The Indian Navy is scheduled to commission INS Mangrol on 12 October 2026 at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai. Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command, will preside over the ceremony. The vessel is an Indigenous Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), with more than 80 per cent indigenous content.
Anti-Submarine Warfare in Coastal Waters
Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) comprises operations to detect, track and counter submarines. Shallow-water ASW focuses on coastal and littoral waters, including approaches to ports and harbours. INS Mangrol is designed to operate in these waters and counter submarine threats. The vessel carries an Abhay hull-mounted sonar for underwater detection, lightweight torpedoes and an indigenous anti-submarine rocket launcher. It is also equipped with the Mareech Advanced Torpedo Decoy System, which is designed to decoy incoming torpedoes. These systems provide the vessel with detection and countermeasure capabilities against submarine threats.
Shipbuilding and Project Structure
INS Mangrol forms part of a project to build 16 ASW-SWC vessels. The construction programme is divided equally between CSL and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), with each shipyard assigned eight vessels. INS Mangrol is identified as the third ASW-SWC and the seventh vessel commissioned under the overall project. The vessel’s indigenous content exceeds 80 per cent. Its construction by CSL makes it part of India’s domestic naval shipbuilding programme.
Naval Namesake and Service Legacy
INS Mangrol is named after the coastal town of Mangrol in Gujarat’s Junagadh district. It carries the name of the earlier INS Mangrol (M85), a minesweeper that served in the Indian Navy until 7 April 2004. A minesweeper is a naval vessel designed to detect and remove naval mines.
Important Facts for Exams
- INS Mangrol is scheduled for commissioning on 12 October 2026 at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai.
- The ASW-SWC project covers 16 vessels, divided equally between CSL and GRSE.
- The vessel carries the Abhay hull-mounted sonar and the Mareech Advanced Torpedo Decoy System.
- The earlier INS Mangrol (M85) served as a minesweeper until 7 April 2004.
INS Mangrol is named after a coastal town in Gujarat’s Junagadh district. Its commissioning is scheduled under the Indian Navy’s 16-vessel ASW-SWC project.
