 officers, 46 enlisted
• Armor 10-lb. STS splinter shield to gun mounts, pilot house and conning station
• Propulsion two Fairbanks Morse (model 38D81/8X10, reversible with hydraulic clutch) diesels. Direct drive with 1,440 BHP each @ 720rpm, twin screws
• Endurance 4,900 miles @ 12kts.(928 tons displacement)

Sinking of the HTMS Kood
	The Navy had been spraying water into the Kood since the day before and slowly began sliding into the depths.
	Once the vessel began sinking, it went quickly, submerging literally in a few minutes.
	Halfway submerged, the vessels descent picked up steam.
	The Kood's aft end hits bottom and the bow starts to drop.
	Just a bit more...
	The last gasp before sinking entirely, this is the last anyone will see of the Kood again... on the surface.
	With a gurgle and bubbles, the RTN Kood becomes the property of Pattaya's marine life and divers.