A dashing display of Indian Navy's might

By Our Special Correspondent

SOMEWHERE IN BAY OF BENGAL, NOV. 17. The multi-faceted capabilities of the Indian Navy, including its tactical manoeuvres, mine-sweeping, surface-to- surface missile firing and search-and-rescue drills were showcased during the Eastern Fleet exercise in the Bay of Bengal off Visakhapatnam on Saturday as part of the ongoing `Navy Week' celebrations.

For nearly three hours in the bright and sunny forenoon, a large party of mediapersons had the thrilling and edge-of-the-seat experience of the `Day at Sea' witnessing these exercises aboard INS Sukanya, the offshore patrol vessel, in the august company of Vice-Admiral John C. DeSilva, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, who reviewed the feats.

Rear-Admiral Pradip Kaushiva, Flag Officer Commanding the Eastern Fleet, who was the conducting authority for the exercise, was present.

Nine frontline vessels of the Eastern Fleet, three ships of the local flotilla and five maritime helicopters of the Navy, which participated in the exercises, demonstrated how the Naval operations at sea safeguarded the maritime border of the country and its vast exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The K-class missile corvettes Kora, Kirpan, Kulish and Khukri and the missile boat INS Chamak displayed their surface-to-surface missile firing drills in a breathtaking fashion even as INS Rana, Eastern Fleet's destroyer, was the star attraction with its anti- submarine rocket firing prowess.

Another manoeuvre in which nearly a dozen mediapersons, including a woman reporter, were asked to participate was the Replenishment at Sea involving exchange of men and material by `jack stay' operation between `Rana' and `Sukanya.' Some mediapersons also had a chance to fire at the floating targets from Sukanya! Admiral DeSilva patted the scribes for their boldness.

Two of the three Chetak helicopters participating in the exercises demonstrated their skills in the search-and-rescue operation while the remaining ones, including a Kamov and a Seaking, put on show their vertical tactical manoeuvres like dropping a sonar to locate the lurking `enemy sub' and bombing it.

INS Konkan and INS Cannanore, minesweepers of the local flotilla, showed mediapersons how mines in a battle zone were located and counter measures taken. The exercises concluded with ENC Chief inspecting the ceremonial steam-past of the participating vessels from Sukanya, the flagship of the event.

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