ASW Shallow Water Craft Mangrol: The Indian Navy received Mangrol, its third Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), from Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) in Kochi on August 21, 2026. The vessel has been built in India and is designed mainly for operations in shallow and coastal waters. It will help the Navy watch underwater areas and deal with possible submarine threats close to the coast.
Mangrol is the third ship in a planned series of eight ASW-SWC vessels being built by CSL for the Indian Navy. The project is part of India’s wider effort to increase domestic defence production and reduce dependence on equipment made outside the country. CSL says the ships are designed to replace older Abhay-class anti-submarine corvettes and can also carry out low-intensity maritime operations and mine-laying missions.
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Mangrol Built for Coastal Underwater Operations
The new vessel has more than 80% indigenous content, showing the growing use of Indian-made equipment and systems in warship construction. It has been specially designed for areas where the water is not very deep. Its size and high manoeuvrability make it suitable for patrol and underwater surveillance near the coast.
Mangrol is powered by waterjets. It carries modern torpedoes and anti-submarine rockets for underwater warfare. The ship also has advanced radar and sonar systems. These systems help the crew search for and track underwater targets. Along with anti-submarine duties, the vessel can also be used for low-intensity maritime operations and mine warfare.
The ASW-SWC vessels are about 78 metres long, have a displacement of around 896 tonnes and can reach a top speed of about 25 knots. Their design allows them to work effectively in shallow coastal waters where larger warships may not be as suitable.
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Name Linked to Gujarat’s Naval History
The ship gets its name from Mangrol, a coastal town and minor port in Gujarat’s Junagadh district. The town is well known as an important harbour for the marine fishing industry. The name also has a connection with the Indian Navy’s past.
An earlier INS Mangrol served as a naval minesweeper and remained in service until 2004. Giving the same name to the new vessel continues that naval tradition and keeps the older ship’s legacy alive.
