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Indian Navy takes charge of US ship Trenton
NORFOLK, VIRGINIA: Within hours of the monstrous tsunami that struck the subcontinentââ¬â¢s eastern flank in December 2004, the Indian Navy commandeered and dispatched nearly a fourth of its fleet for relief and rescue. Thirty-eight ships, big and small, raced to help the tens of thousands in Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka whose lives were devastated by the calamity.
But when the ships reached the tsunami-hit areas, they found piers and jetties wrecked. Although the Indian Navy overcame myriad obstacles to bring off a stupendous relief act, one which was universally hailed, ''it was also a moment when we felt an acute need for an amphibious landing ship,'' according to a commander who was involved in the operation.
That gaping hole in the Indian armada was filled to a large extent on Wednesday when the Indian Navy took charge of USS Trenton , a massive amphibious loading dock, in an elegant handing over ceremony at the Norfolk Naval Base in Virginia. The 17,000 ton vessel will be the second largest ship in the Indian Navy after the aircraft carrier Viraat , and the first American ship to join the Indian fleet.
Officials say the ship, which is still undergoing repairs and refurbishing in Norfolk, will be in the US till May before it leaves for India, where it is expected to join the Eastern Naval Command in Vishakapatnam.
In a charming coincidence, US ports will also be getting a look once again in May at the Indian Navyââ¬â¢s INS Tarangini , one of the worldââ¬â¢s most admired tall (sailing) ships, that won both praises and prizes during a visit here in 2005.
But with its six H-3 Sea King transport helicopters and an assortment of smaller boats, the Trenton flotilla, which will be formally commissioned into the Indian Navy as INS Jalashva (Sanskrit for river horse or hippopotamus), is in a different league altogether. It is expected to expand Indiaââ¬â¢s aspiring blue water navy to enable both troop movements and relief and rescue on both sides of the subcontinent.
As of Wednesday, the vessel was formally decommissioned from the US Navy, and a full complement of more than 300 Indian sailors and 27 officers led by Captain B S Ahluwalia (VSM) took charge. They have already been in Norfolk for several weeks now literally learning the ropes about one of Americaââ¬â¢s most trusted vessels.
Trenton was commissioned in 1971 and has seen action in Lebanon and Somalia among other places, landing US troops and rescuing American citizens. New Delhi purchased the ship for a $ 48.44 million, including choppers and boats, a prize that some officials said was a bargain. The ship is expected to serve in the Indian Navy for at least 15 more years.
The Trenton experience could also lead New Delhi to consider other US purchases. The Indian Navy has long considered having at least three aircraft carriers in its armada. With the Russian carrier Gorshkov joining INS Viraat , there is some talk of having another carrier, particularly since Viraat itself, of 1945 vintage, is nearing the end of its life.
The catch: each of the US Navyââ¬â¢s two dozen aircraft carriers ââ¬â a dozen in service and a dozen in reserve ââ¬â is a humongous vessel. Most of them are in the 75,000-100,000 ton range, are nuclear-powered, and cost in the billions. They are considered way above both Indiaââ¬â¢s requirement and cost, even if they came at the cut rate price of Trenton .
NORFOLK, VIRGINIA: Within hours of the monstrous tsunami that struck the subcontinentââ¬â¢s eastern flank in December 2004, the Indian Navy commandeered and dispatched nearly a fourth of its fleet for relief and rescue. Thirty-eight ships, big and small, raced to help the tens of thousands in Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka whose lives were devastated by the calamity.
But when the ships reached the tsunami-hit areas, they found piers and jetties wrecked. Although the Indian Navy overcame myriad obstacles to bring off a stupendous relief act, one which was universally hailed, ''it was also a moment when we felt an acute need for an amphibious landing ship,'' according to a commander who was involved in the operation.
That gaping hole in the Indian armada was filled to a large extent on Wednesday when the Indian Navy took charge of USS Trenton , a massive amphibious loading dock, in an elegant handing over ceremony at the Norfolk Naval Base in Virginia. The 17,000 ton vessel will be the second largest ship in the Indian Navy after the aircraft carrier Viraat , and the first American ship to join the Indian fleet.
Officials say the ship, which is still undergoing repairs and refurbishing in Norfolk, will be in the US till May before it leaves for India, where it is expected to join the Eastern Naval Command in Vishakapatnam.
In a charming coincidence, US ports will also be getting a look once again in May at the Indian Navyââ¬â¢s INS Tarangini , one of the worldââ¬â¢s most admired tall (sailing) ships, that won both praises and prizes during a visit here in 2005.
But with its six H-3 Sea King transport helicopters and an assortment of smaller boats, the Trenton flotilla, which will be formally commissioned into the Indian Navy as INS Jalashva (Sanskrit for river horse or hippopotamus), is in a different league altogether. It is expected to expand Indiaââ¬â¢s aspiring blue water navy to enable both troop movements and relief and rescue on both sides of the subcontinent.
As of Wednesday, the vessel was formally decommissioned from the US Navy, and a full complement of more than 300 Indian sailors and 27 officers led by Captain B S Ahluwalia (VSM) took charge. They have already been in Norfolk for several weeks now literally learning the ropes about one of Americaââ¬â¢s most trusted vessels.
Trenton was commissioned in 1971 and has seen action in Lebanon and Somalia among other places, landing US troops and rescuing American citizens. New Delhi purchased the ship for a $ 48.44 million, including choppers and boats, a prize that some officials said was a bargain. The ship is expected to serve in the Indian Navy for at least 15 more years.
The Trenton experience could also lead New Delhi to consider other US purchases. The Indian Navy has long considered having at least three aircraft carriers in its armada. With the Russian carrier Gorshkov joining INS Viraat , there is some talk of having another carrier, particularly since Viraat itself, of 1945 vintage, is nearing the end of its life.
The catch: each of the US Navyââ¬â¢s two dozen aircraft carriers ââ¬â a dozen in service and a dozen in reserve ââ¬â is a humongous vessel. Most of them are in the 75,000-100,000 ton range, are nuclear-powered, and cost in the billions. They are considered way above both Indiaââ¬â¢s requirement and cost, even if they came at the cut rate price of Trenton .
