Battling data leak on its Scorpene submarines and increasing influence of China in the territorial waters, India recently boosted its maritime muscle power with the induction of fast attack craft named Tihayu, which was handed over to the Indian Navy in Kolkata.
The Tihayu — a water jet fast attack craft (WJFAC) built by Kolkata-based Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE) — was handed over to the Navy on Aug. 30 in a ceremony. GRSE Chairman and Managing Director, Rear Admiral (Retd) AK Verma, handed over the naval craft to its Commanding Officer Cdr Ajay Kashov.
The handing-over ceremony took place after Rear Admiral SR Sarma, the Chief Staff Officer (Technical) of Eastern Naval Command, carried out the final inspection of the ship, as is customary, according to an official statement released by the Ministry of Defence (MoD). "The ship has an efficient hull form developed by the in-house Design Centre of GRSE and proved by extensive model testing, to achieve speeds in excess of 35 knots," said the statement.
Tihayu, named after an island in the Andamans, has a displacement of around 315 tons. It has an endurance of around 2,000 nautical miles at 1,214 knots speed. "It also boasts of modern habitability conditions with accommodation for 29 personnel," said the MoD statement.
The WJFAC "is fitted with three water jet propulsion systems powered by marine diesel engines generating 2,720 kW of power, said the statement, adding: "It is also fitted with CRN91 indigenous 30mm Gun, to provide artillery fire support during attack missions."
The GRSE had built and delivered 10 WJFACs to the Indian Navy during 2009 to 2011, "which are proving well in service," said the ministry. In light of this, the Navy had ordered four more WJFACs. The Tihayu is the second of these four WJFACs. The first — INS Tarmugli — "was commissioned into Indian Navy on May 23, 2016," said the ministry statement.
The ministry also said: "These ships are a further improved version of Fast Attack Crafts earlier built by GRSE for Indian Navy."
