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| INS Tarkash entering Mumbai Harbour |
The Indian Navy got a major fillip to its firepower with the
arrival of its latest acquisition INS Tarkash at Mumbai on 27 Dec 12. Built by
the Yantar Shipyard, Kaliningrad, Russia. INS Tarkash was commissioned on 09 Nov
12 by Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval
Comand. INS Tarkash is second of three project 1135.6 (follow-on Talwar class)
ships ordered by Indian Navy, the first being INS Teg, which joined the Fleet in
June this year. Trikhand, the third stealth frigate, is likely to be delivered
by mid 2013.
Commanded by Captain Antony George, an Anti-Submarine
Warfare Specialist, and manned by a crew of 23 Officers and 228 Sailors, INS
Tarkash is armed with an advanced combat suite, comprising an optimal blend of
Russian and Indian cutting edge technologies. Her arsenal includes the ‘BRAHMOS’
Supersonic Cruise Missiles, Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) System, Medium Range
Gun, Close-In Weapon System (CIWS), Torpedoes and Anti-Submarine Rockets.
On arrival at the Naval Dockyard, Mumbai, the ship and
her crew were accorded a warm reception. The welcome ceremony was presided over
by Rear Admiral A R Karve, the Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet and
witnessed by senior Officers of the Western Naval Command, together with the
family members of the ship’s crew who turned out in large numbers.
During her maiden return passage, as part of the Navy’s
Maritime Diplomatic Initiative, the ship made port calls at several ports to
strengthen bridges of friendship and international co-operation with the host
countries.
