INS Kursura (S20) - Revision history

Bot at 20:29, 4 September 2022

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	{{Short description\|Indian Kalvari-class submarine}}		{{Short description\|Indian Kalvari-class submarine}}
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	[[File:INS Kursura (S20).jpg\|thumbnail\|''Kursura'' as a museum ship in Visakhapatnam]]		[[File:INS Kursura (S20).jpg\|thumbnail\|''Kursura'' as a museum ship in Visakhapatnam]]
	[[File:INS Kursura (S20) undergoing repairs.jpg\|thumbnail\|left\|200px\|''Kursura'' undergoing repairs in 2013]]		[[File:INS Kursura (S20) undergoing repairs.jpg\|thumbnail\|left\|200px\|''Kursura'' undergoing repairs in 2013]]
	After decommissioning, the ship was towed to [[RK Beach]] in [[Visakhapatnam]] and was established as a museum ship, which is the first submarine museum in South Asia. The idea of the boat's conversion to a museum is credited to Admiral V Pasricha.<ref name=thehindu1>{{cite news\|title=INS Kursura museum celebrates 8th anniversary\|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/ins-kursura-museum-celebrates-8th-anniversary/article560297.ece\|newspaper=The Hindu\|access-date=17 January 2014\|url-status=live\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202172358/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/ins-kursura-museum-celebrates-8th-anniversary/article560297.ece\|archive-date=2 February 2014\|df=dmy-all\|date=9 August 2010\|last1=Ganguly\|first1=Nivedita}}</ref> Towing the submarine 600 metres to its final location took 18 months and cost {{INR}} 55 million. It was converted as a museum by [[N. Chandrababu Naidu]] government launching from 9 August 2002, and it was open to the public from 24 August 2002.<ref name=insubmarinemuseum/><ref name=toi1>{{cite web\|title=Feel life undersea on INS Kursura\|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-02-14/india/27797257_1_submarine-museum-south-asia\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201230952/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-02-14/india/27797257_1_submarine-museum-south-asia\|url-status=dead\|archive-date=1 February 2014\|work=[[The Times of India]]\|access-date=17 January ~~2022~~}}</ref><ref name=thehindu2/> Six retired naval personnel serve as guides and another one as the curator.<ref name=vuda/>		After decommissioning, the ship was towed to [[RK Beach]] in [[Visakhapatnam]] and was established as a museum ship, which is the first submarine museum in South Asia. The idea of the boat's conversion to a museum is credited to Admiral V Pasricha.<ref name=thehindu1>{{cite news\|title=INS Kursura museum celebrates 8th anniversary\|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/ins-kursura-museum-celebrates-8th-anniversary/article560297.ece\|newspaper=The Hindu\|access-date=17 January 2014\|url-status=live\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202172358/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/ins-kursura-museum-celebrates-8th-anniversary/article560297.ece\|archive-date=2 February 2014\|df=dmy-all\|date=9 August 2010\|last1=Ganguly\|first1=Nivedita}}</ref> Towing the submarine 600 metres to its final location took 18 months and cost {{INR}} 55 million. It was converted as a museum by [[N. Chandrababu Naidu]] government launching from 9 August 2002, and it was open to the public from 24 August 2002.<ref name=insubmarinemuseum/><ref name=toi1>{{cite web\|title=Feel life undersea on INS Kursura\|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-02-14/india/27797257_1_submarine-museum-south-asia\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201230952/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-02-14/india/27797257_1_submarine-museum-south-asia\|url-status=dead\|archive-date=1 February 2014\|work=[[The Times of India]]\|access-date=17 January 2014}}</ref><ref name=thehindu2/> Six retired naval personnel serve as guides and another one as the curator.<ref name=vuda/>

	''Kursura'' has the distinction of being one of the very few submarine museums to retain originality.<ref name=thehindu6/> She has become a famous tourist attraction of the city and has been called a "must-visit destination" of Visakhapatnam by ''[[The Hindu]]''.<ref name=thehindu2/> Out of the {{INR}} 10 million revenue generated every year by the museum, {{INR}} 8 million is used for the submarine's maintenance. During the first four months of the museum's operation, it was visited by about 93,000 people.<ref name=thehindu2>{{cite news\|last=B. Madhu Gopal\|title='Kursura' saga continues\|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/kursura-saga-continues/article3087526.ece\|newspaper=The Hindu\|access-date=17 January 2014\|url-status=live\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303201538/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/kursura-saga-continues/article3087526.ece\|archive-date=3 March 2018\|df=dmy-all\|date=9 August ~~2022~~}}</ref> Daily visitors usually range between 500 and 600 and shoot up to 1,500 during the tourist season.<ref name=thehindu6>{{cite news\|last1=Sumit Bhattacharjee\|title=Kursura will be back at her shiny best\|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/kursura-will-be-back-at-her-shiny-best/article1959147.ece\|access-date=7 June 2014\|work=The Hindu\|date=1 December ~~2022~~}}</ref>		''Kursura'' has the distinction of being one of the very few submarine museums to retain originality.<ref name=thehindu6/> She has become a famous tourist attraction of the city and has been called a "must-visit destination" of Visakhapatnam by ''[[The Hindu]]''.<ref name=thehindu2/> Out of the {{INR}} 10 million revenue generated every year by the museum, {{INR}} 8 million is used for the submarine's maintenance. During the first four months of the museum's operation, it was visited by about 93,000 people.<ref name=thehindu2>{{cite news\|last=B. Madhu Gopal\|title='Kursura' saga continues\|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/kursura-saga-continues/article3087526.ece\|newspaper=The Hindu\|access-date=17 January 2014\|url-status=live\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303201538/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/kursura-saga-continues/article3087526.ece\|archive-date=3 March 2018\|df=dmy-all\|date=9 August 2006}}</ref> Daily visitors usually range between 500 and 600 and shoot up to 1,500 during the tourist season.<ref name=thehindu6>{{cite news\|last1=Sumit Bhattacharjee\|title=Kursura will be back at her shiny best\|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/kursura-will-be-back-at-her-shiny-best/article1959147.ece\|access-date=7 June 2014\|work=The Hindu\|date=1 December 2007}}</ref>

	In September 2007, [[Vice Admiral]] [[Carol M. Pottenger]] of the United States Navy visited the submarine when she wrote in the guestbook "What a fantastic experience. The Indian Navy should be very proud of this awesome display". She said that the submarine was very well preserved and they did not have anything similar to it in the United States.<ref name=thehindu4>{{cite news\|title=Kursura is fantastic, says US navy official\|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/kursura-is-fantastic-says-us-navy-official/article1910197.ece\|newspaper=The Hindu\|access-date=17 January 2014\|date=13 September ~~2022~~}}</ref> A major overhaul was done in December 2007 to repair her hull's corrosion. New steel plates were arranged at a cost of {{INR}} 1.5 million.<ref name=thehindu6/> As of August 2008, about 1.5 million people had visited the museum,<ref name=thehindu8>{{cite news\|title=Kursura Submarine Museum turns six\|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/kursura-submarine-museum-turns-six/article1311477.ece\|access-date=7 June 2014\|work=The Hindu\|date=10 August ~~2022~~}}</ref> and in 2010, she was visited by 270,000 people.<ref name=vuda>{{cite web\|title=Kurusura Submarine Museum\|url=http://www.vuda.gov.in/kurusra_submarine_museum.html\|publisher=Visakhapatnam Urbal Development Authority\|access-date=7 June 2014\|url-status=live\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140601002829/http://www.vuda.gov.in/kurusra_submarine_museum.html\|archive-date=1 June 2014\|df=dmy-all}}</ref>		In September 2007, [[Vice Admiral]] [[Carol M. Pottenger]] of the United States Navy visited the submarine when she wrote in the guestbook "What a fantastic experience. The Indian Navy should be very proud of this awesome display". She said that the submarine was very well preserved and they did not have anything similar to it in the United States.<ref name=thehindu4>{{cite news\|title=Kursura is fantastic, says US navy official\|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/kursura-is-fantastic-says-us-navy-official/article1910197.ece\|newspaper=The Hindu\|access-date=17 January 2014\|date=13 September 2007}}</ref> A major overhaul was done in December 2007 to repair her hull's corrosion. New steel plates were arranged at a cost of {{INR}} 1.5 million.<ref name=thehindu6/> As of August 2008, about 1.5 million people had visited the museum,<ref name=thehindu8>{{cite news\|title=Kursura Submarine Museum turns six\|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/kursura-submarine-museum-turns-six/article1311477.ece\|access-date=7 June 2014\|work=The Hindu\|date=10 August 2008}}</ref> and in 2010, she was visited by 270,000 people.<ref name=vuda>{{cite web\|title=Kurusura Submarine Museum\|url=http://www.vuda.gov.in/kurusra_submarine_museum.html\|publisher=Visakhapatnam Urbal Development Authority\|access-date=7 June 2014\|url-status=live\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140601002829/http://www.vuda.gov.in/kurusra_submarine_museum.html\|archive-date=1 June 2014\|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

