Innaval terminology, adestroyer is a fast, manoueverable, long-distancewarship intended to escort larger vessels in afleet,convoy orbattle group and defend them against smaller, short-range attackers.^[1][2] Seventeen destroyers have served, or currently serve, in theIndian Navy. The navy operates 13 guided-missile destroyers from four classes:Visakhapatnam class,Kolkata class,Delhi class, andRajput class.^[3] Six other destroyers (threeR class and threeHunt class) have been decommissioned and scrapped.^[4][5]

India did not have any destroyers of its own until 1949.^[4] The R-classINS Ranjit, built in theUnited Kingdom, was the first destroyer commissioned in the Indian Navy.^[6] Two more of theR-class were later commissioned.^[4] ThreeHunt-class destroyers were commissioned in 1953 to succeed the R-class destroyers.^[5] These ships (all of which were built in the United Kingdom) were decommissioned by 1976, with the Hunt-classINS Godavari the last.^[7][8][9]

During the 1980s, India signed an agreement with theSoviet Union for five guided-missile destroyers, built as theRajput class.^[10] The first ship -(INS Rajput - was commissioned on 30 September 1980. Four of the fiveRajput-class are still in active service,Ranjit was decommissioned in 2019.^[11][12] TheRajput class was succeeded by theDelhi class, withINS Delhi,Mysore andMumbai commissioned in 1997, 1999 and 2001 respectively.^[13] TheDelhi-class destroyers, built in India,^[13] were succeeded by theKolkata-class in 2014.^[14] The threeKolkata-class ships were commissioned in 2014–2016, withINS Chennai being the last.^[15] An improvement of theKolkata-class,INS Visakhapatnam (part of theVisakhapatnam class), was commissioned in 2021. The second ship,INS Mormugao was commissioned in 2022,^[16] while the third shipINS Imphal (D68) in 2023 and the fourth shipINS Surat (D69) is in Sea trial.

Ten destroyers from three classes are in active service.^[17]INS Kolkata, the lead ship of theKolkata-classdestroyer with about 7,500 tonnes of displacement, is the largest.^[15] A total of threeKolkata-class ships are currently in service with theIndian Navy. TheKolkata-class destroyers were preceded by theDelhi-class destroyer which entered service with the 1997 of its lead ship,INS Delhi. TheDelhi class were the first destroyers built in India. TheRajput-class destroyers, which preceded theDelhi class, consists of five ships built in theSoviet Union and were commissioned from 1980 to 1990.^[10]

TheVisakhapatnam class (Project 15B) is a class of stealthguided missile destroyers under construction. An improved version of theKolkata class and ordered in 2011, the firstVisakhapatnam-class ship is expected to be completed in 2018. The first vessel of this class is expected to get commissioned with INS Vikrant and INS Arighat.^[18][19] The class will have enhanced stealth characteristics and state-of-the-art weaponry and sensors, including the long-rangeBarak 8surface-to-air missile. The first ship'skeel was laid in October 2013. TheVisakhapatnam class are armed with a 76 mm main gun and an AK-630 close-in anti-missile gun system.^[20][21]

Ship	Picture	Armament	VLS	Displacement	Service		Origin
					Laid down	Commissioned
Visakhapatnam		2 × 16-cell VLS[19] forBarak 8 missiles (range 0.5 km (0.31 mi) to 100 km (62 mi))[22][23] 2 × 8-cell UVLM for 16BrahMos anti-ship and land-attack cruise missiles[19] 76 mm Oto Melara SRGM gun 4 × AK-630 CIWS 4 × 533 mm torpedo tubes 2 ×RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launchers[24]	48	7,500 tonnes[24]	12 October 2013[25][26]	21 November 2021[27][28]	India
Mormugao			48		4 June 2015	18 December 2022
Imphal			48		19 May 2017	26 December 2023[29]
Surat			48		19 July 2018	15 January 2025[30]

TheKolkata class (Project 15A) is a class ofguided missile destroyers withstealth technology.^[14] By the year 2000, the Indian Navy had redesigned the follow-onKolkata class to improve technology (including modern stealth characteristics) and in May of that year, approval for the construction was given. Concept and function for Project 15A was framed by the navy's Directorate of Naval Design, while the detailed design was developed byMazagon Dock Limited (MDL).^[31] It consists of three ships (Kolkata,Kochi andChennai), built by Mazagon Dock Limited, which are the navy's largest destroyers. Due to construction delays and a problem discovered duringsea trials, the first ship's commission was postponed from 2010 to 2014.^[32]

