Fishing Boat Hits Indian Submarine

A fishing boat hit the periscope of the Indian Navy’s Kilo-class submarine INS Sindhughosh during a naval exercise late last week.

The 3,000-tonne submarine was taking part in a naval exercise in the Arabian Sea and was at periscope depth while practicing an operation where divers are required to swim out of its torpedo tubes. The exercise, Tropex (Theatre Readiness Operational Level Exercise), involves the divers using a Gemini boat to carry out covert operations on land, and it was being carried out close to shore and in darkness.

The Indian navy has stated that damage to the submarine is minor. "The fishing boat hit the submarine's periscope without any warning. The submarine surfaced and then made its way to the naval dockyard at Mumbai where its damaged periscope will be repaired. It's an occupational hazard but such exercises have to be carried out," an official told Times of India. 

Local media reports that around 40 naval officers are currently under scrutiny and some are facing court martial for a number of mishaps that have occurred over the last couple of years.

The captain of another Kilo-class submarine INS Sindhuratna is facing court martial for an incident that saw two naval officers killed when a fire broke out on board during a training exercise in February 2014.

In January 2008, INS Sindhughosh collided with a foreign merchant vessel MV Leeds Castle while trying to surface in waters north of Mumbai. The submarine was taking part in fleet-level war games, when the accident occurred. The Navy termed it a minor incident with no casualties reported. 

Kilo-class submarines have a maximum diving depth of 300m, top speed of 18 knots and are able to operate solo for 45 days with a crew of 53.