Indian Navy Commissions Amphibious Transport Ship LCU L56, To Be Based In Port Blair

The Indian Navy commissioned the sixth ship of the Landing Craft Utility (LCU) MK IV class IN LCU L56 into its fleet yesterday (29 July) in a ceremony held at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam.

Fit with two MTU diesel engines, the ship can move with a sustained speed of 15 knots. It measures 62 meters in length and has a displacement of 900 tonnes. It also has two 30 mm CRN-91 guns aboard and is capable of carrying 150 troops, The Hindu reports.

The amphibious ship is the 100th warship built by the Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) which makes GRSE the first shipyard in the country to achieve the milestone.

The primary role of the L56 in the Indian Navy will be the transportation and deployment of Main Battle Tanks, Armoured Vehicles, Troops and Equipment from ship to shore. The ship can be used for multi-role activities such as Beaching operations, Search and Rescue missions, Disaster relief operations, Coastal patrol, and Surveillance operations.

The ship will be administered and based in Port Blair under the Naval Component Commander (NAVCC) in the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC). The ship will add to the maritime and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) capability of ANC.