The second batch of Indian Navy’s three Immediate Support Vessels (ISVs), comprising T-38, T-39 and T-40, was commissioned yesterday at Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam.
These three ISVs are an addition to the first batch of ISVs commissioned last year and will constitute the 84th Immediate Support Vessel Squadron based at Visakhapatnam. The project was a joint collaboration between Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Ltd, Ship Builders and the Indian Navy.
Vice Admiral Satish Soni, PVSM, AVSM, NM, ADC, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command, said:
These ships have sailed 1,200 nautical miles from Mumbai to Visakhapatnam over duration of 12 days before getting commissioned at the Eastern Naval Command.
The ISVs are armed with Heavy Machine Guns (HMGs) and are fitted with state of the art radar and navigation equipment. They are fitted with two caterpillar engines of 1600 MHP each to provide water jet propulsion which provides the vessels a high speed of 40 knots and an endurance of 500 nautical miles. These ships are capable of carrying out day and night surveillance and can be used for rapid insertions/extraction of MARCOS for military intervention.
The induction and deployment of these ships will augment the ongoing efforts to bolster coastal security and provide protection to offshore assets from asymmetric threats. These ships would enhance Indian Navy’s capability in furthering its mandate of maritime safety and security over the Offshore Developmental Areas on the Eastern sea board.
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Image: Indian Navy