INS Bitra

History
Name	INS Bitra
Operator	Indian Navy
Builder	Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers
Commissioned	28 March 2006
Identification	T66
Status	Active
General characteristics
Type	Patrol vessels
Displacement	260 tons (full load) [1]
Length	46 m (151 ft)
Beam	7.5 m (25 ft)
Propulsion	2 × MTU 4000 M90 engines (7492hp)
Speed	30 knots (56 km/h)
Complement	33
Armament	1 × CRN-91 (2A42 Medak) 30mm gun

INS Bitra (T66), the second ship of Bangaram-class patrol vessel of the Indian Navy, is designed for interdiction against fast moving surface vessels and for search-and-rescue operations in coastal areas and in the exclusive economic zone. Named after Bitra atoll in Lakshadweep, the vessel was designed and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers. The diesel generators on board are supplied by Cummins India. The electronic equipment on board including satellite communication and global positioning systems is from Bharat Electronics Limited, ECIL and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. Rear Admiral Sanjay Vadgaokar commissioned the fast attack ship in Vasco da Gama, Goa on 28 March 2006. ^[2]

Operations

In December 2016 INS Bitra was operationally deployed to rescue 800 tourists together with INS Bangaram, INS Kumbhir (L22) and LCU 38 from Havelock Island and ferry them to Port Blair as a result of a severe cyclonic storm in the Bay of Bengal. ^[3]

In February 2016 together with INS Saryu visited Yangon in Myanmar on an official port visit. ^[4]

References

1. "Bangaram class". Bharat-Rakshak.com. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
2. "Indian Navy commissions INS Bitra". Archived from the original on 21 October 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
3. "Havelock Island: Navy to Rescue 800 Tourists Stranded in Andaman".
4. "Two Indian warships call at Myanmar port".