| Honorific-Prefix: | Admiral |
| Sangad Chaloryu | |
| Native Name Lang: | th |
| Office: | Prime Minister de facto of Thailand |
| Term Start: | 20 October 1977 |
| Term End: | 10 November 1977 |
| Predecessor: | Thanin Kraivichien |
| Successor: | Kriangsak Chamanan |
| Office2: | Head of the National Administrative Reform Council |
| Term Start1: | 6 October 1976 |
| Term End1: | 8 October 1976 |
| Monarch1: | Bhumibol Adulyadej |
| Predecessor1: | Seni Pramoj |
| Successor1: | Thanin Kraivichien |
| Office3: | Minister of Defense |
| Predecessor2: | Seni Pramoj |
| Successor2: | Lek Neawmalee |
| Primeminister2: | Thanin Kraivichien |
| Predecessor3: | Seni Pramoj |
| Successor3: | Lek Neawmalee |
| Primeminister3: | Seni Pramoj |
| Term Start2: | 22 October 1976 |
| Term End2: | 20 October 1977 |
| Term Start3: | 5 October 1976 |
| Term End3: | 6 October 1976 |
| Office4: | Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces |
| Term Start4: | 1 October 1975 |
| Term End4: | 30 September 1976 |
| Predecessor4: | Kris Sivara |
| Successor4: | Kamon Dechatungkha |
| Office5: | Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Navy |
| Term Start5: | 19 November 1973 |
| Term End5: | 30 September 1976 |
| Predecessor5: | Cherdchai Thomya |
| Successor5: | Amorn Sirigaya |
| Birth Date: | 1915 3, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Suphan Buri, Nakhon Chai Si, Siam (now Doem Bang Nang Buat, Suphan Buri, Thailand) |
| Death Place: | Klaeng Hospital, Klaeng, Rayong, Thailand |
| Spouse: | Sukon Chaloryu |
| Signature: | Signature of Sangad Chaloyu.svg |
| Rank: | General Admiral[1] Air Chief Marshal[2] |
| Serviceyears: | 1933–1977 |
Admiral Sangad Chaloryu (th|สงัด ชลออยู่; ; 4 March 1915 – 23 November 1980) was a Thai admiral and politician who served as head of the National Administrative Reform Council (NARC), a military junta that ruled Thailand from 1976 to 1980.[3] [4]
Sangad studied at the Vichaibamrungraj School in Chai Nat Province and then moved to Uthai Witthayakhom School in Uthai Thani Province. He later moved to Bangkok to study in Bansomdejchaopraya School in the navy district Thon Buri District. After graduating from high school, he studied at the Royal Thai Naval Academy, and continued his studies at the National Defence College of Thailand and Naval War College.[5]
Sangad was considered to be a right-wing hawk and close to the CIA. In the 1930s as a young Naval Midshipman, he had trained in Nazi Germany in radar operations. As commander of a naval flotilla in 1954, he helped French Marines and elite forces escape from Vietnam after Hanoi was overrun by the Vietminh. He also held the important positions of Submarine Squadron Commander, Assistant Chief of Staff (operation), Commander of the Royal Thai Fleet, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Navy, and Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Navy then Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.[6] [7]
As defense minister, Sangad led the coup of October 6, 1976.[8] This coup ousted the elected civilian government of Seni Pramoj. Sangad became chairman of NARC, which appointed royal favorite Thanin Kraivichien as Prime Minister. The Thanin government instituted sweeping purges of leftists and communists. Sangad was a figurehead and Army Secretary Kriangsak Chomanan was NARC's most influential figure. In October 1977, NARC staged a second coup (this time without the king's consent), and replaced Thanin with Kriangsak.[9] [10]
Sangad died from a heart attack on 23 November 1980 at Klaeng District Hospital, Rayong Province, at age 65 years.[13] [14]
received the following royal decorations in the Honours System of Thailand: