INS Kamorta (P28)

INS Kamorta is the first of four anti-submarine Kamorta-class stealth corvettes which has been built for the Indian Navy. It is a significant step towards India's pursuit for self-reliance in indigenous warship building, bringing closer home Indian Navy's quest to be a true Blue-Water Navy with ships and submarines designed and built within the country. She was designed and manufactured by GRSE,[4][5] launched on 19 April 2010, as part of Project 28, approved in 2003. As in INS Shivalik, high-grade steel produced in India was utilized for its construction. She was delivered to Navy on 12 July 2014.[6] She is the first indigenous anti-submarine corvette as well as the first indigenous stealth corvette built by India.[5][6][7] She has enhanced stealth features such as an X Form Hull and inclined sides for low Radar cross-section, Infra-red suppression, and Acoustic quieting systems.[2] Union minister of defense, Arun Jaitley commissioned the ship on 23 August 2014. It was named after Kamorta island in Andaman and Nicobar, India .

INS Kamorta during sea trials
History
 Indian Navy
Name: Kamorta
Namesake: Kamorta Islands
Operator: Indian Navy
Builder: Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers
Cost: ₹2,800 crore (US$393 million)
Laid down: 20 November 2006
Launched: 19 April 2010
Acquired: 12 July 2014
Commissioned: 23 August 2014 [1]
Homeport: Visakhapatnam
Identification: Pennant number: P28 [2]
Status: in active service
General characteristics
Class and type: Kamorta-class ASW corvette
Displacement: 3,500 tonnes.[2]
Length: 109.1 m
Beam: 13.7 m
Propulsion:
  • 4 × Pielstick 12 PA6 STC Diesel engines
  • CODAD, DCNS raft mounted gearbox
Speed: 32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph)
Complement: 13 Officers and 180 Sailors
Sensors and
processing systems:
  • Revati Central Acquisition Radar
  • EL/M-2221 STGR fire-control radar
  • BEL Shikari
  • BEL RAWL02 (Signaal LW08) antenna communication grid – Gigabit Ethernet-based integrated ship borne data network, with a fiber optic cable backbone running through the vessel
  • NPOL HUMSA (Hull Mounted Sonar Array)
  • Bomber Electronic warfare (EW) suites – BEL Ajanta
Electronic warfare
& decoys:
Armament:
Aircraft carried: 1 Westland Sea King Mk.42B

Design and Description

Kamorta was originally expected to be built using high-tensile imported steel. But lapses in imports lead it to be built by indigenously developed special grade high-tensile steel (DMR249A) produced by state-owned Steel Authority of India from its Bhilai Steel Plant.[6] The ships employs very low under water voice signature and radar cross-section due to its ‘X’ form of hull and superstructure.[8] She is the first Indian Navy ship to be built with carbon fiber reinforced plastic which reduces weight and life cycle maintenance costs.[8] The hull of the ship encompassed the bulk of sensors and weapon systems that were also indigenously manufactured by various Indian industries.

It is the first indigenous anti-submarine corvette as well as the first indigenous stealth corvette built by India.[7] About 90% of the ship is indigenous and the ship is capable of fighting in NBC conditions.[8] It is equipped with a rail-less helo traversing system which is used for handling a helicopter. It also features a foldable hangar door.[8]

General characteristics and propulsion

Kamorta will have a length of 109 m (358 ft) overall and a beam of 13.7 m (45 ft). The ships displace about 3,500 tonnes (3,900 short tons) at full load. It is powered by four 5,096 hp (3,800 kW) diesel engines at 1,050 rpm[7][8]

It uses four Pielstick 12 PA6 STC diesel engines in CODAD configuration and is propelled two two-shaft, controllable-pitch propellers which allow the ship to reach a top speed of 32 kn (59 km/h; 37 mph). It will have a complement of about 180 sailors and 15 officers excluding flight crew for the integral ASW helicopter and an endurance of 4,000 nmi (7,400 km; 4,600 mi).[9]

Armament

Kamorta is equipped with a wide range of weapon systems. It is fitted with an OTO Melara 76 mm main gun, and uses two AK-630 guns and provision for 16-cell VLS launched Barak 1 missiles as close-in weapon system, which will be added later. In addition, 2 RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launchers and torpedo tubes capable of firing heavy weight torpedoes.[9][10]

The sensors of this warship include the advanced bow mounted sonar and the indigenous 3D-CAR air-surveillance radar Revathi with capability to detect targets exceeding 200 km (120 mi).[10] It is also the first warship to be equipped with the Kavach decoy system for protection against anti-ship missiles.[5][7] Like INS Kolkata, this warship is also commissioned with out the critical medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) and advanced light towed array sonars (ALTAS), which is planned to be added later.[11]

Construction and entry into service

Kamorta was ordered in 2003 and was launched on 21 April 2010.[7] It was expected to join the fleet in October 2012[8][12] but was handed over to the Navy on 12 July 2014.

On 12 July, the front line warship was formally handed over by GRSE chairman and managing director Rear Admiral A. K. Verma (Ret'd.) to the Navy at a ceremony in GRSE's fitting-out jetty[5] She was commissioned into the Navy on 23 August 2014, with Cdr. Manoj Jha as her first captain.[13][14][15][16]

A minor fire broke out on 1 February 2017 in the left engine room of the ship when it was operating at sea. The room was immediately evacuated and the fire put out using the ship's Fixed fire system and there were no injuries during the incident.[17][18]

INS Kamorta images at sea
  • Yoga onboard INS Kamorta during International Yoga Day
  • INS Satpura and INS Kamorta IMDEX 2015
  • INS Kamorta entering Singapore Port.
  • INS Kamorta visits Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
  • Indian Navy's computer generated design of the Project 28 Kamorta class corvette

References
  1. The Times of India (12 July 2011). "Navy to commission two ships next month". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  2. "Raksha Mantri to commission 'INS Kamorta'". Indian Navy. 20 August 2014.
  3. "Indian Navy commissions second Kamorta-class ASW corvette | IHS Jane's 360". www.janes.com. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  4. "Delivery of INS Kamorta next June". The Hindu. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  5. "Navy to get first indigenous anti-submarine warship, INS Kamorta tomorrow". Economic Times. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  6. "GRSE hands over first indigenous warship, INS Kamorta to Indian Navy". Economic Times. 12 July 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  7. "India launches first indigenous ASW corvette". India Strategic. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  8. "Project 28 / Kamorta Class Corvette". IDP Sentinel. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  9. "Project 28 ASW Corvette". Global Security. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  10. "INS Kamorta: All you need to know about India's indigenous warship". DNA. 23 August 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  11. "DRDO's failure to meet deadlines in delivering products". Economic Times. 23 August 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  12. "Indian Navy to Receive First Anti-Submarine Corvette in 2012". Naval Technology. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  13. http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/jaitley-to-commission-ins-kamorta-tomorrow/article6339094.ece
  14. The Times of India (12 July 2014). "Navy to commission two ships next month". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  15. NetIndian News Network (23 August 2014). "India commissions first indigenously built stealth anti-submarine warfare ship". www.netindian.in. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
  16. "First Indigenously Built Stealth ASW Corvette 'INS Kamorta' Commissioned in Indian Navy". 23 August 2014.
  17. "Minor fire in naval ship Kamorta, no casualties – The Economic Times". The Economic Times. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  18. "Minor fire aboard INS Kamorta: Navy | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis". dna. 1 February 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2017.

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