• The Indian Navy decommissioned two of its frontline warships, INS Akshay and INS Nishank, after more than three decades of service. 

• The two ships were among the key naval assets that were at the forefront of several key missions and crucial maritime operations.

• The decommissioning event was conducted at Mumbai’s Naval Dockyard in a traditional ceremony wherein the national flag, the naval ensign and the decommissioning pennant of the two ships were lowered for the last time at sunset.

• Last week, the Navy decommissioned INS Gomati after 34 years in service. 

• As per naval traditions, a ship never dies, and, therefore, whenever a ship is decommissioned, a new ship is commissioned with the same name.

Two frontline warships

• INS Nishank, a high speed missile craft, was commissioned on September 12, 1989.

• INS Akshay was commissioned on December 10, 1990 at Poti, Georgia. 

• INS Nishank and INS Akshay were part of the 22 Missile Vessel Squadron and 23 Patrol Vessel Squadron, respectively, under the operational control of Flag Officer Commanding, Maharashtra Naval Area. 

• Nishank, the fourth of the Veer-class missile corvette, has been an integral part of the “Killer Squadron” renowned for its heroics in the 1971 war. Nishank holds the distinction of having operated on both the eastern as well as the western seaboard. The ship, armed with the potent surface-to-surface missile, possessed the capability to strike fear in the heart of the enemy.

• Akshay was part of the 23rd patrol vessel squadron whose primary role is anti-submarine warfare and coastal patrol. With its formidable armament of long-range torpedoes and anti-submarine rockets, the submarine hunter was perennially on patrol, keeping the enemy submarines at bay.

• The ships were in active naval service for more than three decades and during their illustrious journeys, participated in several naval operations, including Op Talwar during the Kargil War and Op Parakram in 2001. INS Nishank was also deployed post the Uri attacks when tensions between India and Pakistan were high.

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