Indian Naval Discussion

chackojoseph · Post by **chackojoseph** » 04 Nov 2011 12:54

Indian Navy medical mission at Lakshadweep concludes

chackojoseph · Post by **chackojoseph** » 04 Nov 2011 16:22

Update from navy in the Mumbai fire

Update : Fire at Admiral Superintendant office at Mumbai Naval Dockyard

The ground floor is safe.

jagbani · Post by **jagbani** » 05 Nov 2011 13:58

"Operation Parakram" in 2001 was the "most punishing mistake" ormer Navy chief Admiral Sushil Kumar said on Friday,

"There was no aim or military objective for the Operation Parakram... I don't mind admitting that Operation Parakram was the most punishing mistake for the Indian Armed Forces," Kumar said in New Delhi, addressing a seminar on 'Limited wars in South Asia-Against a nuclear background'.

http://www.punjabkesari.in/punjab/fulls ... 22_152859-

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 05 Nov 2011 14:26

jagbani wrote:"Operation Parakram" in 2001 was the "most punishing mistake" ormer Navy chief Admiral Sushil Kumar said on Friday,

"There was no aim or military objective for the Operation Parakram... I don't mind admitting that Operation Parakram was the most punishing mistake for the Indian Armed Forces," Kumar said in New Delhi, addressing a seminar on 'Limited wars in South Asia-Against a nuclear background'.

http://www.punjabkesari.in/punjab/fulls ... 22_152859-

IThats what most Sr military wala wrote about after retirement that Op Parakram had no military objective , it was just a politically decision by ABV and then they withdrew it after making some political statement.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 05 Nov 2011 16:29

The pic of the naval dockyard fire (depressing) and the massive detsruction of that heritage structure must be investigated very carefully.I don't know what system is in place for keeping records safe,but one would expect that asecure fire proof vault for all sensitive documents,etc. should be the norm.It also beggars the mind that in such a sensitive building,ther eappeared to be no integral sprinklers/fire fighting sysetms,especially consideringg the age of the building.Abroad,in all suh buildings,fire precautions are religiously installed and monitored.

AdityaM · Post by **AdityaM** » 05 Nov 2011 16:53

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 05 Nov 2011 17:18

abroad such buildings would be turned into naval museums and not used at all.

Christopher Sidor · Post by **Christopher Sidor** » 05 Nov 2011 18:38

Will · Post by **Will** » 05 Nov 2011 21:08

Singha wrote:abroad such buildings would be turned into naval museums and not used at all.

The Private sector.... The Private sector for crying out aloud. Hand things over things to the private sector

Pratyush · Post by **Pratyush** » 06 Nov 2011 14:42

The Foundering Of INS Andaman

Synopsis of the Incident

Just the first section the link covers the event in greater detail.

The 1,000-tonne Petya class submarine chasers acquired from Russia between 1968 and 1974 were among the most remarkable vessels of their time. They were propelled by gas turbines driving independent propellers to enable them to reach the reported position of an enemy submarine at very high speed. They had a diesel engine driving a centre shaft with a controllable pitch propeller (CPP) to provide the long endurance required for stalking and hunting a submarine. They were densely packed with electronics - sonars, radars and computer systems to control the fire of their anti submarine and anti aircraft weapons. To reconcile the need for speed with the need for maximum possible combat capability, the thickness of the steel plates of their hulls had been so minimised as to keep them seaworthy during the six-year period between major refits, provided the hulls were regularly inspected and properly maintained during the annual dockings.

Because of numerous unforeseen civil engineering difficulties, the new Naval Dockyard being constructed at Vishakhapatnam, specifically for refitting Russian ships, took much longer to get ready to commence the mandatory six-yearly refit programme of the Petyas. Due to the bunching caused by acquiring five Petyas at a time and the delays in starting their six-yearly refit programme, decisions had to be taken as early as 1979 to postpone and reschedule these important major refits. The effect of this postponement was particularly harmful for the hulls of the Petyas.

Andaman was the ninth ship of its type to be acquired from Russia in 1973. She joined the Eastern Fleet based at Vishakhapatnam and, like the other ships of her class, participated in Fleet exercises every year. During 1989 and early 1990, except for a short refit between September and December 1989, Andaman was deployed off the eastern coast of Sri Lanka during the winding down of Operation Pawan. After December, there had been repeated leaks in both port and starboard stabiliser fin housings, which had been cold-repaired and strengthened through cementing and shoring. From April onwards, the ship had participated in the Fleet's exercise programmes.

