Indian Navy to commission coastal anti-submarine craft Mangrol on October 12

Mangrol is scheduled to enter Indian Navy service at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai on October 12. The vessel is designed for anti-submarine operations in shallow coastal waters.

Mangrol will be the third Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft built by Cochin Shipyard Limited. India’s Defence Ministry said Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan, who heads Western Naval Command, will preside over its commissioning.

Its equipment includes an Abhay hull-mounted sonar, lightweight torpedoes and an Indian-made anti-submarine rocket launcher. The Maareech Advanced Torpedo Decoy System is intended to help protect the vessel against torpedo threats.

Three diesel engines and waterjet propulsion support manoeuvring in shallow water. In addition to hunting submarines, Mangrol can carry out underwater surveillance, low-intensity maritime operations and tasks associated with mine warfare.

The Navy expects the craft to help protect ports and coastal approaches where limited depth restricts larger warships. Mangrol can operate with maritime patrol aircraft, helicopters and other vessels.

Domestic content exceeds 80%. The ship was built under the Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat programmes. Its name comes from the fishing harbour of Mangrol in Gujarat’s Junagadh district and preserves the legacy of the former minesweeper INS Mangrol (M85), which served until April 7, 2004.