As part of the Eastern Naval Command’s endeavour to take the Indian Navy closer to public, Naval operational displays were conducted on the beach fronts at Visakhapatnam and Chennai recently. The Navy’s showcase of three dimensional warfare capabilities evoked tumultuous public response at these two port cities and enthralled people from all walks of life and age groups. The events which were conducted as part of ‘Navy Week 2000’ celebrations contributed immensely in enhancing the awareness among the public of the operational capability of the Indian Navy, both at war and in peace.

The Vice President of India, Mr Krishan Kant was the distinguished chief guest at the majestic display conducted at the sea-front abetting Ramakrishna Beach at Visakhapatnam. Accompanied by Mrs Suman Krishan Kant, he graced the various facets of the display which included fire punch and operational manoeuvres by the ships of the Eastern Fleet, submarine arm and the fixed and rotary wing aircraft of the Naval air arm. The Suryakiran aircraft of the Indian Air Force took part in the air display and performed a number of formation flying and synchronised aerobatics. The Naval operational display provided a visual carnival to the viewers who numbered about two lakh. Vice Admiral Vinod Pasricha, the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command who was the chief host, a large number of civilian dignitaries, Flag Officers of the Navy, officers, sailors and Defence civilian employees of the Navy were also present on the occasion. The chief guest released a brochure on the occasion.

Two Chetak helicopters holding the national flag and the Naval ensign fluttering, flew past the area ushering the Vice President of India to the mega event. A large number of frontline ships, submarines and aircraft of the Eastern Naval Command performed operational manoeuvres and firing demonstration at sea. The Naval operations demonstrated the three dimensional warfare capability of the command which defends the vast maritime border of the Eastern Seaboard.

The Naval ships including the Khasin class guided missile destroyers INS Rajput commanded by Capt Anil Kumar Chopra, Kamorta class ships INS Amini and INS Anjadip, the "K" class and missile corvettes with their highly powerful lethal missiles comprising INS Kora, Kuthar, Kripan and Khanjar; patrol vessel INS Savitri, landing craft ship INS Ghorpad under the operational command of Rear Admiral AK Singh, the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet and three ships INS Khozhikode, Cannanore and Kakinda of the local flotilla under the control of Capt S K Khanna, the Naval Officer-in-Charge (Andhra Pradesh) demonstrated a variety of impressive manoeuvers and firing of submarine rocket and close range anti aircraft firing. INS Rajput, the flag ship, coordinated the tactical movements and operations of all the ships in the operational display.

The display of lethal power was triggered off with Indian naval ships Rajput, Amini and Anjadip firing rockets. Two Chetak helicopters performed search and rescue demonstration and impressive helobatics. The largest fixed wing maritime reconnaissance TU aircraft dropped a marker indicating location of an enemy target while the islander aircraft, one of the recent additions of INS Dega at Visakhapatnam, carried out an immaculate firing on the marker. The ships in the meantime fired red and green vaary’s pistols which changed the colour of the entire air-space above the ships. Very soon, a highly versatile rotary wing Seaking helicopter performed slithering operations in which the professional divers of the Marine Commandos landed vertically onto the deck of INS Savitri. INS Karanj, a fighting unit of the highly potent submarine arm, made her presence felt by surfacing with her aerials and mast visible to the crowd. Meanwhile, the Marine Commandos exhibited slithering operation on the beach from helicopters for taking position to demonstrate an infiltration on an enemy coastline.

The fascinating and intricate part of the display was the stand-off beaching demonstration by INS Ghorpad, the landing ship tank which had carried extensive relief operations at Paradip Port in the wake of the devastating cyclone in 1999. The ship, commanded by Lt Cdr Rajeev Sharma, approached very close to the beach in front of the spectators and operated opening of the bow doors of the ship. Amphibious armoured troop carrier tanks (BMPs) skillfully rolled down from the ramp of the ship and swam across coastal water to reach the beach area and motored on the beach sand for taking position close to the dais. The sailors of the Eastern Naval Command Band performed Beating the Retreat ceremony in an impressive manner. All the ships were illuminated at the sunset on completion of firing of close range anti-aircraft guns which gave a spectacular view to the people.

On another occasion, a structured naval exercise was conducted off Visakhapatnam by the ships of the Eastern Fleet. Six frontline ships, a submarine and helicopters exercised various types of manoeuvers and evolutions. The naval exercise was conducted under the tactical command of Rear Admiral A K Singh, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet. INS Rajput in the company of INS Aditya, the latest indigenously built fleet tanker and INS Kora, Kuthar, Kripan, Savitri and submarine INS Sindhughosh along with Kamov, Seaking and Chetak helicopters demonstrated a variety of tactical manoeuvres. INS Aditya performed simultaneous fueling operations with INS Rajput and INS Kora on her either side, all cruising at constant speed. This was followed by a "dunking exercise" carried out by a Kamov helicopter exhibiting its anti-submarine warfare capabilities. The dunking sonar with its sound propagation and detection technique would efficiently locate a submerged submarine and identify its range. This would enable the surface ships to take necessary course of action in dealing with an underwater target.

The significant part was an anti-submarine rocket firing by INS Kuthar displaying her lethal fire power. The marine atmosphere at that time was charged with the reverberations indicating the impact of rocket firing. The naval authorities on flagship INS Rajput and the scribes onboard INS Savitri could witness the impressive performance of the INS Kuthar very clearly. Submarine INS Sindhughosh demonstrated surfacing and diving operations to prove its versatile underwater manoeuvrability.