The Indian Navy (IN) has commissioned its fourth Mk IV landing craft utility (LCU) platform L54. The ship is built by state-owned shipyard Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE).
The platform, used by amphibious forces to transport equipment and troops from amphibious assault ships to beach heads or piers, is part of an INR21 billion (USD310 million) contract for eight LCUs signed between GRSE and the Indian government in September 2011. Three ship, L51, L52, L53 entered service in March 2017, August 2017, and April 2018, respectively.
The remaining four LCUs of the class are in advanced stages of construction in Kolkata and are scheduled to be inducted over the next year and a half, according to the IN.
