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The tragic fire on INS Brahmaputra frigate
Author:Mariusz Dasiewicz
In the evening of July 21, aboard the INS rocket frigate Brahmaputra (F 31) Type 16A, which was located at Naval Dockyard in Mumbai, broke out a fire. Eventually, the ship was overturned.
Press reports showthat the fire broke out in the area of the forward superstructure, and its intensity was seen by large smoke. The fire consumed the ship all night, and only in the morning, the crew, supported by the naval fire brigade and nearby units, managed to master it. Unfortunately, the structural damage to the hull and the mass of water used for extinguishing caused growth heelU to port. Despite her attempts to stabilize, on July 22, the frigate lost stability and fell over, hitting the quay. As a result, the mast on which the radio-location antenna was located was broken.
It is worth adding that frigates of type 16A are to be upgraded, including by replacing diesel engines in the CODAD system. The first ship to be upgraded is INS Beas (F 37), which entered Cochin Shipyard Ltd in early April of that year.
Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Deputy Chief of the Indian Navy, reported on Tuesday that the frigate of INS Brahmaputra would be placed on an equal keel to accurately assess the damage. After the fire, it was found that one crew member was missing, who is currently wanted. Swaminathan noted that the missing sailor was seen during the evacuation of the ship. According to yesterday's press reports, the search continues.
Indian Polish Navy (Bhāratīya Nau Senā) currently has three frigates of type 16A, including a damaged unit Brahmaputra. The armament and equipment of these ships is a combination of Western and Soviet technologies. All units of this type were built at Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd shipyard in Kolkata. Fregata Brahmaputra was the first Indian ship equipped with an EMCCA combat command system developed by Bharat Electronics Limited.
Type 16A frigates are among the last ships of this class in the world that are powered by BHEL Bhopal Y-160 steam turbines. They have a full displacement of 3,850 tonnes, a length of 126.4 metres, a width of 14.5 metres and dive 4.05 meters. They are equipped with 16 3M24E Uran antiship missiles and 24 IAI Barak-1 missiles for air defense. Despite outdated drive, these frigates can reach speeds of over 30 knots, and their range at an economic speed of 12 knots is 4,500 nautical miles. The crew has 300 people, resulting from the use of steam turbines.
The navel under the ship was laid down in 1989, the launch took place on January 29, 1994. As a result of delays related to the integration of equipment and weapons, the unit entered service on 14 April 2000.
Written by Mariusz Dasiewicz
