The sixth of eight indigenously built Landing Craft Utility (LCU) MK IV class ship LCU L 56 will be commissioned into the Indian Navy by Vice Admiral Atul Kumar Jain, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command, here on Monday.
LCU L56 is an amphibious ship with its primary role being transportation, deployment and recovery of main battle tanks, armoured vehicles, troops and equipment from ship to shore and vice-versa. Indigenously designed and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE), Kolkata, the ship’s commissioning portrays the growing capability of the Indian Navy, GRSE and the nation in becoming self-reliant through indigenisation.
With a displacement of 900 tonne, the ship measures 62 meters in length and is fitted with two MTU (maximum transmission unit) diesel engines, which provide a sustainable speed of over 15 knots. The ship is equipped with the state-of-art equipment and armed with two 30mm CRN (close range naval)-91 guns manufactured by Ordnance Factory, Medak (Telangana).
The ship is manned by a team comprising four officers and 56 sailors. The ship is also capable of carrying 150 troops. Upon commissioning, the ship will become an integral part of the Port Blair flotilla under the Naval Component Commander in Andaman and Nicobar Command. The ship will be deployed for multi-role activities such as beaching operations, search and rescue, disaster relief operations, coastal patrol and surveillance operations along the Andaman and Nicobar Group of Islands.
