2017-09-15 Fri

The major turning point of Indian maritime history was the launch of India’s first combatant warship, the frigate INS Nilgiri in 1968 in Bombay (Mumbai).

This frigate was the most modern warship of its type and belonged to the series of Leander Class frigate. She was equipped with sophisticated weapon systems and was built by Mazagon Docks Limited in collaboration with Yarrow Shipbuilder of Glasglow.

Nilgiri was a versatile ship built indigenously with Anti Submarine and anti-aircraft capability. It was commissioned into Indian Navy in 1972. Nilgiri was a part of the sister ships-Nilgiri, Himgiri, Dunagiri, Udaygiri, and Vindhyagiri.

INS Nilgiri was decommissioned in 1996 and was sunk in 1997 by a test firing of a sea Eagle anti-ship missile taken off from the aircraft carrier INS Viraat.

India Post has issued a special postage stamp on Navy Day 1968, to congratulate the Navy for its achievements.