Commissioning of INS Mangrol in Indian Navy

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.