Indian Navy warship INS Brahmaputra suffered significant damage due to a fire at Mumbai's Naval Dockyard. During the incident, the frigate listed heavily to the port side.
Despite all attempts, the ship couldn't be returned to an upright position and continued to lean more to one side while docked. It is currently resting on that side.
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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has instructed Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi to take necessary actions. The Indian Navy stated that all personnel have been located except for one junior sailor, who is still being searched for.
The Indian Navy has launched an inquiry to investigate the incident.
"A fire broke out on the Indian Naval Ship Brahmaputra, a multi-role frigate, on the evening of July 21, 2024, while it was undergoing repairs. The ship's crew, with help from firefighters at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai and other ships nearby, managed to control the fire by the morning of July 22, 2024. Additional safety checks were then conducted to assess any remaining fire risks," stated the official Navy report.
Overview of INS Brahmaputra
The INS Brahmaputra, the first guided missile frigate of its kind built in India, was commissioned into the Indian Navy on April 14, 2000.
The ship has a displacement of 5,300 tonnes, is 125 meters long, and 14.4 meters wide. It can reach speeds over 27 knots (about 50 km/h).
INS Brahmaputra is equipped with medium and close-range guns, anti-aircraft weapons, surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles, and torpedo launchers.
The ship is equipped with a range of sensors for all aspects of maritime warfare and can operate Sea King and Chetak helicopters. This allows it to take on various roles such as coastal and offshore patrolling, monitoring sea routes, conducting maritime diplomacy, and carrying out counter-terrorism and anti-piracy missions.
The ship's name, "Brahmaputra," comes from the well-known river in northeastern India. Its crest features a grey, one-horned Indian rhinoceros, which is native to the Brahmaputra valley, set against a brown background with white and blue sea waves.
The ship's war cry, "Dushman ko Khatra, Jab aage Brahmaputra," means "the enemy faces great danger when Brahmaputra leads the charge," reflecting the ship's fearless spirit.
Warships are crucial parts of a navy's surface fleet and come in various shapes and sizes, depending on their abilities and roles. Let's look at the differences between frigates, destroyers, and corvettes.
Frigate Vs Destroyer Vs Corvette
Frigates and destroyers are among the most common types of warships in a navy's fleet. Both are designed for speed and are used to escort and protect larger ships from air, surface, and underwater threats.
A frigate is a small, fast, and agile warship mainly used for escorting in anti-submarine operations. It is the smallest of the three types of warships and one of the few capable of operating in open ocean. Originally, frigates were designed to be long, low, and quick, and some fast ships were referred to as "frigate-built."
A frigate is a relatively small navy ship that can travel at high speeds. Frigates are often used to protect other vessels. They are larger than corvettes but smaller than destroyers. Frigates typically weigh between 3,000 and 5,000 tons.
Destroyers
A destroyer is a fast and heavily armored warship designed to offer anti-aircraft and anti-submarine protection for larger ships in the fleet. It is a medium-sized vessel built for long-range and independent missions, often used for surveillance, patrol, and escorting duties.
Destroyers are smaller than battleships but larger than frigates. They typically have one smaller gun (around 5 inches, compared to the 16-inch guns on Iowa-class battleships) and are equipped with many missiles, including anti-ship, surface-to-air, and cruise missiles like the Tomahawk used by the US Navy.
Corvettes
A corvette is a small, lightly armed warship designed for coastal defense and escort duties. It is typically used in anti-submarine operations and maritime interdiction.
Navy Ship Count
As of April 2024, the Indian Navy has the following ships in active service:
* Frigates : 12
* Destroyers: 12
* Corvettes: 18
Published: 23 Jul 2024, 10:15 am IST
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