April 9,2008:
India has commissioned the second of three LST (large landing ships), the
INS Kesari. The third one will enter service later this year. These ships
displace 5,600 tons. Normally, each ship would carry 11 tanks, ten loaded
trucks 500 troops and a crew of 156. Armament consists of chaff launchers (to
distract missiles), two 18 cell, 140mm rocket launchers and two 30mm CRN 91
automatic cannons. Each ship cost about $90 million.