MCGS Barracuda

MCGS Barracuda is a Kora-Class offshore patrol vessel of National Coast Guard Mauritius. Built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers, Kolkata, India and launched on 2 August 2013, it is the first warship to be exported by an Indian shipyard.^[2][3]

MCGS Barracuda at sea.
History
Mauritius
Name	MCGS Barracuda
Builder	Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers
Cost	₹365 crore (equivalent to ₹583 crore or US$69 million in 2023) (FY 2014)
Laid down	23 April 2012
Launched	2 August 2013
Acquired	20 December 2014
Identification	MMSI number: 645403000 Callsign: 3B2101
Status	Active
General characteristics
Class & type	Kora-class corvette
Displacement	1,350 tons full load
Length	74.1 m (243 ft)
Beam	11.4 m (37 ft)
Draft	3.5 m (11 ft)
Speed	22.5 knots (42 km/h)[1]
Range	5,000 km (2,700 nmi; 3,100 mi)

History

India and Mauritius concluded a contract on the purchase of MCGS Barracuda in March 2011. The ship was to have been built in 42 months and was delivered to The Mauritian Coast Guard in September 2014 on the sidelines of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to Mauritius. Its keel was laid in April 2012 and was launched on 2 August 2013.^[4]

Features

Valued at US$50 million, MCGS Barracuda has an integrated bridge system and advanced controls and main engines.^[5][6] It measures 74.1 metres (243 ft 1 in) in length and 11.4 metres (37 ft 5 in) in breadth and will be capable of moving at a maximum speed of 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph) with an approximate displacement of 1350 tonnes. Armed with a 30 mm gun featuring a stabilised optical remote control system, Barracuda also carries heavy machine-guns (HMGs) and medium machine-guns (MMGs) to deal with hostile situations.^[7] Crewed by a complement of 83 officers and sailors, Barracuda can be deployed for a wide range of tasks including anti-piracy, search and rescue, anti-smuggling and anti-drug surveillance operations. The ship will safeguard the exclusive economic zone of Mauritius and can be used as a logistics support vessel and to transport troops. Barracuda is also capable of supporting helicopter operations without a hangar.^[8]

Gallery

• 
  MCGS Barracuda a derivative of Kora-class corvette en-route to Mauritius for delivery to National Coast Guard Mauritius.
• 
  Mauritius Coast Guard offshore patrol vessel MCGS Barracuda (CG-31) docked at Pemba, Mozambique.