INS Godavari - India’s first indigenously designed and built Frigate to be Decommissioned Today Wednesday Dec 23,2015

India’s first indigenously designed and built warship Indian Naval Ship Godavari is scheduled to be decommissioned as sun sets on 23 December 2015.

With her decommissioning, INS Godavari (F-20) will complete its full life cycle, meeting all responsibilities and duties assigned, proving the success of Indian ship design and construction.

Over the past three decades, Godavari has successfully been deployed in numerous operations, including ‘Operation Jupiter’ – 1988 (Sri Lanka), ‘Operation Shield’ and ‘Operation Bolster’ - 1994 (de-induction of Indian Army from Somalia) and ‘Patrol of Gulf of Aden’ (PoG) – 2009, 2011 (anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden).  In 1988, in an operation called ‘Operation Cactus’, India successfully thwarted a coup d’état against Maldivian Government. Godavari and Betwa intercepted and arrested the mercenaries, who tried to flee Male onboard the Merchant Vessel Progress Light. The mercenaries were later handed over to Male, earning great respect and goodwill for India in the international community.

The ship's keel was laid on November 3 (1978); launched on May 15 (1980) and eventually commissioned into Navy on December 10 (1983). Navy says INS Godavari served over 32 years. INS Godavari is the first of three Godavari Class Frigates, with others being Ganga and Gomati. Three Brahmaputra class frigates were follow on ships to the successful Godavari class design.