Kolkata-class and Visakhapatnam-class Destroyers: News & Discussions
- Thread starter Ashwin
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INS Kochi visited Port Victoria, Seychelles, and participated in the celebration of National Day, Seychelles, 29 June, 2019
What makes you say that ? Any distinct identifiable feature ? I was thinking that's a kilo, coz the scorpenes are still new and don't need to spend as much time on supply and repairs.
Just Meaning to say that a P15 (Most likely the INS Delhi) have been in MLU since 2012-2013? 6 -7 years??? or am i missing something?
The DRDO paper I took it from was published in those timelines. As to how old the pic is hard to guess. The Delhi class served as a test bed for composite sonar domes. Kolkata class and Vizag class uses the same composites for their sonar domes(same material with different shapes of course). If you recall the first of the Kolkata class ships were commissioned in 2014. Domes must have gone in much earlier. The Kolkata was launched in 2006, I think. They couldn't have launched it without the dome, could they ?
True - Maybe this was a Minor Refit that the INS Delhi went thru at that time- that was separate from the MLU we are seeing now
It all started here :
Photo : INS Ranvijay (D55) a Rajput class destroyer.
Rajput class destroyers are heavily modified versions of the Soviet Kashin class destoyers. The IN acquired them in the 1980s. Back at that time we had no ability to make or even design destroyers. We started designing destroyers in the mid 80s, originally meant to be a follow on of the Godavari class frigates later bumped up to destroyer class. The Rajput class ships became the template of out very first Indian designed and built destroyer. We made minimal changes to the hull of the Rajput, however the superstructure, sensors, weapons etc. underwent massive changes. Thus, by the mid 90s the Delhi class(P-15) destroyers were born :
Photo : INS Delhi departing from Portsmouth Naval Base, UK
Then came the Kolkata class destroyers. The hull of the Kolkata class(P-15A) is an evolution of the Delhi class(P-15) destroyers. Except the hull everything else was very different from the Delhi class.
Photo : INS Kolkata stands in the Navy's new shipyard in Mumbai for some minor refits.
Photo : INS Vishakapatnam being launched.
Needless to say, the Vishakapatnam class(P-15B) destroyers feature a hull which is a further evolution of the Kolkata class hull design. The nose of the Vizag's hull looks like an afterthought then a conscious choice. Although the INS Mormugao has a better looking nose.
Also if you look carefully you will see that the side rails on the fore deck of the Mormugao looks a lot more angled in than the rails on the Vizag. The rails if angled in reduces RCS significantly. The rails on the Vizag looks almost vertical, like the Kolkata. The P-15B underwent a lot of design changes while it was being built, this has caused a lot of delays.
If you look at the hull of the Kolkata class you will notice a bulbous bow housing a HUMSA-NG sonar. The Vizag class has a rather neatly integrated sonar bulge, which unlike the Kolkata's won't create a large drag.
Photo : Vizag's sonar.
Photo : Kolkata's sonar
The only question I have is where is the anchor holding bay ? You can see recesses built in the Kolkata's hull for the anchors, nothing of that sort exists for the Vizag class.
The continuous modification of the hull seems like a good plan. If only they systematically increased the weapon load on the boats, and built the ships on a shorter time frame.
Photo : INS Ranvijay (D55) a Rajput class destroyer.
Rajput class destroyers are heavily modified versions of the Soviet Kashin class destoyers. The IN acquired them in the 1980s. Back at that time we had no ability to make or even design destroyers. We started designing destroyers in the mid 80s, originally meant to be a follow on of the Godavari class frigates later bumped up to destroyer class. The Rajput class ships became the template of out very first Indian designed and built destroyer. We made minimal changes to the hull of the Rajput, however the superstructure, sensors, weapons etc. underwent massive changes. Thus, by the mid 90s the Delhi class(P-15) destroyers were born :
Photo : INS Delhi departing from Portsmouth Naval Base, UK
Then came the Kolkata class destroyers. The hull of the Kolkata class(P-15A) is an evolution of the Delhi class(P-15) destroyers. Except the hull everything else was very different from the Delhi class.
Photo : INS Kolkata stands in the Navy's new shipyard in Mumbai for some minor refits.
Photo : INS Vishakapatnam being launched.
Needless to say, the Vishakapatnam class(P-15B) destroyers feature a hull which is a further evolution of the Kolkata class hull design. The nose of the Vizag's hull looks like an afterthought then a conscious choice. Although the INS Mormugao has a better looking nose.
Also if you look carefully you will see that the side rails on the fore deck of the Mormugao looks a lot more angled in than the rails on the Vizag. The rails if angled in reduces RCS significantly. The rails on the Vizag looks almost vertical, like the Kolkata. The P-15B underwent a lot of design changes while it was being built, this has caused a lot of delays.
If you look at the hull of the Kolkata class you will notice a bulbous bow housing a HUMSA-NG sonar. The Vizag class has a rather neatly integrated sonar bulge, which unlike the Kolkata's won't create a large drag.
Photo : Vizag's sonar.
Photo : Kolkata's sonar
The only question I have is where is the anchor holding bay ? You can see recesses built in the Kolkata's hull for the anchors, nothing of that sort exists for the Vizag class.
The continuous modification of the hull seems like a good plan. If only they systematically increased the weapon load on the boats, and built the ships on a shorter time frame.
Kolkata class destroyers firing RBU-6000 rockets in the middle of the night.
Just see how much space those RBU-6000 launchers occupy, by removing those we can add atleast 16-24 cells of Barak 8 SAM taking the total no of VLS cells from 48 to 64-72 cells.
There is a lot of space on the deck of the Kolkata class and by removing the RBU we have even more space to park more VLS. The removal of the RBU has been discussed to death on this thread, I have nothing more to add on that.
As for what my personal opinions are on the matter, I think the Navy is waiting for the development of the Nirbhay cruise missile. Once that is done they can set off towards the creation of a UVLS. No other weapon under development for the Navy is as big as the Nirbhay missile(leaving the SLBMs out of course), so it makes sense to wait for it. Of course the Brahmos is bigger/heavier than the Nirbhay, but we already have a launcher capable of firing those, can the same launcher fire the Nirbhay or say the Barak 8 ER remains to be seen. Once they have a universal VLS they will probably move towards getting more VLS on the ships. The RBU on the other hand is likely to stay as long as alternatives like SMART or a VL-RBU don't come around. This is just my personal take, so take it with a lump of salt.
Oh its customary for new members to introduce themselves on this thread : Members Introduction (Feb 2019 onwards)
Possible in the future. Maybe underdevelopment SMART(Supersonic Missile Assisted Release of Torpedo) could fill the role.
For reference.