GSL to Deliver India's Largest Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) ICGS Samarth Next Month

[Echo_419]

Goa Shipyard readies first improved OPV for delivery to Indian Coast Guard​

The first improved Sankalp-class offshore patrol vessel (OPV) on order for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) is being readied for delivery by October 2015, Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) said in a statement released on 21 September.

The vessel, which has been named Samarth , is the first of six 105 m, 2,400 tonne OPVs ordered under an INR18 billion (USD273 million) contract signed in May 2012.Samarth was launched on 26 November 2014, then second-in-class Shoor followed on 21 March 2015.

Citing a GSL press release, IHS Jane's reported in May 2012 that the new OPVs would be fitted with a "contemporary" integrated bridge system and fast-response boats for search-and-rescue and counter-piracy operations.

Source:- Goa Shipyard readies first improved OPV for delivery to Indian Coast Guard - IHS Jane's 360

In a few hears ICG alone wipp be Abel to challange PN

 

[Abingdonboy]

If you are informed the let me tell you that ICG will get new OPV equiped with bramhos Ashm

This is in no way true.

We should arm every small ships like opv rather than depending entirely on destroyer and frigates . quantity has its own quality. These small ships can take care of entire pn without involving destroyer or frigates. Leave them for pla. Two front war is not only for air force, its for navy too

And what about the (enormous) costs that go with equipping (and maintaining) an inherently defensive force with such weaponry?

Do you train (and equip) police officers to fight wars? The ICG is a law enforcement agency first and foremost, they have little conventional military applications.

 

[Chanakya's_Chant]

Why are we inducting such big OPVs ? These ships may very well replace some light frigates in tonnage. In my uninformed opinion, ICG should concentrate on numbers.

This change of approach was undertook after the 2008 Mumbai Attacks - ICG is in the process of tripling its fleet size from the 2008's level - upgrading fleet size from the existing 100+ vessels to 300 ships, double its aviation wing’s strength from the present 50 to 100 aircraft, apart from raising its manpower to 20,000 personnel from the existing 12,000+ by 2020.
Indian Coast Guard to triple by 2020 | StratPost

IMHO in the long run IN probably wants to handover the long duration EEZ patrols including the security of offshore assets to ICG. Indian Navy has been bestowed with the huge responsibility of keeping a round the clock watch on the Indian Ocean spanning from the African Coast to Australia and up to the Malacca Strait with limited resources. Since Indian Navy has in recent years given commitments to the Indian Ocean Island nations to assist them in patrolling their Exclusive Economic Zone, the need to induct more and more Offshore Patrol Vessels by both the Navy and Coast Guard is being felt by the naval planners.

Since the OPVs are considered very flexible in deployment and have the capabilities to act as multi mission platforms, they will be required in large numbers in the coming years.

Though these Offshore Patrol Vessels and off course other naval ships, require tankers for refueling in the high seas , but Indian Navy has pretty low refueling capacity, which impacts the long duration surveillance capabilities of the Indian vessels.

 

[Abingdonboy]

Why are we inducting such big OPVs ?

For the same reason the Karmorta Class ASW corvettes are so big- larger ships= longer endurance and ocean going capability. For a force like the ICG this is important as it means they have the ability to monitor the Indian waters for longer periods "on station" and in deeper water without any assistance.

IMHO in the long run IN probably wants to handover the long duration EEZ patrols including the security of offshore assets to ICG.

This is a fact. Post 26/11 they (the IN) were appointed as the lead costal protection agency as an interim measure (for good reason) whilst the (obvious) shortcomings in the ICG were addressed. The IN intends to hand back this responsibility by 2022-5 AFAIK so as to be released to conduct power projection away from Indian shores.