On 17 August 1990, the Eastern Fleet sailed from the Andaman Islands for Vishakhapatnam on the east coast of India. On the 20th, the Fleet ran into heavy weather. Andaman suffered flooding and breakdowns and foundered. Two frigates of the Eastern Fleet were standing by her when she sank on the 21st August, 140 miles east of Vishakhapatnam. Of the total of 132 officers, sailors and civilians, 117 persons were rescued. The bodies of two persons were recovered. The remaining 13 persons drowned.

The Commanding Officer was court martialled and found guilty of 'causing his ship to be lost at sea negligently or by default.' He forfeited six months seniority and was severely reprimanded. This lenient sentence undoubtedly took into account the operational, technical and administrative circumstances that had compelled the Navy to continue to operate its ships despite the considerable frailties that develop as ships age. He resigned from the Navy. In his view, instead of letting the Andaman incident herald the institution of remedies to prevent the neglect of ships' hulls, the Navy, by holding him culpable and not those sitting ashore, had sent the wrong message to Commanding Officers afloat.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 07 Nov 2011 05:55

Tx Prat for the update on the sinking of INS Andamans.It happened when Adm.Ramdass later made CNS,was then head of ECommand.A close friend of mine with large E Command experience,CO of many warships including Petyas and Rajputs,had earlier told me of the huge maintenance problems developing in the Eastern fleet.It appeared that one reason for the disaster was that there was incompatability between the pump eqpt., Russian on the Andamans and the ships that tried to save it,eqpt. being of diff.origin.

negi · Post by **negi** » 07 Nov 2011 09:14

GD most of the defence buildings (IN or IA) in the mumbai area date back to the British era.

VinodTK · Post by **VinodTK** » 08 Nov 2011 08:00

China plans chequers to checkmate India

The race between the two Asian giants to dominate the seas has intensified. Alarmed at China’s plan to deploy by 2016 at least three aircraft carriers, which will give Beijing the capability to control vital sea channels, including those in the Indian Ocean, India has stepped up efforts to complete its Carrier Battle Group plan at the earliest.

The Carrier Battle Group comprises aircraft carrier, guided missile destroyers and cruisers, submarines, frigates for anti-submarine warfare and oil tankers. This formidable composition is part of modern day warfare. The Battle Groups are linked to satellites and capable of operating in network-centric environment for prolonged periods without touching shore.
:
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India, however, has no aggressive designs but these developments has forced defence establishment to have a re-look at its naval power projection. At present, India has one aircraft carrier INS Viraat while Gorshkov rechristened Vikramaditya will join service in 2012. India is also building its first indigenous aircraft carrier of about 40,000 tonne class at Cochin Shipyard and this ship will take about four to five years more for induction.

Given China’s intentions, the Indian Navy will have to speed up its shipbuilding plans, sources said adding the Government is aware of the strategic importance of these developments.

The Government recently gave the go-ahead to the Navy to acquire six submarines under Project-75. These submarines will be in addition to six French designed submarines now under construction at Mumbai.

At present, the Navy has about 18 submarines and most of them are on the last leg of their operational life. Moreover, the first indigenously designed and developed nuclear powered submarine Arihant will take at least four to five years before ready for induction.

Sources said 45 warships including submarines were under various stages of construction in India and Russia and the Navy aimed at having more than 150 warships by the end of this decade.

sum · Post by **sum** » 08 Nov 2011 09:17

The Government recently gave the go-ahead to the Navy to acquire six submarines under Project-75. These submarines will be in addition to six French designed submarines now under construction at Mumbai.

Approval is fine but did this move beyond the RFI stage ?

member_20155 · Post by **member_20155** » 08 Nov 2011 12:34

This is truly shocking news. Chinese counterfeit parts have been found on least seven aircraft, including the Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT) C-130J transport plane, Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and L-3 27J Spartan transport.

A months-long congressional probe found at least 1,800 cases of counterfeit electronics in U.S. weapons, with the total number of suspect parts exceeding 1 million.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-0 ... stems.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/nat ... story.html

Will this affect our P-8 aircraft as well?? Delays while all the systems are checked for counterfeits!!
Crazy Chinese fakes are everywhere these days!!!

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 08 Nov 2011 13:37

http://www.cyberbloc.de/images/uploads/ ... k_fake.jpg

J-20 mission planning data portable update module.

