Indian Navy Commissions 4th Ship of Landing Craft Utility MK-IV LCU L54

Indian Navy Commissioned Fourth Ship of Landing Craft Utility Mark-IV LCU L54 - Details, Background, About

Indian Navy has commissioned Landing Craft Utility MK-IV LCU vessel L54 at Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Island. It is fourth of total eighth Mark IV LCU vessels to be inducted into Indian Navy.

The Mark IV LCU vessels are a further improved version of Mark III LCU vessels presently being used by Indian Navy. These total 8 vessels under Mark IV category have been ordered by Indian Navy from GRSE.

The Mark IV LCU are amphibious ships with a primary role to transport and deploy Main Battle Tanks (MTBs), armored vehicles, troops and equipment from ship to shore.

The LCU MK-IV vessels will be based in Andaman and Nicobar Command. It can be deployed for multirole activities like beaching operations, disaster relief operations, search and rescue, supply and replenishment and evacuation from distant islands. They will contribute to the nation’s maritime security needs.

Background

The first vessels INS LCU 51 was commissioned in 2016. Moreover, two more LCU ships L52 & L53 have been already delivered to Indian Navy. The remaining four ships of the same class are in advanced stages of construction.

About LCU L54

LCU L54 has been indigenously designed and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata. It has 90% indigenous content. It is 62.8 meters long and 11 meters wide. It is fitted with 2 MTU 16V 4000 M 53 marine Diesel Engines each fitted with one Fixed Pitch Propeller generating 2 X 1840 KW power.

LCU L54 has a displacement capacity of around 950 Tons. It has an endurance of around 1500 nautical miles at 12 knots speed. It is fitted with 2 X CRN-91 indigenous 30mm Guns, 4 X MMG and 2 X HMG to provide artillery fire to support during attack missions.

LCU L54 is also fitted with state-of-the-art equipment and advanced systems like Integrated Bridge System (IBS) and Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS).