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India’s second P15B destroyer embarks on sea trials

INS Mormugao sea trials
Photo: Indian Navy

Mormugao, the Indian Navy’s second P15B class indigenous destroyer, has started sea trials.

Mormugao took to sea on December 19, and is expected to complete all trials by mid 2022, when it is expected to be handed over to the Indian Navy by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDSL).

The start of trials coincided with India’s celebration of 60 years of Goa’s liberation from Portuguese rule.

“The Indian Navy played a pivotal role in the liberation and dedicating the ship’s name to the maritime state of Goa will not just enhance the bonding between the Indian Navy and the people of Goa, but also link the ship’s identity permanently to the crucial role the navy played in nation-building,” the service said.

Mormugao’s start of trials comes after the navy took delivery of the lead ship in the class, INS Visakhaptnam, in late October.

Designed by the Directorate of Naval Design, the Indian Navy’s in-house design organization, and built by M/s Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd, Mumbai, the four destroyers in the class are named after major cities Visakhapatnam, Mormugao, Imphal and Surat.

The design has largely maintained the hull form, propulsion machinery, many platform equipment and major weapons and sensors as the Kolkata-class to benefit from series production.

The 163-meter warships have a full load displacement of 7400 tons and a maximum speed of 30 knots. According to the defense ministry, the overall indigenous content of the project is approximately 75 percent.

The ships will feature locally-developed medium range surface-to-air missiles, BrahMos surface-to-surface missiles, 76mm Super Rapid gun mounts, and torpedo tube and anti-submarine indigenous rocket launchers from Larsen & Toubro.