Pondicherry-class minesweeper

	INS Kozhikode
Class overview
Operators	Indian Navy
In commission	1978–
Completed	12
Active	7
Retired	5
General characteristics
Type	Minesweeper
Displacement	877 long tons (891 t) full load
Length	61 m (200 ft 2 in)
Beam	10.2 m (33 ft 6 in)
Draft	2.7 m (8 ft 10 in)
Propulsion	2 × M-503B diesels, 2 shafts, 5,000 bhp (3,700 kW)
Speed	16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Range	list error: <br /> list (help); 4,000 nmi (7,400 km) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph); 3,000 nmi (5,600 km) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement	10 officers, 72 enlisted
Sensors &; processing systems	list error: <br /> list (help); Sonar:; • MG-69/79 High frequency, hull mounted, active mine detection; Radar:; • Don 2 I-band air/surface; • 2 × Square Head - High Pole B IFF; • MR-104 Drum Tilt H/I-band fire control
Electronic warfare; & decoys	list error: <br /> list (help); Minesweeping:; • AT-2 acoustic sweep; • GKT-2 contact sweep; • TEM-3 magnetic sweep
Armament	list error: <br /> list (help); • 4 × 30 mm (2×2) guns; • 4 × 25 mm (2×2) AA; • 2 × RBU 1200 5-tubed ASW rocket; • 10 mines; • M67–M72 also have 2 × SA-N-5 SAM, 16 Grail missiles

The Pondicherry class are a class of minesweepers built for the Indian Navy by the Soviet Union. They are modified versions of the Natya class minesweeper. The vessels were acquired in two batches. The first were purchased from 1978 to 1980 and the second from 1986 to 1988. Technically, the second batch is referred to as the Karwar class but are physically identical to the first batch with the exception of additional surface-to-air missiles. As minesweepers, they are large and heavily armed. They can serve a dual purpose as an anti-submarine warfare escort. Their hulls are constructed of U3 low magnetic signature steel.

M61–M66 are based at Mumbai and M67–M72 are based at Visakhapatnam.

INS Konkan goes through minor fire accident in Vizag dry dock on 04/DEC/2013.

Ships

Name, pennant, commissioning date:

INS Pondicherry (M61) (2 February 1978, decommissioned 2007)
INS Porbandar (M62) (19 December 1978, decommissioned 2007)
INS Bedi (M63) (27 April 1979, decommissioned 2009)
INS Bhavnagar (M64) (27 April 1979, decommissioned 2009)
INS Alleppey (M65) (10 June 1980)
INS Ratnagiri (M66) (10 June 1980, decommissioned 2012)
INS Karwar (M67) (14 July 1986)
INS Cannanore (M68) (17 December 1987)
INS Cuddalore (M69) (29 October 1987)
INS Kakinada (M70) (23 December 1986)
INS Kozhikode (M71) (19 December 1988)
INS Konkan (M72) (8 October 1988)

References