INS Sindhudhvaj submarine decommissioned after 35 years of service

Tags: Defence

The Navy's Kilo-class submarine, INS Sindhudhwaj, was decommissioned at Visakhapatnam on 17 July after 35 years of service.

Important facts

• The Navy now has 15 conventional submarines in service.

• The Chief Guest of the ceremony was Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command.

• The event was attended by 15 of the former Commanding Officers, including Commander S.P. Singh (Retd.) and 26 Commissioning crew veterans.

About INS Sindhudhvaj

• Inducted into the Navy in June 1987, Sindhudhwaj was one of the Kilo-class submarines acquired from Russia between 1986 and 2000.

• Kilo-class submarines are called Sindhughosh-class. 

• They are diesel-electric submarines that displace 3,000 tons, can dive to a depth of 300 metres, have a top speed of 18 knots, and can operate alone for 45 days with a crew of 53.

• The insignia of this submarine is a grey nurse shark.

• Its name means the one who bears the flag on the sea (Indus).

• It was the first submarine to be equipped with multiple indigenous security and communication systems.

• INS Sindhurakshak sank in Mumbai in August 2013 after a catastrophic explosion, killing all 18 sailors.

• INS Sindhuveer was transferred to the Myanmar Navy in March 2020 as a goodwill gesture.

• INS Sindhudhwaj is the only submarine to be awarded the CNS Rolling Trophy for Innovation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

• Indigenous sonar USHUS, indigenous satellite communication system Rukmani and MMS, inertial navigation system and indigenous torpedo fire control system were operated on it.

• Sindhudhwaj also successfully carried out mating and personnel transfer with Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel.