Godavari-class frigate
{{Short description|Class of frigates in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2015}}
{{more citations needed|date=February 2008}}
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{{Infobox ship image | Ship image = INS Godavari (F20) during Malabar 2008.jpg | Ship caption = INS Godavari }} {{Infobox ship class overview | Name = Godavari class | Builders = Mazagon Dock Limited | Operators = {{navy|India}} | Class before = {{sclass|Nilgiri|frigate|4 | 1972}}
| Class after = {{sclass|Brahmaputra|frigate|4}} | Subclasses = | Built range = 1978 – 1988 | In commission range = 1983 – 2022 | Total ships building = | Total ships planned = 3 | Total ships completed = 3 | Total ships cancelled = | Total ships active = | Total ships laid up = | Total ships lost = | Total ships retired = 3{{cite news |last=Sharda |first=Shailvee |date=13 May 2022 |title=Indian Navy's pride INS Gomati to make final base in Lucknow |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/indian-navys-pride-ins-gomati-to-make-final-base-in-lucknow/articleshow/91528374.cms |work=The Times of India |location= |access-date=15 May 2022}} | Total ships preserved = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship type = Guided-missile frigate | Ship displacement = *3,600 tonnes (standard)
| Ship length = {{convert|126.5|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship beam = {{convert|14.5|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship draught = {{convert|4.5|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship draft = | Ship propulsion = *2 × Babcock & Wilcox boilers {{convert|38.7|kg/cm2|psi|abbr=on}}
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| 2|abbr=on}}
| Ship speed = {{convert|28|kn|km/h}} | Ship range = {{convert|4500|nmi|km|abbr=on}} at {{convert|12|kn|km/h}} | Ship complement = 313 (incl. 40 officers, 13 air crew) | Ship sensors = *Radar
| Ship EW = *Selenia INS-3 (Bharat Ajanta and Elettronica TQN-2) used for ESM/ECM
| Ship armament = *4 × SS-N-2D Styx AShM
| Ship armor = | Ship aircraft = 2 × Sea King, HAL Dhruv or HAL Chetak helicopters | Ship aircraft facilities = | Ship notes = }} |
The Godavari-class frigates (formerly Type 16 or Project 16 frigates) were guided-missile frigates of the Indian Navy. The Godavari class was the first significant indigenous warship design and development initiative of the Indian Navy. Its design is a modification of the {{sclass|Nilgiri|frigate|4||1972}} with a focus on indigenous content of 72%, a larger hull and updated armaments. The class and the lead ship, {{INS|Godavari|F20|6}} were named after the Godavari River. Subsequent ships in the class, {{INS|Ganga|F22|6}} and {{INS|Gomati|F21|6}} also took their names from Indian rivers.
INS Gomati was the first Indian Navy vessel to have digital electronics in her combat data system. The ships combined Indian, Russian and Western weapons systems.{{cite web|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NAVY/Ships/Active/178-Godavari-Class.html |title=Godavari (Type 16) Class |work=Bharat-Rakshak.com |access-date=26 September 2014}}
History
The concept for the Godavari class originated from the lessons learnt in the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971. There was a need for a ship unique to Indian requirements, for deploying a hybrid of indigenously-designed, as well as Russian and European weapons systems. The keel of the lead ship INS Godavari was laid in 1978 at Mazagon Dock Limited in Bombay. She was commissioned in December 1983.
One of the requirements was to deploy two Sea King helicopters from the ship. The Nilgiri-class vessels were too small for this requirement. The final design incorporated a larger hull in order to accommodate this.{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/f-godavari.htm |title=F 20 Godavari Class |publisher=globalsecurity.org |date=9 July 2011 |access-date=26 September 2014}} INS Godavari was decommissioned on 23 December 2015, and her Barak 1 surface-to-air missile will be installed on the flagship {{INS|Vikramaditya}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/vikramaditya-to-be-fitted-with-barak-missiles/68184.html |title=Vikramaditya to be fitted with Barak missiles |publisher=www.tribuneindia.com/ |date=21 Apr 2015 |access-date=16 April 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/INS-Godavari-sets-sail-into-the-sunset-after-3-decades/articleshow/50259958.cms |title=INS Godavari sets sail into the sunset after three decades |publisher=Times of India |date=21 December 2015 |access-date=22 December 2015}} INS Ganga was retired from active service on 28 May 2017,{{cite web|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/613543/ins-ganga-swansong-sortie.html |title=INS Ganga on swansong sortie |publisher=Deccan Herald |date=25 May 2017 |access-date=25 May 2017}} and was decommissioned on 22 March 2018.{{Cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/navy-warship-ins-ganga-decommissioned-in-mumbai-118032201452_1.html|title=Navy warship INS Ganga decommissioned in Mumbai|agency=Press Trust of India|date=2018-03-22|work=Business Standard India|access-date=2018-03-23}} The last ship of its class, INS Gomati, was decommissioned on 15 May 2022 after 34 years of service.
Design
Although the Directorate of Marine Engineering suggested replacing steam propulsion with gas turbines, it was decided not to do so, since Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited had made heavy investments in facilities and tooling for design of steam turbines and auxiliary systems.
For armaments, the missile and gun package of the Soviet {{sclass2|Nanuchka|corvette}} was installed on the frigate. Later on, when the frigates underwent their mid-life overhauls, some of the Soviet systems were replaced by Israeli and Italian systems.
Ships of the class
Upgrades
All three ships later underwent an extensive upgrade of weapons and sensors. These include the fitment of the Israeli Barak SAM system with a new fire control system based on the EL/M-2221 STGR in place of the original Soviet SA-N-4 SAM system. The P-20 missiles were retained. The Soviet AK-725 main gun was also replaced by an Italian OTO Melara 76 mm gun.
Gallery
File:INS Godavari (F20)+INS Brahmaputra (F31)+INS Beas (F39).jpg|INS Godavari with {{INS|Brahmaputra|1994|6}} and {{INS|Beas|F37|6}} trailing during exercises with the US Navy.
File:INS Ganga (F22).jpg|INS Ganga (F22) during sea operations.
File:INS Gomati with Seaking heli operations.jpg|INS Gomati with Seaking helicopter operations.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Godavari class frigate}}
{{Ship classes of the Indian Navy}}
{{Frigates_of_the_Indian_Navy}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Godavari Class Frigate}}