SLNS Sagara (Sagara meaning: Sea) is an Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) of the Sri Lanka Navy. It was formerly the ICGS Varaha (41), a Vikram-class offshore patrol vessel of the Indian Coast Guard, leased to Sri Lanka in 2006 and was handed over to the Sri Lanka Navy in 2015.

SLNS Sagara
History
Sri Lanka
NameSLNS Sagara
OperatorSri Lankan Navy
BuilderHindustan Shipyard Limited
Acquired2006
Commissioned2006
HomeportSLN Dockyard, Trincomalee
StatusActive
History
India
NameICGS Varaha
OperatorIndian Coast Guard
BuilderGoa Shipyard Limited
Launched1992
Commissioned1992
Decommissioned2006
HomeportChennai
StatusTransferred to Sri Lankan Navy
General characteristics
Class and typeVikram class
Displacement1,220 long tons (1,240 t)
Length74.1 m (243 ft 1 in)
Beam11.4 m (37 ft 5 in)
Draught3.2 m (10 ft 6 in)
Propulsion2 × diesel engines, 6,200 hp (4.6 MW) sustained, 2 shafts and cp props.
Speed22 kn (41 km/h)
Rangecruise 16 kn (30 km/h)
Endurance8,500 nmi (15,700 km)
Complement11 officers, 89 enlisted
Sensors and
processing systems
Two Decca 1226 - I band
Armament1x 30 mm automatic CRN 91 Naval Gun in place of the Bofors 40 mm/60 gun; 2x Type 58 14.5mm machine guns, multiple Type 80 machine guns, additional weapon systems added
Aircraft carriedNot operationally deployed
Aviation facilitieshelicopter deck and enclosed hangar

History

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Commissioned on 11 March 1992, CGS Varaha (41) served with the Indian Coast Guard until she was leased to Sri Lanka in 2006. In August 2015 Sri Lanka acquired the ship for permanent use.[1]

Operations

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Since 2006, SLNS Sagara was tasked with deep sea patrolling both within the Sri Lankan territorial waters and in international waters to curb ongoing arms smuggling by the LTTE during the Sri Lankan Civil War. In the later stages of the war after undergoing a major refit in India, Sagara, along with other OPVs of the Sri Lankan Navy, has been able to successfully intercept several ships smuggling arms for the LTTE. In all these cases the ships were sunk when they attacked the naval vessels with mortars.

References

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