MUMBAI, January 25: The Coast Guard has decided to replace the sophisticated Italian Oto Melara 76 mm guns on its future advanced offshore patrol vessels (AOPVs) due to high costs of ammunition.``A single 60-second burst from the Oto Melara cost us Rs 60,000,'' a Coast Guard official told Express Newsline. The Italian weaponry fitted on two Coast Guard AOPVs `Samar' and `Sangram' are now virtually in-operational forcing the service to go in for a replacement.
The Coast Guard have opted for an army gun, the Russian 30 mm automatic 2A4Z cannon, manufactured under licence by the Ordinance Factory, Medak. These guns will first replace the vintage 40/60 Bofors anti-aircraft guns fitted on nine `Vikram' class offshore patrol vessels (OPVs).
The Oto Melara guns were bought by India from Italian manufacturers Otomat, under a transfer of technology package in 1994 and assembled at the Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) plant at Haridwar.
When the guns were first installed on the Coast Guard's new AOPVs, Samar
commissioned in 1996 and `Sangram' commissioned last year, they were more sophisticated than the guns on any Indian naval warship, say sources.
The Oto Melaras have an impeccable record abroad, serving in several navies worldwide nearly for two decades. This naval cannon is capable of firing 85 rounds per minute out to 16 kms and can also be used in an anti-aircraft mode. It boasts several features like an 85 degree elevation, continuous tracking of targets and safety locking mechanisms.
Asked if the service actually needed such a sophisticated high calibre laser-guided gun at `Sangram's commissioning last year, Coast Guard officials argued that it would be used to supplement the Indian navy during wartime.
There seems to have been a rethinking in the Coast Guard's role since. The new army guns are smaller and more suited to peacetime role. ``This gun is the most suitable for anti-insurgency and anti-smuggling and surveillance on the exclusive economic zone (EEZ),'' said Coast Guard Director General
Vice-Admiral R N Ganesh.
The cannons, which currently equip the army's BMP-2 infantry combat vehicles (ICVs), have a range of 5.4 kms and have been deftly adapted by the Coast Guard for use on board patrol vessels. The 30 mm 2A4Z was first displayed on the patrol vessel `Amrit Kaur' during Coast Guard day celebrations on Wednesday. It has been modified with visual sights, mounted on an improvised cupola and also fitted with a medium machine gun firing 2000 rounds a minute. It has telescopic night vision and can also be remotely operated.
Vice Admiral Ganesh stated that the 30 mm guns would be retro-fitted on all Coast Guard vessels. The guns have successfully undergone sea acceptance and installation trials. Recommendations have been made to the government for an early induction into Coast Guard service. Sources said that the Indian Navy too has expressed interest in retro-fitting their `Sukanya' class patrol vessels with these guns.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
