The Indian Navy on Thursday inducted a landing craft utility ship which will be used for a variety of activities like transportation battle tanks and other heavy weapons systems.
This is the eighth and last landing craft utility (LCU) mark-IV class ship and was commissioned at an event in Port Blair. It is indigenously designed and built by state-run Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE), Kolkata.
The LCU Mk-IV ships are amphibious vessels with a designated primary role of transporting main battle tanks, armoured vehicles, troops, and equipment from ship to shore. The ship is manned by a team of five officers and 50 sailors, and is capable of carrying 160 troops also, officials said.
“The induction of these ships will contribute to the nation’s maritime security needs and is in consonance with the prime minister’s vision of ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, the official said.
