Missile destroyer INS Ranjit decommissioned after 36 years of glorious service

Missile destroyer INS Ranjit decommissioned after 36 years of glorious service

Frontline missile destroyer of the Indian Navy 'INS Ranjit' was decommissioned recently at the Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam, after serving the Indian navy for 36 years. INS Ranjit, the third of the five Kashin-class destroyers built by the erstwhile USSR, was commissioned on September 15 1983.

Missile destroyer INS Ranjit decommissioned after 36 years of glorious service

Since being commissioned, INS Rajat has sailed for 2,190 days, covering over 7,43,000 nautical miles, equivalent to navigating around the world 35 times and 3.5 times the distance from the earth to the moon, the release said.

Missile destroyer INS Ranjit decommissioned after 36 years of glorious service

The ship was decommissioned at a solemn ceremony at the Naval Dockyard when the national flag, naval ensign and Commissioning Pennant were lowered.

Missile destroyer INS Ranjit decommissioned after 36 years of glorious service

In recognition of the service rendered by INS Ranjit to the nation, the ship was awarded Unit Citations by the Chief of Naval Staff in 2003-04 and in 2009-10.

Missile destroyer INS Ranjit decommissioned after 36 years of glorious service

The Chief Guest was Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Admiral (Retd) Devendra Kumar Joshi, who was also a part of the commissioning crew.

Missile destroyer INS Ranjit decommissioned after 36 years of glorious service

The ship has been helmed by 27 commanding officers and the last CO, Captain Vikram C Mehra, has been in command since June 6 2017.