President's Viraat Embarkation & Day at Sea
Bharat Rakshak's Kapil Chandni was aboard the Viraat for the President's Day at Sea on Dec23, 2009.
The President of India ,Shrimati Pratibha Patil in her capacity as the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces embarked on the Aircraft Carrier,INS Viraat.
This was her first visit to Viraat after becoming President.Viraat has just completed 50 years of continuous service afloat including nearly 27 years with the Royal Navy as HMS Hermes and the rest with the
Indian Navy since her induction into the Indian Fleet on 12 May 1987.
In her previous incarnation as the Hermes,she was the flagship of the British fleet in Operation Corporate,the code name for the liberation of the Falkland Islands and South Georgia from Argentine forces in 1982. She flew the flag of Rear Admiral Sandy Woodward ,the Flag Officer
Commanding Flotilla 1 and covered herself with glory while validating the Sea Harrier in its carrier-borne Fighter,Reconnaisance,Strike role.
Viraat now flies the flag of Rear Admiral Pattnaik,the Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet.Admiral Pattnaik’s last seagoing command was INS Mumbai (D62) and he was instrumental in formulating tactics during Op Sukoon,the Indian Navy’s humanitarian mission in Lebanon.
Viraat is presently commanded by Captain Anil Kumar Chawla,NM who is a Navigation and Direction Specialist. His last command was INS Tabar.
Viraat has emerged from a fast refit at Kochi and she embarks 4 different types of aircraft: Sea Harriers of INAS 300 White Tigers(these have now been upgraded to the LUSH Standard and are more potent than ever); Sea King Mk 42Bs of INAS 330 Harpoons ,which provide a significant
fleetwide ASW capability; Chetaks of INAS 321 Angels which are used in the SAR and communication role and the
Sea King Mk 42Cs of Zappers,the Marine Commando Flight
Kamov 31s of INAS 339 Falcons also embark occasionally as per operational requirements although these aircraft cannot be hangared owing to the height of the contra-rotating blade arrangement.
Viraat was at anchorage for the President’s visit.Consequently ,the President did not sail.
The President arrived on a Sea King Mk 42 C and boarded a Maruti Gypsy to inspect a Guard of Honour.
She was then briefed on the events that would occur during the next few hours.
3 Chetaks and another ‘Charlie’ ferried in other dignitaries and headed back to INS Shikra immediately.
Apart from the President and her spouse, the Governor of Maharashtra ,Shri S C Jamir was also on board the ship.The Chief of Naval Staff,Admiral N K Verma(a former Viraat CO), the Flag Officer Commanding Chief,Western
Naval Command VAdm Sanjeev Bhasin,the Chief of Staff VAdm Pradeep Chauhan(another former Viraat CO),the FOCWEF RAdm Pattnaik were the seniormost Naval Brass on board.
The President’s helicopter was quickly moved and lashed down aft of the Flyco behind the LUSHed Sea Harrier 606 which had been moved aft as well.
Security was tight in the form of MARCOs on guard at various points on the flight deck and sponsons. Additionally, speed boats bearing armed
MARCOs were continuously circling the carrier and they got out of the way only during the steam past.
The Steam Past was led by INS Delhi (D61) .As she steamed past majestically,a Chetak from the Fleet Support Squadron (INAS 321) turned up above her quarterdeck and demonstrated fast slithering by a hit of MARCOs.
Delhi was followed by INS Trishul looking sleek and fit.
INS Betwa was the last of this column and one speculated how much more capable the IN would be if ships built for carrying 2 SeaKing category helicopters did actually carry them (the Delhi class,the Godavari Class and the Brahmaputra class ).
INS Vidyut (K48) and INS Veer (K40) of the legendary 22nd Missile Boat Squadron ,K22, steamed past rapidly from the other direction even as the fleet ships were in the background.
INS Shankush (Type 209/1500 SSK) partitially surfaced ,even as an XFAC (Super Dvora)turned up rapidly in the K Class column.
Shankush continued sailing at her leisurely pace when 2 Sea King Mk 42Bs of the Harpoons turned up alongside Viraat and demonstrated a sonar dunking evolution. The downwash was tremendous and the helicopters were
steady as the sonobuoy was dunked and recovered.
The FLYCO was the busiest part of the ship due to the activity going on.Suddenly, the sound of a Jet Engine was heard and a Sea Harrier operating ex-Santa Cruz was spotted zooming over head into the distance.
The Deck Hover was cancelled due to some issues with headwind,so the SHAR turned up ahead of the ski jump as if asking ,”Boss,any parking available?” and then nozzling up and zooming out again.
A small flypast of 3 Chetaks,2 Sea King Mk 42 Bs and 2 Ka-31s took place.
The President then moved down to the hangar for a Sainik Sammelan.The Sammelan was preceded by a soft launch of the Coffee Table Book "Hermes to Viraat" by the President.
She also released a book of anecdotes in Hindi written by Captain Babeley,the current Command Education and Welfare officer. It is a sweet little book of poems and anecdotes titled “Viraat ke Deck se” .Watch his space for a review.
Post sammelan she was given a rousing Teen Jai by the ship’s company present in the Hangar and after interacting with a few of them she and other dignitaries went back up on the flight deck by the Ship’s lift and they headed for lunch.
It was a small peek into life on board a warship and the Navy’s professionalism shone through the entire day.Few countries can operate aircraft carriers and India continues to be a highly qualified member of this little club.
|