GRSE hands over Landing Craft Utility amphibious ship to Indian Navy

Warship builder Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE) has delivered a Landing Craft Utility (LCU) to Indian Navy. The LCU delivered is 7th out of eight such vessels being built for Indian Navy by GRSE, will add to India’s maritime security prowess.

About Landing Craft Utility (LCU)

LCU is an amphibious ship, that can transport and deploy main battle tanks, armoured vehicles, troops and equipment from ship to shore. It can accommodate 216 personnel.

Features: It is 62.8 metres long, 11 metres wide and has a displacement of 830 tonnes, with a low draught of 1.7 metres. The ship has an ability to attain a maximum speed of 15 knots and is equipped with two indigenous CRN 91 guns to provide artillery fire support during landing operations.

LCU can also be deployed for multi-role activities such as disaster relief operations, search and rescue, supply and replenishment, beaching operations and evacuation from distant islands.

Background

The Landing Craft Utility (LCU) Mark IV class of ships, the first of which was commissioned into Indian Navy in 2016, are fitted with close to 90% indigenous equipment. The GRSE, one of India’s leading shipyards, located in Kolkata (West Bengal),  has so far manufactured 103 warships since its inception in 1960.

Month: Current Affairs - December, 2019