By IANS,
New Delhi : The Indian Navy will be sending guided-missile destroyer INS Mysore to the Gulf of Aden for patrolling the waterways hit by a spate of ship hijackings by Somali pirates, defence sources said Thursday.
The move comes after a successful hostile action against Somali pirates in the area by the Indian Navy.
A Delhi class destroyer, INS Mysore will replace INS Tabar in the Gulf of Aden, a Navy official told IANS on condition of anonymity. He said the destroyer will set sail from Mumbai soon.
The official said a proposal of the shipping ministry to send four more warships to strengthen operations against piracy in that region was still pending.
The Indian Navy’s stealth frigate INS Tabar Tuesday night engaged the pirates and sank a “mother vessel” that had two speedboats in tow. INS Tabar, which so far has escorted 35 merchant vessels passing through the region, had also staved off pirate attacks on two merchant ships last week.
The 6,900-ton Delhi class destroyers are the largest indigenously built warships till date and pack more fire power in them than frigates.
INS Mysore carries on board two Sea King helicopters, along with a Cheetah or a Chetak, and stock 16 Uran missiles, 100mm AK 100 Gun, four multi-barrel 30mm AK 630 gun.
With Marine Commandos, INS Mysore is said to be a potent force to patrol the Gulf of Aden to stop the pirates from attacking or hijacking merchant vessels.