SLNS Parakramabahu (P351)

SLNS Parakramabahu (P351) was a Type 037 corvette class submarine chaser of the Sri Lanka Navy. The ship was named after King Parakramabahu I with warrior king of the ancient Sri Lankan Kingdom of Polonnaruwa. Purchased from the People's Liberation Army Navy, she served as the flagship of the fleet in the 1990s.[1][2]

For other ships with the same name, see SLNS Parakramabahu.
History
Sri Lanka
BuilderQuigdao SY
Commissioned1996
StatusInactive
General characteristics
TypeSubmarine chaser
Displacement478 tonnes (470 long tons)
Length62.8 m
Beam7.2 m
Draught2.4 m
Propulsion4 × Chinese PR 230ZC diesel engines, 4 shafts
Speed28 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph)
Complement71
Sensors and
processing systems		1 × Type 723 surface search radar
Electronic warfare
& decoys		Chinese copy of French Thomson-Sintra medium frequency SS-12 VDS sonar.
Armament
  • 4 × Type 76A 37 mm gun (2 × 2)
  • 4 × Type 69 14.5 mm heavy machine guns (2 × 2)
  • 1 × Type 87 6-tubed ASW mortar
  • additional armaments.
Aircraft carriednone
Aviation facilitiesnone

Operational history

Since joining the Sri Lankan fleet in 1996 with the objective of enhancing the blue water capability of the navy. She served as its flagship and was deployed for patrolling the coastal water around Sri Lanka. Due to this she was attached to the 7th Surveillance Command Squadron. During the Sri Lankan Civil War, Parakramabahu was involved in anti arms smuggling patrols and maritime surveillance. During the war she was involved in several sea battles with the LTTE Sea Tigers, including the 1997 battle of the coast of Mullaitivu.[3] However, its operations were greatly limited due to frequent breakdowns and the requirement of an escort of crafts from the Fast Attack Flotilla, and found itself spending much time in port and in non operational areas.[4]

Since early 2000, it was based at SLNS Dakshina in Galle, without going to sea due to breakdowns. It capsized and sank at its moorings at SLNS Dakshina when it was hit by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. It was later re-floated by the Navy. It was damaged when the LTTE attacked SLNS Dakshina in 2006.[5]

References
  1. World Navies Today: Sri Lanka, hazegray.org
  2. Type 037-IS Haiqing Class Anti-Submarine Patrol Craft Archived 2010-11-23 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Navy's moment of glory in Mullaitivu seas
  4. Milestone on the high seas for Sri Lanka Navy
  5. Terror goes Down South
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