INS Sharda (P55)

INS Sharda (P55) sailing between Androth and Agatti Island
History
India
Name	INS Sharda
Builder	Hindustan Shipyard Limited
Launched	22 August 1990
Commissioned	27 October 1991
Status	in active service
General characteristics
Class and type	Sukanya class patrol vessel[1]
Displacement	1,890 tons (full load)[1]
Length	101 metres
Beam	11.5 metres
Propulsion	2 × diesel engines, 12,800 bhp (9,540 kW), 2 shafts
Speed	21 knots (39 km/h)
Range	7,000 nautical miles (13,000 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h)
Complement	70
Sensors and processing systems	1 × Racal Decca 2459 search radar 1 BEL 1245 navigation radar
Armament	1 × 40 mm, 60-cal Bofors anti-aircraft gun 2 × 12.7 mm machine guns P55 added: 2 x 25 mm, 80-cal anti-aircraft guns
Aircraft carried	1 HAL Chetak

INS Sharda (P55) is a Sukanya class patrol vessel of the Indian Navy.[1][2]

Operations

On 17 May 2017, the ship rescued a Liberian registered merchant vessel, MV Mountbatten, from pirates while on patrol in the gulf of Aden.[3]

2024 Anti-piracy Patrols

On 2 February 2024, INS Shardha thwarted another piracy attempt off the Somali coast and rescued an Iranian-flagged fishing vessel (FV) and its crew of 11 Iranians and 8 Pakistanis.[4] Indian Navy's remotely piloted aircraft located FV Omari, and offshore patrol vessel INS Sharda, deployed for an anti-piracy mission in the region, was diverted to intercept the boat. FV Omari had been boarded by seven pirates who had taken the crew as hostages using her integral helicopter and boats, the ship coerced the pirates for safe release of crew along with the vessel.[5][6][7][8]

On 6 April 2024, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R. Hari Kumar awarded 'On the Spot Unit Citation' to INS Sharda for its anti piracy operation off the Eastern coast of Somalia on 2 February 2024.[9]

References

1. "Archived copy". indiannavy.nic.in. Archived from the original on 23 February 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2009.
2. "Sukanya Class, Saryu Class | Indian Navy". www.indiannavy.nic.in. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
3. "Indian Navy rescues merchant vessel from pirates in Gulf of Aden". Retrieved 17 May 2017.
4. "INS Sharda Awarded on the Spot Unit Citation for Anti Piracy Operations". Bru Times News.
5. "Indian Navy rescues fishing vessel with Pakistani nationals from pirate attack". India Today. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
6. "Indian Navy foils another piracy attempt off Somalia coast; 11 Iranian, 8 Pak nationals rescued". Hindustan Times. 2 February 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
7. "Navy foils piracy bid, rescues 8 Pakistanis among 19 - Rediff.com". m.rediff.com. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
8. "SWIFT RESPONSE BY MISSION DEPLOYED INDIAN NAVAL PLATFORMS FOIL ANOTHER PIRACY ATTEMPT ALONG EAST COAST OF SOMALIA". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
9. "INS SHARDA AWARDED ON THE SPOT UNIT CITATION FOR ANTI PIRACY OPERATIONS". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 7 April 2024.