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INS Visakhapatnam (D66)

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Visakhapatnam (D66) during her sea trials
History
India
NameINS Visakhapatnam
NamesakeVisakhapatnam
OwnerIndian Navy
OperatorIndian Navy
BuilderMazagon Dock Limited
CostAround ₹9,000 crore ($1.2 Billion)
Yard number12704
Way numberD66
Laid down12 October 2013
Launched20 April 2015
Acquired28 October 2021
Commissioned21 November 2021[1]
IdentificationPennant number: D66
Mottoयशो लभस्व - Attain Glory
Nickname(s)The Brave Buck
StatusIn Service[2]
Badge
General characteristics
TypeGuided missile destroyer
Displacement7,400 t (7,300 long tons; 8,200 short tons)[3]
Length163 m (535 ft)
Beam17.4 m (57 ft)
Draft6.5 m (21 ft)
Propulsion
SpeedIn excess of 30 knots (56 km/h)
Range8,000 nautical miles (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)[5]
Endurance45 days
Boats & landing
craft carried		4 x RHIB
Crew300 (50 officers + 250 sailors)
Sensors and
processing systems
Electronic warfare
& decoys
Armament
Aircraft carried2 × HAL Dhruv (or) Sea King Mk. 42B
Aviation facilitiesEnclosed helicopter hangar and flight deck capable of accommodating two multi-role helicopters.
NotesModified derivative of the Kolkata-class destroyer.[6]

INS Visakhapatnam is the lead ship and the first of the Visakhapatnam-class stealth guided-missile destroyers of the Indian Navy. The ship, commissioned on 21 November 2021, is one of the largest destroyers in service with the Indian Navy.[7]

Construction

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The keel of Visakhapatnam was laid down on 12 October 2013 and she was launched on 20 April 2015 at Mazagon Dock Limited of Mumbai.[8][9][10] This was made under Make In India initiative. The ship steering and stabiliser system was manufactured by Larsen & Toubro and hydraulics by Polyhydron Systems.[citation needed].

During Navy Day 2020, Chief of the Naval Staff announced that INS Visakhapatnam has started its sea trials.[11]

Commissioning

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Visakhapatnam was delivered to the Indian Navy on 28 October 2021[2] and commissioned on 21 November 2021 by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh[1] at the Indian Navy's Western Naval Command, headquartered in Mumbai.[7]

Service history

[edit]

On 11 January 2022, Visakhapatnam successfully fired an advanced variant of Brahmos missile in sea-to-sea mode validating its extended range and improvements.[12]

2023-24 Anti-piracy patrols

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Main article: Operation Sankalp

Against the backdrop of the increasing attacks on commercial ships transiting the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the Arabian Sea by the end of 2023, the Indian Navy on December 31, 2023 said it had substantially enhanced maritime surveillance efforts in Central and North Arabian Sea and “augmented force levels” by primerly deploying the P-8I Neptune MPA and the SeaGuardian drones .[13] Following two merchant vessels, including MV Ruen and MV Chem Pluto which were targeted in the sea. Ruen was hijacked (later rescued by INS Kolkata) while MV Chem Pluto sustained drone hits eventually and making way to port, The Indian Navy deployed a large flotilla of destroyers to safeguard international security . The deployment into the Arabian Sea includes Navy’s missile destroyers, including INS Kolkata, INS Kochi, INS Mormugao, INS Chennai and INS Visakhapatnam,[14] virtually all of its modern destroyer force of its western fleet. INS Kolkata is deployed on the mouth of the Red Sea, INS Kochi on the south of Yemen's Socotra Island, INS Mormugao in the west Arabian Sea with INS Chennai in the central Arabian Sea.

Visakhapatnam was also moved in a week later and was tasked to patrol the north Arabian Sea.[14] On 18 January 2024, Visakhapatnam responded to a distress call from the Marshall Island-flagged MV Genco Picardy following a drone attack by unknown attackers at 11.11 pm on the night of 17 January. The Indian naval ship acknowledged the distress call and intercepted the vessel at 12.30 am the next day and provided support. Genco Picardy had 22 crew, including 9 Indian sailors. Following an EOD inspection by the ship's specialists, the ship was cleared to continue its journey without any casualties incurred aboard.[15][16][17][18]

Following a distress call from the British owned, Marshall Islands flagged oil tanker MV Marlin Luanda on the night of 26 January 2024, Visakhapatnam sped to the scene to aid the ship in its fire fighting efforts by deploying its NBCD team (Nuclear-Biological-Chemical Defence and Damage control) along with firefighting equipment on board. The ship was reportedly attacked by the Houthis at approximately 7:45 pm and it had 22 Indians and one Bangladeshi crew member aboard. USS Carney (DDG 64) (also targeted by a Houthi missile, but shot down), the French frigate Alsace and other Operation Prosperity Guardian coalition ships also responded and rendered assistance. No injuries were reported as the fire had broken out In the cargo compartment. The vessel sailed to a safe harbour under its own power.[19][20][21][22][23] On 15 August 2024, Shaurya Chakra was awarded to Lieutenant Commander Kapil Yadav, assistant engineer officer (AEO) of the ship by President Droupadi Murmu due to his selfless acts to bring down the fire onboard MV Marlin Luanda.[24][25]

In mid-July 2024, Indian Navy's INS Visakhapatnam and INS Aditya conducted an exercise with US Navy's Carrier Strike Group 9 centred on USS Theodore Roosevelt along with Carrier Air Wing 11 and USS Daniel Inouye in the Indian Ocean.[26][27][28]

On 5 and 6 October, Carrier Strike Groups of the Indian Navy and the Italian Navy led by INS Vikramaditya and ITS Cavour and accompanied by INS Visakhapatnam and ITS Alpino participated in a maritime bilateral exercise in the Arabian Sea. The exercise included aircraft like MiG-29K, F-35B and AV-8B Harrier II and integral helicopters. Operations in the sea phase included intense flight operations with fighter jets and helicopters for combined Large Force Engagements, Air Combat Missions, Helicopter Operations and Search & Rescue missions as well as co-ordinated weapon firings & joint manoeuvres to enhance joint operations, Command & Control capabilities and interoperability. The exercise also saw the participation of the Indian Air Force. During the Harbour Phase from 1 to 4 October, the exercise saw Subject Matter Expert exchanges and other key interactions as well as a Pre-Sail Planning Conference.[29][30][31]

[edit]
  • Visakhapatnam during launch.
    Visakhapatnam during launch.
  • Visakhapatnam during commissioning.
    Visakhapatnam during commissioning.
  • Visakhapatnam during sea trials.
    Visakhapatnam during sea trials.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Navy inducts INS Visakhapatnam, India's first stealth guided-missile destroyer All you need to know". India Today. 21 November 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Indian Navy Receives 1st Visakhapatnam-class Destroyer". Livefist. 30 October 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  3. ^ "INS Visakhapatnam', First Ship of Project 15B launched". indiannavy.nic.in. Indian Navy (News). Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  4. ^ "Project 15B Guided Missile Destroyers, Mazagon Dock Limited".
  5. ^ Shukla, Ajay (21 April 2015). "INS Visakhapatnam shows growing Indian ability to build warships economically". Business Standard. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  6. ^ "Project 15B Guided Missile Destroyers".
  7. ^ a b "INS Visakhapatnam: Navy to commission missile destroyer ship today. 5 points". Mint. 21 November 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  8. ^ "Keel Laid for P15 Bravo Ships". The Times of India. Mumbai. 25 October 2013. Archived from the original on 22 February 2018.
  9. ^ "Mazagon Dock Keel Laying Ceremony" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 February 2014.
  10. ^ "First Indian Navy Project 15B - Visakhapatnam-class Destroyer Launched". 21 April 2015.
  11. ^ Sayan Chatterjee (4 December 2020). "Navy Day, 2020: Year-End wrap-up on our sentinels of the sea". The Statesman.
  12. ^ Kulkarni, Sushant (11 January 2022). "Naval variant of BrahMos supersonic missile test-fired from INS Visakhapatnam". Indian Express.
  13. ^ Peri, Dinakar (31 December 2023). "Attacks on ships: Indian Navy enhances surveillance in Arabian Sea". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  14. ^ a b "Indian Navy deploys warships and surveillance aircraft to enhance maritime security - The New Indian Express". www.newindianexpress.com. 6 December 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  15. ^ "INS Visakhapatnam Rescues Marshall Island Ship With 9 Indians After Drone Attack In Gulf Of Aden". zeenews.india.com. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  16. ^ "Naval warship INS Visakhapatnam helps ship under drone attack in Gulf of Aden". India Today. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  17. ^ "Ship Under Drone Attack Sends SOS, Indian Navy's Swift Response". NDTV.com. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  18. ^ "Navy's INS Visakhapatnam rescues merchant ship attacked by drone in Gulf of Aden". Hindustan Times. 18 January 2024. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  19. ^ "Houthi attack: Indian Navy deploys fire-fighting team on board British oil tanker with 22 Indian crew members". Moneycontrol. 27 January 2024. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  20. ^ "Indian Navy responds to SOS call from merchant ship in Gulf of Aden after being hit by Houthi anti-ship missile". The Times of India. 27 January 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  21. ^ "Houthi attack: Navy sends INS Visakhapatnam to help burning vessel with 22 Indians on board in Gulf of Aden". Hindustan Times. 27 January 2024. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  22. ^ Desk, DH Web. "Houthi attack: Indian Navy responds to distress call from British oil tanker on fire in Gulf of Aden". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 27 January 2024. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  23. ^ "Indian Navy warship INS Visakhapatnam assists merchant vessel under missile attack - India News". www.wionews.com. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  24. ^ "Navy officers get gallantry awards for anti-piracy operations in Gulf of Aden". India Today. 14 August 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  25. ^ Philip, Snehesh Alex (15 August 2024). "Daring flood rescue to leading a crashing Jaguar jet away from town, tales of India's bravehearts". ThePrint. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  26. ^ India, U. S. Mission (15 July 2024). "The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group Conducts Joint Maritime Activity with Indian Forces". U.S. Embassy & Consulates in India. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  27. ^ Deshpande, Smruti (15 July 2024). "Indian Navy, US's Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group conduct joint exercise in Indian Ocean". ThePrint. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  28. ^ "India – US defence collaboration: Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group, Indian Navy conduct joint activity". Financialexpress. 15 July 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  29. ^ "India's MiG-29s Fly With F-35, Harrier Jets In Exercise With Italian Navy". NDTV.com. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  30. ^ Ray, Kalyan. "India-Italy maiden Carrier Strike Groups exercise off the West Coast". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  31. ^ @indiannavy (7 October 2024). "Historic bilateral #maritime engagement b/n #IndianNavy & @ItalianNavy..." (Tweet). Retrieved 8 October 2024 – via Twitter.
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