INS Sumitra (P59)

INS Sumitra is the fourth and last Saryu class patrol vessel of the Indian Navy, designed and constructed by Goa Shipyard Limited.[2] It is also the presidential yacht of India.[3] It is designed to undertake fleet support operations, coastal and offshore patrolling, ocean surveillance and monitoring of sea lines of communications and offshore assets and escort duties.[4][5]

INS Sumitra during her trials.
History
India
Name: INS Sumitra
Operator:  Indian Navy
Builder: Goa Shipyard Limited
Laid down: 28 April 2010
Launched: 6 December 2010
Commissioned: 4 September 2014
Identification:
Status: in active service
General characteristics
Class and type: Saryu class patrol vessel
Tonnage: 2,200 tonnes (2,200 long tons; 2,400 short tons)
Length: 105 m (344 ft)
Beam: 13 m (43 ft)
Propulsion: Two KOEL/Pielstick Diesel engines
Speed: 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)
Range: 6,000 nautical miles (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Complement: Eight officers and 108 sailors
Armament:
  • 76-mm SRGM (Super Rapid Gun Mount)
  • close-in weapon system
  • CHAFF launchers[1]
Aircraft carried: 1 × HAL Dhruv or 1 × HAL Chetak

Construction

The keel of INS Sumitra was laid at Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL) on 28 April 2010, and she was launched on 6 December 2010. During her construction at GSL, she was known as Yard 1211.[6][7]

Service history

INS Sumitra completed her sea trials and was handed over to the Indian Navy on 18 July 2014,[2] and was commissioned into the fleet by the Chief of Naval Staff Admiral RK Dhowan on 4 September 2014 in Chennai. She will operate under the Eastern Naval Command and conduct maritime surveillance and coastal security missions. Her first Commanding Officer is Commander Milind Mokashi.[8]

Operation Raahat

On 30 March 2015, INS Sumitra and her crew rescued 350 Indian citizens stranded in Yemen, by evacuating them from the Yemeni port of Aden to Djibouti across the Red Sea. This rescue was part of Operation Raahat. Sumitra was diverted from her anti-piracy patrol in the Lakshadweep region to join the operation while Saudi Arabia-led forces were conducting air strikes against Houthi rebels.

Two other navy ships INS Mumbai and INS Tarkash (F50) were also part of this operation, along with two C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force, two Airbus A-320 aircraft from Air India and passenger liners MV Kavaratti and MS Coral. The operations were overseen by Gen VK Singh (Retd), Minister of State for External Affairs, Government of India.

Admiral RK Dhowan, Chief of the Naval Staff unveiling the plaque of INS Sumitra along with Vice Admiral Satish Soni, FOC-in-C, East and Ships Commanding officer Commander MM Mokashi

See also

References
  1. "INS Sunayna to Extend SNC's Reach". Press Information Bureau. 15 October 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  2. "Goa Shipyard Limited delivers INS Sumitra to Indian Navy". The Times of India. 18 July 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
  3. IANS (4 February 2016). "Offshore patrol vessel INS Sumitra to serve as presidential yacht". GulfNews. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  4. "INS Sunayna commissioned to enhance Indian navy's prowess". The Indian Express. 16 October 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  5. "Goa Shipyard Ltd delivers offshore patrol vessel to Navy". Business Standard. 16 January 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
  6. "INS Sumitra: Goa Shipyard Launches Naval Offshore Patrol Vessel (NOPV)". Marine Buzz. 8 December 2010. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
  7. "'Sumitra' inducted into navy". The Hindu. 7 December 2010. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
  8. "Navy's largest patrolling vessel INS Sumitra commissioned". The Economic Times. 4 September 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.