Chinese amphibious warship sighted in Indian Ocean

NATIONAL | September 16, 2019 (IANS):

The Indian Navy had located a Chinese amphibious warship in the southern part of the Indian Ocean during surveillance earlier this month, defence sources said here on Monday.

The warship, a Landing Platform Dock (LPD), was located by a Navy P-8I surveillance aircraft.

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According to Navy sources, Chinese vessels regularly use the route which starts from the Malacca Strait in order to travel to Africa or the Gulf countries.

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"The LPD is capable of carrying Army equipment like trucks, tanks and jeeps. It can also carry a large number of helicopters. Ships bound for anti-piracy operations also pass through this route and are sighted regularly. This is the only route available for the Chinese vessels bound for Africa or the Gulf," a senior Navy officer told IANS.

Sources said photographs of the LPD vessel were taken with the help of the surveillance aircraft.