Magar Class

Image © Mrityunjoy MazumdarImage © Mrityunjoy MazumdarINS Gharial at sea. Image © Indian NavyINS Magar can carry four LCVPs on davits. This image was taken out in October 1990 by the RAAF (Royal Australian Air Force). Image © RAAF via Jane's Info GroupINS Magar at sea. Image © 92 Wing Det., RAAF 

Vessel Type: Amphibious Warfare Vessel.

Names & Pennant Numbers with commission dates:
INS Magar L20 (15 July 1987)
INS Gharial L23 (14 February 1997)

Displacement: 5655 tons full load.

Main Machinery: Two diesel engines with 8560 hp sustained and two shafts.

Maximum Speed: 15 knots.

Maximum Range: 3000 miles at 14 knots.

Complement: 136 (incl. 16 officers).

Radar: Navigation; One Bharat 1245 radar at I-band frequency.

Military Lift: 15 tanks, plus 8 APCs, plus 500 troops.

Weapons: Four Bofors 40mm/60 guns. Also has two 122mm multiple-barrel rocket launchers in the starboard bow.

Countermeasures: ESM; Bharat Ajanta is used as intercept.

Helicopters: One Sea King Mk.42C, has a platform for two.

Comments: Based on the Sir Lancelot design. Built at Hindustan SY but fitted at the Garden Reach DY. INS Magar was refitted in 1995. Both vessels based at Vizag. Carries four LCVPs (Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel) on davits and features a bow door. Can beach on gradients 1 in 40 or more. INS Magar suffered an accidental fire which took the lives of three sailors and six others received burn injuries. The accident occurred about 40 nautical miles off the coast of Visakhapatnam, in the Bay of Bengal, at about 1700 hours on 22 February 2006. The injured personnel were evacuated by a Sea King helicopter and were admitted at the naval hospital at Visakhapatnam. The mishap occurred when the ship was engaged in dumping life-expired ammunition. Preliminary reports indicate that one of the boxes, containing life-expired powder charge, caught fire towards the end of dumping operation which resulted in the unfortunate incident. The was no serious damage to the vessel.