Navy orders 8 amphibious vessels

[angeldemon_007]

Working on its plan to sharpen its amphibious operations capabilities, the Navy signed a Rs. 2,100 crore contract with the defence public sector undertaking Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata for construction of 8 Landing Craft Utilities (LCUs).

The government had recently cleared the plan for construction of these vessels and the Navy signed the contract on Thursday under a plan that envisages delivery of the first ship in 35 months, Navy spokesperson Cdr. P.V.S. Satish said here.

The Hindu : News / National : Navy orders 8 amphibious vessels

 

[Archie]

Count on MOD to reduce the size of request

As far as i remember Indian Navy had requested for 14 Landing Ship Utility , but MOD has only cleared 8
From what i know , the reason which was given for this was that the New ships can carry 350 Troops and 5 light Tanks as against the old soviet era ships currently in service , which can carry 150 Troops and 3 Light Tanks

CURRENTLY Indian navy operate 12 Landing ships inducted between 1980-1991 , these are mainly used for movement of Troops between Indian Mainland and our Island Territories of Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar Island

 

[angeldemon_007]

^^^
Anything to confirm your previous post ? Also do you about the design of these new vessels ?

 

[pmukherjee]

Yes, we are enhancing our amphibious capabilities in a major way. This gives us better capability to defend our island territories and also project maritime expeditionary power in the IOR.

 

[Archie]

^^^
Anything to confirm your previous post ? Also do you about the design of these new vessels ?

This is from the RFP issued
There are certain differences between specs demanded and specs agreed upon while signing the contract

OPERATIONAL / TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR LANDING CRAFT MECHANISED

SECTION A- GENERAL
1. Role (a) Ship-to-shore movement of assault material,
equipment and personnel in support of amphibious
operations.
(b) Search and Rescue operations.
(c) Humanitarian relief operations.
(d) Supply and replenishment.
2. Dimension (a) Length Not more than 23 m
(b) Beam Not more than 6.3 m
(c) Draught not to exceed 1.6 m in full load condition.
(d) Displacement as per design, but not to exceed 2000 Tons
(e) Height from keel to top of pilot house is not to exceed
5 m.
(f) Dimensions of cargo well should not be less than 13.7
m in length and 4.9 m in breadth.
3. Speed (a) Maximum speed of 15 kts in fully laden condition upto
Sea State 3.
(b) Economical speed of 12 kt.
4. Endurance (six months
out of dock)
200 nm at full loading condition at Economical speed.
5. Sea Worthiness (a) Operations up to Sea State 3
(b) Survive in fully loaded condition upto Sea State 5.
6. Propulsion Two diesel engines driving one water jet each through
reversible reduction gearbox.
7. General Remarks (a) Planned life of 20 years.
(b) LCM should be capable of operations both by day and
night.
(c) The craft should be capable of providing medical
evacuation to/ from ship to shore.
8. Constructional Material Classification Society Grade “B” Steel.
9. Ergonomics The latest ship design concepts with respect to ergonomics,
crew comfort and functional aspects are to be adopted.
10. Classification The vessel is to be constructed as per classification society
rules for unrestrictive ocean service.

SECTION B- WEAPONS AND SENSORS
11. Weapons (a) 2 x HMGs. The HMGs, when fitted, should not extend
over the ship’s side.
(b) HMG mount should have hands free communication
system between the conning tower and mount location.
(c) Together both HMGs should provide all round arc of
fire.
(d) Protective steel plate is to be provisioned for
protection of Machine gun crew against sniper fire or
sharpnel.
(e) Conning tower with NIJ III standards and glass with
NIJ II standards or equivalent for protection or crew and
coxswain.
(f) Two mounts are to be provided - one on either side of
the ramp, on the bulk head, to mount HMGs.
12. Ammunition (a) Ready use lockers for storing 3000 rounds of
ammunition in boxes for HMG to be catered.
(b) Ready use lockers are to be provided next to the HMG
posts.

SECTION C- NAVIGATION AND AIO
13. Navaids The craft should be fitted with the following navaids:-
(a) COTS navigation radar integrated with GPS.
(b) GPS.
(c) Magnetic Compass.
(d) Echo Sounder.
(e) Internal communication.
(f) Search light covering 360 degree arc.
(g) Trainable Loud hailer - one on each side.
(h) Night Vision binoculars – 01.
(j) High magnification binoculars – 04.
(k) Navigation lights as per IRPCS.
SECTION D- COMMUNICATION
14. Communication
Equipment
The craft should have following communication equipment:-
(a) 01 x MMB set.
(b) 01 x V/ UHF TX/ RX (Fitted).
(c) 01 x HF Man pack Tx/ Rx with battery charger and
spare battery.
04 x VHF Portable (with helmet mounted hands free kit), two
rapid chargers and four extra batteries.

Troop Capacity without
vehicles
LCM should be able to carry 250 troops with gear.

29. Ramp
(a) One ramp forward hinged at lower end.
(b) Suitably supported to be capable of supporting 55 tons
when fully lowered.
(c) The primary mode of ramp operation is to be through
hydraulic power pack.
(d) Hydraulic power pack is to have provision of supply
from engine driven alternator as primary mode and from ship
fitted generator (air cooled) as secondary mode.
(e) Provision to lower/ hoist ramp using a hand pump is to
be provided.
(f) Provision to lower/ hoist ramp manually in case hand
pump also fails.
(g) Ramp operations should be possible in dry well
conditions without running the engines.

30. Military Lift Following combinations of vehicles loads should be possible:-
(a) 02 X T-90 tank/ T-72 tank
(b) 03 X BMP
(c) 04 X ALS + 02 X Jeep
(d) 05 X 2.5 Ton trucks
(e) 06 X LMV
31. Cargo Capacity Cargo carrying capacity should be more than 75 tons

This is a link to an old pdf dating to 2008 when , plan was to acquire 14 LCM
http://www.irfc-nausena.nic.in/rfi/RFI_INTERNET_LCM.pdf

The specs i have posted are from RFP issued to GRSE , and i have tried to post the relevant info and skip the details

 

[angeldemon_007]

Any contendors ? I mean has anyone responded ?

 

[Archie]

Any contendors ? I mean has anyone responded ?

the Navy signed a Rs. 2,100 crore contract with the defence public sector undertaking Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata for construction of 8 Landing Craft Utilities (LCUs).

Thats from the above article , guess GRSE won the contract

 

[Abingdonboy]

Its interesting, these craft are usually used from larger amphibious ships so what is the point in buying these when IN's plans for LPD/LHDs are still undergoing the regular paper chase? Or are these to replace this on INS JALASWA which must be getting rather old by now.

 

[angeldemon_007]

the Navy signed a Rs. 2,100 crore contract with the defence public sector undertaking Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata for construction of 8 Landing Craft Utilities (LCUs).

Thats from the above article , guess GRSE won the contract

No meant Is GRSE designing these LCUs or it will be like Project 17a or 4 LPDs according to which a design will be selected from global shipyard and then it will be made withing the country ????