CRN 91 naval gun

Last updated

CRN-91 naval gun
CRN-91 on ICGS Shaunak.jpg
CRN-91 on ICGS Shaunak
Type Autocannon
Place of origin India
Service history
In service1995
Used by India
Mauritius
Maldives
Seychelles
Sri Lanka
Production history
Manufacturer Ordnance Factory Medak
Produced1995
Specifications
Mass115 kilograms (254 lb)
Length3.027 m (9 ft 11.2 in)

Cartridge 30×165
Caliber 30 mm
Barrels1
Action Gas-operated
Rate of fire 200 to 300 rds/min (low)
550 rds/min (high) [1]
Effective firing range4,000 metres (4,400 yd)
Feed systemTwin feed

The Close Range Naval-91 is a naval version of the Medak 30mm automatic gun installed on the Sarath Infantry fighting vehicle, a variant of the Russian (originally Soviet) BMP-2 manufactured in India under license by the Ordnance Factory Medak. The Medak gun itself is based on the Russian Shipunov 2A42 30 mm automatic cannon.

Contents

Description

The CRN-91 Naval gun has a dual feed mechanism that allows it to switch between armour-piercing tracer and high explosive incendiary & fragmentation tracer projectiles that are electrically primed, which means that the primer is activated through an electric current rather than being struck by a firing pin and igniting the propellant. A BPK 2-42 electro optical sight manufactured by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) directs the cannon, and the complete unit is gyrostabilized in the pitch and yaw axes. The sight may function both during the day and at night. It can also be operated remotely.

CRN 91 gun is a flexible and effective weapon intended for use against armored target and air target flying at low altitudes. The range is 2 km for Armour-piercing tracer projectile and 4 km for HE projectiles. The Canon can hit slow moving object in air at a height of 2000 M has a total range of 2500 m.

The CRN-91 Naval gun is not a sophisticated weapon and has limited anti-ship capability but is a combat proven weapon and its operational cost is very low. It is suited for vessels primarily designed for peacetime patrolling and policing, particularly for anti-insurgency, anti-smuggling, anti-pirate and maritime surveillance of exclusive economic zones (EEZ).

It has been installed on many warships such as:

Combat use

Action of 30 March 2010

The Topaz, a Trinkat class patrol vessel of the Seychelles Coast Guard, was sent out on an anti-piracy patrol during late March as part of a new initiative by the Government of Seychelles to combat the steady increase in Somali piracy. The Topaz was a former Indian Navy ship which was given to the Seychelles Coast Guard to help them combat piracy.

On 30 April, the Topaz approached a captured vessel where nine Somali pirates were holding six Seychellois and 21 Iranian sailors hostage, and were attempting to reach the Somali coast. A Somali translator aboard the Topaz sent audio calls urging the immediate release of the hostages, but the pirates ignored these demands, and continued towards the coast of Somalia even when warning shots were fired by the Topaz. Seychellois President James Michel gave the order to prevent the pirates from reaching the Somali coastline at all cost.

The pirates opened fire on the Topaz with rocket-propelled grenades, which the Topaz evaded. The Topaz then opened fire on the dhow's engine with 12.7mm machine guns, firing a total of 100 rounds. The engine caught fire, forcing all of the pirates and hostages to jump overboard. The Topaz then rescued all of the hostages and arrested the Somali pirates. [2] While en route back to the Seychelles, the Topaz was approached by Somali pirates in a naval trawler and two skiffs. The pirates opened fire on the Topaz, after which the Topaz returned fire. The pirate trawler caught fire and exploded after being hit, and a skiff was also sunk by the return fire, while the last skiff managed to escape. The Topaz then proceeded to Mahé. [3] [4]

Battle off Minicoy Island

In January 2011, as a part of Operation Island Watch, INS Cankarso and INS Kalpeni were deployed on anti-piracy patrol to the west of the Lakshadweep archipelago. On 28 January, INS Cankarso responded to a mayday call from a container ship. Upon reaching the site, she saw Somali pirate skiffs being hoisted aboard a hijacked Thai fishing trawler, Prantalay 14 which was being used as a pirate mother ship.

INS Cankarso ordered the pirated ship to stop for inspection. The pirates on board fired on Cankarso as they tried to flee west towards Somalia. Cankarso returned the fire, which hit some of the fuel drums stored on Prantalay 14's deck for refueling the skiffs. The mother ship was set ablaze and sank as Kalpeni and Indian Coast Guard patrol vessel ICGS Sankalp reached the site. 15 pirates were arrested, and the 20 crew of the fishing trawler were all rescued unharmed.

