Naval might on display

By Our Special Correspondent

VISAKHAPATNAM, DEC. 3.

Thousands watched with awe the lethal power of the Indian Navy, displayed by the Eastern Naval Command at the Ramakrishna Beach on the eve of the Navy Day on Sunday, when a large number of frontline ships, a submarine and aircraft of the Command performed operational manoeuvres and firing at sea to amply demonstrate its three-dimensional warfare capabilities.

Mr. Krishan Kant, Vice-President of India, accompanied by his wife, Suman, was among those who witnessed the naval display, an annual feature during the Navy Week celebrations. The couple was greeted on arrival by Marcos (marine commandos) with deafening sounds of firing twice which took the over one-lakh spectators off-guard making them raise an alarm. Immediately two Chetak helicopters were on a fly past the VIP enclosure, one carrying the tricolour and the other the Naval ensign to salute the guests. Mr. Krishan Kant also released the Navy Week brochure on the occasion.

The main attraction this year were the half-a-dozen Suryakiran aircraft of the Indian Air Force, renowned for their synchronous aerobatics, which performed formation flying providing a visual treat. They emitted tricolour waves in the sky and formed dangerous loops, keeping the spectators spellbound for over ten minutes.

As the programme began, INS Rajput, the guided missile destroyer and pride of the Navy, came in full view in the sea a few metres away from the spectators who settled on the beach sands. It was followed by INS Amni and INS Anjdeep, which fired anti-submarine rockets which landed just in front and behind INS Rajput. Other ships which came up were Kora, Kuthar, Kirpan, Khanjar, the missile corvettes with their highly powerful weapons, INS Savitri, the offshore patrol vessel, and the huge landing Craft Ship INS Ghorpad, which were part of the Eastern Fleet at Visakhapatnam.

Then two Chetak helicopters performed search and rescue demonstrations and impressive helobatics. The largest fixed wing Maritime Reconnaissance TU-142 aircraft known for its effective anti-submarine operations arrived from INS Rajali in Tamil Nadu to take part in the display. It dropped two light rafts indicating location of the enemy. Three Kamov helicopters with double rotating blades with sonars spotted the submarine and one of them dropped a bomb, forcing INS Karanj to surface slowly in an interesting show.

Meanwhile, the Marcos exhibited slithering operations from helicopters to demonstrate infiltration technique when they got down on board INS Savitri. A Sea-king helicopter even demonstrated landing on the small deck of the patrol vessel. The marcos in black uniform were dare-devils while moving fast in Gemini rubber boats or operating the amphibians which came from the opened bow doors of INS Ghorpad to move on to beach sands, which was fascinating. The two amphibious armed troop carrier tanks (BMPs) ran even on the sand with amazing speed to enthrall the spectators.

There were also fly pasts by TU-142 and Islander aircraft, and the helicopters to demonstrate the skills of the Navy.

The sailors of the ENC Band performed the beating the retreat impressively and four ships close to the beach were brightly illuminated at dusk to bring the curtain down on the brilliant show.

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Section  : Southern States
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