INS Imphal

INS Imphal is the third ship of the Visakhapatnam-class stealth guided missile destroyer of the Indian Navy. She was being constructed at Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) and has been launched on 20 April 2019. The ship started sea trials on 28 April 2023, and was delivered to the Indian Navy on 20 October 2023.^[7][8] It was commissioned on 26 December 2023.^[9]

INS Imphal
History
India
Name	Imphal
Namesake	Imphal
Owner	Indian Navy
Operator	Indian Navy
Builder	Mazagon Dock Limited
Cost	Rs. 8,950 Crore (1.3 Billion USD)
Laid down	19 May 2017
Launched	20 April 2019
Acquired	20 October 2023
Commissioned	26 December 2023 [1]
Identification	Pennant number: D68
Status	Commissioned [2]
Badge
General characteristics
Type	Guided missile destroyer
Displacement	7,400 t (7,300 long tons; 8,200 short tons)[3]
Length	163 m (535 ft)
Beam	17.4 m (57 ft)
Draft	6.5 m (21 ft)
Propulsion	COGAG[4] 2 x Zorya M36E gas turbines, with 4 × DT-59 reversible gas turbines and 2 × RG-54 gearboxes 2 × Bergen/GRSE KVM-diesel engines, 9,900 hp (7,400 kW) each 4 × 1 MWe Wärtsilä WCM-1000 generator sets driving Cummins KTA50G3 engines and Kirloskar 1 MV AC generators
Speed	In excess of 30 knots (56 km/h)
Range	8,000 nautical miles (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)[5]
Endurance	45 days
Boats & landing craft carried	4 x RHIB
Crew	300 (50 officers + 250 sailors)
Sensors and processing systems	Radar :- IAI EL/M-2248 MF-STAR S-Band AESA radar BEL RAWL-02/LW-08 L-Band air-search radar Terma/Tata Scanter-6002 X-Band surface-search radar Sonar :- BEL HUMSA-NG active/passive sonar BEL "Nagin" active towed-array sonar Combat Suite :- "Combat Management System" (CMS)
Electronic warfare & decoys	DRDO "Shakti" EW suite (equipped with ESM/ECM and "Radar Finger Printing System" (RFPS)) DRDO "Nayan" COMINT suite Decoys :- 4 x Kavach decoy launchers 2 x Maareech torpedo-countermeasure systems
Armament	48 VLS Anti-air warfare :- 4 × 8-cell VLS, for a total of 32 Barak 8 surface-to-air missiles Anti-surface warfare :- 2 x 8-cell VLS, for 16 BrahMos anti-ship missiles Anti-submarine warfare :- 4 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes 2 × RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launchers Guns :- 1 × OTO Melara 76 mm naval gun 4 x AK-630M CIWS 2 x OFT 12.7 mm M2 Stabilized Remote Controlled Gun
Aircraft carried	2 × HAL Dhruv (or) Sea King Mk. 42B
Aviation facilities	Enclosed helicopter hangar and flight deck capable of accommodating two multi-role helicopters.
Notes	Modified derivative of the Kolkata-class destroyer.[6]

The ship was named in recognition of Manipur's sacrifices and contribution to India's freedom struggle including the Anglo-Manipur War of 1891 or the Indian National Army under leadership of Subhas Chandra Bose raising the Indian flag on 14 April 1944 at Moirang.^[10] It is the first Indian Navy ship named after a city in Northeast India.^[11]

Construction

The keel of Imphal was laid down on 19 May 2017, and she was launched on 20 April 2019 at Mazagon Dock Limited of Mumbai.^[12][13] She began her sea trials on 28 April 2023.^[14] She was subsequently delivered to the Indian Navy on 20 October 2023.^[15] She was commissioned on 26 December 2023 in the presence of the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at Mumbai. Captain Kamal Kumar Choudhury is the commissioning commanding officer.^[16]

Ship badge

The badge depicts the Kangla Sanathong (Meitei for 'Kangla Golden Gate') on the left and Kanglā Shā on the right, two of the most remarkable cultural heritages of the Meitei civilization. The Kangla Palace is situated in Imphal and is an important historical and archaeological site of Manipur. It was the traditional seat of the Ningthouja dynasty. The Kanglā Shā is a mythical being from Meitei mythology and religion. Considered sacred to Meitei heritage, it has a dragon's head and lion's body, and is the guardian/protector of its people. Kanglā Shā is also the state emblem of Manipur.^[17]

Deployment

The ship was deployed in the Arabian Sea immediately after commissioning as part of a task force meant to deter Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the area.^[18]

Gallery

• 
  Imphal Y-12706 launching during trials.
• 
  BrahMos being launched from Imphal Y-12706.
• 
  Imphal Y-12706, Visakhapatnam class launching during trials.

See also

• Delhi-class destroyer
• Kolkata-class destroyer
• INS Surat

References

1. Bose, Mrityunjay. "Imphal missile destroyer to be commissioned to Indian Navy on Dec 26". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
2. Bose, Mrityunjay. "Imphal missile destroyer to be commissioned to Indian Navy on Dec 26". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
3. "INS Visakhapatnam', First Ship of Project 15B launched". indiannavy.nic.in. Indian Navy (News). Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
4. "Project 15B Guided Missile Destroyers, Mazagon Dock Limited".
5. Shukla, Ajay (21 April 2015). "INS Visakhapatnam shows growing Indian ability to build warships economically". Business Standard. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
6. "Project 15B Guided Missile Destroyers".
7. "Navy Launches Guided Missile Destroyer INS Imphal Under Project 15B". NDTV.com. Press Trust of India. 20 April 2019. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
8. "THIRD PROJECT 15B INDIGENOUS DESTROYER IMPHAL DELIVERED TO INDIAN NAVY". 20 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
9. Bose, Mrityunjay. "Imphal missile destroyer to be commissioned to Indian Navy on Dec 26". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
10. "CURTAIN RAISER". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
11. "In a First, Indian Navy Names Warship After Northeast City". The Wire. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
12. "Keel laid for the third ship of P15B class destroyers | Freepress Journal Release". 22 September 2017. Archived from the original on 22 September 2017. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
13. "Indian Navy: Navy chief launches new guided missile destroyer 'INS Imphal'". The Economic Times. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
14. "Imphal, Indian Navy's Third Ship of Project 15B, Sails for Maiden Sea Trials". Press Information Bureau. Government of India. 28 April 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
15. "THIRD PROJECT 15B INDIGENOUS DESTROYER IMPHAL DELIVERED TO INDIAN NAVY". Press Information Bureau. 20 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
16. "New stealth destroyer INS Imphal joins fleet". Hindustan Times. 27 December 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
17. "Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh unveils crest of Project 15B stealth guided missile destroyer Yard 12706 (Imphal)". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
18. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/missile-specialist-to-navigation-expert-the-crew-of-ins-imphal-101704082703239.html ^{[bare URL]}