- The destroyer was built by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) under her Russian name ‘Nadezhny’ meaning ‘hope’ at 61 Communards Shipyard in Nikolaev, present-day Ukraine.
- It was commissioned at Poti, Georgia (erstwhile USSR) by I K Gujral, the then Indian Ambassador to the USSR; Captain Gulab Mohanlal Hiranandani was the 1st Commanding Officer of INS Rajput.
- With the motto of ‘Raj Karega Rajput’ it was the lead ship of the Kashin-class destroyers.
- It was decommissioned in the presence of Vice Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command, who was the Chief Guest of the occasion.
Key Points
i.Vice Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh released a Special Postal Cover in recognition of INS Rajput’s service to Indian Navy.
ii.INS Rajput has served both the Western (based in Mumbai till 1988) & Eastern Fleet (Visakhapatnam) of the Indian Navy.
iii.It has participated in various naval operations like
- Operation Pawan – to regain control of Jaffna in Sri Lanka from LTTE
- Operation Aman – conduct off the coast of Sri Lanka to assist Indian Peace Keeping Forces (IPKF)
- Operation Cactus – resolving hostage situation of Maldives
- Operation Crowsnest off Lakshadweep.
iv.Until its decommissioning it has been led by 31 Commanding Officers and has sailed a distance of over 7, 87, 194 nautical miles.
Recent Related News:
On 16th March 2021, Indian Army decommissioned 2 of its longest serving Artillery – 130mm Self Propelled M-46 Catapult Guns and the 160mm Tampella Mortars, after making a customary firing of their last salvos in Mahajan Field Firing Range.
About Indian Navy
Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) – Admiral Karambir Singh
Integrated Headquarters of Ministry of Defence (Navy) – New Delhi