INS Shardul to be commissioned on Jan 4

Bangalore, Jan 2 (UNI) INS Shardul, the first of the new class large Landing Ship Tanks which is expected to provide the much-needed firepower to the Indian Navy on the Western seaboard, will be commissioned into naval service by Defence Minister A K Antony at the 'Sea Bird' Naval Base at Karwar in Karnataka on January four.

Once commissioned, the ship would be an important auxiliary warship capable of carrying armoured tanks, army vehicles and about 500 troops, excluding the ship's crew. Besides, it could also carry helicopters, rocket launchers and anti-aircraft guns.

The state-of-the-art ship, mainly used for amphibious operations, was built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Enginers, Kolkata. It was equipped with the most advanced electronic warfare systems and automatic power management system, a defence release here today said.

UNI