INS Sharda
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
INS Sharda (P55) is a Sukanya-class patrol vessel of the Indian Navy.[1][2]
_in_Androth_and_Agatti_Islands.jpg)
INS Sharda sailing between Androth and Agatti Island | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 India | |
| Name | Sharda |
| Builder | Hindustan Shipyard Limited |
| Launched | 22 August 1990 |
| Commissioned | 27 October 1991 |
| Status | Active |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Sukanya-class patrol vessel[1] |
| Displacement | 1,890 tons (full load)[1] |
| Length | 101 m (331 ft 4 in) |
| Beam | 11.5 m (37 ft 9 in) |
| Propulsion | 2 × diesel engines, 12,800 bhp (9,540 kW), 2 shafts |
| Speed | 21 knots (39 km/h) |
| Range | 7,000 nautical miles (13,000 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h) |
| Complement | 70 |
| Sensors & processing systems |
|
| Armament |
|
| Aircraft carried | 1 HAL Chetak |
Operations
On 17 May 2017, the ship rescued a Liberian registered merchant vessel, MV Mountbatten, from pirates while on patrol in the Gulf of Aden.[3]
2024 Anti-piracy patrols
On 2 February 2024, Shardha' thwarted another piracy attempt off the Somali coast and rescued an Iranian-flagged fishing vessel (FV) and its crew of 11 Iranians and 8 Pakistanis.[4] Indian Navy's remotely piloted aircraft located FV 'Omari', and Sharda, deployed for an anti-piracy mission in the region, was diverted to intercept the boat. Omari had been boarded by seven pirates who had taken the crew as hostages using her integral helicopter and boats, the ship coerced the pirates for safe release of crew along with the vessel.[5][6][7][8]
On 6 April 2024, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R. Hari Kumar awarded 'On the Spot Unit Citation' to Sharda for its anti piracy operation off the Eastern coast of Somalia on 2 February 2024.[9]
The ship participated in the eighth edition of Exercise Ekatha, an annual bilateral eercise between the Indian Navy and Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), which was conducted between November and December 2025 for 30 days until 16 December. The exercise included MARCOS and MNDF Marine Corps. The closing ceremony held at MNDF Central Area Command, Kadhdhoo, was attended by the Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti.[10][11]
