Pondicherry-class minesweeper

INS Kozhikode
Class overview
NamePondicherry class
Operators Indian Navy
Succeeded byFuture Indian minehunter class
SubclassesKarwar class
In commission1978-2019
Completed12
Retired12
General characteristics
TypeMinesweeper
Displacement877 long tons (891 t) full load
Length61 m (200 ft 2 in)
Beam10.2 m (33 ft 6 in)
Draft2.7 m (8 ft 10 in)
Propulsion2 × M-503B diesels, 2 shafts, 5,000 bhp (3,700 kW)
Speed16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Range
  • 4,000 nmi (7,400 km) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
  • 3,000 nmi (5,600 km) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement10 officers, 72 enlisted
Sensors and
processing systems
  • Sonar:
  • MG-69/79 High frequency, hull mounted, active mine detection
  • Radar:
  • Don 2 I-band air/surface
  • 2 × Square Head - High Pole B IFF
  • MR-104 Drum Tilt H/I-band fire control
Electronic warfare
& decoys
  • Minesweeping:
  • AT-2 acoustic sweep
  • GKT-2 contact sweep
  • TEM-3 magnetic sweep
Armament
  • 4 × 30 mm (2×2) guns
  • 4 × 25 mm (2×2) AA
  • 2 × RBU 1200 5-tubed ASW rocket
  • 10 mines
  • M67–M72 also have 2 × SA-N-5 SAM, 16 Grail missiles

The Pondicherry class are a class of minesweepers built for the Indian Navy by the Soviet Union. They are modified versions of the Natya-class minesweeper. The vessels were acquired in two batches. The first were purchased from 1977 to 1980 and the second from 1986 to 1988. Technically, the second batch is referred to as the Karwar class but are physically identical to the first batch with the exception of additional surface-to-air missiles. As minesweepers, they are large and heavily armed. They can serve a dual purpose as an anti-submarine warfare escort. Their hulls are constructed of U3 low magnetic signature steel.

M61–M66 were based at Mumbai formed the 19 Mine Countermeasures Squadron (MCMS) and were decommissioned by the March 2015.[1] M67–M72 are based at Visakhapatnam and form the 21 Mine Countermeasures Squadron (MCMS).[2]

INS Konkan suffered minor fire accident in Vizag dry dock on 4 December 2013. She was operational by January 2014.[3] INS Kozhikode was the last ship in the series to be decommissioned on 13 April 2019.[4]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "INS Cannanore celebrates a landmark with host of events - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  3. ^ "Navy begins course-correction, orders inquiry and acts against its senior officers". India Today. 25 January 2014. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  4. ^ "Grand 'send-off' to Indian Naval Ship Kozhikode". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 14 April 2019.