The Indian Naval Ship Pralaya
built by Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) a Ministry of Defence Public
Sector Undertaking has been commissioned into the Navy at Panjim
today. Pralaya was commissioned by Governor of Goa Shri
Kidar Nath Sahani.
Pralaya
is the second ship of the ‘Prabal’ class and is totally indigenously
built. It is the fourth missile vessel and the first of this class
to be built by GSL. The ship has been named after the old Pralaya,
an OSA II class missile boat which was decommissioned on June
18, 2001 after twenty-five glorious and fruitful years in the
service of the country. The construction of INS Pralaya commenced
in May, 1998 and was launched in December, 2000.
This 56 meter long ship is
powered by four high performance gas turbine engines, akin to
those fitted on aircraft, propelling her at a top speed of about
40 knots. The ship is made of special light-weight high strength
steel and its upper structures are made of aluminum to save weight
with a full load displacement of 560 tons.
Pralaya means
‘Deluge’. With an ability to deliver a torrent of armament, on
the enemy, the warship packs an impressive array of weapons and
sensors. Pralaya is armed to the teeth with 16 long-range
surface to surface missiles, a 76.2 mm main gun, two 30 mm anti-air
weapons, shoulder launched surface to air missiles and false target
launchers. Her sensor package is state of the art and gives the
ship total surveillance capability in her area of operations.
Once amalgamated with the fleet, INS Pralaya, with her
reach and formidable firepower shall be a force to reckon with.
The ship is ideal for her role of sea control and strike. Speed
and stealth, both essential to achieve surprise and annihilate
the enemy are inherent in her design. INS Pralaya will
be based under the operational control of Captain ‘K’, 22nd
Missile Vessel Squadron, Commodore Rajender Singh at Mumbai.
Senior Defence and Naval Officers
including Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command,
Vice Admiral Vinod Pasricha and Chairman and Managing Director,
GSL Rear Admiral Sampath Pillai were amongst those present.
