Shardul-class tank landing ship
{{short description|Indian Navy amphibious warfare vessel}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2019}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image | Ship image = File:The INS Airavat sails out of Visakhapatnam harbour after commissioning on May 19, 2009.jpg | Ship caption = INS Airavat (L24) sails out of Visakhapatnam harbour after commissioning }} {{Infobox ship class overview | Name = Shardul class | Builders = Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers | Operators = {{navy|IND}} | Class before = {{sclass|Magar|amphibious warfare vessel|4}} | Class after = | Subclasses = | Cost = | Built range = | In service range = | In commission range = | Total ships building = | Total ships planned = | Total ships completed = 3 | Total ships cancelled = | Total ships active = 3 | Total ships laid up = | Total ships lost = | Total ships retired = | Total ships preserved = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship type = Tank landing ship | Ship displacement = 5,650 tons | Ship length = {{convert|125|m|abbr=on}} | Ship beam = {{convert|17.5|m|abbr=on}} | Ship height = | Ship draught = {{convert|4|m|abbr=on}} | Ship decks = | Ship deck clearance = | Ship ramps = | Ship power = | Ship propulsion = Kirloskar PA6 STC engines | Ship sail plan = | Ship speed = {{convert|16|kn|abbr=on}} | Ship range = | Ship endurance = | Ship test depth = | Ship boats = 4 × LCVPs | Ship capacity = *11 MBT, 10 armoured vehicles
| Ship troops = 500 | Ship complement = 11 officers, 145 sailors | Ship crew = | Ship time to activate = | Ship sensors = | Ship EW = Decoy: Chaff launchers | Ship armament = *2 × WM-18 rocket launchers
| Ship armour = | Ship aircraft = 1 Sea King/HAL Dhruv | Ship aircraft facilities = | Ship notes = }} |
Shardul-class ({{Lit|Tiger}}) landing ships are large amphibious warfare vessels built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers for the Indian Navy. They are an evolution of the {{sclass|Magar|amphibious warfare vessel|0}} amphibious landing ships. Initially, the ship was classified as Landing Ship Tank (Large) or LST(L). The class has an indigenous content of over 90%. The ships also carry four landing craft vehicle personnel (LCVP) on board, which can be used for the landing of troops.{{cite web |date=2020-05-06 |title=Operation Samudra Setu: Why the Indian Navy chose INS Jalashwa and INS Magar |url=https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2020/05/06/operation-samudra-setu-why-the-indian-navy-chose-ins-jalashwa-and-ins-magar.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241206164147/https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2020/05/06/operation-samudra-setu-why-the-indian-navy-chose-ins-jalashwa-and-ins-magar.html |archive-date=2024-12-06 |access-date=2021-01-03 |website=The Week}}
History
The order for the vessels were placed in December 2001 while the contract was signed in early 2002.
The ship is equipped with WM-18 140 mm rocket launchers, developed by DRDO and manufactured by Larsen & Toubro. Two units of the system is integrated with one each on port and starboard. The rocket launcher has 18 tubes in a configuration of 6×3. These are used for beach clearing operations before initiating amphibious operations. The armament also includes four CRN-91 autocannons for self-defence.{{Cite tweet |number=1292731705762045952 |user=DefenceDecode |title=DRDO-L&T Rocket Launcher WM-18: Rocket Launcher WM-18 is used for beach clearing operations by the LST class of ships, before executing amphibious operations. The weapon system comprises 2 launcher mounts, one each for port and starboard... |date=2020-08-10 |access-date=2024-09-22}}{{Cite tweet |number=1273095546761293824 |user=strategicfront |title=Vietnamese amphibious ships with L&T WM-18 Rocket Launchers . The WM-18 is used for beach clearing operations by the Shardul-class LST of the IN, before executing amphibious operations... |date=2020-06-17 |access-date=2024-09-22}}{{Cite tweet |number=1397092607977795584 |user=strategicfront |title=L&T's missile systems production plant. L&T works as both the systems integrator & the supplier for many munitions... |date=2021-05-25 |access-date=2024-09-22}}
Shardul was the first vessel commissioned at Karwar Naval Base, INS Kadamba. The second ship Kesari was commissioned at the Visakhapatnam Naval Base,{{cite web | url=http://indiannavy.nic.in/pres08b.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080621070053/http://indiannavy.nic.in/pres08b.htm |archive-date=21 June 2008 | title=INS Kesari Commissioned | date=5 April 2008 |website=Indian Navy | access-date=6 July 2019 }} and later moved to Port Blair.{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/article1235210.ece |title=Another naval ship heads for Seychelles |work=The Hindu |date=8 May 2009 |access-date=21 February 2015}} The third ship Airavata underwent sea trials in 2008 and was commissioned in 2009.{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/04/08/stories/2008040859740800.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120429042532/http://www.hindu.com/2008/04/08/stories/2008040859740800.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 April 2012 |title=INS Airavata for basin trials in May |last=Balajj |first=J. |date=8 April 2008 |work=The Hindu |access-date=21 February 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/release/phsmall.asp?phid=22838 |title=Image of INS Airavat |work=Press Information Bureau |publisher=Government of India |date=19 May 2009 |access-date=21 February 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/release/phsmall.asp?phid=22839 |title=Image during Commissioning ceremony |work=Press Information Bureau |publisher=Government of India |date=19 May 2009 |access-date=21 February 2015}}
Ships
| class="wikitable" |
| Name || Pennant Number |
|---|
| colspan="7" |{{navy|India}} |
| {{INS|Shardul|2004|2}}
| L16 |16 December 2002 |3 April 2004 | 4 January 2007 | Karwar | rowspan=3|Active |
| {{INS|Kesari|2005|2}}
| L15 | |8 June 2005 | 5 April 2008 |
| {{INS|Airavat|L24|2}}
| L24 | |27 March 2006 | 19 May 2009 |
Gallery
{{Gallery
|width=160 | height=170
|File:INS Shardul (L16) entering Port Luis, Mauritius.jpg
|{{INS|Shardul|2004|2}} entering Port Louis, Mauritius.
|File:INS Shardul (L16) of 1st Training squadron en-route to Sri Lanka.jpg
|{{INS|Shardul|2004|2}} of 1st Training squadron en-route to Sri Lanka.
|File:INS Kesari during Milan 2018 exercise.jpg
|{{INS|Kesari|2005|2}} during MILAN 2018 exercise.
|File:Ships participating in PASSEX during MILAN 2012.jpg
|{{INS|Kesari|2005|2}} participating in PASSEX during MILAN 2012.
|File:The INS Airavat sails out of Visakhapatnam harbour after commissioning on May 19, 2009.jpg
|{{INS|Airavat|L24|2}} sails out of Visakhapatnam harbor after commissioning on May 19, 2009.
}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|Shardul class landing ships}}
- [http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NAVY/Ships/Active/166-Shardul-Class.html Shardul Class - Bharat Rakshak]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070519132507/http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=133098 Launch of INS Kesari]
- [http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/11/07/stories/2006110702691000.htm Shardul handed over to Navy]
- [http://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/India/20061105/498991.html GRSE hands over Shardul to Indian Navy]
{{Shardul-class tank landing ship}}
{{Ship classes of the Indian Navy}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shardul Class Landing Ship}}