ANC Decommissions Two Landing Craft Utility Ships

Port Blair, April 03: Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) decommissioned Indian Naval (IN) Landing Craft Utility (LCU) Ships, L-38 and L-39 today in a ceremony at Naval Wharf, Port Blair on March 30, 2019. The Ships have been decommissioned after 32 years of glorious service to the nation.

Commodore Ashutosh Ridhorkar, VSM, Naval Component Commander of ANC presided over the solemn decommissioning ceremony.  Several senior officers including previous and present Commanding Officers and crew of the Ships were also present on the occasion.

During the ceremony at sunset, as the light faded, the Commissioning Pennants, Naval Ensigns and National Flags of both the warships were lowered for the last time. The Naval Guard and Band played in unison to salute the flags and paid tribute to the ships. 

MK-III class of Landing Craft Utility Ships, IN LCU, L-38 and L-39 were built by Goa Shipyard. These Ships were commissioned into the Indian Navy on 10th December 1986 and 25th March 1987 respectively. Lieutenant commander SS Gill was the first commanding officer of LCU 38 and Lieutenant commander K Nair for LCU 39. With a compliment of 03 officers and 50 Sailors, the Ships have undertaken countless beaching operations, surveillance patrols and participated in several exercises in their 32 years of yeoman service.

As the last of the MK-III class of LCUs get decommissioned, next generation LCU MK-IV will replace them. Out of the 08 LCU MK IV planned to be inducted into the flotilla of ANC, 05 have been inducted and 03 more will be inducted shortly.