INS SINDHUKIRTI - kilo Class Sub

[Point_4590]

 

[kaykay]

So Sindhukirti is finally in waters after almost a decade. I read somewhere that Sidhukirti's condition is as good as a new Kilo class and can fire Klub cruise missiles now.

 

[Point_4590]

So Sindhukirti is finally in waters after almost a decade. I read somewhere that Sidhukirti's condition is as good as a new Kilo class and can fire Klub cruise missiles now.

In the video the sub commander claims that it can fire both anti ship and land attack Cruise missiles.

The Indian vessels are fitted with the Novator 3M-54E1 anti-ship missile as part of the Klub-S missile system. Range is 220km with 450kg high-explosive warhead.

Ten Indian navy vessels are being retrofitted with the Novator 3M-14 land attack cruise missile, also part of the Klub-S system, which has a range of 275km and a 499kg warhead.



SSK Kilo Class (Type 877EKM) - Naval Technology

 

[kaykay]

In the video the sub commander claims that it can fire both anti ship and land attack Cruise missiles.

Yeah Klubs has both variants. Infact antisubmarine variant too so It can fire all 3.

 

[Point_4590]

Inside INS Sindhukirti: On board in sub surface
Having completed all her system-related trials following a medium refit (a first in an Indian shipyard) which lasted over nine years instead of the three-year period initially promised, the INS Sindhukirti, based out of Eastern Naval Command's Headquarters at Vishakhapatnam has come to the navy at a desperate time.
Jugal R Purohit | Vishakhapatnam, November 22, 2015 | UPDATED 10:08 IST
ALSO READ | Indigenous nuclear powered submarine INS Arihant to head out for sea trials

Having completed all her system-related trials following a medium refit (a first in an Indian shipyard) which lasted over nine years instead of the three-year period initially promised, the INS Sindhukirti, based out of Eastern Naval Command's Headquarters at Vishakhapatnam has come to the navy at a desperate time.

Notwithstanding a stipulated minimum strength of 24 submarines, the navy fields a paltry set of 14 (excluding INS Arihant which is undergoing sea trials) of which only 8-9 are available at all times. What's worse is that in the last decade and a half, not one submarine has been commissioned barring the INS Chakra which is on loan from Russia. The impact of this - the youngest submarine of the navy today is over 15 years old.

Scene inside the control room wherefrom the submarine is commandeered.


However, inside the double-hull stealth submarine, its 53-member crew sported a confident look. "She is as good as any new, trust me," assured a young officer. The Sindhukirti was commissioned into the Indian Navy on January 4, 1990. Today, she boasts of capabilities she's never had. Where she could earlier fire only underwater torpedos with a range of under 20km, today she can fire about 18 missiles which can travel up to 300km to neutralise targets at sea and on shore. An old Soviet-designed sonar has given way to an indigenous one, the Ushus whose reliability the crew swears by. From analog readings in her control room, the crew gleans data off digital sets. Earlier, after having dived in, the submarine had to come to periscope depth (9m below the surface) to pick up direction or messages from the command centres ashore. This would put them in a vulnerable state. Now, all she has to do is to let out the 600m long chord of the Towed Wired Antenna (TWA) and receive communication as she prowls the depths of her choice.

Life inside a submarine is difficult. From conditions leading to a cramped existence to nil exposure to the cycle of day and night to prohibition on bathing and shaving, the list can go on. However, it offers camaraderie of a kind which remains unparalleled. Commanding Officer Commander Vikas Gautam explained, "No one wears their ranks once sailing. Our training tells you that if there were to be problem in your compartment (Sindhukirti like other EKM class submarines has six in all), you'll be required to lock yourself up and not run. People do that because they know that if they flee, there is every chance the problem also will get carried to other compartments. In addition, they know their buddy will pull them out anyhow."

Electrical Sailor Lokendra smiles from inside the battery pit.


Meanwhile, in compartment three, Electrical Sailor Lokendra, is preparing for what he does twice a day - slide into the battery pit at the bottom of INS Sindhukirti, lie flat on a trolley and roll along over the 240 batteries across two chambers which aren't even 2 feet in height. These batteries power the submarine. They also require the submarine to surface every 18-odd hours to charge them. His is a special yet risky task. If the batteries are fine, then he'll emerge and prepare for his next dive, if not, the submarine's mission and his life, may both be in jeopardy. Today has gone fine and Lokendra has made it in time for a special gesture by Chief Cook Beekesh Kumar who with two of his assistants has dished out hot kheerfor the entire complement. Pointing at a tiny compartment where two people can barely stand, Kumar said, "We cook for all the crew from here. Diet is normal. When we sail out, we carry full provision for 45 days."

Dolphiners, as submarine personnel are referred to, consist of volunteers only. In their training, the first month is open for them to walk away. If they do make it, better prospects of pay and pride await. The special allowance these personnel draw is in the same league as that offered to special forces personnel from the army, navy and air force. Unlike in a ship where specialists man each section, the first thing that a submariner has to learn is everything. "Unless you pass the test in the first month of your year-long training which evaluates your knowledge about all aspects of the submarine, you can't proceed. The passing percentage is 85," revealed a young officer.

The day's has ended inside the Naval Dockyard inside Vishakhapatnam. Most crew members pack and leave. "She can't be locked and left even inside the harbour. It is my duty to stay on board today," said Sailor Digvijay.

As we exit upwards from the torpedo deck, a shiny plate drew our attention.

"Some ships are designed to sink, rest require Sindhukirti's assistance".

Writer is a Senior Special Correspondent with INDIA TODAY and tweets at @JRPUR.

Yeah Klubs has both variants. Infact antisubmarine variant too so It can fire all 3.

klub has anti sub variant ?

 

[Maarkhoor]

@Point_4590
is this same class / type of submarine of INS Sindhurakshak, you have any idea about the salvage operation it is completed ?

 

[Manindra]

@Point_4590
is this same class / type of submarine of INS Sindhurakshak, you have any idea about the salvage operation it is completed ?

Yes & Salvage operation completed long ago.

 

[Maarkhoor]

Yes & Salvage operation completed long ago.

So what is the status it is repairable, any pics or video available of salvage operation ?

 

[Manindra]

So what is the status it is repairable, any pics or video available of salvage operation ?

INS Sindhurakshak salvaged, reuse looks unlikely - The Hindu
Repairing would be uneconomical, Indian Navy use it to train Marcos.

 

[Maarkhoor]

INS Sindhurakshak salvaged, reuse looks unlikely - The Hindu
Repairing would be uneconomical, Indian Navy use it to train Marcos.

Nice, what was the inquiry commission findings about the cause of the explosion ans sinking. Is it human error or some technical faults as per wikipedia many times in past the same submarine involved in series of accidents and repairs.

 

[kaykay]

@Point_4590 Yes Klub has anti-submarine variant too with 50 km range and 3 mach terminal speed If I am not wrong.

 

[Manindra]

Nice, what was the inquiry commission findings about the cause of the explosion ans sinking. Is it human error or some technical faults as per wikipedia many times in past the same submarine involved in series of accidents and repairs.

Due to violation of established operation procedure.
Blast in Submarine Sindhurakshak was Due to Lapses in Procedure, Says Navy

 

[GR!FF!N]

klub has anti sub variant ?

yes..

91RE1

Submarine Launched anti submarine missile.Range 50 Km.Speed- Mach 2.5

91RTE2

surface ship launched anti-submarine missile.Range 40 km.Speed- Mach 2

 

[Ind4Ever]

Two new kilo will add much need punch for our Navy. Any updates on numbers? 2 was reported but aren't we going for three and 1 nuclear SSN?