The Indian Navy has commissioned the fourth Landing Craft Utility (LCU) Mk IV-class ship, IN LCU L54, at Port Blair in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. IN LCU L54 was designed and built indigenously by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers as part of a planned series of eight LCU Mk IV-class vessels for the Indian Navy.
The LCU is set to be commanded by Indian Navy lieutenant commander Munish Sethi and can accommodate five officers and 41 sailors, as well as an additional troop of up to 160 personnel.
LCU Mk IV-class ships are amphibious vessels that have been designed to carry out the transportation and deployment of main battle tanks, armoured vehicles, troops and equipment from the ship to the shore.
The class of vessels will be based at the Andaman and Nicobar Command and can be deployed to conduct multi-role activities such as beaching operations, search and rescue, and disaster relief operations.
They are also capable of carrying out supply, replenishment and evacuation missions from distant islands.
IN LCU L54 has a displacement of 830t and is installed with modern and advanced technologies such as the integrated bridge system (IBS) and integrated platform management system (IPMS).
In addition, the Indian Navy vessel is capable of transporting a wide range of combat equipment such as main battle tanks, T72s and other vehicles.
The third ship of the class, IN LCU L53, was inducted with the navy on 25 April.
The remaining four LCUs are currently in various advanced stages of construction and will be commissioned into service with the Indian Navy over the next 18 months.
