The Water Jet Fast Attack Craft (WJFAC), “TIHAYU” built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE), Kolkata was handed over to the Indian Navy on 30 Aug 2016.
The warship was handed over by Rear Admiral (Retd) AK Verma, Chairman & Managing Director, GRSE to the Commanding Officer of the ship Cdr. Ajay Kashov, at a ceremony held in GRSE. Rear Admiral SR Sarma, Chief Staff Officer (Technical) of Eastern Naval Command carried out final inspection of the ship prior to acceptance by the Navy.
Here is all you need to know about recently commissioned INS Tihayu:
- INS Tihayu is named after an island in the Andaman.
- Tihayu is fitted with three water jet propulsion systems powered by marine diesel engines generating 2720 KW of power.
- This Follow-on WJFAC ship is a further improved version of Fast Attack Crafts earlier built by GRSE for Indian Navy.
- The ship has an efficient hull form developed by the in-house Design Centre of GRSE and proved by extensive model testing to achieve speeds in excess of 35 knots.
- This warship measuring 48 X 7.5 M with a displacement of around 315 Tons, has an endurance of around 2000 nautical miles at 12-14 knots speed.
- It also has modern habitability conditions with accommodation for 29 personnel.
- It is also fitted with CRN-91 indigenous 30mm Gun, to provide Artillery fire support during attack missions.
The GRSE had built and delivered 10 WJFACs to the Indian Navy during 2009 to 2011 which are proving well in service. In light of this, the Navy had ordered four more WJFACs. The Tihayu is the second of these four WJFACs. The first — INS Tarmugli — was commissioned into Indian Navy on May 23, 2016.
