[V.Narayan]

RIP Admiral Awati: The Incredible Story of One of the Heroes of the Indian Navy

by Lekshmi Priya S; November 5, 2018

Born on September 7, 1927, Awati first donned the uniform when he was selected for the Royal Indian Navy in 1945.

In the early hours of Sunday, India bid farewell to one of its most legendary and decorated war veterans, Vice Admiral (retired) Manohar Prahlad Awati. His demise indeed marks the end of an era for the defence forces. Aged 91, Admiral Awati breathed his last in Vinchurni, his native village, located in the Satara district of Maharashtra. He leaves behind an irreplaceable abyss in the history of Indian Navy.

Also known as the father of Indian Navy’s circumnavigation adventures, he had quite an eventful and illustrious career which included capturing three enemy ships. An expert in signal communication, the iconic naval officer also had the credit of serving in many naval vessels like INS Ranjit, INS Venduruthy, INS Betwa, INS Tir and INS Mysore.

However, it was during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, when Awati’s commandership played a significant role in determining India’s fate. Deployed as the commanding officer of INS Kamorta, his name went down in history for gallantly holding the fort against the enemy forces for almost a fortnight—a successful feat for which he was awarded the Vir Chakra. Operating in the extremely dangerous territory with constant danger to his ship from enemy mines and submarines, an undeterred Awati went on a probing spree across the enemy- defended harbours of Bangladesh before finally striking a massive blow.

Between 1976 and 1977, Admiral Awati served as the Commandant of the National Defence Academy (NDA) and even after being posted out and shouldering other responsibilities, he made it a point to attend every passing out parade of the Academy; a practice he continued till this year.

Anecdotes from Admiral Awati’s war days would be incomplete without mentioning the
iconic .38 calibre Webley Revolver, a token of surrender that was handed over to him by two senior Pakistan Navy officers during the 1971 War. He presented the revolver to NDA as a souvenir in 2015, and it now rests in the museum of the premier tri-services military training institution.

Interestingly, the 1971 war hero continued to offer his services for the nation even post-retirement and played an instrumental role in envisioning and spearheading projects of circumnavigation—right from the first solo adventure of Commander Dilip Donde in 2010 to the latest all-women crew on INSV Tarini that had completed its mission early this year.

Rest in Peace, Admiral Awati. We hope that the legacy you left behind would continue to inspire not just the officers serving in the force but also those aspiring to serve the country.

https://www.thebetterindia.com/16379...te-india-news/

Photo shows Vice Admiral MP Awati with the all-women Indian Navy crew of INSV Tarini, a 56-feet long sailing ship, that circumnavigated the globe in 2017-18

[V.Narayan]

China plans to have 5 aircraft carriers in the medium-term future

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com...w/66966130.cms

China plans to operate five aircraft carriers in the near future, including two nuclear-powered ones that would be launched around 2025 to meet the evolving strategic shifts, according to Chinese military experts. They believe these 5 carriers are needed to protect their sea lanes. More likely they want these as instruments of power projection to intimidate the countries around the South China Sea which China is now trying to treat as its own lake.

The first Chinese carrier is the Liaoning a 58,000 tonne ex-Soviet vessel left incomplete on the slips in Ukraine in 1991 and subsequently sold to China as a hulk and painstakingly completed by the Chinese, with Russian & Ukrainian help, and commissioned in 2012. Aicraft wing is of ~40 fixed and rotary winged machines. Photo below.(source Wikipedia)


The second Chinese carrier is vessel number 001A currently under construction and expected to be put into service in 2020. It is a stretched version of the Liaoning and carries ~40 aircraft. Photo below (source Wikipedia)


And they have laid the keel of a third carrier referred to as 002 for now. The carrier scene in 2030 in Asia will look very different.

[GrandTourer]

Forgive my ignorance, but what does the Indian navy gain from circumnavigation missions? Apart from of course the pride and joy and display of capabilities.

[SmartCat]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

China plans to have 5 aircraft carriers in the medium-term future

For a superpower, the exclusive economic zone of China is awfully tiny. That's because of Taiwan, and also because of small islands belonging to Korea, Japan and other countries along South China Sea.



China needs a large Navy to expand their existing EEZ (dark pink) to other areas too (light pink) by claiming certain ownership of certain islands. This article about Nine Dash Line gives one an idea about what China wants
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nine-Dash_Line

[V.Narayan]

Originally Posted by GrandTourer

Forgive my ignorance, but what does the Indian navy gain from circumnavigation missions? Apart from of course the pride and joy and display of capabilities.

Your answered it yourself - pride & display. The Indian Navy encourages sailing ships because it teaches a sailor about winds and currents and waves that you can never learn within the citadel of a warship. In fact all officer cadets have to train for a few months on one of the two sailing rigs we have so they literally learn the ropes. My late father liked sailing and with the facilities the Navy provided as a child I often went sailing in small yachts as his helper. When you are in a 25 foot long boat, two feet above the water and facing even a gentle swell of four feet you learn to respect Lord Varuna.