Although the dimensions ofKolkata-class ships are similar to the previousDelhi class, their weaponry, sensors and helicopter systems have been upgraded.^[33] With a standard displacement of 6,800 t (6,700 long tons; 7,500 short tons) and a full-load displacement of 7,400 t (7,300 long tons; 8,200 short tons) (two sources reported a full-load displacement of 7,500 t (7,400 long tons; 8,300 short tons)),^[15][34] they are the navy's largest destroyers.^[35]

The ships' main air-defence armament is two 4 × 8-cellvertical launching systems (VLS) allowing up to 32Barak 8 (medium- to long-range) missiles.^[36] FourAK-630CIWS are fitted for near defence.^[14]

TheKolkata-class ships' primary offensive armament is supersonicBrahMos anti-ship and land-attack missiles.^[37] The BrahMos missiles are fitted into a 16-cell universal vertical launcher module (UVLM) allowing one missile per launch silo; all 16 missiles can be fired insalvo.^[38] A distinctive armament of theKolkata class is its 76 mm (3.0 in) gun forward of the bridge. The 76 mm gun provides limited anti-shipping and anti-air capability in addition tonaval gunfire support for land-based operations.^[14] Foranti-submarine warfare, the class is equipped with a torpedo-launching system (with four torpedo tubes) and twoRBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launchers.^[14][39]Bharat Electronics Limited's electronic modular command and control applications (EMCCA) Mk4 provides combat management.^[40]

Ship	Picture	Armament	VLS	Displacement	Service		Origin
					Laid down	Commissioned
Kolkata[35]		4 × 8-cellVLS forBarak 8 LR-SAM missiles 2 × 8-cell UVLM for 16BrahMos anti-ship and land-attack missiles 76 mm Oto Melara SRGM gun 4 ×AK-630CIWS 2 × twin tube 533mm torpedo launchers 2 ×RBU-6000 anti-submarine rockets[14]	48	7,400 tonnes[41]	26 September 2003[42]	16 August 2014[35]	India[14][17]
Kochi[43][44]			48	7,500 tonnes[43]	25 October 2005[43]	30 September 2015[43]
Chennai[45]			48		21 February 2006[42]	21 November 2016[45][46]

TheDelhi-class vessels are the third-largest warships designed and built in India, after the Kolkata-class destroyers and theShivalik-class frigates. They were built by Mazagon Dock Limited inMumbai.^[17]Delhi-class design has Soviet and Western influences, incorporating elements of theSovremenny,Rajput andKashin-II-class destroyers and theGodavari-class frigate.^[47]

Delhi-class vessels are fitted with flag facilities, enabling them to act as command unit in task groups.^[47] The vessels are equipped to enable operation in anuclear, biological and chemical warfare environment.^[48] For primary air defence,Delhi class is fitted with9K-90Uraganair-defence system comprising a pair of 3S-90 single-arm launchers and9M38M1Shtil missiles. One launcher is installed forward of the bridge and the other atop the dual helicopter hangar. Each launcher carries a 24 missile magazine for a total of 48 rounds.^[49] TheDelhi class is being upgraded with the RafaelBarak 1point air defence missile system. It has a pair of eight-cell vertical launch systems and missile command-to-line-of-sight (CLOS) radar guidance with a range of 10 km (6.2 mi).^[13]

The ships have a five 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes, which can be used to launch SET 65E active/passive homing torpedo andType 53-65 wake homing torpedo, and is capable of hitting targets ranging from 15 km (9.3 mi) to 19 km (12 mi). They are equipped with two RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launchers with 12 tubes. They carry a 31 kg (68 lb) warhead and have a range of 6 km (3.7 mi).^[13]

Ship	Picture	Armament	VLS	Displacement	Service		Origin
					Laid down	Commissioned
Delhi		8 xBrahmos anti-ship and land-attack cruise missile 32 ×Barak 1 (2 × 16-cell)VLS missiles 2 ×Uragan SAM systems (48 9M38M1 Shtil missiles) 100 mmAK-100 gun 2 × 30 mmAK-630rotary cannons 2 ×RBU-6000 213 mm anti-submarine mortar arrays Quintuple 533-millimetre (21 in) torpedo tubes[13][47]	32	6,200 tonnes[50]	14 November 1987[13]	15 November 1997[13]	India[17]
Mysore			32		2 February 1991[13]	2 June 1999[13]
Mumbai			32		14 December 1992[13]	22 January 2001[13]

TheRajput-classguided-missile destroyers built for the Indian Navy (also known as Kashin-II class) are modified versions of Soviet Kashin-class destroyers. The ships were built in the former Soviet Union with Indian modifications to the Kashin design. These included the replacement of thehelicopter pad in the original design with a flight elevator (to transports flights, aircraft, and helicopters, fromhangar deck toflight deck, and changes to the electronics and combat systems. Five units were built for export to India during the 1980s.^[10]

