Godavari-class frigate
 | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Godavari |
| Builders: |
Mazagon Dock Limited,  India |
| Operators: |
 Indian Navy |
| Preceded by: | Nilgiri-class frigate |
| Succeeded by: | Brahmaputra-class frigate |
| In commission: | 1983–Present |
| Planned: | 3 |
| Completed: | 3 |
| Active: | 3 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Guided-missile frigate |
| Displacement: |
Standard:3,600 tonnes |
| Length: | 126.4 m (414 ft 8 in) |
| Beam: | 14.5 m (47 ft 7 in) |
| Draught: | 4.5 m (14 ft 9 in) |
| Propulsion: | 2 × 30,000 hp (22,400 kW) steam turbines |
| Speed: | 27 knots (50 km/h) |
| Range: | 4,500 nmi (8,300 km) at 12 knots (22 km/h) |
| Complement: | 313 (incl. 40 officers, 13 air crew) |
| Sensors and processing systems: |
Radar • 1 Signaal air search radar • MR-310U Angara air/surface • 2 Signaal ZW06 or Don Kay navigation radars • MR-103 GFCS Fire Control radar • EL/M-2221 STGR Fire control radar (Barak SAM) • MPZ-310 radar (SS-N-4 SAM) |
| Electronic warfare & decoys: |
Selenia INS-3 (Bharat Ajanta and Elettronica TQN-2) used for ESM/ECM Decoy • 2 x chaff/flare launchers • 1 x Graesby G738 towed torpedo decoy |
| Armament: |
4 × SS-N-2D Styx AShM 24 x Barak SAM (3 x 8 cell VLS units) 1 x AK-725 twin-barreled 57 mm gun 4 x AK-630 6-barreled 30 mm gatling 2 × triple 324 mm (12.8 in) tubes (Whitehead A 244S or Indian NST 58 torpedoes) |
| Aircraft carried: | 2 × Sea King, HAL Dhruv or HAL Chetak helicopters |
The Godavari class frigates (formerly, Type 16 or Project 16 frigates) are guided-missile frigates of the Indian Navy. The Godavari class was the first significant indigenous warship design and development initiative of the Indian Navy. Its design is a modification of the Nilgiri class frigate with a focus on indigenous content of 72%, a larger hull and updated armaments.
The class and the lead ship, INS Godavari are named after the Godavari River. Three ships of this class currently serve in the Indian Navy. Subsequent ships in the class, INS Ganga and INS Gomati also take their names from Indian rivers.
INS Gomati was the first Indian Navy vessel to have digital electronics in her combat data system. The ships combine Indian, Russian and Western weapons systems.[1]
History
The concept for the Godavari class originated from the lessons learnt in the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971. There was a need for a ship unique to Indian requirements, for deploying a hybrid of indigenously-designed, as well as Russian and European weapons systems.
One of the requirements was to deploy two Sea King helicopters from the ship. The Nilgiri class vessels were too small for this. So the final design incorporated a larger hull.[2]
Design
Although the Directorate of Marine Engineering suggested replacing steam propulsion with gas turbines, it was decided not to do so, since Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited had made heavy investments in facilities and tooling for design of steam turbines and auxiliary systems.[2]
For armaments, the missile and gun package of the Soviet Nanuchka class corvette was to be installed on the frigate.
The keel of the lead ship INS Godavari was laid in 1977 at Mazagon Dock Limited in Bombay. She was commissioned in December 1983.
Ships of the class
| Name | Pennant | Builder | Homeport | Commissioned | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| INS Godavari | F20 | Mazagon Dock Ltd. | Visakhapatnam | 10 December 1983 | Active |
| INS Ganga | F22 | 30 December 1985 | |||
| INS Gomati | F21 | 16 April 1988 |
Upgrades
All three ships have now undergone an extensive upgrade of weapons and sensors. These include the fitment of the Israeli Barak SAM system, and a new fire control system based on the EL/M-2221 STGR. The P-20 missiles have been retained for now.
Gallery
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%2BINS_Brahmaputra_(F31)%2BINS_Beas_(F39).jpg)
INS Godavari with INS Brahmaputra (F31) and INS Beas (F37) trailing during exercises with the US Navy.
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.jpg)
INS Ganga
References
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