(Source: ddi Indian Government news; issued Jan. 18, 2007)
The former USS Trenton, an Austin-class LPD, is the first US-built warship to enter Indian Navy service. (US Navy file photo)India has acquired its first warship from the United States to add punch to its maritime forces, the acquisition of what is technically known as Landing Platform Dock (LPD) 14 is viewed as a significant event in the evolving Indo-US relationship with free and open access to sea considered an important and critical challenge by both navies.
The hot-transfer of the massive amphibious loading dock, USS Trenton, the first of its type for the Indian Navy, was accepted by Naval Attaché Commodore P Murugesan, at a ceremony at Norfolk Naval base in Virginia on Wednesday.
India has also purchased four Mark Eight landing craft and six H-3 Sea King helicopters to operate from the 173-metre-long vessel that has seen action in Somalia, Liberia and Lebanon among other places, landing US troops and rescuing American citizens.
With a displacement of 17,000 tonne, it is set to become the second largest ship with the Indian Navy after the 28,000-tonne Hermes-class aircraft carrier Viraat.
The vessel has an unrivalled capacity to carry close to a battalion strength troops and sustain them over a long duration.
Expected to be formally commissioned into the Indian Navy as INS Jalashva (Sanskrit for seahorse) sometime in May, the Trenton flotilla will undergo retrofitting in the US before it sets sail for Vishakapatnam to join the Eastern Naval Command.
Built by Lockheed at a cost of more than $400 million and commissioned in 1971, the amphibious ship has been sold to India for about $48 million under a US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme.
After its formal decommissioning from the US navy on Wednesday, a full complement of more than 300 Indian sailors and 27 officers led by Commodore B S Ahluwalia took charge of the ship.
They have been in Norfolk since October 2006 learning the ropes about one of US's most trusted vessels.
The training in harbour and at sea included handling flight operations, assault craft operations, weapon firings, machinery space drills, specialist equipment operations and safety evolutions besides two sea-sorties extending to about 20 days.
The primary role of the ship is transportation of troops and logistics for amphibious operations using landing craft and aircraft.
Its secondary role could include logistics/technical support for fleet operations, maritime surveillance/interdiction operations, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief missions, non-combatant evacuation operations and hospital ship.
The ship is equipped with good sensors, electronics and self-defence gun systems.
It has a large well deck of the size of two basketball courts that can accommodate four Mechanised Landing Craft (LCM 8) boats. The LCM-8 can carry troops and vehicles from ship to the shore.
Its flight deck of the size of two tennis courts is capable of handling all types of helicopters. The flight deck can be used as emergency recovery deck for VSTOL aircraft such as the Sea-Harrier.
When loaded with the combat cargo, the ship is designed to propel at speeds of 20 knots with two Foster Wheeler 600 psi boilers, feeding steam to two De Laval GT turbines, driving two propellers, providing 12,000 Shaft Horsepower (SHP) each.
Four electrical power generators are also powered by the steam from the boilers. They can generate 3 MW of electric power, enough electricity to power a city of 26,000 people. The ship has two evaporators capable of 25,000 gallons of water a day each.
The ship's upper and lower vehicle storage areas have significant cargo space for supplies, equipment, tanks and vehicles of an army battalion. It also has accommodation and support infrastructure for 900 troops, evacuees or personnel detachments, besides an eight-bed sickbay and dental facilities. (ends)
U.S. Navy Decoms Trenton, Transfers to Indian Navy
(Source: US Navy; issued Jan. 17, 2007)
NORFOLK, Va. --- The amphibious transport dock ship USS Trenton (LPD 14), was decommissioned Jan. 17 in a ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk. Immediately following the decommissioning, Trenton was recommissioned and transferred to the Indian Navy, bearing the name INS Jalashwa.
The event marks the first time a U.S. Navy vessel has been transferred to the Indian navy.
“Trenton will continue to serve all the free nations of the world, just as she served the United States, as we expand ‘the 1,000-ship navy,’” said Rear Adm. Garry Hall, Commander, Amphibious Group 2.
In recent months, the crew of Trenton has been working alongside Indian sailors, training them to operate the ship efficiently and safely.
The commanding officer of Jalashwa, Indian Navy Capt. B.S. Ahluwalia, expressed his gratitude to the crew of Trenton, and praised their professionalism. “Today’s transfer is a significant event in the growing relationship between our two countries and our two navies,” said Ahluwalia.
Commissioned in March 1971, Trenton took part in numerous humanitarian operations, including the evacuations of American civilians from Liberia in 1996 and from Lebanon in 2006. In addition, in 1991, Trenton was responsible for evacuating the U.S. and Soviet ambassadors and 193 foreign nationals from Somalia.
During Trenton’s final deployment, the ship took part in maritime security operations off the Somali coast of eastern Africa.
Trenton’s commanding officer, Cmdr. Samuel Norton, spoke proudly and fondly of his crew and time aboard the ship, saying that without such an outstanding crew, Trenton would not have been the same. “It’s people that have made Trenton what she is today, and it’s people that will keep the memory of Trenton alive,” Norton said.
Trenton employed a crew of approximately 415 Sailors and could embark nearly 1,000 Marines
The ship was a member of the Austin-class amphibious transport dock ship. The ship is 570 feet in length and displaces approximately 17,000 tons when fully loaded. The Austin-class currently is being replaced by the newer, more-modern San Antonio-class LPD.
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INS Jalashwa (ex-USS Trenton)
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