Source : The Times of India
GRSE launches the Most Silent Ship INS Andhroth, 2nd in a series of eight Anti-Ssubmarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft
KOLKATA: Indian Navy launched another Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASWSWC) — the second in a series of eight indigenous ships built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) — on Tuesday at a Kidderpore yard.
On Tuesday, the ship made its first contact with the water and headed to the fitting-out jetty where it will be fitted with weapons, machinery and sensors before it can be commissioned next year.
Vice admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, the flag officer, commanding-in-chief, Western Naval Command was the chief guest at the occasion as the ship named INS Androth was christened and launched by his wife Shashi Tripathi. Former Indian cricketer Arun Lal was the guest of honour at the ceremony which saw the presence of other dignitaries like GRSE chairman and MD, CMDE PR Hari; Navy’s vice admiral Kiran Deshmukh and others.
GRSE is building eight ASWSWCs for the Indian Navy, and these ‘Silent Hunters’ when delivered, shall be a potent force multiplier enhancing the Indian Navy’s capability to detect enemy submarines in coastal waters.
These 77.6-metre-long and 10.5-metre-wide vessels propelled by three diesel-driven water jets will pack a punch as they will be capable of full-scale sub-surface surveillance of coastal waters as well as Search and Attack. The ship is capable of a maximum 25 knots speed and will carry lightweight torpedoes, ASW rockets and mines, a close-in weapon system (30mm gun) and 16.7 stabilized remote-controlled guns.
