Thks @abhilashtomy . That part of history is directly related to the event next day, viz 22 Apr 58, when VAdm RD Katari took over as first Indian CNS. Today we celebrate that occasion. As Adm @arunp2810 brings out we were the last amongst three services to completely Indianise.
My friend @yogiat007 had added some excellent inputs too & Navy enthusiast @zwerubae has created the wiki
3/n. Page for him here en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ram_Dass_….
So today am briefly mentioning last British CNS VAdm Sir Stephen Carlill. RDK talks of Carlrill with profuse praise. He says "Carlill & his lady had endeared themselves to one & all, not only within the Service but those they met
4/n. outside too". Thus, the Indian Navy was well served by Officers loaned by Royal Navy, as also brought out by @Cmde_GPrakash in his article on the Harpoons few days ago. Carlill is described as "his sincerity and genuine identification with the aspirations of the Navy
5/n. And his attitude of goodwill towards all men and malice towards none was just the right medicine to get the Navy to sound adult health. And it made for smooth transition from British to Indian hand at the apex". Navy Historian RAdm Satyindra Singh brings out that "Carlill
6/n. provided a happy mix of operational and administrative ability and in the execution of his responsibility displayed much wisdom and marked sincerity. Indeed the latter quality was one of his outstanding attributes which impressed all Pandit Nehru downwards. So much so that
7/n. When Carlill left it was at the Prime Minister's initiative that he was given the honorary rank of Vice Admiral in the Indian Navy, a fitting honour to the last of the British Admirals who nursed the Indian Navy along in its formative years after independence". While
8/n. Subsequent studies & appraisals of this part of our history have been less laudatory & more critical, of which more later, there is all round acknowledgment of the key role played by RN personnel loaned to Indian Navy. Today let's celebrate RD Katari the first Indian CNS
Folks, sad news coming from Pune where a war hero bids adieu. Achyut Madhav, Gokhale, 75 yrs, IAS, Nagaland cadre, distinguished civil servant passed away this morning. He retired in 2006 as Secy to Govt of India. A recepient of Padma Shri (1990), he was much renowned for his
2/n. Contribution in the fields of environment, rural development, conservation & renewable energy. He was much loved bureaucrat as seen in the Wikipedia profiles or this article below indiatogether.org/gokhale-govern…
He was also author, photographer & graduate of Mumbai University.
3/n. But what is generally unknown is that Achyut Gokhale was a war hero who served in the Navy from 1966 to 1973. He joined as Short Service Commission & shortly after was nominated as Commissioning XO (second in command) of INS Vinash, one of the new Osa class missile boats
A brilliant write up on the Harpoons by @Cmde_GPrakash in his inimitable style. There is both past historical context & future crystal gazing. Anchored in naval operations but layered with subtle sociological observations. Nuanced humour in analogy of post independence growth to
2/n. To that of divorced hubby advising ex wife. Or the perceptive observation about perils of predicting decisions taken by new states but old civilisations. Or the advice that submarines/undersea warfare is the looming maritime threat that navies need to counter using Air ASW.
3/n. Having myself seen the best of Harpoons during my stints on Ganga & Delhi where embarking two Seakings filled the day with activity & gave an aura of invincibility & then later during Fleet times where they were battling post sanctions difficulties with innovation & verve
This is a day late but greetings to Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (JAKLI). Reupping an article I wrote on its affiliation with INS Kochi in Sep 18, for 'Seagull' magazine issue of Oct 18. tinyurl.com/26tedfeh
It briefly mentions some other Army Navy affiliations too & my
2/n. Iittle associations with some of them. These affiliations have added to triservice bonding. While current affiliations between Army Regiments & Navy ships are of recent vintage, circa late 80s/early 90s, we learn from history of other fascinating nuggets. Like the fact
3/n. there was a Calcutta Defence Volunteer Corps, a composite force of Army & Navy personnel set up in 1883. Or that in 1943 HMIS Jumna was adopted by the Meerut Division of United Provinces, current Uttar Pradesh. One of the offrs on Jumna then was Sub Lt Stanley Dawson who
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).
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.
1/n. That's a wonderful recap of the Cobras by @SandeepUnnithan. The Cobras or 310 Sqn have much to celebrate on their diamond jubilee. The article brings out their participation in every war or conflict we have been involved in from liberation of Goa to Op Parakram. The Alizes
2/n. First & Dornier aircraft now, the Sqn has had an illustrious history. I too have been previleged by close association with them in last couple of decades & they are fine bunch of professionals indeed. Much owes to the great work done by the pioneers. Sixties were early days
3/n. For aviation in the Indian Navy. The role of VAdm Mihir K Roy has been written about & his many splendoured life & contribution needs a seperate essay. Micky Roy apart, others like Raj Anderson, Ramsagar & Akku Roy mentioned in the article were great characters. We must
1/n. Thread INS Karanj. When Indian Navy Commissioned its latest submarine INS Karanj earlier this week history was made in several ways & several levels. First, it exemplified naval tradition of naming new ships after their illustrious forebears. It aligns with our concept of
2/n. Reincarnation & time space continuum. Old ships do not die, they are simply born in new & more formidable avatars. The erstwhile INS Karanj, a Soviet Foxtrot class submarine, Commissioned in Riga in Baltic sea, was amongst our first batch acquired in late sixties. She sailed
3/n. Far & wide and served the country with distinction for more than 30 years decommissioning in Aug 2003. From the war of 1971 to International Fleet Review in 2001, from operations & exercises to stealthy missions, from training future submariners to testing equipment for