INS_Rajput_(D51)

INS <i>Rajput</i> (D51)

INS Rajput (D51)

Rajput-class guided missile destroyer

For other ships with the same name, see INS Rajput (D141).

INS Rajput was a guided-missile destroyer and the lead ship of the Rajput class of the Indian Navy. It was commissioned on 4 May 1980. It was the first destroyer of the Indian Navy. It was built for India by the erstwhile USSR, and had the shipyard name Nadezhny (lit. hope). Captain (later Vice Admiral) Gulab Mohanlal Hiranandani was her first commanding officer.

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INS Rajput firing a BrahMos missile

The Rajput served as the trial platform for the BrahMos cruise missile, and was the first warship to be equipped with the missile. The 4 P-20M inclined single launchers on the ship (2 port and 2 starboard) were replaced by 8 boxed launchers (4 port and 4 starboard) with each having the ability to carry one BrahMos cruise missile. A new variant of the Prithvi-III missile was test fired from the Rajput on March 2007.[2] She is capable of attacking land targets, as well as fulfilling anti-aircraft and anti-submarine roles as a taskforce or carrier escort.[3] Rajput tracked the Dhanush ballistic missile during a successful test in 2005.[4]

The ship was decommissioned on 21 May 2021 at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam.[5][6] She has participated in several important missions over the years, including Operation Aman off the coast of Sri Lanka to assist the Indian Peace Keeping Force during the Srilankan Civil War, Operation Pawan for patrolling duties off the coast of Sri Lanka, Operation Cactus to resolve the hostage situation off the Maldives, and Operation Crowsnest off Lakshadweep.[7][8]

History and construction

Main articles: Rajput-class destroyer and Kashin-class destroyer

The keel of the ship was laid down on 11 September 1976, and it was constructed at the 61 Kommunar yard in Nikolaev, Ukrainian SSR (now Ukraine). The original name given to the ship was Nadezhdy (lit. hope in Russian).[9] It was launched into open waters on 17 September 1977. It was commissioned as the INS Rajput at Poti, Georgian SSR (now Georgia) on 4 May 1980 by Inder Kumar Gujral, then the Ambassador of India to the USSR (later the Prime Minister).[10]

References

  1. [1]
    Friedman, Norman (2006). The Naval Institute guide to world naval weapon systems (5th ed.). Annapolis, Md: Naval Institute. p. 243. ISBN 1557502625.
  2. [2]
    "Dhanush, naval surface-to-surface missile, test fired successfully". domain-b.com. 31 March 2007. Archived from the original on 28 July 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  3. [3]
    Ministry of Defence (24 September 2010). "Brahmos naval version tested successfully" (Press release). Press Information Bureau. Archived from the original on 24 September 2010.
  4. [4]
    Vishwakarma, Arun (28 December 2005). "Prithvi SRBM". Bharat Rakshak. Archived from the original on 18 September 2009.
  5. [5]
    "INS Rajput to be Decommissioned on 21 May 21". PIB. 20 May 2021.
  6. [6]
    @ANI (20 May 2021). "INS Rajput, first destroyer of the Indian Navy, which was commissioned on 4th May 1980 will be decommissioned on 21st May during a ceremony at Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam: Indian Navy" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  7. [7]
    "INS Rajput to be decommissioned today after 41 years of service". The Hindu. 20 May 2021. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  8. [8]
    Soviet Pioneer Retires Ships Monthly July 2021 page 14
  9. [9]
    Peri, Dinakar (21 May 2021). "INS Rajput decommissioned after 41 years". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  10. [10]
    "INS Rajput to be decommissioned on May 21". The Times of India. 20 May 2021. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
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