Indian Coast Guard

Historical Unit Assignments

Last updated:
of the Indian Coast Guard


Chetak CG 815. (photo, Simon Watson)


Historical unit assignments for the ICGAW are listed for the following dates:
May 1982   1987   1991   1996   1999   2001   Current Order of Battle

May 1982

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Squadron Type Base
CGAS 700 Fokker F.27 CGAE Kolkata (Calcutta Dum Dum)
CGAS 800 HAL Chetak CGAE Goa (Dabolim)

1987

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Squadron Type Base
CGAS 700 Fokker F.27 CGAE Kolkata (Calcutta Dum Dum)
CGAS 750 Do 228-101 CGAS Daman (Bombay)
CGAS 800 HAL Chetak CGAE Goa (Dabolim)

1991

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Squadron Type Base
CGAS 700 Fokker F.27 CGAE Kolkata (Calcutta Dum Dum)
CGAS 744 Do 228-101 CGAS Chennai (Madras-Meenambakkah)
CGAS 750 Do 228-101 CGAS Daman (Bombay)
CGAS 800 HAL Chetak CGAE Goa (Dabolim)
CGAS 848 HAL Chetak CGAS Chennai (Madras-Meenambakkah)

1996

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Squadron Type Base
CGAS 700 Fokker F.27 CGAE Kolkata (Calcutta Dum Dum)
CGAS 744 Do 228-101 CGAS Chennai (Madras-Meenambakkah)
CGAS 745 Do 228-101 CGAE Port Blair, Andaman Isles
CGAS 750 Do 228-101 CGAS Daman (Bombay)
CGAS 800 HAL Chetak CGAS Daman (Bombay)
CGAS 841 HAL Chetak CGAS Daman (Bombay)
CGAS 848 HAL Chetak CGAS Chennai (Madras-Meenambakkah)

1999

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Squadron Type Base
CGAS 700 Do 228-101 CGAE Kolkata (Calcutta Dum Dum)
CGAS 744 Do 228-101 CGAS Chennai (Madras-Meenambakkah)
CGAS 745 Do 228-101 CGAE Port Blair, Andaman Isles
CGAS 750 Do 228-101 CGAS Daman (Bombay)
CGAS 800 HAL Chetak CGAE Goa (Dabolim)
CGAS 841 HAL Chetak CGAS Daman (Bombay)
CGAS 848 HAL Chetak CGAS Chennai (Madras-Meenambakkah)

2001

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Squadron Type Base
CGAS 700 Do 228-101 CGAE Kolkata (Calcutta Dum Dum)
CGAS 744 Do 228-101 CGAS Chennai (Madras-Meenambakkah)
CGAS 745 Do 228-101 CGAE Port Blair, Andaman Isles
CGAS 750 Do 228-101 CGAS Daman (Bombay)
CGAS 800 HAL Chetak CGAE Goa (Dabolim)
CGAS 841 HAL Chetak CGAS Daman (Bombay)
CGAS 848 HAL Chetak CGAS Chennai (Madras-Meenambakkah)
Port Blair Chetak Flight HAL Chetak CGAE Port Blair, Andaman Isles.

Current Unit Assignments
Indian Coast Guard

Last updated:


Four Do 228s from CGAS 700 in formation.
(photo, Simon Watson)


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Squadron Type Base
CGAS 700 Do 228-101 CGAE Kolkata (Calcutta Dum Dum)
CGAS 744 Do 228-101 CGAS Chennai (Madras-Meenambakkah)
CGAS 745 Do 228-101 CGAE Port Blair, Andaman Isles.
CGAS 747 Do 228-101 CGAE Kochi (Cochin)
CGAS 750 Do 228-101 CGAS Daman (Bombay)
CGAS 800 HAL Chetak CGAE Goa (Dabolim)
CGEFU HAL Dhruv CGAE Goa (Dabolim)
CGAS 841 HAL Chetak CGAS Daman (Bombay)
CGAS 842 HAL Chetak INS Kunjali, Mumbai
CGAS 848 HAL Chetak CGAS Chennai (Madras-Meenambakkah)
Port Blair Chetak Flight HAL Chetak CGAE Port Blair, Andaman Isles.

Coast Guard Air Squadron 700

Last updated:
of the Indian Coast Guard

History

Coast Guard Air Squadron 700 (CGAS 700) was the first fixed-wing unit of the ICG. It was first activated with two Fokker F27s on dry lease from Indian Airlines on 30 July 1983. They had no special reconnaissance sensors, and so all missions were flown using unaided aircrew vision. By August 1997 the lease had expired and the aircraft were returned to Indian Airlines. The unit therefore commenced re-equipment with the Do 228 in early 1997. The unit role is maritime patrol of the Bay of Bengal region, under the control of CGS Haldia.