Originally Posted by smartcat

For a superpower, the exclusive economic zone[/url] of China is awfully tiny. That's because of Taiwan, and also because of small islands belonging to Korea, Japan and other countries along South China Sea.
China needs a large Navy to expand their existing EEZ (dark pink) to other areas too (light pink) by claiming certain ownership of certain islands.

Very well put. Also with their appetitive for minerals and lack of their own oil resources they are pushing to claim a bigger EEZ for future exclusive mining rights - in complete violation of the laws of the seas.

[SmartCat]

Those new Chinese aircraft carriers might not be a threat to our mainland. But our 50 km wide 500 km long aircraft carrier permanently moored 1000 kms off Indian coast might be under threat

[V.Narayan]

Indian Navy has commissioned a new air base INS Kohassa in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands to augment its aerial surveillance capabilities in the Southern and Eastern parts of the Indian Ocean. This extra long range surveillance is needed to keep an eye on China's significantly increased presence in the IOR. China now has bases or visiting rights in Coco Island in the Bay of Bengal, Djibouti in the Horn of Africa, Hambantota in Sri Lanka (acquired through 'debt diplomacy') and Gwadar in the Arabian Sea !!!

Kohassa is a sea eagle native to the Andamans.

https://www.timesnownews.com/india/a...islands/353571

[Maveryq]

India's Ocean Surveillance Ship - VC11184 has been launched for sea trials. Supposed to be designed to track ballistic missile launches and pick up ELINT. Quite an interesting development as it was pushed to be developed by the PMO and built at a very fast pace (within 4 years). Probably built to track sea launched missiles in the Indian Ocean for the BMD program.

15,000 DWT and 175 mtrs long. Built at the Hindustan Shipyards at Vizag. Will be interesting to track its progress.

Interesting that it will be manned by NTRO and DRDO.





Picture source: The Hindu and NavalNews.com

[Maveryq]

INS Imphal - guided missile destroyer launched from Mazagaon docks. Gas Turbine powered with 7300 tons displacement.





Picture source: Ajai Shukla's twitter handle

[jraj]

Originally Posted by Maveryq

Quite an interesting development as it was pushed to be developed by the PMO and built at a very fast pace (within 4 years)

Let's keep this thread apolitical and if we want to make a statement, then let's bring out the facts.

HSL was brought under MoD in 2010 as they were heavily engaged in building lot of sensitive projects.

VC11184 funding was done in Feb'13 and HSL then was already in the process of reviewing the design with Vik Sandwik in 2013, following which the keel was laid in June 2014.

The progress is same as any other project undertaken by HSL.

Attached image Is from 2013/14 annual report of HSL

[Maveryq]

Originally Posted by Maveryq

India's Ocean Surveillance Ship - VC11184

Some pictures of VC11184. I do hope that they name it INS Arunachalam.











Picture Source: Maxima Vigilantia website.

[Maveryq]

INS Kolkata, trolling the Chinese in China.





INS Kolkata along with INS Shakti are in the Chinese port of Qingdao from 21 to 26 April to participate in the International Fleet Review being held there to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy





Picture Source: Twitter handle of Mr. Vikram Misri

[ads11]

Have to admit, the Kolkata class are handsome looking vessels. IIRC from Mr Narayan's old essays the main hull form traces it's lineage back to a Russian vessel. I guess that's where the sharp nose comes from. (Personally my favourite looking ships are Japanese Izumo class vessels but as destroyers go I'm glad we've got a looker in our fleet).

I found it interesting that the Pakistani Navy neglected to send any actual vessels citing the recent unrest locally to them. What with China being their closest ally I would've thought they could spare a ship or two. I'm glad that we sent a delegation though. I think it's important that for the most part we maintain civil and cordial relations but as Mayerq amusingly pointed out, remaining on guard nonetheless.

I'm waiting to see some big video round up of this fleet review as I imagine there'll be a lot of gratuitous ship porn for the aficionados.

[V.Narayan]

Maverq, ads11, thanks for sharing. I am glad we are proudly displaying our best in the opponent's lair. Way to go IN. Our western neighbour may either be sulking or does not have a frigate in good enough trim. After all their GDP is now lower than that of their erstwhile vassal Bangladesh!! Right from INS Godavari our constructor corp has been adept at handsome designs.The rakish climbing bow helps keep a head-on seaway in control while allowing more of the forward deck to be used for weapons.

[Maveryq]

The IFR has been disappointing as fog descended which made visibility a casualty.



I do agree the Kolkata class destroyers look good. Couple of pictures showing the strong lines of the ship. Can anybody please explain the design of the radar on the mast top? Some ships have conventional radars which seem to be rotating type. What advantage does this Kolkata design provide over the conventional rotating design? Is it a stealth issue?





Picture source: Twitter