INS Vikrant, 2022
This is a collection of articles archived for the excellence of their content. |
Contents |
Introduction
Briefly
AnanthaNarayanan K, Sep 3, 2022: The Times of India
From: AnanthaNarayanan K, Sep 3, 2022: The Times of India
From: Sep 3, 2022: The Times of India
Kochi : Flanked by defence minister Rajnath Singh and Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar, PM Narendra Modi compared the 262m long and 62m wide INS Vikrant — named after its illustrious predecessor that played a crucial role in the 1971 War — to a floating city that was a living embodiment of the five pledges he proclaimed during his Independence Day speech this year.
“We believe in a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific. As India moves rapidly towards a $5 trillion economy, our share in global trade will increase. A large part of it will inevitably be through maritime routes. In such a situation, INS Vikrant will be crucial as it will safeguard our security and economic interests,” he said. Modi said a strong India would also “pave the way for a peaceful world”.
On the Naval Ensign that replaces the colonial Saint George’s Cross, the PM said, “Till now, the identity of slavery remained on the flag of the Indian Navy. But from today onwards, inspired by Chhatrapati Shiva ji, the new Navy flag will fly in the sea and in the sky. ”
Modi raised the new-look flag on the flight deck of INS Vikrant and unveiled the commissioning plate. Kerala governor Arif Mohammed Khan, CM Pinarayi Vijayan, Union ministers Sarbananda Sonowal, V Muraleedharan and Ajay Bhatt, NSA Ajit Doval and several foreign dignitaries, including the ambassadors of Russia, France and Australia and the high commissioner of the UK, were at the event. Defence minister Rajnath Singh said the commissioning of INS Vikrant showed the NDA government’s resolve to ensure the safety and security of India for the next 25 years. “Vikrant is an assuranceto friendly foreign countries that India is capable of meeting the collective security needs of the region,” he said. Admiral Hari Kumar iterated the Navy’s aspiration “to become completely self-reliant by 2047” and remain a “combat-ready, credible, cohesive and future-proof force”. Modi received a 100-strong ceremonial guard of honour to the accompaniment of the naval band on his arrival at the venue. He also interacted with the principal officers of INS Vikrant.
Weapon systems on board the IAC
INS Vikrant’s primary air defence is the Israeli-origin Barak 8 missile defence system, which will be installed by mid-2023. It also has the Mareech torpedo defence system and Kavach anti-missile system. The portable diver detection sonar can detect underwater threats like diver delivery vehicles. The ship has AK 630 rotary cannons and several other guns. Its main offensive power is its aviation fleet comprising MiG29k multi-role fighter jets and helicopters like Kamov 31, MH60-R, Sea King, etc.
Carrier battle group packs a formidable punch
A Carrier Battle Group (CBG), the most potent means of force projection in any nation’s military, is a fleet of ships like cruisers, destroyers, frigates, corvettes, tankers and even submarines centered around an aircraft carrier with its fleet of fighter jets and helicopters. A modern carrier battle group is nearly invincible with surface, air and undersea escorts and it can combat diverse overhead, surface, and submerged threats. IAC will have its own CBG after commissioning.
The new ensign
AnanthaNarayanan K, Sep 3, 2022: The Times of India
Kochi : The Navy erased 70 years of its colonial past by accepting a new ensign inspired by the octagonal royal seal of Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shiva ji.
The former ensign featured a St Georges Cross with the Tricolour in the canton, a remnant of the preIndependence colonial era. The new white ensign has two constituents, the national flag in the upper left canton, and a navy blue-gold octagon at the centre of the fly side. The octagon has twin golden octagonal borders encompassing the golden national emblem with ‘Satyamev Jayate’ in blue Devanagari script resting atop an anchor and superimposed on a shield.
Below the shield, within the octagon, is a gold border ribbon and a navy-blue background with the Navy’s motto ‘Sam No Varunah’ inscribed in golden Devanagari script. The design encompassed within the octagon was taken from the Indian Naval crest, wherein the fouled anchor (also associated with colonial legacy) was replaced with a clear anchor. The golden border surrounding the national emblem draws inspiration from the seal of Chhatrapati Shiva ji and depicts steadfastness.
