INS Tarkash: Indian stealth frigate sails down the Thames after 'war games' with Royal Navy

Heads turned on the banks of the River Thames on 10 May as an Indian stealth frigate sailed out of London following "war games" with the Royal Navy.

The INS Tarkash, a Russian-built frigate, arrived in Canary Wharf on 7 May following joint exercises off the coast of Plymouth.

It was the first time an Indian stealth frigate had docked at Canary Wharf and the "historic moment" saw dignitaries, top naval personnel, and even Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar climb on board to mark the occasion.

Hundreds of UK-based Indians also arrived to tour the ship.

"It is a very historic moment as this is the first time an Indian stealth frigate has docked at Canary Wharf in London. We wanted Indians based in the UK to come and be part of this unique event," said Indian deputy high commissioner to the UK, Dinesh K Patnaik, who joined Tendulkar and his wife, Anjali, for a tour of the ship.

The INS Tarkash had sailed from India to the UK to take part in Konkan – an annual maritime training mission with the Royal Navy.

It saw the ship's 200 crew respond to simulated air and submarine attacks in the English Channel last week, as well share training on disaster management, anti-terrorism and anti-piracy efforts.

The INS Tarkash – which gets its name from the Sanskrit word meaning a "quiver" of arrows – left Canary Wharf's West India Docks on Wednesday afternoon to sail on to Lisbon. It will then return to India via Africa.

The frigate was ordered from Russia in 2007 and commissioned to Navy service in November 2012 at Kaliningrad.

It has been closely involved in anti-piracy operations off Somalia in recent years, and participated in an anti-hijack operation off Yemen on 9 April while on its way to Europe. It was also part of Operation Raahat in 2015, when it rescued 538 people from 18 countries from war-torn Yemen.

UK Defence Secretary Michael Fallon toured the INS Tarkash on Tuesday to celebrate close links between the Indian and British navies. He was joined by Royal Navy chief Admiral Philip Jones, Indian high commissioner YK Sinha and INS Tarkash's captain Rituraj Sahu.

They also marked the 200th anniversary of Britain's Indian-made warship HMS Trincomalee, which was built at the Bombay Dockyard in 1817, and the UK India Year of Culture 2017.

"The visit seeks to underscore India's solidarity with friendly and like-minded countries towards ensuring good order in the maritime domain and to strengthen the existing bonds of friendship between India and the UK," said captain of the INS Tarkash, Rituraj Sahu, as reported by India Today.

"Naval cooperation is a tangible symbol of the commitment of both nations in ensuring a positive climate at sea for enhancing stability, security and promoting economic prosperity."