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In order to step up its amphibious combat capability, the Indian Navy has issued a Request for Information (RFI) for a mechanized craft. The Indian Navy plans on acquiring ten of these craft to ferry military equipment and material between the island territories of India on both the coasts besides enabling troop landings.
As per the requirements of the Indian Navy, the mechanized craft will be used to launch either a troop of 150 and their warfare equipment, a T-90/T-72 battle tank, two infantry combat vehicles, two 2.5-tonne trucks or four light motor vehicles to enemy shores. Besides troop and material transportation, the craft will be used for search and rescue, casualty evacuation, humanitarian relief, and supply and replenishment of warships.
As for the specifications of the craft, it will be 23-metre long craft with a cargo well and will max the speed of 15 knots in fully-laden condition with an endurance level of six months out of dock or 200 nautical miles at full loading condition.
It will be propelled by two diesel engines driving a water jet each. It will also have two mounted heavy machine gun with hands-free communication system incorporating all-round arc of fire or shrapnel along with a protective steel plate. It will be operational day and night.
While the Indian Navy has been using these kind of mechanized craft in the island territories off the south east coast, almost half of them will be decommissioned soon
The mechanized craft will be able to operate out of Landing Platform Dock (LPD) INS Jalashwa bought by India in 2007. It is also the first LPD in the Indian Navy service.
INS Jalashwa is a replenishment and amphibious warfare ship with capacity to embark, transport and land a 1,000-men battalion along with equipment and tanks to support operations on enemy shores. INS Jalashwa has been carrying four mechanised landing craft and eight landing assault craft.
Meanwhile, Indian Navy has shown its mettle in the recent sinking of a pirate ‘mother vessel’ off the Lakshadweep Islands to ward away piracy off the Lakshwadeep coast. With deft combat maneuvers in a crucial operation, Indian Navy caught 15 pirates as well as rescued 20 Thai and Myanmar nationals who had been taken hostage on board the vessel ‘Prantalay’ which was taken hostage by Somalian pirates last week.
As a safety measure, the Indian Navy along with the Coast Guard has deployed frigates and fast attack craft, patrol aircraft, helicopters and marine commandos along its coasts and island territories.
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