Igorsiw at 16:59, 5 May 2026

2026-05-05T16:59:40Z

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{{Short description|Indian amphibious warfare vessel}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2019}}{{italic title|string=Gharial}}
{{Infobox ship
|section1={{Infobox ship/image
|image= INS Gharial demonstrating unloading of relief material through its bow door onto the ramp.jpg
|image_caption=INS Gharial demonstrating unloading of relief material through its bow door onto the ramp.
}}

|section2={{Infobox ship/career
|hide_header=
|country=[[India]]
|flag={{shipboxflag|India|naval}}
|name= INS ''Gharial''
|namesake= [[Gharial]]
|owner=
|operator=
|registry=
|route=
|ordered=
|awarded=
|builder=*[[Hindustan Shipyard Limited]]
*[[Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers]]
|original_cost=
|yard_number=
|way_number=
|laid_down=
|launched=
|sponsor=
|christened=
|completed=
|acquired=
|commissioned= 14 February 1997
|recommissioned=
|decommissioned=
|maiden_voyage=
|in_service=
|out_of_service=
|renamed=
|reclassified=
|refit=
|struck=
|reinstated=
|homeport=
|identification=[[Pennant number]]: L23
|motto=
|nickname=
|honours=
|honors=
|captured=
|fate=
|status= Active
|notes=
|badge=
}}

|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics
|hide_header=
|header_caption=
|class= {{sclass|Magar|amphibious warfare vessel}}
|type=
|tonnage=
|displacement= 5665 tons (full load)<ref name=in-magar>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiannavy.nic.in/landing_ships_magar.htm |title=Surface Ships of Indian Navy |accessdate=2009-08-13 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090619083910/http://www.indiannavy.nic.in/landing_ships_magar.htm |archivedate=2009-06-19 }}</ref>
|length= 120 m
|beam= 17.5 m
|height=
|draught=
|draft= 4 m
|depth=
|hold_depth=
|decks=
|deck_clearance=
|ramps= Bow doors
|ice_class=
|power=
|propulsion= 2 × 8560 hp sustained diesel engine
|sail_plan=
|speed= 15 knots
|range= 3000 miles @ 14 knots
|endurance=
|test_depth=
|boats= 4 [[LCVP (United Kingdom)|LCVP]]s
|capacity= 15 Tanks, 8 APCs<ref name=br-magar>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NAVY/Ships/Active/163-Magar-Class.html|title=Magar Class - Bharat Rakshak :: Indian Navy|access-date=13 August 2009|archive-date=21 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221231940/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NAVY/Ships/Active/163-Magar-Class.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|troops= 500
|complement= 136 (incl 16 officers)
|crew=
|time_to_activate=
|sensors= 1 BEL 1245 navigation radar
|EW= BEL Ajanta as intercept
|armament=*4 × Bofors 40 mm/60 guns
*2 × 122 mm multiple-barrel rocket launchers
|armour=
|armor=
|aircraft= 1 [[Westland Sea King|Sea King]]
|aircraft_facilities= 2 helicopter platforms
|notes=
}}
}}

'''INS ''Gharial'''''{{efn|group=lower-alpha|[[Gharial]] is a long-snouted, fish-eating [[crocodilian]] native to the Indian subcontinent}} is a [[Magar-class amphibious warfare vessel|''Magar''-class]] [[amphibious warfare vessel]] of the [[Indian Navy]].<ref name=in-magar/>

== Service history ==
On 8 November 2024, Indian Navy gifted two [[Solas Marine fast interceptor boat]] to [[Mozambique Defence Armed Forces#Navy|Mozambique Navy]] which were carried onboard INS ''Gharial''. The Fast Interceptor Crafts are capable of reaching speeds of {{Convert|45|knots|abbr=on}} and equipped with [[machine guns]] and bullet-resistant cabins. They will significantly enhance Mozambique's capability to address maritime threats, including terrorism and [[insurgency in Cabo Delgado]] region.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2024-11-10 |title=Indian Navy gifts two Fast Interceptor Crafts to Mozambique |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/indian-navy-mozambique-fast-interceptor-crafts-maritime-threat-indian-ocean-region-2631002-2024-11-10 |access-date=2024-11-10 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-09 |title=HANDING OVER TWO INTERCEPTORS TO MOZAMBIQUE AT NACALA |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2072061 |access-date=2024-11-10 |website=[[Press Information Bureau|PIB]]}}</ref>

