Calcutta West Bengal INS Androth, the second in a series of eight shallow water ASW ships, was launched today in Calcutta. ASW SWC was built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers in Kolkata. | Photo: Debasish Bhaduri
INS Androth, the second in a series of eight shallow water anti-submarine warships (ASW SWC), was launched in Kolkata on Tuesday. Built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata, INS Androth is approximately 77.6m long, 10.5m wide and has a draft of just 2.7m.
Propelled by three diesel water jets, these ships can reach a maximum speed of 25 knots. Their main role is to conduct anti-submarine operations in coastal waters, low-intensity maritime operations and mine-laying operations.
These ships are also capable of carrying out full-scale underwater surveillance of coastal waters and various surface platforms and coordinating anti-submarine operations with aviation. These ships may be smaller, but will deal the death blow,” GRSE said in a press statement. These ships also carry light torpedoes, anti-submarine missiles and mines, a close combat weapon system (with a 30mm cannon) and 16.7mm stabilized remote controlled guns. Androth and its brethren will be equipped with hull-mounted sonar and low frequency variable depth sonar.
Facing future challenges
“Building specialized ships like these for anti-submarine warfare is really in sync with building capable, reliable, cohesive and forward-thinking forces that are ready to face current and future maritime challenges,” he said. Vice Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, Flag Officer, Commander-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, was the chief guest at the launch ceremony. “I am pleased to inform you that the ship that will be launched today has made rapid progress in construction, and not with an understanding of the vicissitudes of shipbuilding, as we all know,” he added.
Commodore P. R. Hari, a retired Indian Navy officer, Chairman and Managing Director of GRSE, underlined the long and fruitful relationship that the shipyard has maintained with the Indian Navy over 63 years of coexistence, during which 70 warships have been delivered to the Indian Navy. another 15 are in various stages of construction. “The huge numbers reflect the strength of this partnership with platforms ranging from boats to fast attack boats, research vessels, landing craft, corvettes, frigates, and now ASW shallow water craft, as well as advanced frigates,” he added. . . .
The first ship of the series, INS Arnala, was launched three months ago. INS Androth takes its name from the largest and longest island of Androth Island, also known as Androth Island, in the Lakshadweep archipelago.
