INS Sumitra (P59)

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INS Sumitra (P59) with a Chetak helicopter during a passex with USS Russell (DDG 59).jpg
INS Sumitra during an exercise.
History
Naval Ensign of India.svg India
NameINS Sumitra
Namesake Sumitra
OperatorNaval Ensign of India.svg  Indian Navy
Builder Goa Shipyard Limited
Laid down28 April 2010
Launched6 December 2010
Commissioned4 September 2014
Identification
Statusin active service
General characteristics
Class and type Saryu-class patrol vessel
Tonnage2,200 tonnes (2,200 long tons; 2,400 short tons)
Length105 m (344 ft)
Beam13 m (43 ft)
PropulsionTwo KOEL/Pielstick Diesel engines
Speed25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)
Range6,000 nautical miles (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
ComplementEight officers and 108 sailors
Armament
  • 76-mm SRGM (Super Rapid Gun Mount)
  • close-in weapon system
  • CHAFF launchers [1]
Aircraft carried1 × HAL Dhruv or 1 × HAL Chetak

INS Sumitra is the fourth and last Saryu-class patrol vessel of the Indian Navy, designed and constructed by Goa Shipyard Limited. [2] It is also the presidential yacht of India. [3] It is designed to undertake fleet support operations, coastal and offshore patrolling, ocean surveillance and monitoring of sea lines of communications and offshore assets and escort duties. [4] [5]

Contents

Construction

The keel of INS Sumitra was laid at Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL) on 28 April 2010, and she was launched on 6 December 2010. During her construction at GSL, she was known as Yard 1211. [6] [7]

Service history

INS Sumitra completed her sea trials and was handed over to the Indian Navy on 18 July 2014, [2] and was commissioned into the fleet by the Chief of Naval Staff Admiral RK Dhowan on 4 September 2014 in Chennai. She will operate under the Eastern Naval Command and conduct maritime surveillance and coastal security missions. Her first Commanding Officer is Commander Milind Mokashi. [8]

Operation Raahat

On 30 March 2015, INS Sumitra and her crew rescued 350 Indian citizens stranded in Yemen, by evacuating them from the Yemeni port of Aden to Djibouti across the Red Sea. This rescue was part of Operation Raahat. Sumitra was diverted from her anti-piracy patrol in the Lakshadweep region to join the operation while Saudi Arabia-led forces were conducting air strikes against Houthi rebels.

Two other navy ships INS Mumbai and INS Tarkash (F50) were also part of this operation, along with two C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force, two Airbus A-320 aircraft from Air India and passenger liners MV Kavaratti and MS Coral. The operations were overseen by Gen VK Singh (Retd), Minister of State for External Affairs, Government of India.

2024 Anti-piracy patrols

On 29 January 2024, INS Sumitra successfully rescued fishermen hijacked by pirates along the East coast of Somalia and the Gulf of Aden. The naval warship was responding to a distress message regarding hijacking of an Iranian-flagged Fishing Vessel (FV) Iman. The fishing boat had been boarded by pirates and its 17-member crew was taken hostage. Acting in accordance with the established SOPs the crew successfully coerced the pirates for the safe release of the crew along with the boat & ensured the successful release of all 17 crew members along with the boat. The FV was subsequently sanitised and released for onward transit. [9] [10]

Less than 36 hours later, INS Sumitra rescued 19 Pakistani sailors after pirates hijacked their fishing vessel off the east coast of Somalia the previous day.Eleven armed pirates climbed onto another Iranian-flagged fishing vessel FV Al Naeemi and took 19 crew members - all Pakistanis - hostage. The Navy warship intercepted the fishing vessel and coerced the pirates to release the hostages. The Navy warship intercepted the fishing vessel and coerced the pirates to release the hostages With the help of MARCOS , a special forces unit of the Indian Navy, onboard.The warship intercepted the vessel on January 29 and surrounded it. The aggressive posturing by INS Sumitra aimed to coerce pirates to surrender and leave the ship. Warning shots were then fired in the water to coerce the Somali pirates who had taken control of the vessel the Indian Navy deployed its Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv, which flew over the ship , a psychological tactic used by the Navy to create fear in the mind of the enemy to force a surrender. The Somali pirates were scared to see the Indian Navy and dumped their weapons when INS Sumitra approached closer.Armed with Tavor TAR-21, an Israeli assault rifle and other combat gear, the MARCOS brought the pirates to their knees and disarmed them. No injuries were reported in the swift operation conducted by the Navy, which captured Kalashnikovs and several mobile and satellite phones from their possession. [11] The incident took place in Southern Arabian Sea approximately 850 nautical miles West of Kochi, and prevented misuse of these Fishing Vessels as Mother Ships for further acts of Piracy on Merchant Vessels. [12] [13] [14] [15] [16]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "INS Sunayna to Extend SNC's Reach". Press Information Bureau. 15 October 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  2. 1 2 "Goa Shipyard Limited delivers INS Sumitra to Indian Navy". The Times of India. 18 July 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
  3. ↑ IANS (4 February 2016). "Offshore patrol vessel INS Sumitra to serve as presidential yacht". GulfNews. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  4. ↑ "INS Sunayna commissioned to enhance Indian navy's prowess". The Indian Express. 16 October 2013. Archived from the original on 17 October 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  5. ↑ "Goa Shipyard Ltd delivers offshore patrol vessel to Navy". Business Standard. 16 January 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
  6. ↑ "INS Sumitra: Goa Shipyard Launches Naval Offshore Patrol Vessel (NOPV)". Marine Buzz. 8 December 2010. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
  7. ↑ "'Sumitra' inducted into navy". The Hindu. 7 December 2010. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
  8. ↑ "Navy's largest patrolling vessel INS Sumitra commissioned". The Economic Times. 4 September 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  9. ↑ "Indian Navy rescues Iranian vessel hijacked by pirates". Hindustan Times. 29 January 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  10. ↑ "In swift response, Indian Navy saves another hijacked vessel off Somalia". The Times of India. 29 January 2024. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  11. ↑ "Warning Shots, Aerial Dominance: How Navy Rescued Vessels From Pirates". NDTV.com. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  12. ↑ "Indian Naval ship Sumitra rescues Pakistani crew from Somali pirates - India News". www.wionews.com. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  13. ↑ "Indian Navy foils second hijacking bid in Arabian Sea in 24 hours". Hindustan Times. 30 January 2024. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  14. ↑ "India news updates LIVE: Indian naval ship rescues 19 Pakistani nationals from Somali Pirates". Moneycontrol. 30 January 2024. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  15. ↑ "Indian Navy Rescues 19 Pakistan Nationals In Another Operation Against Somali Pirates In Arabian Sea". Free Press Journal. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  16. ↑ "Navy Rescues 19 Pak Sailors Kidnapped By Pirates, Second Op In 2 Days". NDTV.com. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
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