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Arnala-class corvette

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Class overview
NameArnala-class corvettes
Operators Indian Navy
Preceded by
Succeeded byDurg class
In commission1968–2003
Planned11
Completed11
Lost1
Retired10
General characteristics
TypeAnti-submarine corvette
Displacement
  • 950 tons (standard)
  • 1,150 tons (full load)
Length81.8 m (268 ft 4 in)
Beam9.2 m (30 ft 2 in)
Draught2.9 m (9 ft 6 in)
Propulsion
  • 2 shaft CODAG,
  • 2 gas turbines - 30,000 hp
  • 1 diesel - 6,000 hp (4,500 kW)
Speed30 knots (56 km/h)
Range
  • 4,870 nmi (9,020 km) at 10 knots (19 km/h)
  • 450 nmi (830 km) at 30 knots (56 km/h)
Complement90
Sensors and
processing systems
  • Radar: Don-2, Slim Net, Hawk Screech
  • Sonar: Herkules hull-mounted & dipping active sonar
Armament
  • 4 76mm guns (2 × 2)
  • 4 RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launchers
  • 3 533mm torpedo tubes
  • Depth charges, mines

Arnala class was an Indian designation for the Petya III-class vessels of the Indian Navy.[1]

Although these vessels were classified as frigates in the Soviet Navy, they were classified by the Indian Navy as anti-submarine corvettes due to their role and smaller size. Vessels of the class were named for Indian islands.

Operational history

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INS Kiltan (P79) and INS Katchall (P81) were part of the task force for Operation Trident during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971.[2][3]

The hulls of this class were of relatively inferior quality built only 5 m thick for use in the Baltic sea and Black seas, compared to the rest of the Navy's mostly British built ships which had 8 m thick hulls requiring the vessels to undergo major refit every 5 years to prevent corrosion. The Indian Navy constructed the Naval Dockyard at Visakhapatnam, primarily to service Russian vessels. But given the lack of engineering support from Russia there were inordinate delays in completing the servicing facility. This resulted in considerable delay of the second refit for INS Andaman (P74), which was in poor repair and subsequently was lost at sea in conditions, 140 miles (230 km) east of Visakhapatnam on 21 August 1990 around 2:03 pm, where it was conducting anti-submarine exercises with five other Indian warships. The Andaman's loss cost the navy an estimated Rs 8 crore, including the initial cost of the ship and weapons on board, as well as the lives of 15 sailors.[4][5]

Vessels

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The corvettes of this class constituted the 31st Patrol Vessel Squadron of the Eastern Naval Command and the 32nd Patrol Vessel Squadron of the Western Naval Command.[6]

Name Pennant Builder Commissioned Decommissioned Fate
Arnala P68 29 June 1972 9 April 1999
Androth P69 30 June 1972 9 April 1999
Anjadip P73 23 December 1972 13 December 2003
Andaman P74 28 December 1973 Storm 22 August 1990
Amini P75 12 December 1974 16 September 2002
Kamorta P77 21 November 1968 31 October 1991
Kadmatt P78 23 December 1968 30 November 1992
Kiltan P79 30 October 1969 30 June 1987
Kavaratti P80 23 December 1969 31 July 1986
Katchall P81 23 December 1969 31 December 1988
Amindivi P83 1986–1988

References

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  1. ^ "P68 Arnala Class". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
  2. ^ "Trident, Grandslam and Python: Attacks on Karachi". Archived from the original on 26 September 2009.
  3. ^ Gulab Mohanlal Hiranandani (2000). Transition to Triumph: History of the Indian Navy, 1965-1975. Lancer Publishers & Distributors. p. 187. ISBN 9781897829721. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
  4. ^ Gulab Mohanlal Hiranandani. Transition to Eminence: The Indian Navy 1976-1990. Lancer Publishers & Distributors. p. 243. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
  5. ^ "Loss of INS Andaman points to maintenance problems in Indian Navy". India Today. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  6. ^ "Petya II Class". Bharat Rakshak. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 16 May 2012.