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INS Vikramaditya commissioned

@Capt.Popeye What are these random flags,some of them were pretty similar to country flags.Significance?


They are "Signal Flags". There is one flag for each letter of the alphabet viz. A-Z, just as there is one for each numeral. These flags go back a long way; as a means of inter-ship communication before the advent of radio. Ships in visual range of each other communicated by means of these flags. Codes were constructed around these flags, single-letter (1 Flag) double-letter (2 flags one above the other) triple-letter and so on. This form of communication continued even after the advent of radio, because they were more secure than radio. In the sense that anybody with a radio-set could listen in to a transmission. Here one had to be in visual range, which could be hazardous to one's own health!

Another means of communication between ships was by the use of Semaphore which involved the use of outstretched arms in various angles with a pair of special flags. Anybody here who has been a Boy-Scout will know about this. But this is probably not used in most Navies now except at very close range like Jackstay.

Still another form of communication in close range (WVR !!) is the use of Flashing Lamps. This uses the Morse code where a short-flash is a "Dot" and a long flash is a "Dash" in Morse. In this case, there is both Plain Language and Code used. Even in these days of Secure/Encrypted Radio Comms. Flag and other traditional means of communication are in use between Ships at Sea in Formation.
One difference between Flag-Signalling and Signalling by lamp is that flags can be seen (and read) by all in view, while the Aldis-Lamp can be read only by the intended recipient, unless one uses a flashing 'all-round' lamp at the mast-head.

Now; Flags have another significance on ships. As a part of the pageantry associated with special occasions. That is what we saw in the context of the Commissioning Ceremony of INS Vikramaditya. These flags were used to "Dress Ship" in "Rainbow Fashion". This is a form of Naval Decoration of a ship. Where the flags are strung out from the "Stem/Bow" of the ship to its highest point on the Mast and similarly from the "Quarter/Fantail/Stern" of the ship to the Mast-head again.
These flags are flown in addition to the other Flags that will be flown: in this case; a smaller Ensign at the Jackstaff (Bow), the Large Ensign at the Ensign-Staff (stern), The National Flag at the Yard-Arm on the Main Mast, the Admiral's Flag (here the CNS) at the Main Mast, and the Russian National Flag on a Yard-Arm as Courtesy Flag (since the ceremony in Russia). There is a rather elaborate code of usage of all flags on a ship which is known as Flag-Etiquette which is observed stringently.
 
Will they even be able to carry littening pods or Elta jammers with all the other weapon systems on board?

There are pics with the Elta jammers as I said, which actually is a strange view, since the new Ks and the upgraded UPGs should have such jammers integrated into the airframe and shouldn't wast hardpoints for that.
The targeting pods would be added to the centerline station, since the Mig doesn't have a dedicated pod station. From a comparison I once made to show possible weapon loads of N-LCA and Mig 29K:

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Found his russian documentary on INS Vikramaditya. Watch it on youtube with captions on and caption translation to English.
 

Interesting pic, that shows another parking position next to the take off position. With wings folded a Mig should not be a problem during arrested landings anymore, so 14 x parking spots in total, while some of them are size or operationally restricted.
 
Deepak class tanker in Russia to support Vikis journey:
04-3306206-tn.jpg

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Mig during take off:
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Mig during landing:
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Hangar and rear lift:
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Migs at TP 6, 9 and 11:
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Good to see how the Mig at TP 7 reaches over the lift with the cockpit section:
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India's Vikramaditya aircraft carrier casts anchor off Murmansk
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© Решетчатый настил, металлический решетки, винтовые лестницы, проф настил, прессованный настил, ПВЛ, ячеистые решетки - ЗАО "Фирма "Солид"

The Indian Navy's Vikramaditya aircraft carrier cast anchor off in the Kola Bay off Russia's northern city of Murmansk on Friday, December 6.

The aircraft carrier had run into a storm in the Barents Sea and had to make a stop in the Kola Bay where two other Indian ships, frigate Trikand and tanker Deepak, had dropped anchors earlier. The ships are expected to stay until December 8 and then leave Russia's territorial waters with the Vikramaditya leading the way.

Russia handed over the Vikramaditya aircraft carrier to the Indian Navy on November 16.

After a complete overhaul, the ship got a new flight deck and a ski-jump ramp for MiG-29K jet fighters, navigation, radar, communication and flight control systems, other equipment and units. Russia also trained an Indian crew of about 1,500 personnel and will build infrastructure for the aircraft carrier in the Indian Ocean. The ship is expected to operate for 25-30 years.

Its full water displacement is 45,000 tonnes, maximum length is 283.5 metres and maximum width is 59.8 metres (increased by 8.8 metres from the original ship). The ship can carry 30 aircraft, including MiG-29K het fighters and Ka-27 and Ka-31 helicopters. Its crew is about 2,000 members.

Russia's Severodvinsk-based defence shipyard Sevmash in the northern Arkhangelsk region, which upgraded the Vikramaditya aircraft carrier, will also provide post-warranty services for the ship for the next 20 years.

After the transfer of the ship to the Indian Navy, Sevmash engineers and specialists will provide warranty maintenance services for the aircraft carrier for one year.

During the three-month sea trials the ship demonstrated excellent seaworthiness, speed of 27.9 knots (about 52 kilometres per hour) and manoeuvrability. MiG specialists praised the ski-jump ramp.

All in all, the ship sailed for 19,500 miles during two seasons of sea trials, with 778 flights performed from its deck by aircraft and helicopters.

Russia's Northern Fleet aviation was involved in the sea trials: aircraft and helicopters flew around and over the ship in order to check its radar, air defence, communication and control systems.

During the first stage of the trials in the White Sea, the ship's physical fields were measured, and the crew practiced fuelling and fresh water replenishing operations.

The ship was initially scheduled to be commissioned on December 4, 2012. However its transfer to India was postponed until the end of 2013 after the problems during the sea trials.

Under a package inter-governmental agreement signed in New Delhi in January 2004, the body of the Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, later renamed to Vikramaditya, was transferred to India for free subject to its upgrading at Sevmash and armament with Russian aircraft.

The overall cost of the contract was estimated at 1.5 billion US dollars, of which about 974 million US dollars were intended for the conversion of the ship into a full-scale aircraft carrier. All work was supposed to be completed in 2008. However the completion date has been postponed. According to unofficial data, the final cost of the aircraft carrier is 2.3 billion US dollars.

The Admiral Gorshkov was built in Nikolayev under the name of Baku and put to service in the Northern Fleet in 1987. It is 283 metres long, 51 metres wide, with water displacement of over 45,000 tonnes.

The Vikramaditya left Russia's territorial waters in late November and should arrive in India in late January or early February 2014.

Voice of Russia, TASS
Read more:
India's Vikramaditya aircraft carrier casts anchor off Murmansk - News - Russia - The Voice of Russia: News, Breaking news, Politics, Economics, Business, Russia, International current events, Expert opinion, podcasts, Video
 
Deepak class tanker in Russia to support Vikis journey:
04-3306206-tn.jpg

attachment.php


Mig during take off:
attachment.php


Mig during landing:
attachment.php


Hangar and rear lift:
attachment.php



Migs at TP 6, 9 and 11:
attachment.php



Good to see how the Mig at TP 7 reaches over the lift with the cockpit section:
attachment.php
Looks very nice.
 

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