The Indian Navy decommissioned Veer-class corvettes ‘Nirbhik’ and ‘Nirghat’ in a ceremony at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai on January 11, after three decades of their service.
The ceremony involved the traditional lowering of the ensign and commissioning pendants with playing of ‘Last Post’. The chief guest for the ceremony was Rear Admiral R B Pandit, Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet, who had commanded Nirghat earlier.
Cdr V R Naphade, (Retd) and Commodore S Mampully, (Retd), the commissioning commanding officers of Nirbhik and Nirghat respectively were the guests of honor.
Nirbhik and Nirghat were commissioned at Poti, former USSR, on December 21 1987 and Dec 15 1989, respectively.
These ships are manned by a crew of 70 sailors and seven officers. They were capable of achieving speeds close to 40 knots propelled by four gas turbine engines. Their weapon package consisted of four surface to surface missiles, medium range AK 176 gun and close range AK 630 in addition to small calibre guns.
During their service over almost three decades, these ships have participated in numerous operations including operations Parakram and Vijay. Nirbhik and Nirghat were forward deployed off Gujarat on numerous occasions for patrolling.