INS Astravahini, indigenously built ‘Torpedo launch and recovery vessel’ (TLRV), was on 16 July 2015 decommissioned after its 31 years service to the nation. The vessel had immensely contributed in the trials of indigenous torpedoes developed by ‘Naval Science and Technological Laboratory’ (NSTL).
It was decommissioned at a ceremony presided over by Commodore K A Bopanna, Naval Officer-in-Charge ( Andhra Pradesh Division) at the Ship Building Centre, Andhra Pradesh.
About INS Astravahini
- It was an auxiliary vessel of the torpedo launching and recovery (TLRV) class. It was ordered to be built by the NSTL in October 1981 for Defence Research and Development Activities.
- It was commissioned in Indian Navy in 1984 at Visakhapatnam.
- It was only one of its class and was extensively used by the NSTL as a test platform to launch and recover experimental torpedoes for their induction into the Indian Navy.
- The ship was commanded by Lt Rohan Kulkarni.