Aircraft

Type Qty Service Badge Example Serials
Fokker F27-101 2 July 1983 – Aug 1997   CG 710
Dornier Do 228-101 4 early 1997 – Present   CG 752, CG 754

Unit Markings

Figure 1
To be added

Main Bases

Base Duration
CGAE Kolkata (Calcutta Dum Dum) July 1983 – Present

Photographs

None currently available.

More Information

References

  • To be added

Other Sources

To be added.

Coast Guard Air Squadron 744

Last updated:
of the Indian Coast Guard

History

Coast Guard Air Squadron 744 (CGAS 744) was the first unit to be equipped with the Do 228. It was first formed on 2 April 1990 (some sources say 10 April) with one Do 228 and two pilots at Meenambakkam airport. By 28 April 1991 (or 26 April), when it was formally commisioned, it had 4 Do 228s and had moved to the newly opened ICG air station at Meenambakkam. The unit role is maritime patrol along the Eastern coast of India.

Aircraft

Type Qty Service Badge Example Serials
Dornier Do 228-101 4 Apr 1990 – Present   CG 757

Unit Markings

Figure 1
To be added

Main Bases

Base Duration
Meenambakkam airport, Chennai Apr 1990 – Apr 1991
CGAS Chennai (Madras-Meenambakkah) Apr 1991 – Present

Photographs

None currently available.

More Information

References

  • World Air Power Journal No.7 p.8-9

Other Sources

To be added.

Coast Guard Air Squadron 747

Last updated:
of the Indian Coast Guard

History

Coast Guard Air Squadron 747 (CGAS 747) was first activated circa 2003. The unit role is maritime patrol of the south Western coast of India.

Aircraft

Type Qty Service Badge Example Serials
Dornier Do 228-101 2 2003 – Present    

Unit Markings

Figure 1
To be added

Main Bases

Base Duration
CGAE Kochi (Cochin) 2003 – Present

Photographs

None currently available.

More Information

References

  • To be added

Other Sources

To be added.

Coast Guard Air Squadron 750

Last updated:
of the Indian Coast Guard

History

Coast Guard Air Squadron 750 (CGAS 750) was first commissioned on 18 July 1986 at Santa Cruz airport, Mumbai. It’s initial equipment was the two German-built Do 228-101s. The third German Dornier arrived in July 1987. In mid 1988 the unit received the first two HAL-built Do 228-101. In January 1987 (some sources state June) the unit moved to a new permanent base at Daman. The unit role is maritime patrol of the Western coast of India.

Aircraft

Type Qty Service Badge Example Serials
Dornier Do 228-101 5 July 1986 – Present   CG 755

Unit Markings

Figure 1
To be added

Main Bases

Base Duration
Santa Cruz Airport, Mumbai (Bombay) July 1986 – January 1987
CGAS Daman (Bombay) January 1987 – Present

Photographs

None currently available.

More Information

References

  • To be added

Other Sources

To be added.

Indian Coast Guard Extensive Flying Unit

Last updated:
of the Indian Coast Guard

History

The Indian Coast Guard Extensive Flying Unit (ICGEFU) was established in March 2002 to develop operational and training procedures for the introduction into regular service of the HAL Dhruv helicopter. It is presently operating from the premises of ICGAE (Goa). The Dhruv is capable of undertaking both coastal surveillance and SAR missions.

Aircraft

Type Qty Service Badge Example Serials
HAL Dhruv 3 March 2002 – Present    

Unit Markings

Figure 1
To be added

Main Bases

Base Duration
CGAE Goa (Dabolim) March 2002 – Present

Photographs

None currently available.

More Information

References

  • To be added

Other Sources

To be added.

Indian Coast Guard

Last updated:
Operator Profile

History

Narrative Summary

Proposals to set up a Coast Guard service were first taken seriously in the early ‘seventies, when a committee was set up to examine the problem of seaborne smuggling and the feasibility of establishing such a service. The committee recommended the setting up of a Coast Guard service. This recommendation was accepted and plans were put into effect to create a Coast Guard service under the overall responsibility of the Ministry of Defence. In August 1976, the Maritime Zones of India Act was passed, which defined the Exclusive Economic Zones surrounding the Indian sub-continent where Indian sovereignty would be applied.

On 1 February 1977 an interim Coast Guard organisation was established, with the help of the Indian Navy, which began to put into place the necessary infrastructure for a national maritime policing service. The duties and functions of the service were formally defined in Coast Guard Act, which was passed on the 18 August 1978, and came into effect on the 19 August. The Coast Guard was to become responsible for the policing of over 2.01 million square kilometres of ocean, with the stated objective of providing offshore security, marine environmental security, coastal security, marine safety, scientific assistance and national defence. The area under it’s control was to include 1197 islands and a coastline of 7517 kilometres.

Begining in 1978 with two old frigates seconded by the Navy and five small patrol vessels, the ICG expanded over the following two decades to attain a force level of 52 ships and craft and 35 aircraft and helicopters. An Air Wing was formed in 1982 with Indian Navy assistance to aid the surface fleet. The first helicopter Squadron was formally commissioned in May 1982 and the first fixed-wing unit was activated in 1982.

One of the Coast Guard’s greatest ever tests began on 26 December 2005, when an earthquake off Indonesia triggered a giant Tsunami wave which caused massive destruction along the coastlines of the Indian Ocean. Coast Guard personel immediately began relief operations in the remote Andaman Islands from Port Blair, and in the regions of Chennai and Mumbai on the mainland. A Coast Guard Dornier 228 (CG 753) was also the first aircraft to deliver medicines and essential supplies to the Maldives within 24 hours of the tragedy. A total of 230 sorties were flown by aircraft and helicopters in the period up to 21 January 2006.

Key Dates

Sept 1974    Rustamji Committee set up to study creation of a coast guard service
31 July 1975    Rustamji Committee strongly recommends creation of the Coast Guard
25 August 1976    The Maritime Zones of India Act passed
1 Feb 1977    Interim Indian Coast Guard organisation created by the Navy
18 August 1978    Coast Guard Act passed in Parliament
19 August 1978    Coast Guard Act comes into force – ICG formally established
22 May 1982    First air squadron (CGAS 800) commissioned with helicopters
1982    First fixed wing squadron (CGAS 700) activated
June 1984    First trainee Coast Guard aviators qualify for their wings
7 July 1986    First two Do 228s handed over in Germany
March 2002    First Dhruv helicopter delivered

Current Status

The duties of the Air Wing are defined as: Air Surveillance of the EEZ, Ensuring Pollution Prevention measures, Providing Assistance to Fishermen and Search and Rescue. In recent years it has achieved some major successes in anti-piracy operations. The service carries out regular operations and exercies with the Indian Navy, to maximise operational efficiency.

Future Plans

The ICG has plans for an eventual fleet of 36 light observation helicopters, 12 rescue helicopters, 36 coastal patrol aircraft and 9 long range surveillance aircraft.

Markings

National Insignia

Current — Historical

Aircraft Serial Numbers

All aircraft and helicopters carry a three-digit serial number prefixed by the letters ‘CG’. Fixed wing aircraft are serialled in the range 7xx, while helicopters are serialled in the range 8xx. Examples are Do 228 CG 766 and Chetak CG 803.

Unit/Base Codes

Unlike Indian Navy aircraft, unit or base code letters are not carried.


Chetak CG 810. (photo, Simon Watson)

Aircraft

Aircraft Designations

Not used – manufacturers designation used.

Current Aircraft Inventory

Table of Current Service Aircraft

All-Time Aircraft Used List

All-Time Table of Aircraft Used

Aircraft NOT Used

A reported order for 5 BN-2 Maritime Defender patrol aircraft placed in 1980 did not result in any aircraft being delivered.

Aircraft Losses and Incidents

The only serious accident suffered so far has been the loss of Do 288-101 CG 757 in January 1993.

Organisation

Main Headquarters

Coast Guard Headquarters, National Stadium Complex, New Delhi 1100 01.

Organisational Structure

The Indian Coast Guard is commanded by the Director General at Coast Guard Headquarters, New Delhi. It has three regional commands – at Mumbai (Region West), Chennai (Region East) and Port Blair (Region Andaman and Nicobar). There are 11 district commands – one in each coastal State on the mainland and two in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. There are six Coast Guard stations: Jakahu, Okha and Vadinar in Region West; and Tuticorin and Mandapam in Region East, under their respective district commands. The Air Wing of Coast Guard is operated from two stations and six air enclaves and has ten air units.

Current Unit Assignments

Table of Current Unit Assignments

Historical Unit Assignments

Table of Historical Unit Assignments

All-Time Flying Units List

CGAS 700
CGAS 744
CGAS 745
CGAS 747
CGAS 750
CGAS 800
CGAS 841
CGAS 842
CGAS 848
ICGEFU
Port Blair Chetak Flight

Air Bases

Current Air Bases

The Indian Coast Guard Air Wing currently operates from two main air bases, and a number of air enclaves along India’s coast. See listing below for details.

All-Time Air Bases Used List

ICGAW Air Bases Listing

More Information

Books

Indian Aviation Bibliography – to be added

Magazines

World Air Power Journal No.12 p.138

Websites

Indian Coast Guard Official Home Page
(Includes history, mission, organisation etc)

Bharat Rakshak Indian Coast Guard Page
(Indian-based website giving details of organisation, ships and aircraft))

Indian Coast Guard: A Profile
(Brief overview of the service)

Wikipedia: Indian Coast Guard
(Includes objectives, history, bases, vessels etc)

Air Bases and Airfields

Last updated:
of the Indian Coast Guard


Chetak CG 808 with Navy and Coast Guard Dhruvs.
(photo, Simon Watson)

Military Air Bases and Airfields

This page gives details of some of the air bases and airfields which are, or have been, used by the Indian Coast Guard Air Wing.

CGAS Daman (ICAO: VADN)
Bombay-Daman was the first dedicated ICG air station, and remains the most important station. It was first commissioned on 29 October 1982. It is located on the west coast, 200 km north of Bombay, close to the Gulf of Cambay. Like Goa, Daman was also a former Portuguese enclave which included a Portuguese-built airfield. In 1981 the ICG acquired the airfield from the Indian Air Force. It is the home of 750 and 841 Squadrons, who are responsible for maritime reconnaissance and SAR coverage along the Western coast of India.
Runway data: Rwy 03/21 degrees, Size: 5910 ft (1801 m); Rnwy 09/27 deg, Size: 3284 ft (1000 m); Elev: 36 ft/11 m, N20 25 59, E72 50 35.

CGAE Kolkata
Calcutta Dum Dum is located north east of Calcutta [Kolkata] in Eastern India. It is classified as an ‘air enclave’ rather than an air station. It comes under Coast Guard District No.8, Haldia, West Bengal. It is home to 700 Squadron, who are responsible for patrolling the Bay of Bengal region.
Runway data: no information.

CGAE Goa
Goa-Dablomin (also spelled Goa-Diabolim) is located on the lower west coast, within the former Portuguese colony of Goa. It is classified as an ‘air enclave’ rather than an air station, and was first commissioned on 22 May 1982. It comes under Coast Guard District No.11, Goa. It is home to 800 Squadron, which supplies helicopters to the ICG offshore patrol vessels.
Runway data: no information.

CGAE Campbell Bay
Campbell Bay is located on the extreme southern tip of the Nicobar Islands. It is used as a transit airfield only, with no based units, and comes under Coast Guard District No.10.
Runway data: no information

CGAS Chennai
744 Squadron was initially activated on 10 April 1990 at Madras International Airport, Madras-Meenambakkah (also spelled Madras-Meenambakkam), located south of Madras [Chennai], on the lower east coast. Land was subsequently obtained from the Indian Navy for a permanent station, which was formally commissioned on 26 April 1991. It is home to 744 and 848 Squadrons, who are responsible for maritime reconnaissance and SAR coverage along the Eastern coast of India. The logistics support organisation for the Do 228 is also housed here.
Runway data: no information.

CGAE Porbandar
A new air base is being built at Porbandar Airport, State of Gujarat. It comes under Coast Guard District No.1. It will eventually house a squadron of fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft.
Runway data: no information

CGAE Port Blair
Port Blair is located in the south east of South Andaman Island. The Andaman Islands are a chain of islands in the Andaman Sea, south of Burma. It was formally commissioned as an air station circa early 1996. It is home to 745 Squadron.
Runway data: no information

CGAE Vizag (IATA: VTZ)
Vishakhapatnam Airport, Andhra Pradesh, is located mid-way up the east coast. It is classified as an ‘air enclave’ rather than an air station, being established circa 1999. It comes under Coast Guard District No.6. It is used as a staging post for Do 228s transiting between bases, and as a temporary shore base for Chetaks.
Runway data: no information

CGAE Wellington Island
Wellington Island is located on the west coast of the southern tip of India, close to the city of Cochin [Kochi]. It is classified as an ‘air enclave’ rather than an air station, being established circa 1999. It comes under Coast Guard District No.4. It is used as a staging post for Do 228s transiting between bases, and as a temporary shore base for Chetaks.
Runway data: no information

Ships
Each equipped with one Chetak helicopter.
Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessels: SAMAR, SANGRAM, SARANG, SAGAR.
Offshore Patrol Vessels: VIKRAM, VIJAYA, VEERA, VARUNA, VAJRA, VIVEK, VIGRAHA, VARAD, VARAHA.