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Yard 12706 (IMPHAL): India's First Warship with Dedicated Accommodation for Women

  • 23 Oct 2023

On 20th October, 2023, in conjunction with the Navratri celebrations, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) handed over the Yard 12706 (IMPHAL) to the Indian Navy.

  • This marks the third vessel in the series of 15B Class stealth guided missile destroyers. Notably, the Imphal is the first naval warship to include dedicated accommodation for women officers and sailors.

Key Points

  • Previous Ships in the Class: The first ship of the P15B class, INS Visakhapatnam, was commissioned on November 21, 2021, and the second ship, INS Mormugao, was commissioned on December 18, 2022.
  • Ongoing Progress: The third ship, Imphal, has been delivered, while the fourth ship, Surat, is currently in an advanced stage of outfitting.
  • Vessel Specifications: Imphal is constructed using indigenous steel DMR 249A and is among the largest destroyers built in India, with an overall length of 164 meters and a displacement of over 7500 tons.
  • It possesses the capability to undertake a wide range of tasks and missions covering various aspects of maritime warfare.
  • Armament: The ship is equipped with supersonic Surface-to-Surface 'Brahmos' missiles and 'Barak-8' Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missiles.
  • For undersea warfare, it features indigenously developed anti-submarine weapons and sensors, including the Hull-mounted Sonar Humsa NG, Heavyweight Torpedo Tube Launchers, and ASW Rocket Launchers.
  • Versatile Naval Asset: The Imphal stands out for its versatility, offering capabilities against enemy submarines, surface warships, anti-ship missiles, and fighter aircraft.
  • It can operate independently without support vessels and serve as the flagship of a Naval task force.
  • Capacity and Endurance: The ship can accommodate a crew of 312 individuals and has an endurance of 4000 nautical miles.
  • It is capable of carrying out a typical 42-day mission with extended mission time during out-of-area operations. The vessel also accommodates two helicopters on board to extend its operational reach.
  • Propulsion and Automation: The ship is propelled by a powerful Combined Gas and Gas Propulsion Plant (COGAG) consisting of four reversible Gas Turbines, allowing it to achieve speeds exceeding 30 knots (approximately 55 km/h).
  • It incorporates high-level automation, featuring advanced digital networks such as the Gigabyte Ethernet-based Ship Data Network (GESDN), Combat Management System (CMS), Automatic Power Management System (APMS), and Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS).