One of the Indian Navy’s most advanced submarines, the INS Sindhughosh, rammed into a foreign merchant vessel in a freak accident during war games.
INS Sindhughosh was taking part in fleet-level war games
NEW DELHI: One of the Indian Navy’s most advanced submarines, the INS Sindhughosh, rammed into a foreign merchant vessel in a freak accident during war games in the Arabian sea on January 7, raising concerns about safety and sailing precautions.
Some sources speculated whether an indigenously developed hydro-acoustal sonar, USHUS, malfunctioned, causing the accident.
Sources said the accident took place north of Mumbai when the Sindhughosh, one of few submarines of the Indian Navy that can launch anti-ship and anti-land missiles, was taking part in fleet-level war games.
More than one source told DNA that the damage was limited to the submarine’s fin. The 53 crew on board had a miraculous escape since the “rest of the hull was not damaged”, a source said.
But all of them admitted it was a “grievous error” for a submarine capable of prowling undetected underwater.
Sources told DNA that the Sindhughosh, a diesel-powered Kilo class submarine fitted with Klub class missiles, will need a few months of repairs. The Sindhughosh had undergone extensive refit in Russia and joined service late in 2005.
The navy spokesman refused to either confirm or deny the incident. An officer tried to play down the incident saying, “it was a minor accident.”
The submarine was apparently travelling at periscope depth when it rammed into the merchant vessel. The submarine managed to get back to Mumbai without any assistance, sources said.
An inquiry was in progress in Mumbai.
Many Navy sources admitted that the accident raises serious questions about the precautions taken while sailing a submarine. By military convention, a submarine doesn’t publicise its routes so its safety and secrecy are its own business.
This is the second instance of an Indian submarine meeting with a freak accident in recent years. A few years ago, another submarine rammed into an unidentified ship while it was surfacing off Goa.
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