INS Rajput decommissioned at Visakhapatnam

By A Draft Correspondent

After serving the nation for 41 glorious years, Indian Navy’s first destroyer INS Rajput was decommissioned at Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam on 21 May 2021. INS Rajput was decommissioned in a solemn and low key event considering the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing restrictions. 

HISTORIC: INS Rajput was Indian Navy's first destroyer

The National Flag, Naval Ensign and the Decommissioning Pennant were lowered at sunset in the presence of Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command, AVSM, VSM Vice Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh, also the Chief Guest for the ceremony. In recognition of the yeoman service rendered to the nation by the ship, a special Postal Cover was released by the Chief Guest on the occasion.

INS Rajput was commissioned on 04 May 1980 at Poti, Georgia (erstwhile USSR) as the lead ship of the Rajput Class Destroyers of the Indian Navy with Capt (later Vice Admiral) Gulab Mohanlal Hiranandani as the first Commanding Officer. During her service, the ship had the distinction of being part of both the Western and Eastern Fleets. She was based in Mumbai till Jun 1988 and thereafter was re-based at Visakhapatnam as part of the Eastern Fleet. 

DECOMMISSIONED: Naval Ensign being lowered for the last time on INS Rajput

Endowed with menacing looks, the ship was equipped with an array of weapons and sensors which included surface-to-surface missiles, surface-to-air missiles, anti-aircraft guns, torpedoes and anti-submarine rocket launchers. INS Rajput was also the first ship to be fitted out to fire the supersonic cruise and long-range BrahMos missile. She was also the first Indian Naval Ship to get affiliated with an Indian Army Regiment - the Rajput Regiment.

Apart from participating in various naval operations like Op Pawan, Operation Aman, Operation Cactus and various multinational exercises, the ship was a flag bearer of Indian Navy's benign role by participating in various relief operations including cyclone relief operations off Odisha Coast in 1999, relief operations post Tsunami in Andaman and Nicobar Islands in 2004 and HADR mission after the earthquake at Jakarta, Indonesia.

FINAL ADIEU: Vice Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh during the INS Rajput Decommissioning Ceremony

In her glorious service to the nation, the ship has been helmed by 31 Commanding Officers. The ship, since its commissioning, has sailed a distance of over 7,87,194 nautical miles which is equivalent to navigating around the world 36.5 times and 3.8 times the distance from the Earth to the Moon.

The decommissioning ceremony was attended by select officers and sailors from the Eastern Fleet and other organisations of ENC whilst adhering to the COVID protocols. The event was live-streamed on the internet and Naval intranet for the benefit of a larger audience viz., serving personnel, veterans and outstation ex-crew who had served onboard the ship.

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