INS Magar (L20)

INS Magar was the lead ship of Magar-class amphibious warfare vessels of the Indian Navy.[1] She was built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers, Kolkata and was commissioned by Admiral R.H. Tahiliani, Chief of the Naval Staff on 15 July 1987.[3] The ship has a length of 120 metres and a beam of 17.5 metres. The main weapon systems of the ship consist of CRN 91 Guns, chaff launcher (Kavach) and the WM-18A Rocket launcher. The ship also carries four landing craft vehicle personnel (LCVP) on board, which can be used for the landing of troops.[4]

For other ships with the same name, see INS Magar.

INS Magar with INS Sujata at sea
History
India
NameINS Magar
NamesakeMuggar crocodile
Builder
Commissioned15 July 1987
Decommissioned6 May 2023
HomeportKochi, Southern Naval Command
IdentificationPennant number: L20
StatusDecommissioned
General characteristics
Class and typeMagar-class amphibious warfare vessel
Displacement5,665 tonnes (6,245 short tons) (full load)[1]
Length120 metres (390 ft)
Beam17.5 metres (57 ft)
Draft4 metres (13 ft)
RampsBow doors
Propulsion2 × 8,560 horsepower (6,380 kW) sustained diesel engine
Speed15 knots (28 km/h)
Range3,000 miles (2,600 nmi) @ 14 knots (26 km/h)
Boats & landing
craft carried		4 x LCVPs
Capacity15 Tanks, 8 APCs[2]
Troops500
Complement136 (incl 16 officers)
Sensors and
processing systems		1 x BEL 1245 navigation radar
Electronic warfare
& decoys		BEL Ajanta as intercept
Armament
  • 4 × Bofors 40 mm/60 guns
  • 2 × 122 mm multiple-barrel rocket launchers
Aircraft carried1 x Sea King
Aviation facilities2 x helicopter platforms

History

The major operations undertaken by the ship include Operation Pawan (Indian Peace Keeping Force operations in Sri Lanka), wherein she played a pivotal role in movement of logistics supplies to the area of operations, to support the IPKF land forces.[3][5]

In the wake of the 2004 Tsunami, the ship had provided relief for over 1,300 survivors.[3]

On 22 February 2006, at around 5 pm local time, an accidental fire broke out on the ship. It was caused while the ship was engaged in dumping expired ammunition, and one of the boxes of ammunition caught fire. At the time of the accident, the Magar was in the Bay of Bengal, around 40 nautical miles (70 km) from Visakhapatnam. Casualties included three deaths and a further nineteen sailors sustaining injuries. The injured were rushed to a naval hospital in Visakhapatnam by the Sea King helicopter on board.[6]

In April 2018, the ship changed base port to Kochi, the Indian Navy's training command. She underwent modifications and joined First Training Squadron for training sea officers.[5]

In May 2020, INS Jalashwa and INS Magar were dispatched to Malé, the capital of the Maldives, as part of Phase-I of the evacuation of stranded Indians under Operation Samudra Setu during the Covid pandemic.[4]

After 36 years of service, INS Magar was decommissioned on 6 May 2023.[7]

References
  1. "Surface Ships of Indian Navy". Archived from the original on 19 June 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2009.
  2. "Magar Class - Bharat Rakshak :: Indian Navy".
  3. "Indian Naval Ship Magar Joins Southern Naval Command". Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  4. "Operation Samudra Setu: Why the Indian Navy chose INS Jalashwa and INS Magar". The Week. 6 May 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  5. "INS Magar joins Southern Naval Command, to augment '1TS' capacity". www.newindianexpress.com. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  6. "Three killed, 19 injured in fire aboard INS Magar". 23 February 2006. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  7. "INS Magar decommissioned in Kochi". The Hindu. 6 May 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
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