INS Mysore is a guided-missile destroyer currently in active service with the Indian Navy.
INS Mysore was built at Mazagon Dock Limited in Mumbai. Her keel was laid down in February 1991 and she was launched on 4 June 1993. Sea trials began in the Arabian Sea in March 1999, and she was commissioned on 2 June 1999 with the then Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee as the Chief Guest. Her first CO was Captain Rajiv Dhamdhere.
She is the successor to that served in the Indian Navy from 1957 to 1985. Her crest features a double-headed eagle (Gandaberunda) from the sigil of the erstwhile House of Wodeyar of Mysuru.
In August 2008, Mysore along with the destroyer, were anchored just outside Sri Lankan territorial waters to provide security for the Indian prime ministers Dr Manmohan Singh, and other high-ranking officials at the 15th SAARC summit.[1]
See main article: article and Piracy in Somalia. In November 2008, Mysore was deployed to the Gulf of Aden to replace the frigate as part of the Indian Navy's efforts to combat piracy off Somalia.[2] On 13 December 2008, Mysore captured 23 sea pirates along with arms and ammunition when the pirates were trying to capture MV Gibe, a ship sailing under the Ethiopian flag.[3] [4] [5]
On 26 February 2011, Mysore deployed with the amphibious transport dock to the Mediterranean Sea under Operation Safe Homecoming to evacuate Indian citizens from Libya in the aftermath of the turmoil from the 2011 Libyan civil war. They carried their full air wings and a contingent of Marine special forces.[6]
On 12 August 2011, the Indian Navy discovered an Iranian cargo vessel, Nafis-1, was off course. After two days of surveillance, it was suspected that the ship was hijacked by pirates. On 14 August, Mysore was called in to intercept the ship. The crew of nine hijackers, frightened after seeing Mysore, did not attempt any resistance. A helicopter with nine MARCOS Marines on board was sent to detain the suspects. The pirates' automatic assault weapons were found hidden in storage aboard the hijacked vessel.[7]
On 27 June 2014, Mysore deployed to Persian Gulf to evacuate Indians from Iraq during 2014 Northern Iraq offensive. During the operation, she was accompanied by the frigate which deployed to the Gulf of Aden.[8]
The Delhi class destroyers will be re-based to the Eastern Naval Command, Visakhapatnam. Along with, these will form a part of the carrier battle group of . has already reached its new base and is undergoing refit.[9]