The Indian Navy commissioned its third Landing Craft Utility (LCU) Mk-IV in a ceremony at Port Blair on April 25.
The ship was commissioned as INLCU L53 by Vice Admiral Bimal Verma, AVSM, ADC, Commander-in-Chief A&N Command.
INLCU L53 was designed and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata and will be used for the transport of combat equipment.
The amphibious ship displaces 830 tons and is capable of transporting main battle tanks Arjun, T72 and other armored vehicles. The ship is fitted with an integrated bridge system (IBS) and an integrated platform management system (IPMS) and features the indigenous CRN 91 gun with a stabilized optronic pedestal for patrolling tasks. LCU ships are capable of carrying up to 160 troops.
Commanded by Lt Cdr Vikas Anand, the ship has a complement of five officers and 45 sailors. The remaining five ships of the project are in an advanced stage of construction and are scheduled to be inducted into Indian Navy over the next year and half.