 

[saurav]

This change of approach was undertook after the 2008 Mumbai Attacks - ICG is in the process of tripling its fleet size from the 2008's level - upgrading fleet size from the existing 100+ vessels to 300 ships, double its aviation wing’s strength from the present 50 to 100 aircraft, apart from raising its manpower to 20,000 personnel from the existing 12,000+ by 2020.
Indian Coast Guard to triple by 2020 | StratPost

IMHO in the long run IN probably wants to handover the long duration EEZ patrols including the security of offshore assets to ICG. Indian Navy has been bestowed with the huge responsibility of keeping a round the clock watch on the Indian Ocean spanning from the African Coast to Australia and up to the Malacca Strait with limited resources. Since Indian Navy has in recent years given commitments to the Indian Ocean Island nations to assist them in patrolling their Exclusive Economic Zone, the need to induct more and more Offshore Patrol Vessels by both the Navy and Coast Guard is being felt by the naval planners.

Since the OPVs are considered very flexible in deployment and have the capabilities to act as multi mission platforms, they will be required in large numbers in the coming years.

Though these Offshore Patrol Vessels and off course other naval ships, require tankers for refueling in the high seas , but Indian Navy has pretty low refueling capacity, which impacts the long duration surveillance capabilities of the Indian vessels.

I fully support ICG in getting more ships. Thats why I wonder why concentrate on getting such big OPVs. In same cost they could have got 2 smaller ones or, 3 smaller ones in place of 2 of these. These are OPVs afterall. Does ICG really need these to fire heavy AShMs like Brahmos ? Budget is limited and should be judiciously utilized imo. But then those at the helm would know better.

 

[Joe Shearer]

Why are we inducting such big OPVs ? These ships may very well replace some light frigates in tonnage. In my uninformed opinion, ICG should concentrate on numbers.

Sea-keeping.

 

[migflug]

This is in no way true.


And what about the (enormous) costs that go with equipping (and maintaining) an inherently defensive force with such weaponry?

Do you train (and equip) police officers to fight wars? The ICG is a law enforcement agency first and foremost, they have little conventional military applications.

If we ever face PLAN , we can't face their huge number of destroyers and frigates even if have technical superiority ( which is quickly narrowing) . we can't churn out ships the way they do. Only solution is to arm smaller ship as well. We are constantly adding 2k ships at great pace. They are cheap and large no.s can be inducted ,although arming them will increase cost but not exponentially. If we are preparing air force for two front war , why not navy

 

[Abingdonboy]

I fully support ICG in getting more ships. Thats why I wonder why concentrate on getting such big OPVs. In same cost they could have got 2 smaller ones or, 3 smaller ones in place of 2 of these. These are OPVs afterall. Does ICG really need these to fire heavy AShMs like Brahmos ? Budget is limited and should be judiciously utilized imo. But then those at the helm would know better.

I have explained above the utility in larger ships over smaller ships. So whilst you may be able to get 2-3 smaller ships for the cost of 1 OPV, these 2-3 ships may a) have to remain closer to shore (not able to operate in high seas) and b) have less endurance and thus have to return to port 2-3 times more often than 1 OPV. As such you would not be able to remain "on station" for as long nor would you be able to cover the full Indian EEZ.


This is not to say the ICG needs to have all of its 300 fleet in this 2,400 ton OPV class but a mix will work to the strengths of all and allow for full spectrum capabilities.

If we ever face PLAN , we can't face their huge number of destroyers and frigates even if have technical superiority ( which is quickly narrowing) . we can't churn out ships the way they do. Only solution is to arm smaller ship as well. We are constantly adding 2k ships at great pace. They are cheap and large no.s can be inducted ,although arming them will increase cost but not exponentially. If we are preparing air force for two front war , why not navy

This is why the IN is exploring Missile ships based around the IN's recently inducted OPV class.


To arm every single ICG vessel with Bhramos is cost-prohibitive and a colossal waste of resources given the ICG's mandate. De-link the ICG and IN in your mind, treat the ICG as the central government's marine police force- not another military arm.

The IN is responsible for all offensive naval power- NOT the ICG.

 

[saurav]

If we ever face PLAN , we can't face their huge number of destroyers and frigates even if have technical superiority ( which is quickly narrowing) . we can't churn out ships the way they do. Only solution is to arm smaller ship as well. We are constantly adding 2k ships at great pace. They are cheap and large no.s can be inducted ,although arming them will increase cost but not exponentially. If we are preparing air force for two front war , why not navy

PLAN in my humble opinion can never match IN in Indian ocean except submarines. That however should not stop us from arming our ships to teeth. Your point is therefore is valid.

