India on Thursday bolstered its capacity to land troops at beachheads by commissioning Landing Craft Utility (LCU) L58 — a specialised amphibious ship which can carry troops that can attack hostile targets from beachheads.

This is eighth and the last Landing Craft Utility (LCU) Mark IV Class.

Significantly, the LCU 58 would be based at Port Blair in the Andaman and Nicobar islands — the hub of India’s Act East strategy. A mightier naval presence in these islands can monitor commercial and naval ships heading towards the Strait of Malacca — a key chokepoint through which international trade is conducted. It has acquired even greater importance following China’s bid to amplify its profile in the Indo-Pacific region.

The ship will be deployed in a variety of roles such as beaching, search and rescue, disaster relief, coastal patrol and surveillance operations along the Andaman and Nicobar Group of Islands, Bay of Bengal and in the Indian Ocean.

The LCU 58 can carry 160 troops, in addition to its crew. With a displacement of 900 tons, the ship is capable of carrying various types of combat vehicles such as Main Battle Tanks (MBTs), BMPs, Armoured Vehicles, trucks, which may be required for in support of raids mounted from beaches. The ship measures 63 meters in length and is fitted with two MTA 4000 series engines, which are capable of propelling the ship at speeds of up to 15 knots (28 kmph).

The ship is also fitted with an advanced Electronic Support Measure (ESM) suite to intercept enemy radar transmissions, an advanced Integrated Bridge System (IBS) and a sophisticated Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS), which allow single station monitoring of the ship’s navigational and machinery equipment respectively. The main armament of the ship includes two indigenously manufactured 30 mm CRN 91 guns which are controlled by a Stabilised Optronic Pedestal (SOP), an electronic day-night director sight manufactured by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). In addition, the ship is fitted with six Machine Gun Posts to neutralise air, surface and sub-conventional threats.

Lieutenant General Manoj Pande, Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN), was the Chief Guest at the ceremony held today while GRSE Chairman and Managing Director, Rear Admiral Vipin Kumar Saxena was also present for the event.