ICG inducts 2 more ACVs

[SRP]

(Unedited Release)

Indian Coast Guard, Air Cushion Vessels H-192 & H-194, the Sixth and Eighth of the series of twelve Air Cushion Vehicles (ACVs) designed and built by M/s Griffon Hoverworks Limited (GHL), UK was commissioned at Mumbai by His Excellency Shri. Kateekal Sankaranarayanan, Governor of Maharashtra. The Commissioning Ceremony were witnessed by Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (West) & Inspector General SPS Basra, Commander Coast Guard Region (West) and other dignitaries from Central and State Government.

The 21 metres long Air Cushion Vehicle with 31 tons displacement can achieve a maximum speed of 45 knots. Both ACV’s are capable of undertaking multi-farious tasks such as surveillance, interdiction, search and rescue and rendering assistance to small boats/craft in distress at sea.
The Air Cushion Vehicle’s ICGH-192 and H-194 will be based at Mumbai under the Administrative and Operational Control of the Commander Coast Guard Region(West). The Air Cushion Vehicle’s ICG H-192 & H-194 are commanded by Commandant SB Nair and Commandant Sandeep Safaya respectively and has a complement of 13 personnel each (02 Officers and11 other ranks).

 

[Janmejay]

We still cant build our own hovercrafts,Can we?

 

[Indischer]

We still cant build our own hovercrafts,Can we?

We can. Can you please wait for 20 more years?

 

[Janmejay]

We can. Can you please wait for 20 more years?

I was expecting a serious answer.....

 

[Indischer]

We can. Can you please wait for 20 more years?

Serious answer: No. There are no hovercraft design projects currently on the anvil either. Seems like the priorities of the Navy are on bigger boats at the moment.

 

[Janmejay]

Serious answer: No. There are no hovercraft design projects currently on the anvil either. Seems like the priorities of the Navy are on bigger boats at the moment.

Are hovercrafts difficult to make than destroyers?

 

[sree45]

Serious answer: No. There are no hovercraft design projects currently on the anvil either. Seems like the priorities of the Navy are on bigger boats at the moment.

The technology and know-how for making a hovercraft is easily available. There are not many provate players in India who are willing to build them and you can't expect the govt. yards to build something that doesn't even cost a million.

 

[Indischer]

Are hovercrafts difficult to make than destroyers?

No, IMO...it's just a question of priorities I feel. The scope of assignments and capabilities of hovercrafts are much simpler compared to large warships. Hence, designing & customizing hovercrafts to suit our needs isn't all that necessary.

Designing and constructing our own warships makes a lot more sense as a lot of design optimizations to suit our unique needs are possible that way.

 

[kurup]

Are hovercrafts difficult to make than destroyers?

Although not manufacturing ,GRSE assembles hovercraft for ICG .

Griffon-GRSE 8000 TD-Class Hovercraft - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Rajaraja Chola]

No, IMO...it's just a question of priorities I feel. The scope of assignments and capabilities of hovercrafts are much simpler compared to large warships. Hence, designing & customizing hovercrafts to suit our needs isn't all that necessary.

Designing and constructing our own warships makes a lot more sense as a lot of design optimizations to suit our unique needs are possible that way.

Govt can encourage smaller, medium shipyards scattered throughout the country to build such vessels.

 

[Capt.Popeye]

Serious answer: No. There are no hovercraft design projects currently on the anvil either. Seems like the priorities of the Navy are on bigger boats at the moment.

The real reason is that they are available "off the shelf" as civilian items. Does not make sense to build from scratch in a new dedicated facility if the production run cannot exceed 20 or so.
BTW; these were assembled at GRSE if I'm not mistaken.

No, IMO...it's just a question of priorities I feel. The scope of assignments and capabilities of hovercrafts are much simpler compared to large warships. Hence, designing & customizing hovercrafts to suit our needs isn't all that necessary.

Designing and constructing our own warships makes a lot more sense as a lot of design optimizations to suit our unique needs are possible that way.

ECONOMICS also matter; before setting out to manufacture anything and everything. Technology is not the only parameter.

 

[Indischer]

The real reason is that they are available "off the shelf" as civilian items. Does not make sense to build from scratch in a new dedicated facility if the production run cannot exceed 20 or so.
BTW; these were assembled at GRSE if I'm not mistaken.



ECONOMICS also matter; before setting out to manufacture anything and everything. Technology is not the only parameter.