Pratyush · Post by **Pratyush** » 08 Nov 2011 16:30

Am I the only one on the forum who thinks that the GOI is planning to fight the western front campaign with the PRC. With all the new manpower additions ? When they should be planning for a Tushima / Trafalger in the Western Pacific Basin (I will NOT call it South China Sea ).

ranjithnath · Post by **ranjithnath** » 08 Nov 2011 17:07

Singha wrote:http://www.cyberbloc.de/images/uploads/ ... k_fake.jpg

J-20 mission planning data portable update module.

nice one singhaji!!

rajanb · Post by **rajanb** » 08 Nov 2011 17:16

Singha wrote:http://www.cyberbloc.de/images/uploads/ ... k_fake.jpg

J-20 mission planning data portable update module.

No wonder heir maal is cheap. They should have gone for Linksys.

OOOps! What is the J20 doing on the Indian Naval thread. Even the F35 has invaded the MMRCA one.

Sorry OT onlee la!

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 09 Nov 2011 12:03

US snooping worsened after 1971 Pak war

NEW DELHI: Having weighed in on the Pakistani side during the 1971 war, the Americans refused to relent on their anti-India stance, aggressively snooping on Indian Navy ships and submarines, declassified government files show. The scale of these hostilities, thus far unknown, could have jeopardized the sensitive security scenario.

Aggressive surveillance sorties from America's newly-acquired Indian Ocean base of Diego Garcia kept getting more and more frequent and hostile through the seventies and the declassified files give instances of US military planes provoking Indian vessels. On November 21, 1975, defence secretary D R Kohli wrote to foreign secretary Kewal Singh: "In the recent past there have been several incidents of snooping/buzzing by US Orions (MR/ASW aircraft) over our naval ships." He listed incidents in 1974-75 that the Navy perceived serious.

The note listed specific instances when US surveillance planes flew very close, trailing Indian Navy vessels. In one incident, "an aircraft orbited at a very low altitude of 200 feet for about 10-15 minutes as the submarines surfaced on completion of sonobuoy trials (sonar system dropped/ejected from aircraft or ships during anti-submarine operations). On being closed by Alize (naval aircraft) the US planes sped away..." The defence secretary notes: "This snooping seems to be serious."

Aircraft carrier INS Vikrant reported on July 15, 1975 that it was shadowed on a "passage from Bombay to Madras". INS Delhi reported at least three incidents of US snooping. In the first instance, a US Orion made "two runs over the ship at 150 feet" and flew off, Kohli said. Similar incidents were reported by INS Mysore, INS Magar and other ships.

The defence secretary wrote: "It is assessed that US Orion aircraft are operating from Diego Garcia" and are "subjecting our naval activities to surveillance, even up to Bombay". In some earlier cases, US planes operating from bases in Thailand had carried out such activities, he said.

Foreign secretary Kewal Singh wrote on November 11, 1975: "If unfortunately, news of such incidents becomes public, it can lead to controversy and difficulties..." On the foreign secretary's note, foreign minister Yashwantrao Chavan wrote: "We must certainly take up the matter with the (US) embassy...This is the first glimpse of their use of Diego Garcia."

T S Teja, joint secretary (Americas), subsequently summoned US deputy chief of mission David Schneider on December 3 and lodged a strong protest.

chackojoseph · Post by **chackojoseph** » 10 Nov 2011 12:25

Indian Navy to procure Integrated Combat System for Marine Commandos

Pratyush · Post by **Pratyush** » 10 Nov 2011 13:17

Going forward from the Intl discussion thread.

Just what is it that is expected from the P 75I that they plan to spend approx 1.8 Billion $ / Boat. Some time ago I was told that part of the cost comes from implementing the ship yard it self to implement that project.

Well Pipav, built a green field yard for approx 2000 Crs. That is a quarter of the cost one boat of the P75I class.

R&D, other then propulsion most of it is already in place for the Arihant, the challenge will be implement it on a smaller hull of the SSK. So that ought to be another 4000 crs at the most.

