Thread by @srikantkesnur

Yes that's right. Mysore & Hogue were involved in a collision on 25 Aug 59, during Joint Exercises Trincomalee (JET). Light cruiser Mysore (former HMS Nigeria) was Commander Task Force (CTF) flying flag of RAdm Ajitendu Chakravarty, Flag Officer Commanding Indian Fleet (FOCIF).

https://twitter.com/ThingsNavy/status/1379163735735087106

2/n. It was night, ships were steaming at 20 kts, in circular screen with Hogue as one of the screening ships & Mysore the guide. Screen disposition was changed at some point requiring Hogue to move from Port to Stbd of Mysore. Black night, darkened ships, high speed & luck all

3/n played their part. As per Capt SN Kohli, Commanding Officer Mysore, he noticed on radar scan Hogue rapidly closing on collision course. While Mysore took last minute avoiding action by going hard starboard & switching on her nav lights the two bows crashed into each other.

4/n. Both ships came to standstill & suffered damage. However Hogue's was much more. While Mysore forepeak had a hole she was still able to steam under own power into Trinco harbour while Hogue was towed stern in after damage to much of fwd part. The court martial that followed

5/n exonerated Mysore. It was established that radar of Hogue was defective & gave wrong picture. While Hogue was written off its Captain was not penalised. Further, understand that whole crew of Hogue went on to commission another ship. @navalhistorian could throw light on this

6/n. The shipwrights on Mysore & Trincomalee dockyard did a wonderful repair job on Mysore, covering up the gaping hole with wood & canvas & painting it grey such that damage was barely noticeable. Mysore completed an official visit to Colombo & other foreign ports in this shape.

7/n. The damage was repaired by Bombay Dockyard later with her getting a new forepeak & repair to compartments aft of that. Soon after, on 04 Feb 60, Mysore had a 'little' touch with RFA Gold Ranger. Kohli was still in Command & Mysore attempted a destroyer like manoeuvre while

8/n. coming abeam the tanker. The backdown procedure of approaching at high speed & ordering half astern at a prejudged point was exercised. While ship came in 22 kts at correct place smoothly she then rapidly closed Gold Ranger broadside & touched her before being steered away

9/n. Subsequent enquiry established that the Navigator & Chief QM had given opposite wheel when half astern was ordered while ship still had headway on. The Captain was awarded CNS letter of displeasure but backdown procedure remained in vogue thereafter. Mysore also apparently

10/n. Had amongst the best timings connecting up to tanker in many such joint multinational exercises. Mysore had a charmed life indeed. Notwithstanding three other collisions, with Rana (Jun 69), Betwa (Sep 72) & Beas (Dec 72), she reigned supreme as the Queen of the Orient.

11/n. She was our Flagship during Goa liberation ops in Dec 1961 (RAdm BS Soman) & Dec 1971 war for Liberation of Bangladesh (RAdm EC Kuruvila) when she held sway in the Arabian Sea. After the decommissioning of her elder sibling INS Delhi (former HMS Achilles) in late seventies

12/n. Mysore went to serve as a training ship until she was decommissioned in Aug 1985. Interestingly, most current top leadership of Indian Navy did their initial training on Mysore & have fond memories of that time. Capt SN Kohli went onto become the first Fleet Cdr of Western

13/n. Fleet in Mar 68, the FOCinC Western Naval Command during the 71 war and then our Chief from 1973 to 76 @indiannavy @arunp2810 @theUdayB @JaggiBedi @subnut @navalhistorian @EmergingRoy @probirpaymate @SanjoyRoyTWA @karthikavk @pramodkapoor @shekhar19541 @geethashok @w_karve

14/n. Thread on 1st INS Mysore.
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15/n. Thread on first INS Mysore
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