Wavemaker: INS Kochi

NAMED after port city of Kochi

SECOND of Project 15A Kolkata class guided missile destroyers

CREST has a sword-and-shield with a Snake Boat on blue-and-white waves, symbolising Malabar’s maritime heritage and martial traditions

MOTTO of the crew is “Jahi Shatrun Mahabaho”, or, “Oh mighty armed one! Conquer the enemy”

BASED at Mumbai, under control of Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command

PROJECT 15A These Destroyers are follow-on ships of the legendary Project 15 Delhi class Destroyers which entered service in the late 90s. Ships named after major port cities: Kolkata, Kochi, Chennai (yet to be commissioned). The keel of Kochi was laid on October 25, 2005; it was launched on September 18, 2009

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TECH SPECS
* 164 m long, 17 m wide, full load displacement of 7,500 tonnes

* Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) propulsion system, comprising four reversible gas turbines

* Speed upwards of 30 knots (56 km/h)

* Electric power from four gas turbine generators, one diesel alternator, together producing 4.5 MW

* Complement of 40 officers, 350 sailors

WEAPONS & SENSORS
* Vertically launched Long Range Surface to Air Missiles (LRSAM)

* Multi-function active phased array radar (MF-STAR), only in Kolkata class

* Advanced supersonic and long range BrahMos Surface to Surface Missile

* 76 mm Super Rapid Gun Mount (SRGM) and AK 630 Close in Weapon System (CIWS) for air defence. Both manufactured indigenously, can take on air, surface targets

* Entire anti-submarine weapon and sensor suite, consisting of Indigenous Rocket Launchers (IRL), Indigenous Twin-tube Torpedo Launchers (ITTL) and bow-mounted New Generation HUMSA Sonar indigenously developed

* Equipped to operate two Seaking or Chetak helicopters

* Equipped with sophisticated digital networks

In Navy Fleet

CORVETTES
Small warships designed for escort duty. Most recently commissioned INS Kamorta is first of four Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) corvettes. 109 m long; displacement of 3,500 tons

FRIGATES
Bigger than Corvettes; Shivalik class multirole frigates, first Made-in-India stealth warships, are about 145 m long, with displacement of 4,000 tons. Can accomplish a range of missions — primarily finding, eliminating enemy subs and large surface ships. Brahmaputra, Godavari class frigates are the guided missile frigates.

DESTROYERS
These are big ships. INS Kochi is one of the most potent vessels built in India. 164 m long; 7,500-tonne displacement — more than double that of INS Kamorta

AIRCRAFT CARRIERS
India has two, including recently acquired INS Vikramaditya and INS Viraat, which is on its way out. India has launched its indigenous Indian Aircraft Carrier (IAC), christened INS Vikrant after its first carrier. Vikramaditya is a floating city over a quarter kilometre long, with displacement of 44,500 tonnes. 1,600 personnel serve on board; carrier can operate a range of aircraft.