Of the 50000 Crs cost, even accounting for inflation, you are looking at a maximum of 8000 crs for the ship yard and the R&D cost. That still does not explain what will cause the cost of the boat to escalate this much.

wig · Post by **wig** » 10 Nov 2011 17:38

Interview: Vice Admiral Pradeep Chauhan

http://www.dnaindia.com/money/interview ... _1608561-2

makes for interesting reading and is informative, an excerpt

Take a couple of indicators. Almost 90% of India’s trade by volume and about 77% by value travels by sea. Thus we have to look at India as an island nation for all practical purposes. But this is not very easy. Just ten years ago, 34% of India’s cargo travelled on Indian bottoms (meaning ships). Today our merchant navy has swelled to over 1,000 ships of 10 million GRT (gross registered tonnage). But today they carry just 8% of India’s cargo. So what is the Navy supposed to do? Just focus on protecting 8% of India’s cargo, or the 92% that travels on non-Indian bottoms? But then how do I protect such cargo? For all I know, the ship may be owned by a person of one nationality. It may be registered under another nation’s flag. And its crew many come from a variety of countries and may include Fillipinos, Ukranians and even Chinese. So when anyone tries to limit his comprehension to Indian flags, Indian business and Indian citizens, in one neat package, he must be flying in the face of reality.

and on the talk of China’s encirclement of India.

First, you must understand that China is a country where the military participates actively in using its brilliance to create policies relating to national and global strategy. Secondly, China is keen on positioning itself at all strategic locations, whether it be the Woody Islands, or the Paracel islands both in the South China Seas, or the KRA isthmus in Thailand, which allows connectivity between the Indian and the Pacific oceans, or in Chittagong [Bangladesh], or Sittwe (Myanmar), or Hambanthotta port in Sri Lanka (where, just for the record, India was approached first, but because it failed to take a strategic decision, the offer went to China), or Perth in Australia or Tanzania in East Africa (where China has interests in the uranium there), or Gwadar (Pakistan), or Sudan.

You must realise that China is doing all this not to fix India, but to position itself globally. Unfortunately, in the process, India is getting encircled. India has begun to experience a critical vulnerability at some of the global choke points and has just begun to move to counter such moves. But one must take care that India does not plan on the basis of a Chinese perspective, but draw up its own plans from the India perspective. This cannot happen as long as there is a degree of sea-blindness among some thinkers who sometimes craft policies. We need to have a situation where every possible stakeholder must be able to exert influence on every other stakeholder so that self interest can become enlightened self interest.

Aditya_V · Post by **Aditya_V** » 10 Nov 2011 18:12

Pratyush wrote:Going forward from the Intl discussion thread.

Just what is it that is expected from the P 75I that they plan to spend approx 1.8 Billion $ / Boat. Some time ago I was told that part of the cost comes from implementing the ship yard it self to implement that project.

Well Pipav, built a green field yard for approx 2000 Crs. That is a quarter of the cost one boat of the P75I class.

R&D, other then propulsion most of it is already in place for the Arihant, the challenge will be implement it on a smaller hull of the SSK. So that ought to be another 4000 crs at the most.

Of the 50000 Crs cost, even accounting for inflation, you are looking at a maximum of 8000 crs for the ship yard and the R&D cost. That still does not explain what will cause the cost of the boat to escalate this much.

This is like the M-2000 deal and scorpene why we pay soo much for so less?

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 10 Nov 2011 19:16

Something new for the IN and IAF to mull over.

http://www.stripes.com/news/military-cr ... e-1.160382

Military creates Air-Sea Battle Office
Stars and Stripes
: November 9, 2011
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan —The Pentagon announced Thursday the creation of the Air-Sea Battle Office, which will oversee the integration of air and naval combat capabilities in an age of smaller budgets and leaner forces.

The ASBO was formed in August by Navy Adm. Jonathan Greenert, Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford, and Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove, according to a Pentagon news release. The impetus was a 2010 directive by former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to develop a comprehensive plan to maintain access to strategic waterways around the globe, even as the size of U.S. armed forces shrinks.

The air-sea battle concept has evolved to counter emerging threats that include conventional ballistic missiles, long-range precision cruise missiles, advanced integrated air and missile defense systems, electronic and cyber warfare capabilities, submarines, surface combatants, and modern combat aircraft, the news release said. Independent defense analysts have pointed to China’s growing presence in the South China Sea as one example of the need for the new air-sea battle concept. The ASBO will assimilate technological capabilities of each service, influence service war games and foster further integration. The Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps will each dedicate a minimum of two field-grade officers or civil service equivalents to the ASBO.
..

chackojoseph · Post by **chackojoseph** » 10 Nov 2011 19:28

Indian Navy plans to equip warships above 3000 tonnes with 3D air surveillance radars

Looking at C/d band.