	==Gallery==		==Gallery==

Bot at 20:29, 4 September 2022

2022-09-04T20:29:52Z

New page

{{Short description|Indian Kalvari-class submarine}}
{{good article}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2022}}
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{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image= [[File:INS Kursura (S20) underway.jpg|300px|INS ''Kursura'' (S20) underway]]
|Ship caption= INS ''Kursura'' underway
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=[[India]]
|Ship flag= {{shipboxflag|India|naval 1950}}
|Ship name= INS ''Kursura''
|Ship namesake=
|Ship ordered=
|Ship builder= Sudomekh, [[Admiralty Shipyard]], [[Saint Petersburg|Leningrad]], [[Soviet Union]]
|Ship laid down=
|Ship launched=25 February 1969
|Ship acquired=
|Ship commissioned= 18 December 1969
|Ship decommissioned= 27 February 2001
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=
|Ship struck=
|Ship reinstated=
|Ship identification=S20
|Ship fate= [[Museum ship]] at [[RK Beach]], [[Visakhapatnam]]
|Ship status=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship class= {{sclass|Kalvari|submarine (1967)|0}} [[submarine]]
|Ship type=
|Ship displacement=*{{convert|1950|t|LT|0|abbr=on}} surfaced
* {{convert|2475|t|LT|0|abbr=on}} submerged
|Ship length= {{convert|91.3|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam= {{convert|7.5|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught= {{convert|6|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship propulsion=
|Ship speed=*{{convert|16|kn|lk=in}} surfaced
* {{convert|15|kn}} submerged
|Ship range=*{{convert|20000|mi|km|abbr=on}} at {{convert|8|kn|abbr=on}} surfaced
* {{convert|380|mi|km|abbr=on}} at {{convert|10|kn|abbr=on}} submerged
|Ship test depth= {{convert|985|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship complement= 75 (incl 8 officers)
|Ship sensors=
|Ship EW=
|Ship armament=*10 × {{convert|533|mm|in|abbr=on|0}} [[torpedo tube]]s with 22 Type 53 torpedoes
* 44 [[naval mine|mines]] in lieu of torpedoes
|Ship armour=
|Ship notes=
}}
|}

'''INS ''Kursura'' (S20)''' was a {{sclass|Kalvari|submarine (1967)|0}} (variant of the [[Foxtrot-class submarine|Foxtrot-class]]) diesel-electric [[submarine]] of the [[Indian Navy]]. She was India's fourth submarine. ''Kursura'' was commissioned on 18 December 1969 and was decommissioned on 27 February 2001 after 31 years of service. She participated in the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]], where she played a key role in patrol missions. She later participated in naval exercises with other nations and made many goodwill visits to other countries.

After decommissioning, It was dedicated to the Nation by the Chief minister [[N. Chandrababu Naidu]] on 9 August 2002<ref>{{Cite web|title=Submarine Museum {{!}} Indian Navy|url=https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/submarine-museum|access-date=2021-03-17|website=www.indiannavy.nic.in}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority-VMRDA|url=http://vmrda.gov.in/kursura.aspx|access-date=2021-03-17|website=vmrda.gov.in}}</ref> and was preserved as a museum for public access from 24 August 2002 making its final journey to [[Visakhapatnam]] on [[RK Beach]]. ''Kursura'' has the distinction of being one of the very few submarine museums to retain originality and has been called a "must-visit destination" of Visakhapatnam. Despite being a decommissioned submarine, she still receives the navy's "Dressing Ship" honour, which is usually awarded only to active ships.

==Description==
[[File:INS Kursura (S20) torpedo tubes.jpg|thumbnail|200px|The six torpedo tubes of ''Kursura''. Note two of them are loaded with torpedoes]]
''Kursura'' has a length of {{convert|91.3|m|abbr=on}} [[Length overall|overall]], a [[Beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|7.5|m|abbr=on}} and a [[Draft (ship)|draught]] of {{convert|6|m|abbr=on}}. She displaces {{convert|1950|t|LT|0|abbr=on}} surfaced, {{convert|2475|t|LT|0|abbr=on}} submerged and has a maximum diving depth of {{convert|985|ft|abbr=on}}. The complement is about 75, including 8 officers and 67 sailors.<ref name=globalsecurity>{{cite web|title=S 20 Kalvari Class|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/s-kursura.htm|publisher=Global Security|access-date=17 January 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201204505/http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/s-kursura.htm|archive-date=1 February 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

[[File:INS Kursura (S20) telegraph dials.jpg|thumbnail|200px|left|Telegraph dials aboard the submarine]]
The submarine has three shafts, each with a six-blade propeller. She is powered by three Kolomna 2D42M diesel engines, each with {{convert|2000|hp|lk=in}}. She also has three electric motors, two of them with {{convert|1350|hp|abbr=on}} and one with {{convert|2700|hp|abbr=on}}. She can achieve a maximum speed of {{convert|16|kn|km/h|lk=in}} when on surface, {{convert|15|kn|km/h}} when submerged and {{convert|9|kn|km/h}} while snorkelling. She has a range of {{convert|20000|mi|km|abbr=on}} at {{convert|8|kn|abbr=on}} when surfaced and {{convert|380|mi|km|abbr=on}} at {{convert|10|kn|abbr=on}} when submerged. There are 10 torpedo tubes to carry 22 [[Type 53 torpedo]]es. She could lay 44 [[Naval mine|mines]] instead of torpedoes. She also had a snoop tray and I-Band radar for surface search.<ref name=globalsecurity/>

==Operational history==
''Kursura'' was [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 18 December 1969 at [[Riga]], [[Soviet Union]]. She was India's fourth submarine.<ref name=thehindu5>{{cite news|title=Walk down the corridor of history|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-youngworld/walk-down-the-corridor-of-history/article1444584.ece|access-date=4 June 2014|work=The Hindu|date=19 August 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606223444/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-youngworld/walk-down-the-corridor-of-history/article1444584.ece|archive-date=6 June 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref> ''Kursura'''s first [[commanding officer]] was Commander [[Arun Auditto]]. She began her maiden voyage to India on 20 February 1970.<ref name=insubmarinemuseum>{{cite web|title=Submarine Museum|url=http://indiannavy.nic.in/naval-fleet/submarine-museum|publisher=Indian Navy|access-date=17 January 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106212052/http://www.indiannavy.nic.in/naval-fleet/submarine-museum|archive-date=6 January 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref> During her homecoming voyage, which lasted from February to April 1970, she visited [[Göteborg]], La Coruña, [[Takoradi]] and [[Mauritius]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Hiranandani|first1=G.M.|title=Transition to Triumph: History of the Indian Navy, 1965–1975|date=2000|publisher=Lancer Publishers|location=New Delhi|isbn=1897829728|pages=375–377|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zFyMKROi46kC|access-date=4 June 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303201538/https://books.google.com/books?id=zFyMKROi46kC&dq=ISBN1897829728&source=gbs_navlinks_s|archive-date=3 March 2018|df=dmy-all}}</ref> ''Kursura'', along with [[sister ship|sister boat]] {{INS|Karanj|S21|6}}, were made operational under the Indian Navy's [[Western Naval Command]], and reported to the Flag officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command (FOCINCWEST). They were ordered to patrol approaches to Pakistan's [[Karachi]] harbour and [[Makran Coast]], for which they established waiting stations and submarine havens.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Hiranandani|first1=G.M.|title=Transition to Triumph: History of the Indian Navy, 1965–1975|date=2000|publisher=Lancer Publishers|location=New Delhi|isbn=1897829728|page=211|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zFyMKROi46kC&q=Transition+To+Triumph+Indian+Navy+1965-75&pg=PP20|access-date=4 June 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303201538/https://books.google.com/books?id=zFyMKROi46kC&pg=PP20&lpg=PP20&dq=Transition+To+Triumph+Indian+Navy+1965-75&source=bl&ots=aUIwTbZ2_t&sig=Q71usXgW3HUPcR69q-mckuHb_pQ&hl=en&sa=X&ei=xamOU5DfMcjfkwWRlYCADA&redir_esc=y#v=snippet&q=Western%20Naval%20Command%20was%20allocated%20two%20submarines%20KURSURA%20and%20KARANJ&f=false|archive-date=3 March 2018|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

In 1970, ''Karanj'' was badly damaged after a collision with the [[destroyer]] [[HMS Redoubt (H41)|''Ranjit'']] when she surfaced directly below the ship. As no drawings of the damaged portions of the boat were available with the Bombay Dockyard or the Indian Navy, it was decided to use ''Kursura'', which was already docked at Bombay, as the design template for the metal work, and ''Karanj'' was repaired within months, in time to join the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Hiranandani|first1=G.M.|title=Transition to Eminence: The Indian Navy 1976–1990|date=2009|publisher=Lancer|location=Delhi|isbn=978-8170622666|page=152|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1WxI9TlAxIQC&q=Kursura|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702233650/https://books.google.com/books?id=1WxI9TlAxIQC&q=Kursura#v=snippet&q=Kursura&f=false|archive-date=2 July 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

===Indo-Pakistan War of 1971===
During the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]], ''Kursura'' operated in the Arabian Sea. She was given the patrol duties at two designated areas before the war started, but was ordered to operate under two restrictions: she was not to cross demarcated shipping corridors and she could attack a target only after positive identification. The aims of her patrol were to sink any Pakistani naval warships, to sink merchant shipping when specifically ordered, and to conduct general patrol and surveillance.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Hiranandani|first1=G.M.|title=Transition to Triumph: History of the Indian Navy, 1965–1975|date=2000|publisher=Lancer Publishers|location=New Delhi|isbn=1897829728|page=211|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zFyMKROi46kC&q=Transition+To+Triumph+Indian+Navy+1965-75&pg=PP20|access-date=4 June 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303201538/https://books.google.com/books?id=zFyMKROi46kC&pg=PP20&lpg=PP20&dq=Transition+To+Triumph+Indian+Navy+1965-75&source=bl&ots=aUIwTbZ2_t&sig=Q71usXgW3HUPcR69q-mckuHb_pQ&hl=en&sa=X&ei=xamOU5DfMcjfkwWRlYCADA&redir_esc=y#v=snippet&q=Submarines%20were%20required%20to%20positively%20identify%20a%20target%20before%20attack&f=false|archive-date=3 March 2018|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

She started from her home port on 13 November 1971 and reached her patrol location by 18 November. She remained there until 25 November when she was shifted to a new patrol location and remained there until 30 November. On 30 November, she rendezvoused with ''Karanj'' at sea to transfer instructions and subsequently then left for [[Bombay]] and reached there by 4 December 1971. During her patrols, she encountered fair weather and monitored a number of tankers and commercial aircraft flying on international routes.<ref name=transitiontotriumph>{{cite book|last=Vice Admiral GM Hiranandani|title=Transition to Triumph: History of the Indian Navy, 1965–1975|year=2000|publisher=Lancer Publishers|pages=211–212|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zFyMKROi46kC&q=INS+Kursura&pg=PA211|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303201538/https://books.google.com/books?id=zFyMKROi46kC&pg=PA211&dq=INS+Kursura&hl=en&sa=X&ei=cyDZUu7_DIO4rgf04IDQDQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=INS%20Kursura&f=false|archive-date=3 March 2018|df=dmy-all|isbn=978-1897829721}}</ref> She was originally intended to lay mines but the plan was later cancelled.<ref name=noeasyanswers>{{cite book|last=James Goldrick|title=No Easy Answers: The Development of the Navies of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, 1945–1996|date=1 January 1997|publisher=Lancer Publications|page=96|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6XW7kKHQeQoC&q=INS+Kursura&pg=PA96|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925075116/https://books.google.com/books?id=6XW7kKHQeQoC&pg=PA96&dq=INS+Kursura&hl=en&sa=X&ei=WqPYUozDGYOzrgeqgYHQBA&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=INS%20Kursura&f=false|archive-date=25 September 2017|df=dmy-all|isbn=978-1897829028}}</ref>

===Later service===
''Kursura'' was used for test firing the NSTL 58 torpedo in 1975. She was laid off for many years to be cannibalised for spare parts for other submarines, but underwent a refit in the Soviet Union between September 1980 and April 1982, and was made operational again in 1985.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Hiranandani|first1=G.M.|title=Transition to Eminence: The Indian Navy 1976–1990|date=2009|publisher=Lancer|location=Delhi|isbn=978-8170622666|pages=116, 122|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1WxI9TlAxIQC&q=Kursura|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702233650/https://books.google.com/books?id=1WxI9TlAxIQC&q=Kursura#v=snippet&q=Kursura&f=false|archive-date=2 July 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Along with {{INS|Taragiri}}, she participated in the first [[anti-submarine warfare]](ASW) training exercise with the [[Victory-class corvette|RSS ''Victory'']] of Singapore off the coast of [[Port Blair]] between 21–24 February 1994. She participated in the second ASW exercise with Singapore along with {{INS|Dunagiri|F36|6}}, [[Victory-class corvette|RSS ''Valour'']] and [[Victory-class corvette|RSS ''Vigilance'']]. She visited Singapore and [[Jakarta]], Indonesia, in December 1994 on a good-will visit.<ref name=transitiontoguardianship>{{cite book|last=Vice Admiral GM Hiranandani|title=Transition to Guardianship: The Indian Navy 1991–2000|publisher=Lancer Publications|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w2snz5Cfb0gC&q=INS+Kursura&pg=RA2-PT234|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303201538/https://books.google.com/books?id=w2snz5Cfb0gC&pg=RA2-PT234&dq=INS+Kursura&hl=en&sa=X&ei=cyDZUu7_DIO4rgf04IDQDQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=INS%20Kursura&f=false|archive-date=3 March 2018|df=dmy-all|isbn=978-1935501664}}</ref>

After a service of 31 years and traversing {{convert|73500|nmi|km mi}}, she was [[Ship decommissioning|decommissioned]] on 27 February 2001.<ref name=insubmarinemuseum/> Despite being a decommissioned submarine, she still receives the navy's "Dressing Ship" honour, which is usually only awarded to active ships.<ref name=thehindu6/>

