According to a press release published on December 31, 2020, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd., (GRSE), a leading warship manufacturer under the administrative control of the Indian Ministry of Defence has delivered the last LCU (Landing Craft Utility) ships to the Indian Navy.
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LCU Landing Craft Utility ship of the Indian Navy. (Picture source Twitter Defence Production India)
GRSE (Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers) delivered IN LCU L-58 (Yard 2099), eighth and last in the series of Landing Craft Utility Ships to the Indian Navy. This ship is the 106th Warship built and delivered by GRSE so far, since its inception in 1960, the highest no. of warships delivered by any Indian Shipyard till date.
The Protocol of delivery and acceptance was signed between Rear Admiral VK Saxena, IN (Retd.), Chairman & Managing Director, GRSE and Lt Cdr Krishan Kumar Yadav in the presence of Cmde Sanjeev Nayyar, IN (Retd), Director (Shipbuilding), Cmde P R Hari, Director (Personnel) and Shri RK Dash, Director (Finance) and other Senior Officials of GRSE and Indian Navy.
In September 2011, GRSE has signed a contract with the Indian Navy for the design and the building of eight LCU ships. The construction of the first LCU began in September 2012.
The LCU (Landing Craft Utility) is a type of boat used by amphibious forces to transport equipment and troops to the shore. The ship can carry up to 216 personnel and 145 tonnes of cargo. She is fitted with a hydraulic bow ramp.
The Indian LCU has a length of 63 m, an overall beam of 11 m, a hull draught of 2.2 m and displaces around 830 tones. She is powered by two MTU 16V 4000 M53 marine diesel engines (each 1840 KWs) and can reach a top speed of 15 kn (28 km/h) with a maximum cruising range 1,500 nmi (2,800 km) at 12 kn (22 km/h).
The Indian LCU is armed with two 30mm CRN-91 mounted guns fitted with a Bharat Electronics-built EON-51 electro-optic director.
