A Thai Navy warship sunk in stormy waters in the Gulf of Thailand leaving 30 people missing at sea on Sunday.

The HTMS Sukhothai corvette was on patrol some 20 nautical miles off the Bang Saphan district in Prachuap Khiri Khan province on December 18 evening when water entered its hull and splashed into the electrical system.

The leakage disrupted the vessel's controls and power supply, causing the ship to tilt and sink at sea.

Two frigates and two helicopters were dispatched to assist the HTMS Sukhothai and evacuate the crew who were ordered to abandon ship.

The Thai Navy said 78 of the 106 sailors onboard were rescued on the HTMS Kraburi frigate, with 28 still missing.

Rough seas and powerful winds have also hampered efforts to salvage the Sukhothai corvette, which sank to the depths.

Navy spokesman Pokkrong Monthatphalin said: 'The incident occurred while the Sukhothai Royal Navy was patrolling in the area and encountered strong waves. Some seawater flowed into the electrical system through the exhaust pipe and caused a blackout on the ship.'

Three people were critically injured and were rushed to the hospital.

The HTMS Sukhothai is one of two US-built Ratanakosin-class corvette commissioned in 1987.

It is one of the Thai Navy's seven corvettes, armed with an array of anti-ship missiles, surface-to-air missile launchers, a double-barrel machine gun, and several torpedo tubes.