John · Post by **John** » 10 Nov 2011 22:59

Aditya_V wrote:This is like the M-2000 deal and scorpene why we pay soo much for so less?

When a dad is willing to give his kid however much money he wants to buy a lollipop what do you think is going to happen?

wig · Post by **wig** » 11 Nov 2011 11:15

some news on le Aircraft-carrier launch delayed by few weeks

India’s poor record in meeting deadlines of defence projects has now hit the prestigious sea-borne aircraft carrier which is under construction at the Defence Ministry-owned Cochin shipyard in Kerala.

Despite a laid-down schedule and strict vigil by Defence Minister AK Antony, the planned sea launch, slated for December, has been postponed.

There has been a delay in the amalgamation of some critical components on board the 40,000 tonne aircraft carrier, said sources, hence the slight delay. The launch would be delayed by a few weeks, said officials.

This is India’s first attempt at building a sea-borne aircraft carrier on its own. A modular construction pattern (block-building method) is being followed. Complete blocks are built off site and then fitted into place. This is said to be a faster method of construction and is followed by leading European shipyards.

During the monsoon session of Parliament, Defence Minister AK Antony, answering a query in the Lok Sabha, said that 75 per cent of hull work had been completed and the ship would be launched in December. Additional work will be undertaken after the warship has been commissioned.

One of the reasons for the delay is the final fitment of the four General Electric-supplied LM 2500 engines.

The building of a ship of this size is divided into seven phases: design, construction planning, work prior to keel laying, ship erection, launching, final outfitting and sea trials. The keel of the ship was laid in February 2009. The last two steps - final outfitting and sea trials - are carried out after the launch. As per the original schedule, the warship is to be handed over to the Indian Navy by the end of 2013.

The Indian Navy has, in the past, operated two such aircraft carriers - the INS Vikrant and INS Viraat - but both had been imported. INS Viraat is still in service. Besides this, the Navy is expected to operate three aircraft carriers by 2015, which include Admiral Gorshkov being imported from Russia that is expected join the fleet next year and the one being built at Cochin.

After the sea launch, hundreds of km of wiring will be laid. A flight deck, capable of operating the Russian MiG-29K, Kamov-31 choppers and the indigenous naval light combat aircraft Tejas, will be laid. The vessel will have two take-off runways and landing will be done using arrester wires. It will have the capacity to carry a maximum of 30 aircraft with hangars to house these.

India’s neighbour China is aiming to induct three such carriers by 2015

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20111111/nation.htm#3

suryag · Post by **suryag** » 11 Nov 2011 11:33

few weeks = a year (i wish am wrong)

Pratyush · Post by **Pratyush** » 11 Nov 2011 12:49

This is the second time the launching of an Indian ship has been delayed due to issues with the LM 2500. The first one was the Shivalik when Ombaba ji, out the supplies on hold while deciding what to do about the previous admins defense policies.

VinayG · Post by **VinayG** » 12 Nov 2011 13:09

INS Sukanya foils pirate attack in Gulf of Aden

http://newsonair.nic.in/news.asp?cat=Na ... ger=bigger

Nov 12, 12:14 PM
Indian naval warship INS Sukanya has again foiled a pirate attack in the Gulf of Aden. Navy officials intercepted three of the five pirate boats, with 26 pirates, and seized six AK-47 rifles, 12 magazines and about 3,000 rounds of ammunition.

Defence ministry officials in New Delhi said today, that at around 9.25 am on Thursday morning, offshore patrol vessel INS Sukanya was escorting a group of five merchant vessels through the Internationally Recognised Transit Corridor (IRTC), when it detected a group of five suspicious boats, speedily approaching the merchant vessels. The warship immediately altered course towards the suspicious vessel and challenged them.

On seeing the Naval vessel, the pirate skiffs tried to flee. Two got away, but the remaining three skiffs were successfully intercepted. A team of marine commandos recovered a large quantity of fuel and LPG cylinders, in addition to communication and navigation equipment on these boats.

Our correspondent reports, this is the fifth occasion where INS Sukanya has thwarted a pirate attack in the Gulf of Aden. On September 20th and 24th, pirates tried to approach vessels being escorted by INS Sukanya but the attack was warded off, and the pirates were disarmed by a team of marine commandoes.

