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Old Soul in a New Body: The Story of INS Kiltan

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Kajal Gautam, Research Intern, Maritime History Society

INS Kiltan

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/INS_Kiltan_(P30)#/media/File:INS_Kiltan_departs_Sihanoukville_Autonomous_Port_port.jpg

Indigenously built, INS Kiltan is one of the four Kamorta class Corvettes designed by Indian Navy’s in-house organisation, Directorate of Naval Design under Project 28. As a part of Project 28, INS Kiltan was built as an anti-submarine warfare corvette by Garden Reach Shipbuilders in Kolkata. The ship is named after a coral island that is a part of the Aminidivi archipelago which is located in the Lakshadweep and Minicoy group of islands. Launched on 26 March 2013, the ship was finally commissioned on 16th October 2017 by the Indian Navy in an impressive ceremony by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitaraman[i].

Kiltan is India’s first major naval ship to contain a superstructure of carbon fibre composite material. This feature leads to a lower cost of maintenance while permitting more enhanced stealth features. The warship showcases the usage of advanced engineering materials and the significant improvement it has led to, as evident by its enhanced stability parameters and top speed. The vessel is 80% indigenous and equipped with cutting-edge, state of art weapons and systems, making it effective against chemical, biological and nuclear warfare conditions. The warship also hosts a variety of weaponry like the heavyweight torpedoes, Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) rockets, 76 mm calibre Medium Range gun and two multi-barrel 30 mm guns as a close-in-weapon system (CIWS) with dedicated fire control systems and missile decoy rockets (Chaff). The ship also contains an integrated communication system and an advanced Electronic Warfare Support Measure system with the most advanced bow-mounted sonar and air surveillance radar Revathi[ii].

INS Kitlan is a part of the Eastern Naval Command and as such, acts as a fragment of the Bay of Bengal Naval Forces that make up the naval establishments on the east coast of India. The vessel has proved itself to be an important component in India’s strategic outreaches in the eastern waters, made evident by its involvement in a myriad of mapping operations and maritime exercises in East Asia. Quite recently, the warship was enshrined in SAGAR (Security and Growth for all in the Region) III as a part of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) initiative towards its eastern neighbours[iii].

Other than being a modern powerhouse on its own, INS Kiltan also shares a proud legacy with the former Arnala-class (Petya class) corvette of the same name, Kiltan (P79), which played an important part in Operation Trident as an anti-submarine corvette during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971.

INS Kitlan is regarded to be one of the most potent warships to be constructed in India. The vessel, and the Kamorta class of Corvettes as a whole, shows India’s quest of turning and developing its Navy into a self-sufficient sector as exhibited by the efforts of indigenization, by involving itself in the process of seamlessly transforming the armed the maritime branch from a Buyer’s Navy to a Builder’s Navy.

Endnotes:

[i] 7, Vinay KumarNEW DELHI:March, and Vinay Kumar. “Third Anti-Submarine Warfare Corvette Launched in Kolkata.” Return to frontpage, November 16, 2021. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/third-antisubmarine-warfare-corvette-launched-in-kolkata/article4551845.ece

[ii] Desk, Express Web. “What Is INS Kiltan?” The Indian Express, October 16, 2017.  https://indianexpress.com/article/what-is/what-is-ins-kiltan-indian-navy-4892606/

[iii] Gill, Don McLain. “How INS Kiltan Has Become the Strategic Flag-Bearer of India’s ACT East Policy.” The Print, July 9, 2021. https://theprint.in/opinion/how-ins-kiltan-has-become-the-strategic-flag-bearer-of-indias-act-east-policy/692769/

Indian Naval feats with United Nations

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By, Ms. Maitre Shah, Research Intern, Maritime History Society

Image 1 Symbolising Indian Navy and its collaboration with United Nations. Source – Author

Introduction

The World War II resulted in a devastating economic and human loss. Effects of the World War II led the global leaders to rethink the governance strategies for world policies and the United Nations was formed. India has been associated with the United Nations since its inception and the Indian Navy regularly assists in various humanitarian operations. While 24 October is celebrated as United Nations Day each year to commemorate the official commencement of the United Nations, let’s get an insight into the Indian Naval collaboration with the United Nations. Continue reading “Indian Naval feats with United Nations” →

INS Kavaratti: Power Punched and deadly!

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Ms. Uma Kabe, Project Research Associate, Maritime History Society

“A good Navy is not a provocation to war. It is the surest guarantee of peace”.

–  Theodore Roosevelt.

Promoting the ‘Make in India’ initiative, INS Kavaratti (P31), the last of the four Kamorta Class Corvettes under Project 28 (P28), was commissioned into the Indian Navy (IN) by the then Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane through a formal function held at the Naval Dockyard Visakhapatnam on 22 October 2020.[1] Designed by the Directorate of Naval Design (DND) in collaboration with a Swedish Company, the indigenous Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Stealth Corvette, is built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata at an estimated cost of 1,700 crores.[2] The hull of the ship was jointly developed by Defence Research and Development Organization and IN.[3] Continue reading “INS Kavaratti: Power Punched and deadly!” →

INS Dega: Quintessence of Might and Power

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By Ms Bhavyashree GNS, Research Intern, Maritime History Society

   

Crest of INS Dega (L), INS Dega, Visakhapatnam (R)

