CRN 91 naval gun
| CRN-91 naval gun | |
|---|---|
 CRN-91 on ICGS Shaunak | |
| Type | Autocannon |
| Place of origin | India |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1995 |
| Used by | India Mauritius Maldives Seychelles Sri Lanka |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Armoured Vehicles Nigam |
| Produced | 1995 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 115 kilograms (254 lb) |
| Length | 3.027 m (9 ft 11.2 in) |
| Cartridge | 30×165 |
| Caliber | 30 mm |
| Barrels | 1 |
| Action | Gas-operated |
| Rate of fire | 200 to 300 rds/min (low) 550 rds/min (high)[1] |
| Effective firing range | 4,000 metres (4,400 yd) |
| Feed system | Twin feed |
The Close Range Naval-91 is a naval version of the Medak 30mm automatic gun installed on the Sarath Infantry fighting vehicle, a variant of the Russian (originally Soviet) BMP-2 manufactured in India under license by the AVANI. The Medak gun itself is based on the Russian Shipunov 2A42 30 mm automatic cannon.
Description
The CRN-91 Naval gun has a dual feed mechanism that allows it to switch between armour-piercing tracer and high-explosive incendiary & fragmentation tracer projectiles that are electrically primed, which means that the primer is activated through an electric current rather than being struck by a firing pin and igniting the propellant. A BPK 2-42 electro optical sight manufactured by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) directs the cannon, and the complete unit is gyrostabilized in the pitch and yaw axes. The sight may function both during the day and at night. It can also be operated remotely.
CRN 91 gun is a flexible and effective weapon intended for use against armored target and air target flying at low altitudes. The range is 2 km for Armour-piercing tracer projectile and 4 km for HE projectiles. The Canon can hit slow moving object in air at a height of 2000 M has a total range of 2500 m.
The CRN-91 Naval gun is not a sophisticated weapon and has limited anti-ship capability but is a combat proven weapon and its operational cost is very low. It is suited for vessels primarily designed for peacetime patrolling and policing, particularly for anti-insurgency, anti-smuggling, anti-pirate and maritime surveillance of exclusive economic zones (EEZ).
It has been installed on many warships such as:
- Samudra Class Pollution Control Vessel
- Landing Ship, Tank
- Pollution control vessel
- Offshore Patrol Vessel
- Patrol vessels
- Fast attack craft
Combat use
Action of 30 March 2010
The Topaz, a Trinkat class patrol vessel of the Seychelles Coast Guard, was sent out on an anti-piracy patrol during late March as part of a new initiative by the Government of Seychelles to combat the steady increase in Somali piracy. The Topaz was a former Indian Navy ship which was given to the Seychelles Coast Guard to help them combat piracy.
On 30 April, the Topaz approached a captured vessel where nine Somali pirates were holding six Seychellois and 21 Iranian sailors hostage, and were attempting to reach the Somali coast. A Somali translator aboard the Topaz sent audio calls urging the immediate release of the hostages, but the pirates ignored these demands, and continued towards the coast of Somalia even when warning shots were fired by the Topaz. Seychellois President James Michel gave the order to prevent the pirates from reaching the Somali coastline at all cost.
