Arnala-class corvette

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Class overview
NameArnala-class corvettes
OperatorsNaval Ensign of India (2001-2004).svg  Indian Navy
Preceded by
Succeeded by Durg class
In commission1968–2003
Planned11
Completed11
Lost1
Retired10
General characteristics
Type Anti-submarine corvette
Displacement
  • 950 tons (standard)
  • 1,150 tons (full load)
Length81.8 m (268 ft 4 in)
Beam9.2 m (30 ft 2 in)
Draught2.9 m (9 ft 6 in)
Propulsion
  • 2 shaft CODAG,
  • 2 gas turbines - 30,000 hp
  • 1 diesel - 6,000 hp (4,500 kW)
Speed30 knots (56 km/h)
Range
  • 4,870 nmi (9,020 km) at 10 knots (19 km/h)
  • 450 nmi (830 km) at 30 knots (56 km/h)
Complement90
Sensors &
processing systems
  • Radar: Don-2, Slim Net, Hawk Screech
  • Sonar: Herkules hull-mounted & dipping active sonar
Armament
  • 4 76mm guns (2 × 2)
  • 4 RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launchers
  • 3 533mm torpedo tubes
  • Depth charges, mines

Arnala class was an Indian designation for the Petya III-class vessels of the Indian Navy. [1]

Contents

Although these vessels were classified as frigates in the Soviet Navy, they were classified by the Indian Navy as anti-submarine corvettes due to their role and smaller size. Vessels of the class were named for Indian islands.

Operational history

INS Kiltan (P79) and INS Katchall (P81) were part of the task force for Operation Trident during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971. [2] [3]

The hulls of this class were of relatively inferior quality built only 5mm thick for use in the Baltic sea and Black seas, compared to the rest of the Navy's mostly British built ships which had 8mm thick hulls requiring the vessels to undergo major refit every 5 years to prevent corrosion. The Indian Navy constructed the Naval Dockyard at Visakhapatnam, primarily to service Russian vessels. But given the lack of engineering support from Russia there were inordinate delays in completing the servicing facility. This resulted in considerable delay of the second refit for INS Andaman (P74), which was in poor repair and subsequently was lost at sea in conditions, 140 miles (230 km) east of Visakhapatnam on 21 August 1990 around 2:03 pm, where it was conducting anti-submarine exercises with five other Indian warships. The Andaman's loss cost the navy an estimated Rs 8 crore, including the initial cost of the ship and weapons on board, as well as the lives of 15 sailors. [4] [5]

Vessels

The corvettes of this class constituted the 31st Patrol Vessel Squadron of the Eastern Naval Command and the 32nd Patrol Vessel Squadron of the Western Naval Command. [6]

NamePennantBuilderCommissionedDecommissionedFate
Arnala P6829 June 19729 April 1999
Androth P6930 June 19729 April 1999
Anjadip P7323 December 197213 December 2003
Andaman P7428 December 1973Storm 22 August 1990
Amini P7512 December 197416 September 2002
Kamorta P7721 November 196831 October 1991
Kadmatt P7823 December 196830 November 1992
Kiltan P7930 October 196930 June 1987
Kavaratti P8023 December 196931 July 1986
Katchall P8123 December 196931 December 1988
Amindivi P8319761986–1988

References

  1. "P68 Arnala Class". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
  2. "Trident, Grandslam and Python: Attacks on Karachi". Archived from the original on 26 September 2009.
  3. Gulab Mohanlal Hiranandani (2000). Transition to Triumph: History of the Indian Navy, 1965-1975. Lancer Publishers & Distributors. p. 187. ISBN   9781897829721 . Retrieved 16 May 2012.
  4. Gulab Mohanlal Hiranandani. Transition to Eminence: The Indian Navy 1976-1990. Lancer Publishers & Distributors. p. 243. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
  5. "Loss of INS Andaman points to maintenance problems in Indian Navy". India Today. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  6. "Petya II Class". Bharat Rakshak. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 16 May 2012.