USS Frank Cable arrives in Chennai Port on its second trip to India in three years

USS Frank Cable, an Emory S. Land-class submarine tender, equipped with a host of facilities arrived at Chennai Port on August 24.
| Photo Credit:
R RAGU

From weapons to mini-supermarket and even a dental clinic, USS Frank Cable, an Emory S. Land-class submarine tender equipped with a host of facilities arrived at Chennai Port on Sunday, August 24.

Executive Officer (XO) Michael Rodriguez said the job of this ship, which was commissioned in 1979, is to repair, rearm, and resupply submarines in their home port or in other ports away.

This is the second visit for the ship to India in the last three years. In 2022, the ship visited Visakhapatnam.. 

The USS Frank Cable can provide an array of repair work — everything from repairing a pump, electrically or mechanically, to bending a pipe or making a woodwork for the ship, the ship is prepared for most things. “This is a great opportunity to continue to reinforce our partnership with the Indian Navy,” he added.

Mr. Rodriguez said this ship was unique since there were only two such repair vessels in the U.S Navy for tending submarines.

The ship has an extensive health services department with an 18-member team, including two physicians on board and a dentist as well. They have a pharmacy, laboratory, a dental facility, can do fixed x-ray and are equipped with a 14-bed facility. There exists a mini-supermarket within the ship where the crew can buy snacks, energy drinks or merchandise and also a facility similar to an ATM.

“We are happy to be back in India and tasting the delicious food available here. We tried a lot of local delicacies. I believe it’s dal that I had this morning. It was delicious,” he added.

The ship is expected to leave on Wednesday (August 27), from Chennai Port.