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VISAKHAPATNAM:The second batch of three Immediate Support Vessels (ISVs), comprising T-38, T-39 and T-40, were commissioned by Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command, Vice Admiral Satish Soni at an impressive ceremony at the Naval Dockyard Tuesday. The three ISVs are in addition to the first batch of ISVs commissioned last year and will constitute the 84th Immediate Support Vessel Squadron based at Visakhapatnam.

The ISVs are armed with heavy machine guns (HMGs) and are equipped with state-of-the-art radar and navigation equipment. They are fitted with two caterpillar engines of 1,600 MHP each to provide water jet propulsion which provides the vessels a high speed of 40 knots and an endurance of 500 nautical miles. These ships are capable of carrying out day and night surveillance and can be used for rapid insertions/extraction of MARCOS for military intervention. The induction and deployment of these ships will augment the ongoing efforts to bolster coastal security and provide protection to our offshore assets from asymmetric threats. Two ISVs have been built by Rodman Spain whereas one ISV was built by Abu Dhabi Ship Builders (ADSB). The project was a joint collaboration between Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Limited, Ship Builders and the Indian Navy. Commanding Officers of T-38, T-39 and T-40 Lieutenants Jai Kishore, Shobhit Saxena and Vaibhav Bhardwaj respectively read out the commissioning warrants.

Hoisting the Naval Ensign onboard for the first time and Breaking of the Commissioning Pennant with the National Anthem in the background marked the completion of the commissioning ceremony.

On the occasion, Vice Admiral Satish Soni said that the ISVs were brought to Naval Dockyard, Mumbai, where delivery acceptance trials were carried out. The ships have sailed 1,200 nautical miles from Mumbai to Visakhapatnam in over 12 days before getting commissioned and have proved their sturdiness as they successfully crossed the Gulf of Mannar facing strong winds and high seas.

Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB) has announced the completion of the Ghannatha Phase II programme after delivery of all 24 vessels to the UAE Navy. Built to a design developed by partner Swede Ship Marine (Stand C-015), the Ghannatha-class boats are high-speed, aluminiumbuilt multi-role combat vessels. Powered by two MTU diesels driving twin Rolls-Royce FF 600 waterjets, the design is capable of speeds up to 45kts.

ADSB (Stand B-022) won the Ghannatha Phase II contract, valued at nearly AED1 billion, in 2009. Under the deal, the company has delivered 12 new 27m Ghannatha boats to the UAE Navy, and retrofitted modifications to 12 existing 25m craft.

Six of the original vessels have been modified as mortar boats,receiving the Patria Nemo 120mm smooth-bore mortar system, plus an OTO Melara Hitrole-G 12.7mm gun mounting. These vessels have also received a GEM surveillance radar and updated VHF/UHF communications.

The other six 25m Ghannatha boats have been modified to serve as fast gun boats, equipped with a Rheinmetall MLG 27 27mm gun and a Hitrole-G 12.7mm mounting. They also retain the capability to embark up to 40 troops.

Swede Ship Marine, as ADSB’s principal sub-contractor, took responsibility for the design modification package for the 12 ‘stretched’ new-build vessels, and built the first three in Sweden.

The nine follow-on craft have been built by ADSB at its shipyard in Abu Dhabi’s Mussafah industrial area. As well as being 2m longer than the original 25m Ghannatha design, these later ships have also received more powerful MTU 12V 2000 M93 engines.

All 12 of the later ships are configured as missile boats, being equipped with four box launchers for MBDA Marte Mk 2/N surface-to- surface guided missiles. The Marte Mk 2/N missile is able to strike targets at ranges in excess of 30km, flying a fire-and-forget sea-skimming profile using mid-course inertial guidance and active radar homing. The vessels are also fitted with a mini-combat system supplied by Selex ES and a GEM radar for surveillance and target indication.

Abu Dhabi Systems Integration (ADSI) has taken responsibility for combat system engineering and integration activities for the Ghannatha Phase II programme. ADSI, a joint venture between ADSB and Selex ES, has overseen combat system definition and design, production, support to installation, setting-to-work, integration, commissioning and acceptance.