Definition
INS Vagir (S41) was a Vela‑class diesel‑electric attack submarine that served in the Indian Navy from 1973 to 2001.
Overview
Built at the Sudomekh (Admiralty) Shipyard in the former Soviet Union, Vagir was launched on 7 July 1972 and commissioned into Indian service on 3 November 1973. After nearly three decades of operation, the vessel was decommissioned on 7 June 2001. The submarine’s name derives from “Vagir,” a local name for a species of sandfish.
Etymology / Origin
The name Vagir refers to a sandfish (sometimes called a sand shark) found in Indian waters. Indian Navy tradition often assigns names of marine fauna to its submarines, reflecting characteristics such as stealth and agility.
Characteristics
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Class & type | Vela‑class submarine (Foxtrot‑class design) |
| Displacement | 1,952 t (1,921 lt) surfaced; 2,475 t (2,436 lt) submerged |
| Length | 91.3 m (299 ft 6 in) |
| Beam | 7.5 m (24 ft 7 in) |
| Draught | 6 m (19 ft 8 in) |
| Propulsion | Diesel‑electric; twin propellers |
| Speed | 16 kn (30 km/h) surfaced; 15 kn (28 km/h) submerged |
| Range | 20,000 mi (32,000 km) at 8 kn surfaced; 380 mi (610 km) at 10 kn submerged |
| Test depth | 250 m (820 ft) |
| Complement | 75 personnel, including 8 officers |
| Armament | 10 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes; capacity for 22 SET‑65E/SAET‑60 torpedoes or up to 44 mines |
Related Topics
- Vela‑class submarines – The Soviet‑designed class to which INS Vagir belonged, comprising several vessels transferred to the Indian Navy.
- Indian Navy submarine fleet – Overview of India’s conventional (diesel‑electric) and nuclear‑powered submarines.
- Kalvari‑class (Scorpene) submarine INS Vagir (S25) – The modern submarine commissioned in 2020 that inherited the name Vagir.
- Admiralty Shipyard (Sudomekh) – The Russian shipyard that constructed Vela‑class submarines for export.
- Foxtrot‑class submarines – The broader Soviet submarine design series underlying the Vela class.
All information is sourced from publicly available naval records and the Wikipedia entry for INS Vagir (S41).