SLNS Samudura

SLNS "Samudura" (P-621) ("Samudura", in Sinhalese: Sea) is an Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) of the Sri Lanka Navy. Formerly the USCGC "Courageous" of the United States Coast Guard, the medium endurance cutter was donated to Sri Lanka on June 24, 2004.

Operations

"Samudura" is tasked with deep sea patrolling both within the Sri Lankan territorial waters and in international waters to curb ongoing arms smuggling by the LTTE. In recent months "Samudura", along with other OPVs of the Sri Lankan Navy, has been able to successfully intercept several ships smuggling arms for the LTTE. In all these cases the ships were sunk when they attacked the naval vessels with mortars.

USCGC "Courageous"

USCGC "Courageous" (WMEC-622) was a United States Coast Guard medium endurance cutter. She was built by the American Ship Building Company in Lorain, Ohio and launched on 18 March, 1967. She commissioned on 19 April, 1968. She was decommissioned 19 September, 2001. The United States Coast Guard donated "Courageous" to Sri Lanka on June 24, 2004 and a departure ceremony was held February 19, 2005. [http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=22166]

The First Sri Lankan Captain on the vessel was Captain Sirimevan Ranasinghe WWV RWP

External links

* [http://www.navy.lk Sri Lanka Navy]
* [http://www.uscg.mil/HQ/G-CP/HISTORY/WEBCUTTERS/Courageous_1968.html "Courageous" USCG history page]
* [http://www.navy.lk/index.php?id=436 Defenders of the ocean receive heroes’ welcome on their triumphant return to home base]