Mk IV LCU-class

The Mk IV LCU class is a series of landing craft utility vessels operated by the Indian Navy of India. The class is a follow-on design to the preceding Mk. III LCU. On 28 September 2011, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) signed a ₹2,100 crore agreement with the Indian Navy to design and build eight vessels, with construction starting in September 2012. The shipyard delivered the sixth vessel of the class, L 56, on 30 March 2019, which marked the 100th ship constructed by the builder. GRSE delivered the eighth and final vessel, L 58, on 31 December 2020, and the ship entered service on 18 March 2021.

The Mk IV LCU class is equipped with a hydraulic bow ramp to support amphibious operations, enabling the transport of 160 troops and 145 tonnes of cargo. Propulsion is provided by two MTU 16V 4000 M53 marine diesel engines driving fixed-pitch propellers. The defensive armament of the class consists of two 30 mm CRN 91 naval guns, 12.7 mm heavy machine guns, 7.62 mm machine guns, and Igla man-portable surface-to-air missiles. Target acquisition and fire control for the 30 mm guns are supported by a Bharat Electronics-built EON-51 electro-optic director. For communications, electronic warfare, and surveillance, the vessels are equipped with a LINK II Mod 1 tactical datalink for SATCOM, a Sanket S passive electronic warfare system, an ELK 7036 communications intelligence (COMINT) system, and a MiniPOP surveillance system.

The Indian Navy deploys the Mk IV LCU class for maritime roles requiring amphibious capabilities. The vessels operate under the Andaman and Nicobar Command and are based at Port Blair, where individual units of the class, including L 51 and L 52, were commissioned. The landing craft have participated in regional deployments and military exercises, including the MILAN 2018 exercise and the Defence of Andaman & Nicobar Islands Exercise 2019 (DANX-19).