Decommissioning of INS Magar

May 6, 2023

INS Magar, an amphibious assault ship of the Indian Navy, has served the nation for 36 years and is set to retire on May 6th, 2023. The decommissioning ceremony will be held at the Naval Base in Kochi, where Vice Admiral MA Hampiholi, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command will preside over the event.

Construction and Significance

INS Magar, which was commissioned in the eastern Indian city on July 18, 1987, was constructed by GRSE Kolkata. It was a significant achievement for the Indian shipbuilding industry because it was the first domestically built vessel with a gross register tonnage of more than 5000 and the first of the Landing Ship Tank (Large) class.

Primary Role and Capacity

INS Magar’s primary role has been that of an expeditionary warfare unit, which can carry 11 battle tanks, 13 BMP infantry fighting vehicles, 10 trucks, eight heavy motor vehicles, and more than 200 troops in various configurations. The vessel is equipped with an integrated Seaking Helicopter for airborne missions, and four Landing Craft Assault (LCA) for initiating amphibious attacks.

Symbolic Crest

The ship’s crest depicts the Hindu mythological character Makara, riding the waves. The Makara is generally depicted as a half crocodile in the fore part with a tail of a fish. The crest symbolizes the amphibious capability of INS Magar as well as emphasizing its size, adaptability, agility, and ferociousness.

Major Operations Undertaken by INS Magar

INS Magar has been involved in several significant operations, including Operation Pawan in 1987, where it played a key role in the transfer of army troops and tanks to the Sri Lankan peninsula to assist the fighting effort of the Indian Peacekeeping Force (IPKF) against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE).

The vessel had a significant role in responding to the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami by assisting in the relief effort and evacuating over 1300 individuals from the Andaman Nicobar Islands, which were affected by the disaster.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, INS Magar was deployed as part of ‘Operation Samudra Setu’ and was tasked with evacuating Indian nationals and providing medical relief to friendly foreign countries. The ship safely evacuated 202 Indians, including 24 women, two expectant mothers, and two children from Male, Maldives.

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