INS Shardul (2004): Difference between revisions

|Ship class= {{sclass-|Shardul|tank landing ship}}

'''INS ''Shardul''''' is the lead ship of the {{sclass-|Shardul|tank landing ship|0}} [[amphibious warfare vessel]]s of the [[Indian Navy]]. On 3 October 2008, ''Shardul'' was affiliated to the [[5th Armoured Regiment (India)|5 Armoured Regiment]] of the [[Indian Army]] in an on-board ceremony, at the Mumbai Naval Base.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/5-ar.htm |title=5 Armoured Regiment |publisher=GlobalSecurity.org |date=9 July 2011 |accessdate=21 February 2015}}</ref><ref name=inp>{{cite web|title=Surface Ships |url=http://indiannavy.nic.in/print/84 |publisher=Indian Navy |accessdate=21 February 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150325134508/http://indiannavy.nic.in/print/84 |archivedate=25 March 2015 }}</ref><ref name=insc>{{cite web|title=Shardul Class|url=http://www.indiannavy.nic.in/naval-fleet/shardul-class|publisher=Indian Navy|accessdate=21 February 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141224004244/http://www.indiannavy.nic.in/naval-fleet/shardul-class|archivedate=24 December 2014}}</ref>

''Shardul'' started sea trials on 3 November 2006 and was commissioned into the Indian Navy, on 4 January 2007 by the defence minister A.K Antony at the naval base {{INS|Kadamba}} in [[Karwar]]. The ship was based at the [[Southern Naval Command]] in [[Kochi]] to train cadets before the commissioning of {{INS|Kesari|2008|6}} and {{INS|Airavat|L24|6}}.<ref>[http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/406200707172032.htm 'INS Shardul' engaged in training for naval cadets]  {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070902130230/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/406200707172032.htm |date=2 September 2007 }}</ref> In March 2017 the ship was deployed on a two-month-long deployment in the south [[Indian Ocean]] to provide [[surveillance]] support in the region.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Indian navy's INS Shardul to provide surveillance support in Indian Ocean region|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/indian-navy-s-ins-shardul-to-provide-surveillance-support-in-indian-ocean-region/story-mcIOO2c9YYQTvDbjtJHv8L.html|date=5 April 2017|newspaper=Hindustan Times|agency=IANS|accessdate=6 July 2019}}</ref> On March 10, 2020, INS Shardul arrived at Port Antsiranana with relief material for Madagascar, after Cyclone Diane and floods earlier in the year. 600 tonnes of rice were handed over. This is the biggest relief load ever carried by any Indian warship.<ref>{{Cite news|title=India delivers 600 tonnes of rice to flood-hit Madagascar|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2020/mar/13/india-delivers-600-tonnes-of-rice-to-flood-hit-madagascar-2115958.html|date=13 March 2020|newspaper=New Indian Express|accessdate=14 March 2020}}</ref>