GRSE lays keel for Indian Navy’s 1st Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft

Source : News on Air

Anti Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft of the Indian Navy to be built by GRSE

Continuing with the stellar efforts in the indigenous design and production of warships, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd., (GRSE), a leading warship building organization, laid the keel (the lengthwise timber or steel structure along the base of a ship) of the third Survey Vessel Large (SVL) and the first Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) on 6 Aug 2021.

A tweet by GRSE stated, “GRSE Lays Twin Keels of 3rd Survey Vessel (Large) & 1st Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft”. Earlier, GRSE has delivered three P-28 class ASW corvettes (INS Kamorta, INS Kadmat, and INS Kiltan) to the Indian Navy. The warships contain 90% indigenous content and a tonnage of 3250 tonnes.

Vice Admiral SN Ghormade, Vice Chief of Naval Staff, in his address said, “I am glad to know that despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, both the projects are progressing very well and I am confident that GRSE having expertise in design and construction of various types of ships for the Indian Navy, will ensure the timely delivery to maritime forces.”

The vessels will replace the aging Abhay-class corvettes

The vessels will replace the aging Abhay-class corvettes that entered service with the Indian Navy in 1989. The construction of these vessels forms a part of the Make In India initiative, strengthening the defence infrastructure and ecosystem in the country. GRSE was given both the contracts for the construction of SVLs & ASW-SWCs on competitive bidding and design.

Features of ASW shallow watercraft (ASW-SWC)

The ASW-SWC is the first of the eight vessels being built by GRSE. The Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts is designed for a deep displacement of 750 Tons, a speed of 25 knots, and is capable of full-scale sub-surface surveillance of coastal waters. It will also coordinate ASW operations with aircraft.

The vessels are propelled by water jets capable of reaching a maximum speed of 25 knots. The vessel is compact and is loaded with anti-submarine weapons (lightweight torpedoes, ASW rockets, and mines).

Features of survey vessel large (SVL)

The survey vessel is the third of the four ships being built by GRSE under the SVL project. The vessels are capable of full-scale coastal and deep-water hydrographic surveys with their advanced survey equipment.

The vessels are 110m long with a deep displacement of 3300 tons and can accommodate 231 personnel. The vessel is designed for a cruising speed of 16 knots with an in-house hull form design of GRSE that imparts a superior level of operational efficiency.

The hull form of these new generations survey vessels meets the stringent sea keeping and maneuvering requirements including helicopter operations at high sea states. The vessels are propelled by two marine diesel engines and also have bow & stern thrusters for maneuvering at low speeds during surveys.