TheRajput class inherited itsanti-aircraft and anti-submarine warfare roles foraircraft carrier task-force defence against submarines, low-flying aircraft and cruise missiles from the Kashin class.They were the first ships in the Indian Navy to deploy the BrahMos supersonic cruise-missile systems, deployed during a mid-life refit of the ships. The missile system has four missiles in inclined, bow-mounted launchers (replacing twoSS-N-2D Styx AShM launchers inINS Rajput) and an eight-cell VLS system replacingINS Ranvir andINS Ranvijay's aftS-125M (NATO: SA-N-1)SAM launchers.Ranvijay was deployed with an updated vertical launcher for the BrahMos missile.^[10][12][51] The Indian Navy is planning to upgrade the propulsion ofRajput-class ships with an indigenously-developedKaveri marine gas turbine (KMGT) engine. TheDefence Research and Development OrganisationGas Turbine Research Establishment is developing this engine, which is currently being tested.^[52]

Ship	Picture	Armament	Displacement	Commissioned	Origin
Rana		4 ×SS-N-2D Styx AShM missiles 2 ×S-125M (NATO: SA-N-1)SAM launchers 76.2 mm main gun 4 × 30 mmAK-230 CIWS 16 ×VL-SRSAM 533 mm PTA quintuple torpedo tube launcher 2 ×RBU-6000 anti-submarine mortars[10][12]	4,974 tonnes[12]	28 June 1982[12]	Soviet Union[10][17] [12]
Ranvir		8 ×BrahMos aft VLS and 4SS-N-2D Styx AShM missiles S-125M (NATO: SA-N-1) SAM launcher 2 ×Barak SAM 8-cell launchers 2 × 30 mm AK-630M CIWS 533 mm PTA quintuple torpedo tube launcher 2 × RBU-6000 anti-submarine mortars[10][12]		28 August 1986[12]
Ranvijay				21 December 1987[53]

All presently decommissioned Indian Navy destroyers were built in theUnited Kingdom andSoviet Union. TheR-classINS Ranjit was the first destroyer commissioned by the navy; two more R-class ships were later commissioned.^[4] ThreeHunt-class destroyers were commissioned in 1953 to succeed the R-class destroyers.^[5] The R-classINS Rana was decommissioned on 30 June 1973, the first decommissioned destroyer. It was followed byINS Rajput in 1973,INS Ranjit,INS Gomati andINS Ganga in 1975 andINS Godavari in 1976. All the British-built ships were decommissioned by 1976.^[4][5]INS Ranjit became the first ship from theRajput-class to be decommissioned. The ship was decommissioned on 6 May 2019.^[11]

TheRajput-classguided-missile destroyers built for the Indian Navy (also known as Kashin-II class) are modified versions of Soviet Kashin-class destroyers. The ships were built in the former Soviet Union with Indian modifications to the Kashin design. These included the replacement of thehelicopter pad in the original design with a flight elevator (to transports flights, aircraft, and helicopters, fromhangar deck toflight deck, and changes to the electronics and combat systems. Five units were built for export to India during the 1980s.^[10]

Ship	Picture	Armament	Displacement	Commissioned	Decommissioned	Origin	Fate
INS Ranjit (D53)		4 ×SS-N-2D Styx AShM missiles 2 ×S-125M (NATO: SA-N-1) SAM launchers 76.2 mm main gun 4 × 30 mmAK-630M CIWS 533 mm PTA quintuple torpedo tube launcher 2 × RBU-6000 anti-submarine mortars[10][12]	4,974 tonnes[12]	24 September 1983[54]	6 May 2019[11]	Soviet Union[10]	Decommissioned
INS Rajput (D51)		4 ×BrahMos supersonic missiles and 2SS-N-2D Styx AShM missiles Dhanush ballistic missile 2 ×S-125M (NATO: SA-N-1)SAM launchers 76.2 mm main gun 4 × 30 mmAK-230CIWS 533 mm PTA quintuple torpedo tube launcher 2 ×RBU-6000 anti-submarine mortars[10][12]		4 May 1980[12]	21 May 2021[55]

