HMIS Carnatic (J182) was a Bangor-class minesweeper constructed for the Royal Navy, but transferred to the Royal Indian Navy (RIN) during World War II. The vessel was designed as a small, versatile minesweeper that could be produced in large numbers by civilian shipyards, with a focus on ease of construction and operational flexibility. Displacing 656 long tons at standard load and 820 long tons at deep load, Carnatic measured 174 feet (53.0 meters) in length, with a beam of 28 feet 6 inches (8.7 meters) and a draught of 10 feet 3 inches (3.1 meters). The ship's crew comprised 60 officers and ratings. Power was provided by two Parsons geared steam turbines, each driving a single shaft, fueled by two Admiralty three-drum boilers. These turbines generated a total of 2,000 shaft horsepower, allowing the vessel to reach a maximum speed of 16 knots (30 km/h). Carnatic could carry up to 160 long tons (163 tons) of fuel oil, providing a range of approximately 2,800 nautical miles (5,200 km) at a cruising speed of 10 knots. Armament on the Bangor-class minesweepers typically included a 12-pounder 3-inch (76 mm) anti-aircraft gun and a single QF 2-pounder (4 cm) AA gun. Throughout the war, some ships saw modifications such as replacement of the 2-pounder with single or twin 20 mm Oerlikon AA guns, and most were fitted with additional Oerlikon mounts. For escort missions, the minesweeping gear could be exchanged for around 40 depth charges, enhancing anti-submarine capabilities. Originally ordered as HMS Newhaven from William Hamilton and Company in 1939, the vessel was transferred to the RIN before launch and commissioned as HMIS Carnatic. During her service in World War II, she was part of the Eastern Fleet, playing a vital role in convoy escort duties between Africa, British India, and Australia from 1943 to 1945, contributing significantly to Allied naval operations in the Indian Ocean theater.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.