Life aboard INS Vikrant
2024
Sandip Dighe, March 4, 2024: The Times of India
Over 5,000 meals with more than 6,000 chapatis and 400kg of rice, dal and curries served up daily. Like everything else on aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, the scale of its dining experience and the logistics of putting together every meal is mind-boggling.
Kitchens on the 43,000-tonne warship with advanced combat systems and superior capabilities showcase the country’s rich, diverse and colourful food culture and also ace dishes from distant shores.
Keeping the 1,600 mariners posted on the ship’s 14 decks and occupying its 2,300 compartments fighting fit and thoughtfully sated is a temperance of 50 cooks that works out every last detail of the menu and doesn’t forget to add in that special treat on festive occasions.
Keeping It New
The kitchen team takes pride in precision planning – no item served once at breakfast, lunch or dinner is repeated during any given week. And they are never short of ideas or recipes. “The menu is planned a week in advance, taking into consideration the number of personnel, the ship’s programme, availability of stocks, nutritional value, special occasions, and variety. Special attention is paid to morning and evening snacks and sweets to make the menu sumptuous and appealing,” deputy logistics officer Lt Commander Nishanth Devendran had told TOI when the ship first docked in Mumbai last year.
For the chefs manning the kitchen, the day begins at 3.30am with the brewing of tea and the putting together of breakfast. The cookhouses stay warm till 10pm.
Men And The Machines
Helping the chefs stay hands-on is a battery of contraptions and gadgets. Automated dough-makers, idli makers and large-sized rice and dal boilers line the three large galleys that are also equipped with hot plates and deep fryers.
One machine can roll out 6,000 chapatis per meal while others can peel and chop vegetables and also wash and grind. The bakery takes care of pizzas, cookies and cakes. There are electric stoves and large utensils have special storage units. Reverse osmosis plants purify seawater for use on the ship after the samples are tested.
To keep them up-to-date and hone their skills, naval chefs are given culinary training at regular service intervals at INS Hamla in Mumbai, which is the logistics training establishment of the Indian Navy.
United By Taste
When Australian PM Anthony Albanese visited the vessel on March 9 last year, he was served khandvi and brownie. and found the ship’s menu to be wholesome and impressive, an officer said.
“Besides Indian, all types of cuisines grace the table – continental, Italian and French. Among Indian food, biryani, aloo parantha, misal and pav-bhaji are all-time favourites. We bake a variety of breads, pizzas and foods you’d find in a fine-dine menu. It brings inclusiveness among sailors coming from different regions,” Devendran said, adding that while catering to varied tastes, the chefs give top priority to nutrition.
A Navy veteran, who served on INS Vikramaditya, said the chefs and cooks are the souls of these ships. “Sailors need good food to focus on their tasks,” he said. A highlight on board is the specialties rustled up for special occasions and festivals. So, it is sadya on Onam, biryani on Eid, ribbon cake on Christmas, and sweets for Holi and Diwali to make the crew feel at home.
Another senior officer said he’s never homesick during festivals, and that’s because of the food. “When one is away on a long voyage, the special menu connects one to home and festivals.”
But what’s the crew favourite? “Like the cold coffee at National Defence Academy, biryani is the most preferred food on our ship,” Devendran said.
Packing A Punch
The sheer quantity of raw materials – running into quintals – for the kitchen means that there are no last-minute dashes for provisions.
A former commanding officer of INS Vikrant, Captain Vidhyadhar Harke, said that the logistics department loads rations according to the ship’s sailing schedule, which can be anything from a few weeks to a month or even more. Quantities are determined on the basis of past consumption, entitled ration scales, shelf life and crew size.
“INS Vikrant charts her rationing plan based on the layout and location of stores, but it follows INS Vikramaditya’s model on consumption patterns and preservation techniques,” he added. The stores in the lower section of the vessel offer easy access for loading. But it is laborious work distributing rations and supplies to the three pantries that a team manages.
The ship can carry rations to sustain more than 1,600 personnel at sea for several months. The supply chain is managed by the base victualling yard, which procures rations for all naval units and ships.
A Navy officer said that when the warship travels around the globe for operations, India’s rich food culture is available on a platter for foreign delegations.
