After 41 years of glorious service to the nation, Destroyer INS Rajput, built by the erstwhile USSR, was decommissioned on Friday at Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam.
Indian Navy spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said the warship was decommissioned in a low key event at the naval dockyard in Visakhapatnam.
“The ship was decommissioned in a solemn and low key event due to the ongoing COVID Pandemic when the national flag, Naval ensign, and the decommissioning pennant were lowered at sunset time…,” the Navy said in a statement.
INS Rajput, with the motto “Raj Karega Rajput”, was the lead ship of the Kashin-class destroyers,
INS Rajput was commissioned on 04 May 1980, at Poti, Georgia (erstwhile USSR).
formidable and powerful ships of the Indian Navy:
Rajput was among the formidable and powerful ships of the Indian Navy and her commissioning marked a quantum leap for the service in terms of technology and weaponry and speed.
With a length of 146 metres, beam of 15.8 m, INS Rajput was capable of speed in excess of 30 knots. Its array of weapons and sensors included surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles, the supersonic cruise missile BrahMos, anti-aircraft and anti-missile guns and torpedo and anti-submarine rocket launchers.
Part of several key missions:
“The Ship was part of Operation Aman off Sri Lanka to assist Indian Peace Keeping Force, Operation Pawan for patrolling duties off the coast of Sri Lanka, Operation Cactus to resolve hostage situation off the Maldives, and Operation Crowsnest off Lakshadweep.” told Commander Vivek Madhwal, Spokesperson Indian Navy.
The ship also participated in numerous bilateral and multi-national exercises. The ship was also the first Indian Naval Ship to be affiliated with an Indian Army regiment – the Rajput Regiment.
The keel of the ship was laid on 11 Sep 1976 and she was launched on 17 Sep 1977. The ship was commissioned as INS Rajput on 04 May 1980 at Poti, Georgia by His Excellency Shri IK Gujral, the Ambassador of India to USSR with Capt Gulab Mohanlal Hiranandani as her first Commanding Officer. INS Rajput was constructed in the 61 Communards Shipyard in Nikolaev (present-day Ukraine) under her original Russian name ‘Nadezhny’ meaning ‘Hope’.
