Warships participate in sea phase of Indo-UK naval exercise

Two warships of the Indian and British navies participated in a series of drills during the sea phase of their naval exercise, an official said Thursday.

INS Kolkata, a stealth destroyer, and HMS Dragon, a Type 45 class destroyer, took part in the sea phase of the exercise off the Goa coast between December 2-5, an Indian Navy spokesman said.

The nine-day long naval exercise 'Konkan18' began on November 28. During the exercise, both the navies undertook bilateral activities to enhance maritime cooperation.

"INS Kolkata and HMS Dragon concluded the sea phase of Ex Konkan off the Goa Coast between December 2-5.

"Both the ships sailed out during morning hrs of December 2 and participated in a series of exercises and drills which included asymmetric warfare simulating an attack on the ships and Combined Anti-Submarine Exercise," said the spokesman.

On December 3, both the ships participated in night manoeuvres and air defence exercises, while on December 4 they conducted firing and boarding drills, he said.

"The boarding operations were conducted with an aim of smooth insertion and boarding drills whilst following Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)," the spokesman said.

The firing exercises on surface targets were also conducted on December 5 with positive outcome, he added.