Yes, these were constructed at GRSE...which is why I specifically talked only about the design effort. And as you say, the cost-benefit figures aren't favorable either.

Govt can encourage smaller, medium shipyards scattered throughout the country to build such vessels.

Such vessels are being built in India too. Just that they're licensed copies and not original design efforts.

 

[Mujraparty]

We still cant build our own hovercrafts,Can we?

our beloved Abdul Kalam has worked for a indigenous hovercraft hovercraft program called project nandhi in his younger days ..its mentioned in his book wings of fire ..

Abdul Kalam gained sufficient experience in designing at the Directorate of Technical Development and Production(DTD & P) of the ministry of Defence.Based on his experience and studies the Aeronautical Development Establishment(ADE) set up a project team comprising 4 persons with Abdul Kalam as the leader. The objective was to design and develop an indigenous hovercraft prototype called a Ground Equipment Machine(GEM).The team was given 3 years to complete the Engineering model.

The project to build the GEM was the biggest capability at the time. The members of the team including Abdul Kalam had no previous experience in building a flying machine.No design and standard parts or components were available.All the same the team has to build a successful flying machine.It must be heavier than air.No literature or no person with a knowledge of flying machines was available.

In spite of all odds Abdul Kalam decided to go ahead.After spending a few months on the drawing board,he took up the actual model.Part by Part,subsystem by subsystem,and stage by stage the work start progressing.This endeavor to produce a wingless,lighten swift machine opened the windows of Abdul Kalam's mind.He did not want fate to play a fabulous role in his efforts.Instead,he was determined to create his own opportunities.

De fence Minister,V.K.Krishna Menon,was keenly interested in the progress and success of GEM.He saw it as a stepping stone to India producing defense equipment with in the country.However,senior engineer at the Aeronautical Development Establishment called the team Eccentric Inventors and considered their efforts an impossible dream.This criticism strengthened their resolve to make GEM a reality.

When the hovercraft project was a year old the union defense minister paid another visit to the center.Abdul Kalam took him into the assembly shop where the GEM was mounted on a table.This model was meant for developing a practical hovercraft for battle field applications.V.K.Krishna Menon made elaborate enquiries about its capability for a test flight a year after wards.

The GEM hovercraft was named Nandi.Its appearance was not attractive,but Abdul Kalam said that it was not made to be looked at but to fly with.The defense minister took a ride in it with Abdul Kalam at the Helm or steering.Everyone including a group captain expressed concern about the safety of the defense minister with inexperienced Abdul Kalam at the helm.But Abdul Kalam knew the machine that he had created and he was sure that he was competent enough to fly it.The defense minister gave him a green signal to start the machine.He was satisfied with the smooth ride of the machine.The defense minister declared the basic problems of hovercraft development were solved now.He then exhorted Abdul Kalam to develop a powerful machine so that he could have a second ride.

Abdul Kalam created a successful GEM hovercraft well in advance.The director of the center was pleased with the achievement but soon Krishna Menon was out of office and the GEM project was called off.Abdul Kalam was greatly disappointed and disillusioned.After all he put his heart and soul in the successful creation of Nandi.

However as a blessing in disguise,his experience and knowledge in building the GEM helped Abdul Kalam in a different way.Prof. M.G.K.Menon,the Director of Tata Institute of Fundamental Research(TIFR) came from Bombay and took a 10 minute ride in the hovercraft.After a week,Abdul Kalam received a call letter from the Indian Committee for Space Research(INCOSPAR)for the post of a rocket engineer.At Bombay he was interviewed by Prof.M.G.K.Menon,Mr.Saraf of Atomic Energy Commission and Prof.Vikram Sarabhai,and absorbed as a rocket engineer at INCOSPAR.Thus,his experience with GEM hovercraft helped him become a rocket engineer that heralded a greater future for himself and the Country.

here's the video of that.

 

[Capt.Popeye]

Yes, these were constructed at GRSE...which is why I specifically talked only about the design effort. And as you say, the cost-benefit figures aren't favorable either.

They were assembled at GRSE, that is as far as the construction went. Does not need a separate production line, does not need a separate work-force, does not need any special tools, jigs or fixtures. Simpler and cost-effective in light of the requirements.

 

[micky]

our beloved Abdul Kalam has worked for a indigenous hovercraft hovercraft program called project nandhi in his younger days ..its mentioned in his book wings of fire ..



here's the video of that.

VERY INTERESTING,,,, thanks for the article