INS Jalashwa Commissioned

New Delhi, June 22 (UNI) The Indian Navy today formally commissioned the former US warship USS Trenton as INS Jalashwa at an impressive ceremony held at the US Naval Base at Norfolk (Virginia) in the United States.

An official spokesperson here said Indian Ambassador to the US Ronen Sen performed the honours to mark this first-ever instance of a ship being acquired from the US under the Foreign Military Sales Program.

The ship-transfer and commissioning was also significant from the perspective of the growing defence relations between India and the United States, observed the spokesperson.

The newly-commissioned amphibious vessel will set sail for India after completion of the final phase of crew training.

INS Jalashwa (Sanskrit for Sea Horse) represents a quantum jump in terms of the operational prowess of the Indian Navy's surface Fleet. She will provide amphibious capability by way of 'Vertical Envelopment' and 'Standoff Beaching' -- enabling speedy airlift of troops as well as facilitating ship-to-shore movement through her assault craft.

With her heavy sealift and air-lifting capabilities, INS Jalashwa will also provide the Indian Navy the ability to respond swiftly in times of natural calamities such as the Tsunami through the provision of quick succour and disaster relief.

In its USS Trenton 'avatar' -- as an Austin-class Amphibious Transport Dock, the ship took part in numerous humanitarian operations, including the evacuations of American civilians from Liberia in 1996 and from Lebanon in 2006.

In addition, in 1991, TRENTON was responsible for evacuating the US and Soviet Ambassadors and 193 foreign nationals from Somalia.

During her final deployment in 2006, the ship took part in maritime security operations off the Somali coast of eastern Africa.

Trenton was decommissioned on January 17, 2007, at Norfolk, and transfered to the Indian Navy.

UNI