JerilynCropper5 at 11:54, 6 May 2026

2026-05-06T11:54:53Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}{{italic title|string=Sharda}}

{{Short description|Indian navy patrol vessel}}

{{Use Indian English|date=May 2026}}
{{Infobox ship
|section1={{Infobox ship/image
| image = INS Sharda (P55) in Androth and Agatti Islands.jpg
| image_caption = INS ''Sharda'' sailing between [[Androth]] and [[Agatti Island]]
}}

|section2={{Infobox ship/career
| hide_header =
| country = India
| flag = {{shipboxflag|India|naval}}
| name = ''Sharda''
| namesake =
| ordered =
| builder = [[Hindustan Shipyard Limited]]
| laid_down =
| launched = 22 August 1990
| acquired =
| commissioned = 27 October 1991
| decommissioned =
| in_service =
| out_of_service =
| struck =
| reinstated =
| honours =
| fate =
| status = Active
| notes =
}}

|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics
| hide_header =
| header_caption =
| class = {{sclass|Sukanya|patrol vessel}}<ref name=in-sukanya/>
| type =
| tonnage =
| displacement = 1,890 tons (full load)<ref name=in-sukanya/>
| length = {{cvt|101|m|ftin}}
| beam = {{cvt|11.5|m|ftin}}
| height =
| draught =
| draft =
| depth =
| hold_depth =
| decks =
| deck_clearance =
| ramps =
| ice_class =
| power =
| propulsion = 2 × [[diesel engine]]s, {{convert|12800|bhp|kW|-1|abbr=on}}, 2 shafts
| sail_plan =
| speed = {{convert|21|kn|km/h|0}}
| range = {{convert|7000|nmi|km|-3}} at {{convert|15|kn|km/h|0}}
| endurance =
| test_depth =
| boats =
| capacity =
| troops =
| complement = 70
| crew =
| time_to_activate =
| sensors = *1 × Racal Decca 2459 search radar
*1 BEL 1245 navigation radar
| EW =
| armament = *1 × 40 mm, 60 cal. [[Bofors]] [[anti-aircraft gun]]
*2 × 12.7 mm [[machine gun]]s
* 2 x 25 mm, 80 cal. anti-aircraft guns
| armour =
| armor =
| aircraft = 1 [[HAL Chetak]]
| aircraft_facilities =
| notes =
}}
}}

'''INS ''Sharda'' (P55)''' is a {{sclass|Sukanya|patrol vessel}} of the [[Indian Navy]].<ref name="in-sukanya">{{cite web |title=Surface Ships →Offshore Patrol Vessels→Sukanya Class |url=http://indiannavy.nic.in/opv_sukanya.htm |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120223133452/http://indiannavy.nic.in/opv_sukanya.htm |archivedate=23 February 2012 |accessdate=13 August 2009 |website=indiannavy.nic.in}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sukanya Class, Saryu Class {{!}} Indian Navy |url=https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/sukanya-class-saryu-class |access-date=2024-04-07 |website=www.indiannavy.nic.in}}</ref>

== Operations ==
On 17 May 2017, the ship rescued a Liberian registered merchant vessel, MV ''Mountbatten'', from pirates while on patrol in the Gulf of Aden.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/indian-navy-rescues-merchant-vessel-from-pirates-in-gulf-of-aden-977619-2017-05-17|title=Indian Navy rescues merchant vessel from pirates in Gulf of Aden|access-date=2017-05-17}}</ref>

===2024 Anti-piracy patrols===
On 2 February 2024, ''Shardha''' thwarted another piracy attempt off the Somali coast and rescued an Iranian-flagged [[fishing vessel]] (FV) and its crew of 11 [[Iranian peoples|Iranians]] and 8 [[Pakistanis]].<ref>{{cite web |title=INS Sharda Awarded on the Spot Unit Citation for Anti Piracy Operations |url=https://www.brutimes.com/news/world-news/ins-sharda-awarded-on-the-spot-unit-citation-for-anti-piracy-operations |website=Bru Times News |language=en}}</ref> Indian Navy's remotely piloted aircraft located FV 'Omari', and ''Sharda'', deployed for an anti-piracy mission in the region, was diverted to intercept the boat. ''Omari'' had been boarded by seven pirates who had taken the crew as hostages using her integral helicopter and boats, the ship coerced the pirates for safe release of crew along with the vessel.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Indian Navy rescues fishing vessel with Pakistani nationals from pirate attack |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/indian-navy-ins-sharada-somalian-pirates-iranian-fishing-vessel-fv-omari-2496886-2024-02-02 |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-02 |title=Indian Navy foils another piracy attempt off Somalia coast; 11 Iranian, 8 Pak nationals rescued |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/indian-navy-foils-another-piracy-attempt-off-somalia-11-iranian-8-pak-nationals-rescued-101706883592968.html |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Navy foils piracy bid, rescues 8 Pakistanis among 19 - Rediff.com |url=https://www.rediff.com/news/report/navy-foils-piracy-bid-rescues-8-pakistanis-among-19/20240202.htm |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=m.rediff.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=SWIFT RESPONSE BY MISSION DEPLOYED INDIAN NAVAL PLATFORMS FOIL ANOTHER PIRACY ATTEMPT ALONG EAST COAST OF SOMALIA |url=https://pib.gov.in/pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=2002101 |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=pib.gov.in |language=en}}</ref>

On 6 April 2024, [[Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|Chief of the Naval Staff]] [[Admiral (India)|Admiral]] [[R. Hari Kumar]] awarded 'On the Spot Unit Citation' to ''Sharda'' for its anti piracy operation off the Eastern coast of Somalia on 2 February 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=INS SHARDA AWARDED ON THE SPOT UNIT CITATION FOR ANTI PIRACY OPERATIONS |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2017331 |access-date=2024-04-07 |website=pib.gov.in}}</ref>

The ship participated in the eighth edition of Exercise Ekatha, an annual bilateral eercise between the Indian Navy and [[Maldives National Defence Force]] (MNDF), which was conducted between November and December 2025 for 30 days until 16 December. The exercise included [[MARCOS]] and [[MNDF Marine Corps]]. The closing ceremony held at [[Maldives National Defence Force#MNDF Central Area Command|MNDF Central Area Command]], [[Kadhdhoo]], was attended by the [[Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff]], [[Vice admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] [[Tarun Sobti]].<ref>{{Cite press release |title=DCNS visit to Maldives closing ceremony of Exercise Ekatha - 2025 |date=2025-12-15 |publisher=[[Press Information Bureau]] |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2204321&reg=3&lang=1 |access-date=2025-12-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite tweet |number=2000932010588836251 |user=indiannavy |title=Closing Ceremony of 8th edition of Exercise Ekatha held at MNDF Central Area Command, Kadhdhoo... |date=2025-12-16 |access-date=2025-12-17}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Sukanya-class patrol vessel}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sharada (P55)}}
[[Category:Sukanya-class patrol boats]]
[[Category:1990 ships]]

{{india-mil-stub}}
{{mil-ship-stub}}

INS Sharda - Revision history

JerilynCropper5 at 11:54, 6 May 2026