INS Shardul (2004)

INS Shardul (L16) is the lead ship of the Shardul class amphibious warfare vessels of the Indian Navy. On 3 October 2008, INS Shardul was affiliated to the 5 Armoured Regiment of the Indian Army in an on-board ceremony, at the Mumbai Naval Base.

History
INS Shardul started sea trials on 3 November 2006 and was commissioned into the Indian Navy, on 4 January 2007 by the defence minister A.K Antony at the naval base INS Kadamba in Karwar. The ship was based at the Southern Naval Command in Kochi to train cadets before the commissioning of INS Kesari and INS Airavat.