In October, the Navy vessel had intercepted a pirate boat and seized three rifles, eight magazines, and around 320 rounds of ammunition from the pirate boat, with 14 pirates.

The ship has, so far, confiscated a total of 14 AK 47 Rifles, 31 magazines and 923 rounds of ammunition.

any news on release of Indian sailors who were held captive in Somalia

SNaik · Post by **SNaik** » 13 Nov 2011 02:07

Teg was taken back to the yard after the second test run to replace portside cruise engine. Defects in waterproof sealing of Brahmos launcer will be rectified by Indian team. Nevertheless, on 5 November Teg deployed from Baltiysk naval base to start missile system tests, including firing Brahmos.

member_20033 · Post by **member_20033** » 13 Nov 2011 14:15

Can any one tell me whether INS Chakra (Nerpa) will come with Ballistic missile or can it be used a second strike nuke deterrent.

Similarly when will INS Arihant is expected to commissioned will it be having a nuke missile to act as a nuke deterrent.

atreya · Post by **atreya** » 13 Nov 2011 14:32

shyamd wrote:
An Indian naval officer stands guard before the Indo-Lanka joint naval exercise at Trincomalee navy base in Trincomalee, about 275km (171 miles) east of Colombo, September 23, 2011. The five-day joint exercise, which involves over a dozen ships, helicopters and one maritime reconnaissance aircraft, aims to strengthen ties and foster an exchange of knowledge between both navies.

Two questions:
1. Is he a MARCO? Or do officers onboard IN ships serve such duties too?
2. What is that little jar on our flag pole?

krishnan · Post by **krishnan** » 13 Nov 2011 15:33

I have never seen the 4 lions before on top of the flags poles. This is first time i am seeing them in such a place

VinayG · Post by **VinayG** » 13 Nov 2011 16:10

INS Sukanya Interdicts Three Pirate Vessels In A Single Operation

pictures

http://chhindits.blogspot.com/2011/11/i ... irate.html

ShauryaT · Post by **ShauryaT** » 13 Nov 2011 19:57

Philip wrote:
The air-sea battle concept has evolved to counter emerging threats that include conventional ballistic missiles, long-range precision cruise missiles, advanced integrated air and missile defense systems, electronic and cyber warfare capabilities, submarines, surface combatants, and modern combat aircraft, the news release said. Independent defense analysts have pointed to China’s growing presence in the South China Sea as one example of the need for the new air-sea battle concept. The ASBO will assimilate technological capabilities of each service, influence service war games and foster further integration. The Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps will each dedicate a minimum of two field-grade officers or civil service equivalents to the ASBO.
..

The untold part of the picture here is, the land forces would come from the local nations, is the envisioned US scenario.

chackojoseph · Post by **chackojoseph** » 13 Nov 2011 20:44

atreya wrote: Two questions:
1. Is he a MARCO? Or do officers onboard IN ships serve such duties too?
2. What is that little jar on our flag pole?

1) No he is not MARCO. Ordinary ship guard (wrong terminology).

tsarkar · Post by **tsarkar** » 13 Nov 2011 22:25

atreya wrote:1. Is he a MARCO?

No sir. Everyone who joins the Navy, including the cooks are trained to use guns, carbines and pistols, and are expected to stay qualified using firearms.

atreya wrote:Or do officers onboard IN ships serve such duties too?

Yes sir, watchkeeping is what every sailor and officer do onboard a ship most of the time. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watchstanding

atreya wrote:2. What is that little jar on our flag pole?

Light bulb, helpful in marking the extremities of the ship so that one doesnt fall overboard at night.

rajrang · Post by **rajrang** » 14 Nov 2011 02:39

VinodTK wrote:China plans chequers to checkmate India
The race between the two Asian giants to dominate the seas has intensified. Alarmed at China’s plan to deploy by 2016 at least three aircraft carriers, which will give Beijing the capability to control vital sea channels, including those in the Indian Ocean, India has stepped up efforts to complete its Carrier Battle Group plan at the earliest.

If it is true that PRC will have 3 carriers within 5 years, imagine how many they are likely to have 15 years from now around 2025 - my guess is a minimum of 10! India's current plans call for only three carriers: IAC-2 (65,000 ton) besides the IAC-1 (40,000 ton) and Vikramaditya (45,000 ton). India needs to start planning NOW for IAC-3, IAC-4 etc., so these may be available 15 years from now.