Indian Navy to Commission Third Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft Mangrol on October 12

The Indian Navy will commission INS Mangrol, the third Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), on October 12, 2026, at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai. VAdm Sanjay Vatsayan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, will preside over the ceremony. Senior naval and defence officials, Ministry of Defence representatives, veterans and indigenous equipment makers will attend.

Key Features of Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft ‘Mangrol’

Builder and Indigenous Content

Mangrol was built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi, under the Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiatives. More than 80% of its content is indigenous, showing India’s growing skill in designing and building warships.

Origin of the Name

The ship is named after Mangrol, a coastal town and fishing harbour in Gujarat’s Junagadh district. It carries forward the legacy of the earlier INS Mangrol (M85), a minesweeper that served the Navy until April 7, 2004. The Navy follows a tradition of keeping the names of its old warships alive.

Design and Propulsion

The craft is made to find and counter underwater threats in coastal and shallow waters. It runs on three diesel engines with waterjet propulsion, which gives it high manoeuvrability in shallow areas. It can also carry out underwater surveillance, Low-Intensity Maritime Operations and mine warfare tasks.

Detection Devices and Weapons on Mangrol ASW-SWC

1. Abhay Hull-Mounted Sonar: detects submarines underwater
2. Lightweight torpedoes: used to attack submarines
3. Indigenous anti-submarine rocket launcher: another weapon against underwater targets
4. Maareech Advanced Torpedo Decoy System: protects the ship from incoming torpedoes

How Will Mangrol Strengthen Indian Navy Anti-Submarine Warfare Capabilities?

Larger warships face limits when operating in coastal waters, and Mangrol fills this gap. It can work together with maritime patrol aircraft, helicopters and other warships to detect and counter submarine threats. Its induction will improve the Navy’s ability to protect ports, harbours and coastal approaches, and will support wider fleet operations.

With underwater threats growing in the changing maritime security environment, its commissioning is an important milestone. It also shows India’s rising indigenous shipbuilding strength and the Navy’s commitment to operational readiness.