In another operation on 13 March 2011, an Indian Navy patrol aircraft spotted the Mozambique-registered fishing vessel Vega 5 when responding to another vessel reporting a pirate attack. Beira-based Vega 5, owned by Spanish company Pescamar Lda, had been captured on 27 December 2010 by pirates who were demanding US$1.8 million in ransom.[15] INS Kalpeni intercepted the pirated ship about 1,100 kilometres (680 mi) off Kochi on India's west coast. A fire broke out on the vessel when Kalpeni returned fire after being fired upon by the pirates. 61 pirates were rescued and arrested after they jumped into the Arabian Sea to escape the fire. The crew of Kalpeni put out the fire on board the Vega 5, rescued her 13 crew members and escorted her to Mumbai. Rocket-propelled grenades and over 80 assault rifles were recovered from the pirates.

INS Kalpeni and INS Cankarso are Car Nicobar class fast attack craft equipped with a CRN-91 30 mm Automatic gun.

Specification

Rate of Fire

Range

Sight

Type: BPK 2–42

Day system

Night system

Related Research Articles

USS <i>Farragut</i> (DDG-99)

USS Farragut (DDG-99) is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the United States Navy. She is the fifth Navy ship named for Admiral David Farragut (1801–1870), and the 49th ship of the Arleigh Burke class.

INS <i>Tabar</i> Indian Navy Talwar Class Frigate

INS Tabar (F44) is the third of the Talwar-class frigate of the Indian Navy. The frigate was commissioned on 19 April 2004 in Kaliningrad, Russia with Captain Biswajit Dasgupta. The current Commanding Officer (CO) of INS Tabar is Captain Mahesh Mangipudi.

HDMS <i>Esbern Snare</i> (F342) Absalon-class frigate of the Royal Danish Navy

HDMS Esbern Snare (F342) is an Absalon-class frigate and is, along with her sister ship, the HDMS Absalon, amongst the largest combat vessels currently commissioned in the Royal Danish Navy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Action of 18 March 2006</span> Skirmish between Somali pirates and US Navy

The action of 18 March 2006 occurred when two United States naval vessels were attacked by pirates. The U.S. ships were part of Combined Task Force 150.

<i>Car Nicobar</i>-class patrol vessel Type of Indian naval vessel

The Car Nicobar class of high-speed offshore patrol vessels are built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) for the Indian Navy. The vessels are designed as a cost-effective platform for patrol, anti-piracy and rescue operations in India's exclusive economic zone. In 2023, one of the ships, INS Tarmugli, was donated to the Maldivian Coast Guard.

Piracy off the coast of Somalia occurs in the Gulf of Aden, Guardafui Channel, and Somali Seain Somali territorial waters and other surrounding places and has a long and troubled history with different perspectives from different communities. It was initially a threat to international fishing vessels during the early 2000s, only to rapidly escalate and expand to international shipping during the War in Somalia (2006–2009).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation Atalanta</span> European anti-pirate military operation

Operation Atalanta, formally European Union Naval ForceSomalia, is an ongoing counter-piracy military operation at sea off the Horn of Africa and in the Western Indian Ocean, that is the first naval operation conducted by the European Union (EU). The operational headquarters is currently located at the Spanish Operation Headquarters (ESOHQ) at Naval Station Rota in Spain, having moved from London as a result of the British withdrawal from the EU.

MV <i>Tygra</i> US container vessel

MV Tygra is a container ship currently operated by the Waterman Steamship Corporation and owned by Element Shipmanagement SA of Piraeus, Greece. She was previously owned by the A.P. Moller-Maersk Group and operated by Maersk Line and Maersk Line Limited.

The action of 30 March 2010 was a naval battle involving a patrol boat of the Seychelles Coast Guard and two groups of Somali pirate vessels. The encounter resulted in the freeing of twenty-seven hostages held by the pirates.

The Seychelles Coast Guard (SCG) is a branch of the Seychelles People's Defence Force created in 1993. It is a maritime, military, multi-mission service. They acquired responsibility for search and rescue for vessel incidents as well as environmental protection from the Seychelles Port Authority, formerly known as the Port and Marine Services Division.

INS <i>Tir</i> (A86) Training ship of the Indian Navy

INS Tir (A86) is the first dedicated cadet's training ship to be built by Mazagon Dock Limited and commissioned as such by the Indian Navy. She is the senior ship of the 1st Training Squadron of the Southern Naval Command.

