INS Shardul to be commissioned on Jan four

Sirsi, Karnataka, Dec 22 (UNI) Indigenously manufactured warship, 'INS Shardul', will be commissioned at INS Kadamba Naval Base in Karwar in Karnataka on January 4.

According to sources at INS Kadamba, Defence Minister A K Antony and heads of the three armed forces would participate in the ceremony.

The sources said that this was the first time that a warship was being assigned to the new Naval base after opening its first phase in May last year. The warship Landing Ship Tank-Large (LST-L), capable of carrying 500 marine soldiers, service vehicles and well-equipped missile tanks, was manufactured in Kolkata by M/s Garden Reach Ship Builders and Engineers Ltd. It can also carry Advanced Light Helicopter, Dhruva.

Two WM-18A rocket launchers and two Plane Control Cannons have been put in the warship. For the first time in Indian Navy, self starting power management system, war indemnity controlling system and much more advanced technologies have been included in the warship. It could also be used effectively during natural calamities like earthquakes, tsunami, flood and cyclone to evacuate victims.

The sources said Indian Naval Service Hospital Service (INS-HS) 'Patanjali', constructed in INS Kadamba, would be dedicated to the nation on December 26. Armed forces medical service Director General Surgeon Vice-Admiral V K Sing would inaugurate the 400-bedded hospital.

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