The pirates opened fire on the Topaz with rocket-propelled grenades, which the Topaz evaded. The Topaz then opened fire on the dhow's engine with 12.7mm machine guns, firing a total of 100 rounds. The engine caught fire, forcing all of the pirates and hostages to jump overboard. The Topaz then rescued all of the hostages and arrested the Somali pirates.[3] While en route back to the Seychelles, the Topaz was approached by Somali pirates in a naval trawler and two skiffs. The pirates opened fire on the Topaz, after which the Topaz returned fire. The pirate trawler caught fire and exploded after being hit, and a skiff was also sunk by the return fire, while the last skiff managed to escape. The Topaz then proceeded to Mahé.[4][5][6]
Battle off Minicoy Island
In January 2011, as a part of Operation Island Watch, INS Cankarso and INS Kalpeni were deployed on anti-piracy patrol to the west of the Lakshadweep archipelago. On 28 January, INS Cankarso responded to a mayday call from a container ship. Upon reaching the site, she saw Somali pirate skiffs being hoisted aboard a hijacked Thai fishing trawler, Prantalay 14 which was being used as a pirate mother ship.[7][8]
INS Cankarso ordered the pirated ship to stop for inspection. The pirates on board fired on Cankarso as they tried to flee west towards Somalia. Cankarso returned the fire, which hit some of the fuel drums stored on Prantalay 14's deck for refueling the skiffs. The mother ship was set ablaze and sank as Kalpeni and Indian Coast Guard patrol vessel ICGS Sankalp reached the site. 15 pirates were arrested, and the 20 crew of the fishing trawler were all rescued unharmed.[9]
In another operation on 13 March 2011, an Indian Navy patrol aircraft spotted the Mozambique-registered fishing vessel Vega 5 when responding to another vessel reporting a pirate attack. Beira-based Vega 5, owned by Spanish company Pescamar Lda, had been captured on 27 December 2010 by pirates who were demanding US$1.8 million in ransom.[10] INS Kalpeni intercepted the pirated ship about 1,100 kilometres (680 mi) off Kochi on India's west coast. A fire broke out on the vessel when Kalpeni returned fire after being fired upon by the pirates. 61 pirates were rescued and arrested after they jumped into the Arabian Sea to escape the fire. The crew of Kalpeni put out the fire on board the Vega 5, rescued her 13 crew members and escorted her to Mumbai. Rocket-propelled grenades and over 80 assault rifles were recovered from the pirates.[11][12]
INS Kalpeni and INS Cankarso are Car Nicobar class fast attack craft equipped with a CRN-91 30 mm Automatic gun.
Specification
- Caliber: 30 mm
- Diameter: 2700 mm
- Height: 2100 mm
- Gun feed: Double belt separate
Rate of Fire
- Sustained: 200 to 300 rounds per min
- Maximum: 550 rounds per min
Range
- Armour-piercing tracer projectile: 2000 m
- HE incendiary and fragmentation tracer projectile: 4000 m
Sight
Type: BPK 2–42
Day system
- Magnification: 6X
- Field of view at least: 10°
- Periscope height: 221 mm
Night system
- Magnification at least: 5.5X
- Field of view at least: 6°40′
- Periscope height: 248 mm
References
- ^ "2A42 30mm Automatic Cannon - Minotor-Service, Minsk, Belarus". Archived from the original on 2 February 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
- ^ "Indian Coast Guard's first indigenously designed 'Samudra Pratap' to be commissioned on Monday". The Economic Times. 4 January 2026. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
- ^ "Seychelles coastguard vessel rescues fishermen from Somali pirates". France 24. France Télévisions. 29 March 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ^ Thome, Wolfgang H. (30 March 2010). "Robust Response Seychelles Coast Guard intercepts pirates and rescues crew". eTurboNews.com. Archived from the original on 10 July 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
- ^ "Probes taking place into several missing boats". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
- ^ Mallawarachi, Bharatha (31 May 2010). "Indian and Seychelles forces separately rescue two fishing boats hijacked by Somali pirates". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
- ^ "Fast Attack Craft INS Kabra commissioned". The Hindu. 9 June 2011. Archived from the original on 10 June 2011. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
- ^ "India pushes back on Somali pirates' new 'mother ship' offensive". CSMonitor.com. 7 February 2011. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
- ^ "Pirate Mother Ship Prantalay Sinks off Lakshadweep during Anti Piracy Operations by India". MarineBuzz.com. 30 January 2011. Archived from the original on 3 April 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
- ^ "Mozambique: Pirates Demand Ransom, Say 'Vega 5' Relatives". allAfrica.com. 6 February 2011. Archived from the original on 19 October 2012. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
- ^ "Indian Navy captures 61 pirates, rescues 13 sailors". DNA India. 14 March 2011. Archived from the original on 14 March 2013. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
- ^ "Indian navy captures 61 pirates". The Daily Breeze News. 13 March 2011. Archived from the original on 24 May 2013. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
