INS Shardul deployed in Indian Ocean
The Indian Navy has deployed its warship Indian Naval Ship (INS) Shardul for two months in the southern Indian Ocean to provide surveillance support in the region.
During the initial phase of deployment, the warship carried out joint exclusive economic zone (EEZ) surveillance in March in close coordination with Mauritius National Coast Guard.
Following this, the warship entered the EEZ of Seychelles on 27 March 2017 for surveillance operations, then set sail from Port Victoria on 31 March 2017 with three Seychelles Coast Guard personnel embarked for Phase II. The deployment was aimed at showing presence, deterring illegal fishing and drug trafficking. The ship carried out patrol in the area and interrogated merchant and fishing vessels ensuring safe waters for transit of mercantile traffic and safeguarding of EEZ of Seychelles.
The ship will return to India in mid-April 2017.
INS Shardul is a landing ship tank of the Indian Navy whose role is to transport troops, vehicles, armaments and attain all objectives of an amphibious operation such as landing of combat equipment and personnel.
INS Shardul has the capability to launch and recover marine commandos through sea as well as by helicopters. The ship can act as a hospital with facilities provided in containerised form and as a fleet tanker for limited mission/exercise. The ship is deployed with the first training squadron and is responsible for the ab-initio sea training of officers of Indian Navy.
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Malta takes delivery of new flagship]()
Malta takes delivery of new flagship
At a ceremony in Valetta, Italy's Cantiere Navale Vittoria delivered the new flagship of the Maltese armed forces.
-
![Textron nets contract to develop mine countermeasure system that doesn't need towing]()
Textron nets contract to develop mine countermeasure system that doesn't need towing
Removing the need to tow an array would allow mine countermeasure USVs to access previously hard-to-reach areas.
-
![Japan commissions its second Taigei-class submarine]()
Japan commissions its second Taigei-class submarine
Japan has inducted its second Taigei-class submarine, amidst plans to boost counterstrike capabilities with new, longer-range missiles.
-
![Second Brazilian Riachuelo-class submarine conducts pre-service testing]()
Second Brazilian Riachuelo-class submarine conducts pre-service testing
The second of four PROSUB conventional attack submarines has completed diving trials ahead of service entry with the Brazilian Navy later this year.
-
![Argentina turns to local industry in naval modernisation push]()
Argentina turns to local industry in naval modernisation push
Local companies will build a new landing ship and floating dock, modernise in-service corvettes and develop a naval surveillance radar.
-
![The US Navy's 2024 budget request in five charts]()
The US Navy's 2024 budget request in five charts
In early March, the Biden administration submitted a proposal to Congress that would see the US DoD funded to the tune of $842 billion, around a quarter of which will go to the US Navy.
