SLNS Sagara
{{Short description|Sri Lanka Navy Vikram-class offshore patrol vessel}}
{{More citations needed|date=February 2021}}
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{{Infobox ship image | Ship image = Sri Lanka Military 0057.jpg | Ship caption = SLNS Sagara }} {{Infobox ship career | Hide header = | Ship country = Sri Lanka | Ship flag = {{shipboxflag|Sri Lanka|naval}} | Ship name = SLNS Sagara | Ship namesake = | Ship owner = | Ship operator = Sri Lankan Navy | Ship registry = | Ship route = | Ship ordered = | Ship awarded = | Ship builder = Hindustan Shipyard Limited | Ship original cost = | Ship yard number = | Ship way number = | Ship laid down = | Ship launched = | Ship sponsor = | Ship christened = | Ship completed = | Ship acquired = 2006 | Ship commissioned = 2006 | Ship recommissioned = | Ship decommissioned = | Ship maiden voyage = | Ship in service = | Ship out of service = | Ship renamed = | Ship reclassified = | Ship refit = | Ship struck = | Ship reinstated = | Ship homeport = SLN Dockyard, Trincomalee | Ship identification = | Ship motto = | Ship nickname = | Ship status = Active }}{{Infobox ship career | Ship country = India | Ship class = Vikram class | Ship name = ICGS Varaha | Ship operator = Indian Coast Guard | Ship builder = Goa Shipyard Limited | Ship launched = 1992 | Ship commissioned = 1992 | Ship decommissioned = 2006 | Ship homeport = Chennai | Ship status = Transferred to Sri Lankan Navy | Ship flag = {{shipboxflag|India|Coast Guard}} }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship class = Vikram class | Ship type = | Ship tonnage = | Ship displacement = {{convert|1220|LT|MT|abbr=on}} | Ship length = {{convert|74.1|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship beam = {{convert|11.4|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship height = | Ship draught = {{convert|3.2|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship draft = | Ship depth = | Ship hold depth = | Ship decks = | Ship deck clearance = | Ship ramps = | Ship ice class = | Ship power = | Ship propulsion = 2 × diesel engines, {{convert|6200|hp|MW|abbr=on}} sustained, 2 shafts and cp props. | Ship sail plan = | Ship speed = {{convert|22|kn|km/h|abbr=on}} | Ship range = cruise {{convert|16|kn|km/h|abbr=on}} | Ship endurance = {{convert|8500|nmi|km|abbr=on}} | Ship test depth = | Ship boats = | Ship capacity = | Ship troops = | Ship complement = 11 officers, 89 enlisted | Ship crew = | Ship time to activate = | Ship sensors = Two Decca 1226 - I band | Ship EW = | Ship armament = 1x 30 mm automatic CRN 91 Naval Gun in place of the Bofors 40 mm/60 gun; 2x Type 58 14.5mm machine guns, multiple Type 80 machine guns, additional weapon systems added | Ship armour = | Ship armor = | Ship aircraft = Not operationally deployed | Ship aircraft facilities = helicopter deck and enclosed hangar | Ship notes = }} |
SLNS Sagara (Sagara meaning: Sea) is an Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) of the Sri Lanka Navy. It was formerly the ICGS Varaha (41), a Vikram-class offshore patrol vessel of the Indian Coast Guard, leased to Sri Lanka in 2006 and was handed over to the Sri Lanka Navy in 2015.
History
Commissioned on 11 March 1992, CGS Varaha (41) served with the Indian Coast Guard until she was leased to Sri Lanka in 2006. In August 2015 Sri Lanka acquired the ship for permanent use.[http://www.dailymirror.lk/85159/india-gifts-ship-varaha-to-sl-navy India gifts ship 'Varaha' to SL Navy]
Operations
Since 2006, SLNS Sagara was tasked with deep sea patrolling both within the Sri Lankan territorial waters and in international waters to curb ongoing arms smuggling by the LTTE during the Sri Lankan Civil War. In the later stages of the war after undergoing a major refit in India, Sagara, along with other OPVs of the Sri Lankan Navy, has been able to successfully intercept several ships smuggling arms for the LTTE. In all these cases the ships were sunk when they attacked the naval vessels with mortars.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20071208100234/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NAVY/Vikram.html www.bharat-rakshak.com]
- [http://www.nation.lk/2007/10/14/militarym.htm Varaha sees action]
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