==Museum ship (2002 – present)==
[[File:INS Kursura (S20).jpg|thumbnail|''Kursura'' as a museum ship in Visakhapatnam]]
[[File:INS Kursura (S20) undergoing repairs.jpg|thumbnail|left|200px|''Kursura'' undergoing repairs in 2013]]
After decommissioning, the ship was towed to [[RK Beach]] in [[Visakhapatnam]] and was established as a museum ship, which is the first submarine museum in South Asia. The idea of the boat's conversion to a museum is credited to Admiral V Pasricha.<ref name=thehindu1>{{cite news|title=INS Kursura museum celebrates 8th anniversary|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/ins-kursura-museum-celebrates-8th-anniversary/article560297.ece|newspaper=The Hindu|access-date=17 January 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202172358/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/ins-kursura-museum-celebrates-8th-anniversary/article560297.ece|archive-date=2 February 2014|df=dmy-all|date=9 August 2010|last1=Ganguly|first1=Nivedita}}</ref> Towing the submarine 600 metres to its final location took 18 months and cost {{INR}} 55 million. It was converted as a museum by [[N. Chandrababu Naidu]] government launching from 9 August 2002, and it was open to the public from 24 August 2002.<ref name=insubmarinemuseum/><ref name=toi1>{{cite web|title=Feel life undersea on INS Kursura|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-02-14/india/27797257_1_submarine-museum-south-asia|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201230952/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-02-14/india/27797257_1_submarine-museum-south-asia|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 February 2014|work=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=17 January 2022}}</ref><ref name=thehindu2/> Six retired naval personnel serve as guides and another one as the curator.<ref name=vuda/>

''Kursura'' has the distinction of being one of the very few submarine museums to retain originality.<ref name=thehindu6/> She has become a famous tourist attraction of the city and has been called a "must-visit destination" of Visakhapatnam by ''[[The Hindu]]''.<ref name=thehindu2/> Out of the {{INR}} 10 million revenue generated every year by the museum, {{INR}} 8 million is used for the submarine's maintenance. During the first four months of the museum's operation, it was visited by about 93,000 people.<ref name=thehindu2>{{cite news|last=B. Madhu Gopal|title='Kursura' saga continues|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/kursura-saga-continues/article3087526.ece|newspaper=The Hindu|access-date=17 January 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303201538/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/kursura-saga-continues/article3087526.ece|archive-date=3 March 2018|df=dmy-all|date=9 August 2022}}</ref> Daily visitors usually range between 500 and 600 and shoot up to 1,500 during the tourist season.<ref name=thehindu6>{{cite news|last1=Sumit Bhattacharjee|title=Kursura will be back at her shiny best|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/kursura-will-be-back-at-her-shiny-best/article1959147.ece|access-date=7 June 2014|work=The Hindu|date=1 December 2022}}</ref>

In September 2007, [[Vice Admiral]] [[Carol M. Pottenger]] of the United States Navy visited the submarine when she wrote in the guestbook "What a fantastic experience. The Indian Navy should be very proud of this awesome display". She said that the submarine was very well preserved and they did not have anything similar to it in the United States.<ref name=thehindu4>{{cite news|title=Kursura is fantastic, says US navy official|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/kursura-is-fantastic-says-us-navy-official/article1910197.ece|newspaper=The Hindu|access-date=17 January 2014|date=13 September 2022}}</ref> A major overhaul was done in December 2007 to repair her hull's corrosion. New steel plates were arranged at a cost of {{INR}} 1.5 million.<ref name=thehindu6/> As of August 2008, about 1.5 million people had visited the museum,<ref name=thehindu8>{{cite news|title=Kursura Submarine Museum turns six|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/kursura-submarine-museum-turns-six/article1311477.ece|access-date=7 June 2014|work=The Hindu|date=10 August 2022}}</ref> and in 2010, she was visited by 270,000 people.<ref name=vuda>{{cite web|title=Kurusura Submarine Museum|url=http://www.vuda.gov.in/kurusra_submarine_museum.html|publisher=Visakhapatnam Urbal Development Authority|access-date=7 June 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140601002829/http://www.vuda.gov.in/kurusra_submarine_museum.html|archive-date=1 June 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==Gallery==
{{commons category}}
<gallery>
File:INS Kursura (S20) stern view.jpg|Stern view of the submarine
File:INS Kursura (S20) officer cabin.jpg|An officer's cabin
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}



{{Submarines of the Indian Navy}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kursura (S20)}}
[[Category:Kalvari-class submarines]]
[[Category:Museum ships in India]]
[[Category:Foxtrot-class submarines]]
[[Category:Ships built in the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:Museums in Visakhapatnam]]
[[Category:1969 ships]]