INS Dega is a Naval Air Station of the Indian Navy in Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Naval Aviation is one of the crucial elements which makes the use of manned air power in armed conflicts by a sea-based military force. The Naval Aviation wing of the Indian Navy plays a significant role in not only harnessing the naval capability, but also contributes in the comprehensive understanding of defence consciousness of the navy. Thus, the Naval Air Arm facilitates aspects like combat capability in areas that are beyond the range and jurisdiction of the land-based Air Force Aircraft. Being equipped with the provision of aircraft carrier-borne strikes, it is relatively easier to engineer accessibility against maritime targets, while also maintaining air defence of the fleet. The Wing also performs different roles of survey, examination, patrol, and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) by making use of a variety of manned and unmanned aircraft and helicopters which are shore and/ or ship-based.[i] Continue reading “INS Dega: Quintessence of Might and Power” →

INHS Asvini: The Cutting Edge of Medical Sciences

INHS Asvini: The Cutting Edge of Medical Sciences

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By Ms Bhavyashree GNS, Research Intern, Maritime History Society

The oldest Command Hospital of the Indian Navy, Indian Naval Hospital Ship  (INHS) Asvini derives its name from the Vedic deities Asvins or Asvin Kumaras, also known as the horse twins who were proficient in the knowledge of health, medicine, and science. In the Rig Veda, the Asvins are depicted as guardian deities who tend to the ailments of people by ensuring their safety, further coming to aid in the time of need. Located in Navy Nagar, Colaba, INHS Asvini was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 18 September 1951. Even though it has only been 71 years since its establishment, the facility has a remarkable history of over 250 years. Continue reading “INHS Asvini: The Cutting Edge of Medical Sciences” →

Iconography of Maritime Machinery in Ancient India

Iconography of Maritime Machinery in Ancient India

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By Bhavyashree GNS, Research Intern, Maritime History Society

According to the Cambridge dictionary, the term ‘iconography’ refers to the use of images and symbols to represent ideas or the particular images and symbols used by a religious or political group. In simple words, iconography is concerned with the visual aspect of the study in regard to ideas, cultures, and the study of these. Iconography is considered as an important aspect as it makes use of various symbols, themes, and subject matter to convey meaning of the work.[1] Continue reading “Iconography of Maritime Machinery in Ancient India” →

The bedrock of overhauling activities of the Eastern Naval Command: INS Eksila

The bedrock of overhauling activities of the Eastern Naval Command: INS Eksila

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By Ms Sadaf Khan, Archive and Collection Associate, Maritime History Society

The requirement to create an indigenous marine gas turbine overhaul facility was realised in the Indian Navy during the early eighties. An idea was laid out to create a composite and self-contained gas turbine overhauling facility. This independent facility was to be operated by service personnel which would cater to contemporary Gas Turbines and the ones acquired in future as well. As the government sanctioned for the same in September 1984, the foundation stone was laid by Vice Admiral SC Chopra PVSM, AVSM, NM, the then Flag Officer Commanding–in–Chief, Eastern Naval Command on 25 Aug 1988. On 22 October 1991, the facility was established at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh as the Marine Gas Turbine Overhaul Centre (MGTOC) and inaugurated by Admiral L Ramdas PVSM, AVSM, VrC, VSM, ADC, the then Chief of Naval Staff.1 Continue reading “The bedrock of overhauling activities of the Eastern Naval Command: INS Eksila” →

The Tales and Trials of the Indigenous and Formidable INS Arihant

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By Ms Uma Kabe, Project Research Associate, Maritime History Society

“Of all the branches of the men in the forces, there is no one which shows more devotion and faces grimmer perils than the submariners”

-Winston Churchill.

India’s first indigenously constructed Strategic Strike Sub Surface Ballistic Nuclear Submarine (SSBN), Indian Naval Ship (INS) Arihant (S2), was launched at the Naval Dockyard at Visakhapatnam on 26 July 2009, by the then Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to commemorate the anniversary of Kargil War- celebrated as Vijay Diwas. Post the activation of the atomic reactor in 2013 and extensive sea trials thereafter, the vessel was commissioned into the Indian Navy (IN) in 2016 by Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi. The indigenous construction of INS Arihant helped India strengthen its defence and strategic planning while reinforcing its maritime standing. India was the only country to develop a nuclear submarine apart from the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Manufactured under the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project, INS Arihant, the lead vessel of its class, was collectively constructed by IN, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and a few Russian designers.[i] Tata Power and Larsen and Toubro (L&T) have also significantly contributed to the development of this Submarine. Continue reading “The Tales and Trials of the Indigenous and Formidable INS Arihant” →

Reminiscing the Past: INS Khukri

Reminiscing the Past: INS Khukri

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By Ms Maitre Shah, Research Intern, Maritime History Society

Introduction

In the Indo-Pak War of 1971, at the naval frontiers many warships played important roles, INS Khukri (F149) being one of them. INS Khukri was attacked and sunk during the war. To commemorate its valour, a Khukri class corvette was commissioned in the same name. 23 August 2022 marks the 33rd commissioning anniversary of the Indian Naval Ship INS Khukri (P49). On this day, let us revisit the past and reminisce the journey of both the majestic vessels. Continue reading “Reminiscing the Past: INS Khukri” →

Sugar in Milk: The Parsi Tryst with India

Sugar in Milk: The Parsi Tryst with India

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By Mr Dennard D’Souza, Senior Research Associate, Maritime History Society

We have often heard stories of the jovial, dhansak eating and the overtly philanthropic Parsis. We have sometimes even swayed our heads to the medley “my name is Jeejeebhoy Jamshedjee” and never realised the person was an actual Parsi gentleman who made it big during the Raj. Parsis are everywhere from enterprise to entertainment. Though a miniscule minority, they have influenced us in a good way. We drive (Trucks and Cars) and drink Tata products(Starbucks) , we safeguard our jewels and food products in Godrej cupboards and fridges. Guess what…. these all are Parsi made products. Continue reading “Sugar in Milk: The Parsi Tryst with India” →