Author Topic: The USS Trenton Joins Indian Navy  (Read 3663 times)

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The USS Trenton Joins Indian Navy
« on: June 22, 2007, 03:29:00 PM »
Hi All

Found this interesting piece on Daily Press Com @ http://www.dailypress.com/ concerning the first sale of an US Naval Vessel to the Indian Navy.

"U.S. ship will transfer to Indian Navy on Friday
BY MIKE HOLTZCLAW
(757) 928-6479
June 21, 2007, 12:56 PM EDT
 NORFOLK -- The USS Trenton, retired from the U.S. Navy in January after 30 years, will be commissioned as the first ship to be transferred from the U.S. to India during a ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk on Friday.

The Trenton will be commissioned as the INSA Jalashwa on Friday morning. Shri Ronan Sen, the Indian ambassador to the U.S., will commission the amphibious transport dock, which will be the first of its class in India's navy.

India's crew arrived in the U.S. in October and has been training with the American crew both in Norfolk and on two at-sea training periods.

The ceremony is not open to the public."

There is a photograph of the Trenton @
http://www.shipspotting.com/modules/myalbum/photo.php?lid=303703

Regards

Steve Ellwood

Offline Magogman

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Re: The USS Trenton Joins Indian Navy
« Reply #1 on: June 22, 2007, 06:45:39 PM »
That would be LPD 14, an Austin Class amphibious transport dock.  Supposed included in the sale are 4 LCM's for a total cost of $48 million.  Maybe India is preparing for an amphibious assault on Pakistan! :lol:

Two of its sister ships, the Ogden and Cleveland, may be transferred to Mexico when they are decommissioned this year, if that has not already happened.

The Austin Class was built between 1965 and 1971 and are being replaced by the San Antonio Class of LPD's, at least 4 of which have been built so far with a fifth scheduled for this year.
My blog with narrative and more photos is located at:
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read the introduction and also there are about 5 different blogs of ships and railroads

Offline Milind Balaji

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Re: The USS Trenton Joins Indian Navy
« Reply #2 on: June 23, 2007, 12:25:08 AM »
Interesting development. I would have not predicted this in a million years considering India is primarily a customer of Russian vessels. I was expecting a purchase by the IAF (Indian Air Force) in the near future but this is surprising. Also the age of these vessels is interesting since I am sure the Indian Navy could have indigenously built one. Maybe the price was too good to pass on!
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Re: The USS Trenton Joins Indian Navy
« Reply #3 on: June 23, 2007, 07:05:23 AM »
Quote

msport wrote:
Interesting development.  Snipped. Maybe the price was too good to pass on!


Hi Milind

I wonder if it was more a case of the US Navy realising that they could get rid of the vessel without having to pay the enormous costs associated with demolition - at that age I would reckon she carries some serioulsy noxious substances.

Regards

Steve Ellwood

Offline Marc Piché

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Re: The USS Trenton Joins Indian Navy
« Reply #4 on: June 23, 2007, 03:00:24 PM »
I've just posted a photo of JALASHWA which I took at at Norfolk on June 7.
You can see how she looks in Indian Navy colors.

Cheers,

Marc
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Offline Milind Balaji

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Re: The USS Trenton Joins Indian Navy
« Reply #5 on: June 23, 2007, 03:29:24 PM »
Steve,

Good point. I forgot to think about the disposal problem and I think you are spot on when you mentioned that the USN saw this as a win-win situation and allowed the Indians could take the vessel off their hands. She probably doesnt have too much advanced US technology when say compared to a Aegis class vessel so there is really nothing to lose.
Maybe our friend Dave (Magogman) can shed some more light on this vessel technology-wize.

-Milind
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Guest

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Re: The USS Trenton Joins Indian Navy
« Reply #6 on: June 24, 2007, 08:23:52 AM »
Hi All

Found this piece which explains a little more about the reasons tat the Inidan Navy want this vessel - Also that the Sanskrit word of the ship means hippopotamus

Courtesy of CBS03 @ http://cbs3.com/local/local_story_174153219.html

"Jun 23, 2007 3:26 pm US/Eastern

U.S. Navy Ship Goes Indian
(AP) TRENTON The U.S. Navy ship bearing the name of New Jersey's capital city now goes by the Sanskrit word for "hippopotamus."

The USS Trenton officially became the INS Jalashwa of the Indian navy during a ceremony Friday at the Norfolk Naval Station in Virginia.

According to Ronen Sen, India's ambassador to the United States, it's the first time India has purchased a U.S. Navy ship.

A 570-foot-long Austin-class amphibious transport dock designed to land Marines, the former USS Trenton fills a need in the Indian navy for a large amphibious ship.

When Indian navy vessels sought to bring relief to coastal areas in the aftermath of the December 2004 tsunami, they found jetties and piers broken.

India plans to station the ship off the country's east coast.

The U.S. Navy launched the USS Trenton 1968 and commissioned it in 1971."

Regards

Steve Ellwood

 

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