On 7 December 2025, INS ''Gharial'', carrying 645 tons of relief material, was dispatched from [[Chennai]] and arrived in [[Trincomalee]], Sri Lanka on 8 December. in support of India's [[Cyclone Ditwah#Operation Sagar Bandhu (India)|Operation Sagar Bandhu]], a [[Humanitarian Assistance]] and [[Disaster Relief]] (HADR) mission to support Sri Lanka following the devastating Cyclone Ditwah. One day earlier, three [[Mk. IV LCU]]s including LCU 51, LCU 54 and LCU 57, transferred 352 tons of relief material, from [[Tuticorin]] to [[Colombo]], Sri Lanka.<ref name=":3">{{Cite press release |title=Operation Sagar Bandhu continues providing Emergency HADR Support to Sri Lanka following Cyclone Ditwah |date=2025-12-09 |publisher=[[Indian Ministry of External Affairs]] |url=https://www.mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl/40420/Operation_Sagar_Bandhu_Continues_providing_Emergency_HADR_Support_to_Sri_Lanka_following_Cyclone_Ditwah |access-date=2025-12-10 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251210022026/https://www.mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl/40420/Operation_Sagar_Bandhu_Continues_providing_Emergency_HADR_Support_to_Sri_Lanka_following_Cyclone_Ditwah |archive-date=2025-12-10}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite press release |title=Operation Sagar Bandhu - Indian Navy deploys four more warships to deliver 1000 tons of HADR material to Sri Lanka |date=2025-12-08 |publisher=[[Press Information Bureau]] |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2200316&reg=3&lang=1 |access-date=2025-12-09}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite news |last=Trivedi |first=Saurabh |date=2025-12-08 |title=India ramps up humanitarian efforts in Sri Lanka under Operation Sagar Bandhu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-ramps-up-humanitarian-efforts-in-sri-lanka-under-operation-sagar-bandhu/article70372962.ece |access-date=2025-12-09 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

On 6 February 2026, the Indian Army and the Indian Navy, in partnership with [[Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers]], delivered 10 extra-wide modular [[bailey bridge]] systems onboard INS ''Gharial''. The Indian Army and Sri Lanka’s Road Development Authority are undertaking damage assessment for seven critical bridge sites across [[Central Province, Sri Lanka|Central]], [[Uva Province|Uva]] and [[Sabaragamuwa Province]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-06 |title=Indian Army transports ten extra-wide bridges under Operation Sagarbandhu to Sri Lanka |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/world/indian-army-transports-ten-extra-wide-bridges-under-operation-sagarbandhu-to-sri-lanka/ |access-date=2026-02-09 |website=The Tribune |language=en}}</ref> Later that month, she participated at the [[International Fleet Review 2026]] held at [[Visakhapatnam|Visakapatanam]].<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |title=IFR & MILAN 2026 |url=https://www.ifrmilan26.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260219124733/https://www.ifrmilan26.com/ |archive-date=2026-02-19 |access-date=2026-02-18 |website=IFR & MILAN 2026 |language=en}}</ref>

==References==

{{notelist}}
<references/>

{{Magar-class amphibious warfare vessel}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gharial (L23)}}
[[Category:Magar-class amphibious warfare vessels]]
[[Category:Amphibious warfare vessels of the Indian Navy]]
[[Category:Ships built in India]]
[[Category:1997 ships]]

INS Gharial - Revision history

Igorsiw at 16:59, 5 May 2026