In a first, India’s Kattupalli Shipyard repairs two Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels
The RFA Argus coming alongside at India’s Kattupalli Shipyard for repairs (Source: L&T Shipbuilding)
For the first time in its history, the Royal Navy (RN) has sent naval auxiliary vessels to an Indian shipyard for repair and maintenance work, as it bolsters its fleet activities in the Indo-Pacific region to combat the perceived threat in the region from China’s People’s Republic Army (Navy) – PLAN.
The two Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) operated vessel RFA Argus (A135) and RFA Lyme Bay (L3007) both arrived at L&T Shipbuilding’s large, modern Kattupalli Shipyard on March 25th for repair and maintenance work that the RN will not expand on.
RFA Argus is the RN’s Primary Casualty Receiving Ship, while RFA Lyme Bay is a Bay-class Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary) – LSD (A), and both vessels are part of the RN’s Littoral response Group – South.
Kattupalli Shipyard is located 40km north of Chennai, in Tamil Nadu, and is a large modern shipyard, ideal for the repair and maintenance of warships and naval auxiliaries. It features a ship lift and transfer system with a lifting capacity of 21,050 tonnes, with a platform measuring 200m x 45m. Added to this are six dry berths and four wet berths. Alongside water depth is 14m.
The two RFAs arrived at the Indian east coast yard after conducting exercises with the Indian Navy as they entered the Arabian Sea. Following repairs in India, RFA Argus and RFA Lyme Bay will operate in the Indo-Pacific region, conducting training exercises and a wide engagement with allies and other partners.
The US Navy is also taking advantage of the benefits associated with repairing its surface vessels on deployment in this part of the world at this Indian shipyard.
The USN first used L&T Shipbuilding’s Kattupalli Shipyard in August 2022 for work on the Military Sealift Command’s Combat Logistics Force’s operated Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship USNS Charles Drew (T-AKE-10). This was followed up in 2023 by repairs for a further two MSC naval auxiliaries – the Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship USNS Matthew Perry (T-AKE-9) and the Safeguard-class rescue and salvage vessel USNS Salvor (T-ARS-52).
Following the above work, the Indian shipyard was awarded a five-year MSRA (Master Shipyard Repair Agreement), by the USN.
