Amidst the Arabian Sea, Houthi insurgents launched missiles at the Panama-flagged oil tanker MV Andromeda Star, which carried 30 crew members, including 22 Indians. The tanker urgently sought emergency assistance. INS Kochi, the nearby Indian Navy ship, acted swiftly. The incident occurred on April 26, 2024.
The United States Central Command reported that Iran-backed Houthi rebels fired three anti-ship ballistic missiles from Yemen. The targets were commercial vessels Maisha and MV Andromeda Star in the Red Sea. MV Andromeda Star is a ship operatedunder Panama flag and managed by Seychelles.
Source: aajtak
The missile impact caused minimal damage to the ship. However, the Indian Navy's stealth guided missile destroyer INS Kochi immediately reached out to assist the tanker. All crew members were rescued. During this time, aerial reconnaissance was conducted by naval helicopters. After assessing the situation, the crew was safely evacuated.
The Navy's Explosive Ordnance Disposal team inspected the site of the missile impact on the tanker, a part of the residual risk assessment process. The Navy confirmed that all crew members, including the 22 Indians, are safe. The ship has since set sail for its next voyage.
Source: aajtak
Let's discover the strengths of INS Kochi...
INS Kochi is the second stealth guided missile destroyer of the Kolkata class, commissioned into the Navy in 2015. This warship has a displacement of 7,500 tons and measures 535 feet in length with a 57-feet beam. It can reach speeds of up to 34 nautical miles per hour and is equipped with six types of advanced sensors.
It features three types of electronic warfare and decoy systems. It is armed with 32 Barak-8 missiles and 16 BrahMos missiles. The warship carries 1 Oto Melara 76mm naval gun, 4 AK-630 CIWS, 4 torpedo tubes, and 2 RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launchers. It also has capacity for two Sea King or Dhruv helicopters.
Source: aajtak
The Indian Navy's vigilance isn't limited to China and Pakistan but spans across the globe. The Indian Navy has made its presence felt in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, receiving worldwide acclaim for its actions. From November 2023 to the present, the Navy has rescued 110 individuals from pirates or other calamities at sea.
Starting in November, here are some of the Navy's actions:December 14, 2023: Thwarted the hijacking of MV Ruen and saved the sailors.December 23, 2023: Responded to a drone attack on MV Chem Pluto.January 4, 2024: Prevented the hijacking of MV Leila Norfolk.January 17, 2024: Immediately acted post-drone/missile attack on MV Jenco Picardy.January 26, 2024: Rescued crew from missile attack on MV Marlin Luanda.January 27/29, 2024: Stopped the hijacking of SLFV Lorenza Putha.January 28/29, 2024: Halted the hijacking of FV Iman and El Naimee.January 29, 2024: Prevented the hijacking of FV Omari.February 22, 2024: Quickly acted on missile attack on MV Islander.March 4, 2024: Instantly responded to a missile attack on MV MSC Sky-2.March 6, 2024: Acted on a missile attack on MV True Confidence.March 29, 2024: Freed all crew from Al-Kambar ship, arresting 9 pirates.
