Navy to induct two more LST (L) ships : Commander Joseph

Kochi, July 17 (UNI) Commander N A J Joseph of 'INS Shardul', the first amphibious ship to be based on the Western Sea Board, today said the Indian Navy would be inducting two more Landing Ship Tank (Large) ships in the near future.

Speaking to reporters onboard 'INS Shardul' berthed at the Naval Base here, Commander Joseph said the two warships, to be named 'INS Kesari' and 'INS Airawad', being built at Garden Reach Ship Building Engineers in Kolkata, were close to completion and would be inducted into the Navy shortly.

''With the induction of these two ships, the total number of LST (L) ships would be five, the other three being INS Magar and INS Gharial, both stationed in east coast, and 'INS Shardul','' he added.

'INS Shardul' is presently a part of the First Training Squadron for training naval cadets and would be here for four months, Commander Joseph said.

He said the ship, based at Karwar, was capable of transporting troops, armaments and vehicles for amphibious operations.

The ship with a carrying capacity of 750 tonnes could transport 10 trucks, 11 tanks and 500 troops, besides a 190-member crew depending on the duration of operations, he noted.

The warship is also capable of operating Seaking/ Dhruv helicopter and the main armament includes rocket launcher mountings, anti-aircraft guns and 'Igla' Surface to Air Missiles (SAMs).

''The ship is the first in the Indian Navy to be fitted with Automatic Power Management System for automatic starting and Monitoring of Diesel Alternators and battle damage control System,'' Cmdr Joseph noted.

The ship, being an amphibious vessel, could be configured and deployed to operate at various levels of conflict and in multiple theatres simultaneously in diverse roles.

'' It could also perform a wide range of missions like providing humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, aerial evacuation of casualities, peace keeping operations and combat operations,'' he added.

UNI