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Griffon/GRSE 8000 TD class is a series of hovercraft designed by M/s Griffon Hovercraft Ltd, Southampton, England and jointly built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers, Kolkata and Griffon for the Indian Coast Guard.
Contents
Design
The Hovercraft's hull are made of light weight marine grade aluminium alloy. They are powered by two 588 KW radiator cooled MTU Diesel Engines, with 2.6 m variable-pitch propellers and have 1.25 m skirt to enable the craft of the series to sprint speed of 53.5 knots with high-speed patrolling capacity in coastal shallow waters, marshy areas, creeks as well as deep seas. The craft are also fitted also with a 12.7 mm gun. They have a complement of 2 officers and 11 other rank.
The crafts are intended to be used for search and rescue operation, assistance to ships and craft in distress and interruption and interdiction of offending vessels day and night.
Order
The Indian Coast Guard acquired six 8000TDs in 2001. Two of the Griffon 8000TD(M)s were manufactured at GHL’s boatyard in Southampton England, and four were assembled from completely knocked-down kits (CKD’s) by GRSE in Kolkata, India. In 2010, Griffon Hoverwork won another £34 million contract to supply the Indian Coast Guard with 12 8000TD hovercrafts.