The R class was aclass of sixteenWar Emergency Programme destroyers ordered for theRoyal Navy in 1940 as the 3rd and 4th Emergency Flotilla. The Q and R class repeated the precedingO and P class, reverting to the largerJ, K and N-class hull to allow for increased top weight (maximum permissible weight). Since they had fewer main guns than the J, K and Ns, magazine space was replaced by fuel bunkers^[56] allowing for 4,675 nautical miles (8,658 km) at 20 knots (37 km/h). This compared with the 3,700 nmi (6,900 km) of the preceding classes. Like the O and P classes, they were armed with available weapons: 4.7-inch (120 mm) guns on single mountings allowing only 40° of elevation. As a result, on paper they do not compare favourably with many of their contemporaries. These ships used theFuze Keeping Clock HA Fire Control Computer.^[57] The R class repeated the Qs, except that the officers' accommodation was moved from the traditional right aft to a more accessible location amidships.^[56][58]

Ship	Picture	Armament	Displacement	Service				Origin	Fate
				Laid down	Commissioned (Royal Navy)	Commissioned (Indian Navy)	Decommissioned
INSRajput (D141) Formerly HMSRotherham (H09)[6]		4 ×QF 4.7-inch (120-mm) Mk.IX guns, single-mount CP Mk.XVIII 4 ×QF 2-pdr Mk.VIII (40 mm L39), quad-mount Mk.VII 6 ×QF 20 mm Oerlikon, single-mount P Mk.III 8 × 2 × 4 tubes for21-inch (530 mm) torpedoes Mk.IX Up to 3 throwers & racks for 45depth charges[4]	2,449 tonnes[56][58]	10 April 1941[56][58]	August 1942[56][58]	27 July 1949[56][58]	1976[56][58]	United Kingdom[56][58]	scrapped[4][59]
INS Ranjit Formerly HMSRedoubt (H41)[60]				19 June 1941[56][58]	1 October 1942[56][58]	1949[56][58]	1979[56][58]
INSRana (D115) Formerly HMSRaider (H15)[61]				1941[56][58]	16 November 1942[56][58]	1949[56][58]	1976[56][58]

The Hunt class was a class of Royal Navyescort destroyer. The first ships were ordered early in 1939 and the class saw extensive service in World War II, particularly on the British east coast and inMediterraneanconvoys. The Hunts were modelled on the 1938escort sloopBittern. The Hunt class had three twinQF 4-inch (102 mm) Mark XVI gun with a quadrupleQF 2-pounder-mount Mark VII on a hull of the same length, but with 8 feet (2 m) less beam and installed power raised to 19,000 shp (14,000 kW) to give 27 knots (50 km/h). The first twenty were ordered in March and April 1939. They were constructed to Admiralty standards (like contemporary destroyers), unlikefrigates which followed mercantile practice.^[62][63][64]

Ship	Picture	Armament	Displacement	Service				Fate
				Laid down	Commissioned (Royal Navy)	Commissioned (Indian Navy)	Decommissioned
INSGodavari (D92) (Formerly HMSBedale)		6 × 102 mmQF 4 inch Mk XVI naval guns (3 twin turrets) 4 × 40 mmQF 2-pdr 2–4 × 20 mm antiaircraft cannons 2depth charge launchers 4 depth charge throwers[7]	1,450 tonnes[citation needed]	25 May 1940[7]	27 July 1946[7]	27 April 1953[7]	1976[7]	damaged beyond repair 1976. scrapped 1979[59][64]
INSGomati (D93) Formerly HMSLamerton (L88)		6 ×QF 4 in Mark XVI guns on twin mounts Mk. XIX 4 ×QF 2-pdr Mk. VIII on quad mount MK.VII 2 × (later 4)20 mm Oerlikons on single mounts P Mk. III 110 depth charges, 2 throwers, 3 racks[8][9]		10 April 1940[8]	16 August 1941[8]	24 April 1953[8]	1975[8]	struck from active in 1975 scrapped[8][64]
INS Ganga (D94)[Note 1]				1 March 1940[9]	October 1941[9]	18 June 1953[9]	1975[9]	struck from active in 1975. scrapped[59][9][64]

TheProject 18 class is a class of stealthguided missile destroyers. The class will include 8-10 Project 18 class destroyers, as a follow-on of Visakhapatnam class. It will include 144-cell VLS missile launchers in its arsenal.^[65][66][67]

• List of active Indian Navy ships
• Future of the Indian Navy
• List of ships of the Indian Navy
• List of submarines of the Indian Navy
• List of frigates of the Indian Navy

Footnotes

Citations

• Lenton, H.T. (1998).British & Empire Warships of the Second World War. London, United Kingdom: Greenhill Books.ISBN 978-1-55750-048-9.
• Lyon, David (1996).The First Destroyers. London, United Kingdom: Chatham Publishing.ISBN 978-1-55750-271-1.

• Indian Navy official website

• Lists of destroyers
• Destroyers of the Indian Navy
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• Indian Navy lists

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