INS <i>Talwar</i> (F40)

INS Talwar (F40) is the lead ship of the Talwar-class frigates of the Indian Navy. Its name means "Sword" in Hindi. She was built in Russia, and commissioned into the Indian Navy on 18 June 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Minicoy Island</span> Single ship action in January 2011

The Battle of Minicoy Island was a single ship action in January 2011 between Indian naval forces and Somali pirates, during Operation Island Watch. Pirates in the former Thai fishing trawler Prantalay 14 resisted and attacked the Indian Navy warship Cankarso and, in a long surface action off Minicoy Island, the Indians sank the hostile ship and rescued twenty captives.

MV <i>Beluga Nomination</i> incident 2011 conflict

The MV Beluga Nomination incident was the capture and attempted liberation of a German freighter from Somali pirates by the Seychelles Coast Guard and Royal Danish Navy in January 2011. A few days after the taking of MV Beluga Nomination, a Seychelles patrol boat and a Danish flexible support ship, HDMS Esbern Snare, encountered the pirates and engaged in a failed rescue operation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation Ocean Shield</span> NATO operation in the Horn of Africa

Operation Ocean Shield was NATO's contribution to Operation Enduring Freedom – Horn of Africa (OEF-HOA), an anti-piracy initiative in the Indian Ocean, Guardafui Channel, Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea. It follows the earlier Operation Allied Protector. Naval operations began on 17 August 2009 after being approved by the North Atlantic Council, the program was terminated on 15 December 2016 by NATO. Operation Ocean Shield focused on protecting the ships of Operation Allied Provider, which transported relief supplies as part of the World Food Programme's mission in the region. The initiative also helped strengthen the navies and coast guards of regional states to assist in countering pirate attacks. Additionally, China, Japan and South Korea sent warships to participate in these activities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anti-piracy measures in Somalia</span> Anti-piracy in international waters

Piracy in Somalia has been a threat to international shipping since the beginning of the country's civil war in the early 1990s. Since 2005, many international organizations have expressed concern over the rise in acts of piracy. Piracy impeded the delivery of shipments and increased shipping expenses, costing an estimated $6.6 to $6.9 billion a year in global trade in 2011 according to Oceans Beyond Piracy (OBP).

PS <i>Constant</i>

PS Contant is a Trinkat-class patrol vessel owned and operated by the Seychelles Coast Guard. She was formerly operated by the Indian Navy as INS Tarasa (T63). India, as well as the United Arab Emirates, have helped equip the Seychelles Coast Guard with patrol vessels. India and the UAE helped equip the tiny Seychelles with these patrol vessels due to its strategic location, very near the area off the Horn of Africa that is notorious for pirate attacks.

PS <i>Topaz</i>

PS Topaz is a Trinkat-class patrol vessel owned and operated by the Seychelles Coast Guard. She was formerly operated by the Indian Navy as INS Tarmugli (T64). India, like China and the United Arab Emirates, have helped equip the Seychelles Coast Guard with patrol vessels. India, China, and the UAE helped equip the tiny Seychelles with these patrol vessels due to its strategic location, very near the area off the Horn of Africa that is notorious for pirate attacks.

INS <i>Nirdeshak</i> (J19)

INS Nirdeshak (J19)(Hindi: निर्देशक lit. director) was the sixth ship of the Sandhayak class of the Indian Navy. The ship operated as a hydrographic survey ship in the Indian Navy, under the Eastern Naval Command. Nirdeshak was equipped to prepare a variety of marine charts and maps for ECDIS system. The ship's secondary role was to conduct humanitarian aid and disaster management operations, wherein the ship could be converted into a hospital ship. The ship was also equipped with an operating theater and associated equipment needed to attend to medical emergencies at sea.

MV OS 35 is a bulk carrier registered in Tuvalu, a flag of convenience. The vessel first came into news when a piracy attack on her off the coast of Somalia was thwarted jointly by ships of China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy and of the Indian Navy.

References

  1. "2A42 30mm Automatic Cannon - Minotor-Service, Minsk, Belarus". Archived from the original on 2 February 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  2. "Seychelles coastguard vessel rescues fishermen from Somali pirates". France 24. France Télévisions. 29 March 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  3. Thome, Wolfgang H. (30 March 2010). "Robust Response Seychelles Coast Guard intercepts pirates and rescues crew". eTurboNews.com. Archived from the original on 10 July 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
  4. "Seychelles coastguard destroys two pirate boats". France 24. France Télévisions. 30 March 2010. Retrieved 19 May 2011.[ permanent dead link ]