To arm every single ICG vessel with Bhramos is cost-prohibitive and a colossal waste of resources given the ICG's mandate. De-link the ICG and IN from your mind, treat the ICG as the central government's marine police force- not another military arm.

The IN is responsible for all offensive naval power- NOT the ICG.

Not every ship can be armed with Brahmos. But what about other AshMs like the ones which Shiv Aroor mentioned in his blog. If those 3 missiles enter production, shouldnt IN/ICG induct them on lighter vessels ? Will surely make even smaller ships deadlier. Whats your opinion ?

 

[Abingdonboy]

Not every ship can be armed with Brahmos. But what about other AshMs like the ones which Shiv Aroor mentioned in his blog. If those 3 missiles enter materialize, shouldnt IN/ICG induct them on lighter vessels ? Will surely make even smaller ships deadlier. Whats your opinion ?

To what end? The ICG is not in the business of inducting or operating warships. The IN can pursue any such policy but the ICG is simply not envisaged to do so.

It is easy to see a 300 ship force (ICG's 2020 fleet) and say "how great would it be to arm all of them, this would double our navy's capability" or something a long these lines but it is not as simple as that. You would have to factor in all the opportunity costs associated with such a move- more conventional military training for ICG personnel, more time in port (those highly sophisticated combat systems require extensive maintenance), high life cycle costs, less time conducting the ICG's designated tasks etc etc


Right now you have 4,000 ton frigates with all their requisite (offensive) firepower being under-utilised and deployed for EEZ protection duties. This is not only a serious under-utilisation of the warships' primary functions but also counter productive from a training perspective, the sailors on board should be drilling for wartime and taking part in exercises away from Indian shores. It is like using a Ferrari to drive from to the shops and back at the speed limit.


There is a reason why the ICG exists, it is not to combat any navy. There is a reason why specialisation exists, leave protecting the Indian shores to the ICG and the IN will be more than enough to make any adversary tremble.

 

[sudhir007]

But not insult these big ship with only 30mm crn gun atleast give her some desent weapon

 

[Abingdonboy]

But not insult these big ship with only 30mm crn gun atleast give her some desent weapon

She (and all other ICG vessels) don't require anything more.

 

[Roman 12]

This is in no way true.

Yes my friend they are.
Goa Shipyard looks at building offshore patrol vessels armed with missiles - The Economic Times

Also there is a .model I am not finding it but will post if found.

 

[migflug]

PLAN in my humble opinion can never match IN in Indian ocean except submarines. That however should not stop us from arming our ships to teeth. Your point is therefore is valid.


Not every ship can be armed with Brahmos. But what about other AshMs like the ones which Shiv Aroor mentioned in his blog. If those 3 missiles enter production, shouldnt IN/ICG induct them on lighter vessels ? Will surely make even smaller ships deadlier. Whats your opinion ?

PLAN will have 20to 25 destroyer, same number of corvette, frigates ,70submarine ,2aircraft carrier ,asbm in 2020. Don't underestimate your enemy

 

[Abingdonboy]

Yes my friend they are.
Goa Shipyard looks at building offshore patrol vessels armed with missiles - The Economic Times

Also there is a .model I am not finding it but will post if found.

This discussion relates to OPVs for the Indian Navy. No one is proposing missiles for the ICG, the navy and ICG know their respective roles and are equipping themselves accordingly.


Show me any Coast Guard around the world with AShMs fitted to their patrol vessels- the moment you do so you are longer a patrol vessel but a warship.

There may actually be some international framework in this regard in terms of how you define warships and patrol vessels. A coast guard can't be a coast guard if it is armed with offensive weaponry.

PLAN will have 20to 25 destroyer, same number of corvette, frigates ,70submarine ,2aircraft carrier ,asbm in 2020. Don't underestimate your enemy

The IN is not standing still itself.