
Commissioning of INS Mangrol in Indian Navy
#GS-3 #Science & Technology #Defence #Current Events #National #Gujarat #Indian Navy #Indigenisation
Key takeaways
- INS Mangrol is the third indigenous Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) for the Indian Navy.
- The vessel borrows its identity from the historic coastal city of Mangrol in Junagadh, Gujarat, honoring the earlier minesweeper decommissioned in 2004.
- It features top-tier indigenous defense systems including the DRDO-built Abhay Hull-Mounted Sonar (HMS) and the Maareech Advanced Torpedo Defence System (ATDS).
- Powered by three diesel engines with waterjet propulsion, the craft delivers rapid tactical mobility in narrow, shallow waters to defend vital assets like Bombay High.
Why in News
- The Indian Navy is set to commission INS Mangrol at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai.
- This vessel is the third indigenously built Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft constructed by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL).
What is INS Mangrol
- It is a modern stealth warship designed specifically for shallow water combat, anti-submarine operations, and coastal surveillance.
- The vessel takes its name from the historic port town of Mangrol located in the Junagadh district of Gujarat.
- It carries forward the proud heritage of the earlier minesweeper INS Mangrol (M85), which retired from service in 2004.
Builder and Primary Objective
- The ship was built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) in Kochi.
- Its main purpose is to locate and destroy enemy submarines, midget submersibles, and underwater saboteurs in shallow coastal waters.
- Large frontline warships face difficulty navigating and operating sonars in shallow waters, which makes specialized craft like this essential.
Key Features and Technical Specifications
- The ship carries the indigenously developed Abhay Hull-Mounted Sonar (HMS) created by DRDO, along with low-frequency active towed array sonars built for shallow waters.
- Its weapons include homegrown anti-submarine rocket launchers, short-range tubes firing indigenous lightweight torpedoes, and remote-controlled naval guns.
- It houses the Maareech Advanced Torpedo Defence System (ATDS), which detects incoming enemy torpedoes and diverts them using acoustic decoys.
- Three diesel engines power waterjet propulsion units that grant the craft high speed and excellent agility inside tight, shallow harbors.
- It handles multiple secondary duties such as low-intensity maritime strikes, coastal choke-point monitoring, mine laying and countermeasures, and search-and-rescue operations.
Strategic Significance
- The warship boosts India's coastal shield by guarding key naval bases, merchant ports, and vital offshore energy platforms like Bombay High against underwater attacks.
- It proves India's self-reliance in hull engineering, waterjet propulsion, and naval electronic warfare, directly boosting local shipyards and MSMEs.