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The Phra Chulachomklao Fortress,
or Paknam Fort, was built in 1893 on the west side of the Chao
Phraya River at the entrance to the estuary. The following is
a report of a visit to the Paknam Fort in June 1893, by Gustave
Rolin-Jaequemyns, General Adviser to the King:
"Fo r a long time we inspect the considerable
work on the fort which, by its position, commands the river mouth
and approximately a mile and a half of its course. There are
seven brick towers, each equipped with a heavy caliber Armstrong
gun. The masonry is completed. It only needs to be covered with
a casing of earth and grass.
A mile into the sea there is a target
on which they fire three shots with one gun and two with another.
The charge of each shot is from 25 to 30 pounds of powder. The
guns are hidden. They are hauled up by a hydraulic mechanism
at the moment of the aiming and they disappear by themselves
after the shot. The sight of this big, sly machine which ambushes
and takes aim like a brigand to hide immediately thereafter,
has something ferocious about it."
The following month, on July 13th 1893,
a skirmish took place between two French ships and the garrison
manning the fort. Both sides suffered casualties. Although a
smaller ship which was acting as a pilot boat for the French
ships was badly damaged, the gun-ships still successfully bypassed
the fort and other Thai gun-ships and made it up-river to Bangkok.
The seven Armstrong guns only saw action
that one time. However, they are still in good working order
as they fired a seven gun salute to celebrate their 105th anniversary
in 1998. The fort is now open to the public. Below a statue of
King Rama V there is an interesting museum about the conflict
with France. Also on show to the public is H.T.M.S. Maeklong,
a warship commissioned from the Japanese shipyards, pre-World
War II. The ship was in service for 60 years, including duty
as a royal ship for King Rama IX.
Entrance to the park is free, though it
is best to arrange your own transport. The fort is located at
the mouth of the Chao Phraya River in Tambon Laemfarpha, Phra
Samut Chedi District, seven kilometres from Phra Samut Chedi
on Sukswasdi Road. It is best to arrange your own transport from
Phra Samut Chedi. |
