INS Ajay was decommissioned on 19 Sep 22 after rendering 32 years of glorious service to the nation. The ceremony was conducted at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai in the traditional manner, wherein the national flag, naval ensign, and the decommissioning pennant of the ship were lowered for the last time at sunset, signifying the end of the ship’s commissioned service.Â
When was INS Ajay commissioned into the Indian Navy?
- INS Ajay was commissioned on 24 Jan 1990 at Poti, Georgia in the erstwhile USSR, and was part of the 23rd Patrol Vessel Squadron under the operational control of Flag Officer Commanding, Maharashtra Naval Area.
- The ship was in active naval service for more than 32 years and during her illustrious journey, she participated in several naval operations including Op Talwar during Kargil War and Op Parakram in 2001.Â
Important facts about INS Ajay
- Corvette of the Abhay class, the INS Ajay (P34) was part of the Indian Navy’s fleet at one point. She was given the name INS Ajay (1961), after the first battleship to be constructed in India after it gained its independence.
- It is the first warship built in independent India.
INS Ajay Specifications
- Class and type: Abhay-class corvette
- Displacement: 485 tons full load
- Length: 56.0 m (183 ft 9 in)
- Beam: 10.2 m (33 ft 6 in)
- Draft: 3.3 m (10 ft 10 in)
- Propulsion: 2 diesel motors with 16,184 hp (12,068 kW) and 2 shafts (Another report says 4 engines)
- Speed: 28 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph), (32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph) according to Jane’s)
- Range: 2,400 mi (3,900 km) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)
- Complement: 97 (incl. 7 officers), (Jane’s lists 32, with 6 officers)
- Sensors and processing systems:
- 1 × MR 352 Pozitiv-E search radar
- 1 × Pechora navigation radar
- 1 × Rat Tail VDS sonar
- Armament:
- 1 × quad Strela-2M (SA-N-5) SAM
- 1 × AK-76/60 76 mm gun
- 4 × 533 mm torpedo tubes, SET-65E anti-submarine torpedoes
- 2 × RBU 1200 five-tubed
Decommissioning of INS Ajay
- After 32 years of great service to the country, INS Ajay was taken out of service on 19th September 2022.
- Vice Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command was the Chief Guest for the function. Vice Admiral AG Thapliyal AVSM Bar (Retd), the first Commanding Officer of the ship was the Guest of Honour.Â
- The ceremony was attended by over 400 personnel including Flag Officers, senior officers from the Army, IAF, and CG, officers and men of the commissioning crew, crew of previous commissions as well as the ship’s present crew and families. The Chief Guest addressed the gathering present at the ceremony, highlighting the invaluable service rendered by the ship.
To crack the SSB Interview and join the Indian Armed Forces as an Officer, You can join our SSB interview live classes batch and we recommend you to Enroll SSB INTERVIEW ONLINE COURSE. Trusted by thousands of defence aspirants.
Also Read:
- Indian Navy’s New Ensign Unveiled By PM Modi: 10 Things To Know
- PM Shri Narendra Modi Commissions India’s First Indigenous Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant