Countering Rogue Drones Aircraft Carriers & Indian Maritime Calculus Undersea Data Centre Great Barrier Reef - VOL. 24 No.101 - Indian Maritime ... (2024)

May 20 - Jul 20 VOL. 24 No.101 Countering Rogue DronesAircraft Carriers & Indian Maritime Calculus Undersea Data Centre Great Barrier Reef

3 Vol XXIV No 101 29 Editor May 20 - July 20 Aircraft Carriers And The Indian Maritime Calculus – Relevant And Essential 4 Cmde CP Srivastava (Retd) Letters to Editor Aquatic life in Great Barrier Reef Courtesy - Bing.com 36 5 Under The Sea,Japan Commissions Its First Microsoft Tests A Datacenter Submarine Running On 16 Lithium-Ion Batteries Letter from London Paul Ridgway FRGS FRIN 6 37 News From Jane’s 20 Heroes ? (Jane's Navy International) Peter Neunhäuser I Learnt A Lot About Flying That Day! Cmde Ajay Chitnis (Retd) 40 8 Bombay Time, Time Merchant Mariners Balls And Other Tales for the Gold 22 Cdr Mohan Narayan IN Salvatore R. (Retd) Mercogliano, Ph.D. IMF Corporate Lunch & Felicitation of Cmde Rajan Vir Capt AC Dixit 44 10 Soleimani and Admiral Yamamoto Wreath Laying at 24 Ian W Toll Seafarers' Memorial The Great Barrier Reef and Visit of Secretary Largest Structure Ever Built BMF 46 By Living Creatures Cdr Mukund Yeolekar (Retd) Gallimaufry 12 48Countering Rogue Drones, 27 Book Review : Sea Power – Drone Swarms and Royal Navy To Get First The History And Geo-politics Opportunities Large Autonomous Submarine Cmde Anil Jai Singh, IN (Cmde Sanjay Tewari,(Retd) H I Sutton Retd) 1

The Sea Our Strength Our goal is to raise awareness of our seas and to rekindle maritime consciousness and pride. The Indian Maritime Foundation - Council MembersCommodore Rajan Vir (Retd), President Emeritus, Capt AC Dixit , President(Tel.: 26169168 / 9823655692) Overall Development, Treasurer, Mentor SeaGull,Marine Art, Seminars, Museum and Library, MRC Committee Lectures in Pune University, MRC, STCW Revision,Lectures in School and Colleges Coastal Cleanup, Museum & Librarygitavir@gmail.com Tel.: 25656726 / 9890488242, ac_dixit@yahoo.comCapt. R Hajarnavis (Tel.: 25650016 / 9850094294)Senior Vice President, Mentor Advertisem*ntsrdhajarnavis@gmail.com Mumbai Branch of IMFac_dixit@yahoo.com Commodore Ajay H. Chitnis (Retd)Cmde Ajay H. Chitnis (Tel.: 26854784 / 9833265913) Vice President, Indian Maritime FoundationVice President, Joint Editor – SeaGull, Seminars, H-403, Daffodil, Jalvayu Vihar,MRC Committee, I/C Facebook Kharghar, Navi Mumbai - 410 210ajay.h.chitnis@gmail.com Mob: 98332 65913. e-mail : ajay.h.chitnis@gmail.comMrs Nalini Kunte (Tel.: 26163927 / 9850314665)Secretary, Public Relations, Membership, Lectures in Schools & Delhi Branch of IMFColleges, SIMA Committee, Museum & Library Committee Commodore Anil Jai Singh (Retd)anilkunte89@gmail.com Vice President, Indian Maritime FoundationMr Yezdi Batliwala (Tel: 9975264501/26834637) H.No. 25, Arun Vihar, Sector 28, Noida – 201303, UPAdvertisem*nts, Underwater Technology, International Coastal Tel: 0120 – 4222254, Mob: 9560155188Cleanup, STCW Revision Committee ajaisingh59@gmail.comproyez.bats@gmail.comCdr Arnab Das ( Tel : 9665033463 ) Chennai Branch of IMFDirector Maritime Research CentreSeagull Editorial Committee, Website Administrator Capt S Krishnamurthi Vice President, Indian Maritime Foundationarnabdas1972@hotmail.com Office :91- 44- 2812 8468, Mob 9940500114.Mrs. Poonam Gulati (Tel.: 26353104 / 9975518653) ( krishnut5@gmail.com )Museum & Library committee Vice President- Operations ( Technical )reggiegulati@gmail.com Sanmar Shipping Limited, 9 Cathedral Road,Chennai - 600086.Capt. Sunand Kanetkar (Tel: 26854741, 9833370041)Lectures in Pune University, Seminars, Manager Museum,Associate Editor SeaGull Honorary Correspondentssunandk2004@gmail.com Auckland, NZ : Mr S.AmirapuCmde PK Malhotra (Tel:26852841, 9823172737) Bangalore : Mr Ramesh NarayanICC Coordinator, India North, Museum & Library Committee.MRC Committee Houston, USA : Mr Atul Virpromptcleanup@gmail.com London : Mr Paul RidgwayMr Gopi Shetty Maliyadri (Tel: 8149450844, 27652442) Miami, USA : Mr Rahul VirOcean Savers of India Singapore : Capt R Choudhuricaptainoca@gmail.comCapt Indrajit Roy (Tel: 27278485, 7719889353) Sydney, Australia : Mrs Jennifer KnoxSeagull Editorial Committee, Seminars. Toulon, France : Rear Adm (Retd) Valere Ortoliindrajit.roy62@gmail.com Toronto, Canada : Cdr M S Randhawa (Retd)Capt Sudhir Subhedar (Tel: 9823158057, 020-25449783). Berlin, Germany : Dr Peter NeunhäuserSTCW Revision Committeecapt_subhedar@hotmail.comCmde JJ Varma (Tel: 9599655375, 020-29703037) Website : www.indianmaritimefoundation.orgSeminar Convener e-mail : President: ac_dixit@yahoo.comjjvarma1956@gmail.com IMF : indmarfdn50@gmail.comCdr M.N. Yeolekar (Tel: 9923343150, 9969686322)Lectures in Pune University, Editor SeaGull, SeaGull Editor : Cdr Mukund YeolekarMuseum & Library Committee Office Manager: Shipra Pillai, Mob 8308896051mnyeolekar@gmail.comLt Cdr Pramod Mahajan (Tel: 9422306390) SeaGull is Published byMuseum & Library Committee (Lectures Schools/Colleges)pramod_mahajan16@yahoo.co.in The Indian Maritime Foundation : B-46 Abhimanshree Society, Pashan Road, Pune 411008 Tel. : +91-20-41315976 Designed & Printed by - www.ornateindia.co.in Views expressed in this journal are those of the authors only. The contents may be reproduced with written permission of the editor. 2 SeaGull May 20 - July 20

Editorial EditorialWhat began in Jan 2020 as a seemingly innocuous viral infection in Wuhan, China, the Virus-COVID 19took the world by storm and affected every continent except Antarctica. The worst pandemic in humanhistory unfolded by April even as the figures of casualties crossed six digit mark and of those affectedrose exponentially with USA in the lead followed by Italy, Spain, UK, France, Iran and many others.Nations ran short of medical supplies and facilities while even doctors and para-medics got infected. Aglobal lockdown since March had a cascading effect on trade, industry, logistic services, tourism andalmost every aspect of human life changing the world for ever. The summer Olympics at Tokyo gotpostponed to 2021.Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the IMO Secretariat continued to function effectively. The pandemichad a profound impact on shipping with slump in demand for goods from China and a ripple effect oneverything from container ships to oil tankers. Cruise ships - with large numbers of passengers and crewbecame incubators of the virus. The closure of ports and port congestion have caused disruptions in thesupply chain and import and exports.Production at factories ground to a halt as fear and precautions against COVID-19 picked up pace acrossthe country. The categories impacted by the lockdown mainly included automobiles and consumerelectronics. The January-March quarter, saw the Sensex nose dive to 29648 from 42274, the worst in itshistory. Corporate India revealed its generous side to commit assistance in various forms in the country'sfight against coronavirus.Fortuitously the COVID-19 crisis had coincided with a sharp decline in global oil prices from $65 to $31per barrel in mid April. In welcome news amid the COVID-19 crisis the IMD has forecast a “normal”monsoon this year.On 20 Feb in a solemn ceremony IMF Council Members laid a wreath at the Seafarers' Memorial in Puneas a mark of respect to the Mariners lost at sea. A Corporate Lunch was organized on 27 Feb at Mumbaiin honour of the many well wishers and supporters of IMF. Several IMF events were postponed due tothe lockdown imposed as a consequence of the pandemic. However the National Maritime Day on 05April was observed on a low key as Mariners felt proud of their achievements of keeping the sea lanesabuzz and the nation's economy flourishing. We look forward to conducting the Annual IMF seminar onSubmarines in Sept 20.In this issue we have interesting articles on Countering Drones, Autonomous submarines, Relevance ofAircraft Carriers, Undersea Data Centre, the Great Barrier Reef and much more. Cdr Mukund Yeolekar (Retd) Notice BoardMay-June 2020 - Project/Internship on Underwater Domain AwarenessAug 2020 - Joint Seminar with WNC and Nautical Institute - SIMA Annual Exhibition of Seascapes17 Sept 2020 - IMF Annual Seminar on Submarines.Sept/Oct 2020 - International Coastal Clean-up all over India by IMF 3 SeaGull May 20 - July 20

Letters to Editor Letters to EditorDear Sir, account Jr. SIMA Painting Competition.Thank you for sending me the copy of the Seagull. With my love,It is very impressive! I loved reading the article Pamela Gueritz, Salisbury, Englandfrom you. … You certainly are an impressivepresence on this earth ! There are a couple articlesthat are going to be interesting to me also, so I will Dear Sir,be reading more of your publication with somemore time. Greetings from HongKong !Nancy Sherburne Hearty Congratulations on reaching thisMonterey, California, USA milestone. A very successful journey over the last 25 years. Compliments to you and the entire team for this success. My best wishes for the next 100Dear Sir, editions and beyond.Thank you very much for email, and many Warm Regards,congratulations on your 100th issue of Seagull. I Harry Banga, Hong Konghave skimmed very quickly through it and amlooking forward very much to reading it moreslowly when I have a bit more time. However, my Dear Sir,quick skim allowed me to absorb a great amount It is always a joy to read the Seagull.of the redolence radiating what a great personalachievement the IMF has been of yours, and how Best wishesyou have directed its development so carefully. I Roda Mehta, Punewill write more when I have studied it moreproperly. Dear Sir,In the meantime, I am most grateful to have theaction packed copy of the latest issue. Thank you very much. The Seagull is a leading maritime journal besides being the only one I seeWith best wishes to you and your family. which covers the considerable developmentsRear Admiral Sir John Garnier current in the IOR. Normally I find longThornford, Dorset. UK documents sent as soft copies difficult to cope with. Such is not the case with Seagull, which I read with ease, and I would be content to receiveDear Sir, future editions that way. I think I will send a copyI should have written this letter days ago and I of Seagull to the British Command and Staffhave thought so much about you while reading College, which covers all three services, andSeagull. It really is one of the most readable recommend that organisation subscribes.journals ever and I read it from cover to cover, Best wishes and thank you again.most enjoyably. It was incredibly inclusive, even Cdr Ninian Stewart OBE, RN, Droxford, UKnot forgetting the children in Captain Dixit's 4 SeaGull May 20 - July 20

Technology Japan Commissions Its First Submarine Running On Lithium-Ion BatteriesThe Japan Maritime Self Defense Force on 05 Other advantages cited by Kobayashi includeMarch 20 welcomed into service its first shorter charging time and longer lifespans. Thesubmarine using lithium-ion batteries with the latter factor would mean that fewer batterycommissioning of the 11th Soryu-class boat. changes are required over the lifespan of the submarine.In a ceremony held at the Mitsubishi HeavyIndustries shipyard in the city of Kobe, officials However, he conceded that this is offset by higherwelcomed the diesel-electric attack submarine acquisition costs due to the new technology, withOuryu into service, where it will be assigned to the the Ouryu costing the equivalent of $608 million1st Submarine Flotilla in the nearby port of Kure. when contracted compared to the $488m cost of building the 10th Soryu-class boat.The Ouryu is the sixth Soryu-class boat to be builtby MHI, with Kawasaki Heavy Industries having Japan introduced lithium-ion batteries into itsbuilt five more and building the 12th and last such submarines after a lengthy development andsubmarine ordered by Japan. The Ouryu was testing period, which started as far back as 2002launched in October 2018. Both Ouryu and the and extensive testing starting in 2006. The Soryu-last boat in its class, which will be christened the class displaces 2,900 tonnes surfaced and 4,200Toryu, will be slightly different from the earlier tonnes submerged, measuring just under 275 feetboats in the class, using lithium-ion batteries in length. Their top speed is 13 knots on themanufactured by GS Yuasa in lieu of Stirling- surface and 20 knots submerged. Each boat has acycle engines recharging traditional lead-acid crew of 65 and is equipped with six torpedo tubesbatteries for submerged operations. and can carry up to 30 21-inch heavyweight torpedoes, Harpoon anti-ship missiles or mines.Speaking during a 2017 presentation inSingapore, former head of the JMSDF's Japan will introduce a new class of submarinessubmarine force Vice-Admiral (Ret.) Masao following the Soryus, which is currently knownKobayashi said the batteries being used in the only as the 29SS, named for Heisei 29 or the 29thOuryu and Toryu are Lithium Nickel Cobalt year of former Emperor Akihito’s reign, whichAluminum Oxide, or NCA batteries. He said the corresponds to the year 2017 in the Gregoriantechnology requires less maintenance and is calendar.capable of longer endurance at high submergedspeeds compared to lead-acid batteries. Courtesy : news.yahoo.com, Defence News 06 March 2020 Nautical Quotes“There's no such thing as bad weather, just soft people.” - Bill Bowerman“At sea, I learned how little a person needs, not how much.” - Robin Lee Graham Courtesy : azquotes.com 5 SeaGull May 20 - July 20

Defence News From Jane’s (Jane's Navy International)Singapore commissions final three littoral on course with programmes to outfit its surfaceMission Vessels. 31 Jan 2020. fleet with laser weapons with a recent installation of one system aboard a guided-missile destroyer,The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) has plans to put another system aboard a Littoralcommissioned its final three Independence-class Combat Ship (LCS), and proposed budgetLittoral Mission Vessels (LMVs). The warships, funding for shipboard lasers in the coming fiscalwhich have been named RSS Fortitude, RSS year.Dauntless , and RSS Fearless with pennantnumbers 20, 21, and 22 respectively, were USN surface warfare officers and planners areinducted in a commissioning ceremony on 31 looking for lasers to combat emerging threats,January at Tuas Naval Base. The ships are part of a such as unmanned aerial vehicle swarms. Thecontract for eight LMVs that was signed between USN recently installed the first Optical Dazzlingthe Singapore government and ST Engineering's Interdictor, Navy (ODIN), a laser-weapon systemmarine division in January 2013. that allows a ship to counter unmanned aerial systems, on the Arleigh Burke-class guidedPakistan Navy commissions first of two 2,300 missile destroyer USS Dewey (DDG 105) duringtonne Corvettes. 14 Feb 20. The Pakistan Navy its recently completed Dry-Docking Selected(PN) has commissioned the first of two 2,300 Restricted Availability, the service confirmed ontonnes multirole corvettes ordered from Dutch 20 February.shipbuilder Damen in 2017. Named PNSYarmook (F-271), the ship, which the company Indian Navy Outlines Plans To Berth Newsaid is based on a Damen Offshore Patrol Vessel Aircraft Carrier At Private Shipyard. 20(OPV) 1900, entered serviced in a ceremony held March20. Faced with ongoing budget shortfallson 13 February at Constanta Port in Romania that that have delayed the completion of one of itswas also attended by the PN's Vice Chief of the major bases, the IN is now seeking to lease aNaval Staff Vice Admiral Muhammad Fayyaz private shipyard to berth its indigenouslyGilani. designed and built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant after its commissioning in 2021.In a 14 February statement Damen said thatYarmook, which had been launched on 17 May The navy has approached the Ministry of Defence2019 at the company's facilities in Galati, (MoD) to lease the 260 m long berth at the LarsenRomania, is capable of performing "a variety of & Toubro (L&T) shipyard in Kattupalli, on India'smaritime operations" and can transport both a southeast coast, to dock Vikrant for eight years,helicopter and an unmanned aerial vehicle. The from 2022 onwards, the IN's vice chief of staff,second vessel of the class, Tabuk, which was Vi c e A d m i r a l G A s h o k K u m a r, t o l d alaunched on 3 September 2019, is set to enter parliamentary standing committee on defence.service in May. The Dutch shipbuilder had signeda contract with Pakistan's Ministry of Defence Japan commissions first Maya-class guided-Production on 30 June 2017 to build two missile destroyer. 19 March20. The Japanmultipurpose OPVs for the PN. Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) commissioned the first of two Maya, Aegis-US Navy moves ahead with surface-fleet laser equipped destroyers in a ceremony held on 19plans. 28 Feb2020. The US Navy (USN) remains March in Yokohama City. Named JS Maya , the 6 SeaGull May 20 - July 20

Defence170 m-long warship was inducted into the Studies (JAMES) expedition were recovered byservice's Escort Division 1 at the Yokosuka naval the state-owned survey/research ship Xiang Yangbase shortly after being handed over by Hong 06 on 30 January, representing a cumulativeshipbuilding company Japan Marine United 550 days of continuous operations at sea and a(JMU) Corporation. Maya, is now the seventh completed navigational distance of more thanoperational JMSDF ship equipped with the Aegis 6,479 n miles.Combat System. The destroyer is equipped withthe Aegis Baseline J7 supported by the Lockheed India set to deliver Myanmar's firstMartin/Raytheon AN/SPY-1D(V) phased array Submarine. 03 April20. India is preparing toradar and the Northrop Grumman AN/SPQ-9B X- deliver a Kilo-class diesel-electric submarine thatband (NATO I-band) (8-12.5 GHz) high- was in service with the Indian Navy as INSresolution fire-control radar. Sindhuvir to the Myanmar Navy. The transfer will also include operational and maintenance trainingIran Plans to Build 6000 ton Destroyer. 06 April to the Myanmar Navy, which will be operating a20. Iran is planning to build a destroyer that submarine for the first time. However, it is uncleardisplaces about 6,000 tonnes, according to an if this represents a lease or a permanent transfer.interview with Admiral Amir Rastegari, the head Sindhuvir was commissioned into the Indianof the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Navy in 1988 and was in service as part of the 11thLogistics (MODAFL)'s Maritime Industries submarine squadron, which is based atOrganisation. Vishakhapatnam. The boat completed a refit at the state-owned Hindustan Shipyard Ltd. fromAdmiral Rastegari identified the "heavy August 2017 to February 2020.destroyer" as the Negin in an interview publishedon the MODAFL's website on 4 April, saying that Russia Offers Indian Navy new Submarineits design had been completed and that he hoped Deal. 02 April 20. The Indian Navy (IN) isits construction will start in the Persian year 1399, believed to be examining a proposal by Russia'swhich began on 20 March. He said that its size state-owned JSC United Shipbuildingwould enable it to conduct long-range patrols for Corporation (USC) to offer the service threeup to two months, giving the Islamic Republic of refurbished 'Kilo'-class submarines to augment itsIran Navy (IRIN) a strategic capability. shortfall in diesel-electric submarines (SSKs).China's latest Haiyi underwater gliders Official sources told Jane's on 2 April that as partcomplete Indian Ocean deployment. 22 March of the same offer, which was first made in20. Upgraded Haiyi (Sea Wing) underwater December 2019, USC also proposed conductinggliders deployed from a Chinese government major refit and life-certification (MRLC) work onscientific research vessel on 11 December 2019 three of the IN's Sindhughosh Kilo (Projecthave successfully conducted an underwater 877EKM)-class submarines to extend theirsurvey expedition in the East Indian Ocean, the operational life by 10 years.company responsible for manufacturing thegliders announced in late March. The Tianjin- Compiled by Cdr Mukund Yeolekar, Editorbased Deepfar Ocean Technology Company Seagull(Deepfar) claimed that all 12 of its second-generation Haiyi long-range gliders deployed aspart of the Ministry of Natural Resources'(MNR's) Joint Advanced Marine and Ecological 7 SeaGull May 20 - July 20

Maritime History Merchant Mariners for the Gold by Salvatore R. Mercogliano, Ph.D.The outbreak of the Second World War on the high three, and two embarked Army soldiers, were lost.seas was marked by the sinking of the British In the Far East, the liner SS President Harrisonpassenger liner SS Athenia on September 3, 1939. attempted to evade the Japanese as she sailed fromAs passengers scrambled into lifeboats, the Shanghai. She was eventually run aground off theAmerican freighter SS City of Flint, built at the coast of China and three of her crew died, whileHog Island shipyard during the First World War, the remaining 164 went into prisoners of wararrived on scene and rescued more than 200 camps where another dozen perished later.survivors. The following month, while carryingcargo for Britain, the German pocket battleship The following month, German U-boats madeDeutschland stopped and seized the vessel. The their arrival felt off the U.S. East Coast, Gulf ofGermans sailed her to the neutral port of Mexico, and Caribbean in what they referred to asMurmansk for internment. City of Flint was the Happy Time. For the members of the merchanteventually released, but the ship met its fate at the marine, sailing without proper protection andhands of the Nazi submarine U-575 on January escort, it was a Second Pearl Harbor. Later that23, 1943. Out of a complement of 65, six died and summer, vessels and crews of the Americanone crewmember – Chief Cook Robert Daigle – merchant marine would face their most difficultwas picked up by the submarine and spent the rest struggles in attempting to fight Convoy PQ-17 toof the conflict as a prisoner of war. Murmansk, and resupply the beleaguered island of Malta, in epic battles.On March 3, Congress passed the “MerchantMariners of World War II Congressional Gold The end of the Second World War provedMedal Act of 2020.” Sponsored by Congressman bittersweet for the over 200,000 mariners thatJohn Garamendi (D-CA) and Senator Lisa sailed for the American merchant marine.Murkowski (R-AK), the bipartisan legislation Although President Franklin Rooseveltwill award a Congressional Gold Medal to those promised them equal treatment as othersurviving members of the American merchant service members, they were denied the benefitsmarine who served during World War II. This of the G.I. Bill or veteran status. For those whocivilian organization was the vital link between lost their ship or were interned in enemy camps asthe industrial capacity of the United States – happened to Robert Daigle, as they were no longerknown as the Arsenal of Democracy – and the war working on board their vessels, the companiesfronts in Africa, Asia, and Europe, separated by stopped paying them from the moment their shipscontested seas. were lost.The Axis military inflicted horrific losses on these It was not until 1988 that merchant marinerscivilians. As early as December 7, 1941, a received veteran status, but many failed to takevanguard of Japanese submarines took up advantage of the benefits. With the Greatestposition off Hawaii and the American west coast. Generation slowly fading away, the AmericanThe Army-chartered freighter SS Cynthia Olsen Merchant Marine Veterans led the effort to passencountered I-26 early in the morning as Japanese the “Merchant Marine of World War IIaircraft attacked Pearl Harbor. After being Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2020.” Theystopped, the submarine sank the vessel with lobbied members of Congress and stagedgunfire and a torpedo. The entire crew of thirty- numerous Storm the Hill efforts to earn support 8 SeaGull May 20 - July 20

Maritime Historyfor the bill. gather from March 24-29 at the Maritime Conference Center in Linthicum Heights,The greatest tragedy that can befall the merchant Maryland for the AMMV 34th Nationalmarine veterans of the Second World War is for Convention, it is appropriate that the nation givetheir service to be forgotten. Ships of the U.S. the recognition to these brave mariners for whommerchant marine were instrumental in sustaining victory in World War Two was essential. Athe fight for our military and allies. Liberty ships, Congressional Gold Medal is a symbol of thosesuch as SS Jeremiah O’Brien were off the beaches mariners who braved the seas to deliver the cargo,of Normandy. As American forces stormed troops, and fuel needed for eventual victoryOkinawa, on the doorsteps of Japan, Victory-ships against the Axis powers 75 years ago.were loaded with ammunition and surged to thefront lines where they faced kamikaze attacks, Salvatore R. Mercogliano is an associateresulting in the loss of Hobbs, Logan and Canada professor of History at Campbell University inVictory and the death of 24 mariners and 6 armed Buies Creek, North Carolina and teachesguardsmen. courses in World Maritime History and Maritime Security.As President Donald Trump prepares to sign H.R.5671 into law, and as the few remaining veterans Courtesy gCaptain SS John W. Brown on the Great Lakes in 2000. John W. Brown is one of only two surviving World War II Liberty Ships. Photo: Project Liberty Ship 9 SeaGull May 20 - July 20

EventsWreath Laying at Seafarers' Memorial and Visit of Secretary BMFAnthony Harvey, Secretary, British Maritime Foundation with Council Members of IMF on 29 Jan 20, at Maritime Museum. IMF Council Members lay a wreath at Seafarers' Memorial at Pune. 20 Feb 2020 10 SeaGull May 20 - July 20

Technology Countering Rogue Drones, Drone Swarms and Opportunities by Cmde Sanjay Tewari,(Retd)Overview: This paper presented at the FICCI How Drones Work. Most drones essentiallySeminar on Countering Rogue Drones at the require command radio signals coming from aDef Expo 2020 on 07 Feb 20, by the author, ground station in the hands of a pilot, while GPS isapproaches the topic with an overview of the used for guidance. The onboard vitals include thetechnological challenges faced in detecting radio receiver, GPS sensor, the camera plus otherdrones and the various technologies available components. While one would typically seek tofor their detection, tracking and interdicting disrupt the command or GPS signals, or even towith the pros and cons of each. blind the camera in order to prevent the droneIntroduction. On Sept 14 2019, a dronecum missile attack was carried out onthe Aramco refineries at Abqaiq andKhurais in Saudi Arabia. The droneswere apparently launched from theIranian air base at Ahvaz, flying around640 km crossing through Kuwaiti airspace. The drones were delta wingedaircraft that possibly used opticalguidance instead of GPS. Not much isknown about these drones except thatthey seemed to be of Iranian origin.Notably the Saudis had installed state ofart air defense systems, whichapparently failed to detect and engage.Whatever be the truth, it remains clearthat small, low cost systems were able tooutwit multi-million dollar, state of art from achieving its objective, the paradox is thatsystems. Conversely, had the Patriots engaged the drones can operate without radio commanddrones, the dichotomy of a 3m$ missile taking on signals and in the absence of GPS feed, as well.a 2000$ drone would have shown up starkly. Drone DetectionWhy did the Saudi defenses fail ? According toreports 18 drones and 7 missiles hit the facility, all Before one can intercept a drone, it needs to beundetected by the defenses. The drones and detected, tracked and classified in much the samemissiles reportedly came in at low altitudes at way as an anti-aircraft or missile system wouldwhich the anti-aircraft radar for detecting high operate. Drones, however present some tacticalflying aircraft and missiles, was unable to pick and technological challenges that need to bethem up. understood and overcome.The threat being considered here, is not from the The first challenge is that a drone attack can behigh flying armed drones – the Predators, Reapers launched from any direction, which makes a 360or Global Hawks, but from the small drones that degree surveillance inescapable. Further, dronesmay be assembled in garages and at home. by nature are small, low flying objects with very 11 SeaGull May 20 - July 20

Technologyfew metal parts, so detection by radar is difficult at radio command guidance. Further, RF sensorslonger ranges. Further, while radar may operate would not be able to provide directional and rangesatisfactorily in open areas, in built up areas, it information directly.presents the problem of reflection from tallbuildings. On the other hand, a low flying drone Acoustic sensors are also available, but these aremay find it easy to hide itself in ground clutter. limited in their range and are less effective inWhile FMCW radars can detect moving objects noisy environments. Therefore, it is clear that aand may be useful in picking up drones especially mix of technologies would be required foras their propellers constitute a significant speed effective drone detection, which would alsodifferential, these radars on the other hand, are depend upon the type of threat and the area to belimited in range. Therefore while radar is protected.essential, we need something in addition to radar. Further, a layered defense would be requiredAnother detection option is heat sensing which where in a typical case, detection should ideallycan be done either by thermal or IR detector. Both be at a range of 3 to 5 km, tracking andhave their pros and cons - IR sensors have a classification at 1 to 3 km and prosecution fromlimited range as they require near infra-red energy 500 m to 800 m. Again the site and geographybouncing off the object to be picked up. would play an important role here.Thermal cameras work well at night asthey sense temperature differences.While thermal cameras can workduring the day as well, the imageproduced of a drone against the sky,particularly in hot areas may not besuitable for tracking and identificationin a security scenario. The thermalimage would have to be suitablyprocessed before it can be used for day-time tracking. In addition to the radar,one would need an optical sensorproviding day and night surveillance.The radar would provide 360 cover andearly warning, while the Electro Optic (EO) Hard & Soft Kill Options. The options forsystem would provide a useful back up. However, prosecuting hostile drones are traditionallyneither the radar nor the EO would be capable of divided into soft kills and hard kills. Soft kills arepicking up the radio command signals. This is those where the command signal is interrupted, or,essential, else the drone pilot would remain where the GPS signal is spoofed to take control ofhidden. the drone. The problem is that today’s drones can avoid using both radio commands and GPS. HardIn order to pick up the radio signals being kills are those where projectiles or kinetics areexchanged between the UAV and the pilot, RF used to disable and bring down the drones.sensors would be required. These are radioreceivers that detect signals in the 2.4 and 5.8 Jamming is one of the most common anti droneGHZ frequencies, that are used exclusively by soft kill methods, but the issue is that jamming isdrones. The limitation here is that, the RF sensors illegal not only in the US, but in India as well. Thewould be unable to pick up pre-programmed limitations of jamming, apart from the legal angle,drones flying autonomously without the help of are that it is limited in range and will affect other 12 SeaGull May 20 - July 20

Technology level of autonomy; performs only local sensing and communication; operates without centralized control or global knowledge, and cooperates to achieve a global task. If the full technological potential of drone swarms is to be unlocked, there are four main areas of work: d e t e r m i n i n g s w a r m s i z e , d i v e r s i t y, customization and hardening. The swarm size is in general decided by the mission. As a thumb rule, the greater the swarm size, the more capable the swarm. Largermoving drone. Normally used with a parachute swarms can better survive some defenses as thefor controlled descent of the captured drone. loss of a few members will have only minimal effect. Further, more inputs will mean more(c) Hanging net deployed from a ‘net drone’. The information that could affect the swarm’sdrone is captured by manoeuvring the friendly net behavior. This would mean handling ever largercarrying drone towards the rogue drone. amounts of data, which poses its own problems of complexity and memory size. Also larger swarmsDrone against Drone. A US based company, are more likely to be detected.Fortem, has developed the Drone Hunter, a fastdrone capable of engaging hostile drones. As soon Diversity implies that drone swarms could alsoas a hostile UAV passes over the perimeter of an include drones working in different dimensionsairspace, the Drone Hunter launches into the sky eg, flying drones could work in cooperation withat around 114 Kmph, locks onto the enemy drone land drones. Drones within the swarm may serveand fires a net to trap and tow the drone away. different roles based on their differentHowever, it has only two shots, which make it capabilities. Attack drones carry out strikesineffective against multiple drones. against targets, while sensor drones collect information about the environment to informDrone Swarms. The main inspiration for drone other drones, and communication drones ensureswarms comes from the observation of animal the integrity of inter-swarm communication. Asocieties, like insects, winged animals, and fish, drone swarm could incorporate attack drones ofthat exhibit a collective intelligence to achieve different sizes, optimized for different types ofcomplex goals through simple rules and local targets. A swarm intended to suppress enemy airinteractions. The main benefits of a drone swarm defenses could include drones equipped with anti-includes: robustness, scalability and flexibility. radiation missiles for defeating ground-basedUnlike animal societies, drone swarms may defenses, while other drones might be armed withinclude drones of different types but incorporate air-to-air missiles for countering adversaryboth large and small drones equipped with aircraft. Customization allows commanders todifferent payloads. The coordinated drone swarm adapt the swarm to the needs of a situation. Forcould be also considered as single array of sensors missions demanding a smaller profile, aconfigured to measure of a host of environmental commander may remove drones. A commanderparameters. Drones within the swarm may serve may also vary the capabilities of the swarm itself,different roles based on their different adding drones equipped with different types ofcapabilities. sensors, weapons, or other payloads. AEach individual of the swarm acts with a certain customizable drone swarm could break-apart or merge together into a single unit while in the field. 13

Technologyreceivers as well. In some areas, especially near electromagnetic activity experience with sensorairports, jamming may disrupt vital technology and non-kinetic techniques.communications. Further, the hand held jammer, Hard Kill options Laser System. Athena fromwhich may be adequate for guarding a tactical Lockheed Martin is a laser system designed toposition in the military context, may not be defeat nearby unmanned aerial systems. It uses asuitable when there is a large facility or a group of 30-kilowatt spectral beam combining fiber laser,targets to be protected, as it will be simply in which multiple fiber laser modules form aimpractical to position men permanently on single, powerful, high-quality beam, that scales torooftops with hand held jammers. Similarly, it higher or lower power levels. The energy streammay be inadequate against multiple drones. is concentrated and aimed at the target. The laserHence, while hand held jammers are needed, what beam applies intense heat that dazzles, damagesis also needed is an automated response system or destroys the threat.that can handle multiple drone targetssimultaneously. Since jamming will not be High Power Microwave are devices thateffective against autonomous drones, spoofing of generate an Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP)the GPS signal would be the next option. The capable of disrupting electronic devices. Thespoofed signal would then direct the rogue drone EMP interferes with radio links and disrupts orto a safe location where it could be dealt with. But even destroys the electronic circuitry in drones.with miniature onboard gyros and inertial Both these methods are effective, short rangenavigation systems, a drone may use dead weapons, but entail high cost, requiring large setreckoning to navigate, eliminating GPS ups and are capable of collateral damage.altogether. Nets & Net Guns – This involves firing a net at aWhat if, the drone operates in autonomous mode drone or otherwise bringing a net into contact(no RF), and using inertial guidance (no GPS)? It with the rotors that effectively stops the drone.is here that we need to get imaginative. This can be done in three ways:Apparently in the Saudi attack, the drones hadused optical guidance. Possibly we would carry (a)Net Cannon fired from the ground: Anywhereout a cyber attack to target the apps that most from 20m to 300m effectiveness. Can be usedcommercial drones use. For instance, a set of pre- with or without a parachute for controlled descentpackaged exploits could target the wireless of the captured drone.protocols and the operating systems being used.Similarly, the app being used for telemetrybetween a drone and a mobile phone devicecould also be targeted, or if there is acommunications link between the drone and themanufacturer’s server, that could be anotherpossibility.Lockheed Martin has a counter drone cybersolution called Icarus, which is said to identify,intercept and disable onboard capabilities andminimize collateral damage by taking manualcontrol of the unit and moving it to a safe area. (b)Net cannon fired from another drone: ThisICARUS uses multi-spectral sensor technology overcomes the limited range of a net cannon onto detect and identify. It combines cyber the ground. Can be difficult to capture another 14 SeaGull May 20 - July 20

TechnologyThis would enable rapid response to changing tested small swarms for infantry to carry outbattlefield dynamics. strikes and electronic warfare attacks while the USAF is using them to suppress enemy airCountering Drone Swarms. Drone swarming defenses. Every counter measure has its uses andcreates significant vulnerabilities to electronic its limitations and there is a full fledged industrywarfare; protecting against this vulnerability is working to overcome the existing defensivecritical. Drone swarm functioning inherently measures. Drones are the future of warfare and adepends on the ability of the drones to concerted collaborative effort of all stake holderscommunicate with another. If the drones cannot will be needed to meet this threat. Failure to do so,share information due to jamming, the drone will plant us on the wrong side of the power of theswarm cannot function as a coherent whole. swarm.Hence development of new communicationprotocols capable of resisting electronic warfare References:will be required. The key to efficient cooperative https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/201functioning is effective communication and the 9/12/19/counter-uas-company-purchases-anti-drone-key to countering a drone swarm is denial of shoulder-riflecommunication and information to its sensors. https://www.robinradar.com/9-counter-drone-Similarly, feeding of false signals to the sensors of technologies-to-detect-and-stop-drones-todaya swarm could be another method of counteringswarms. As it is composed of basic individual https://www.airforcetechnology.com/features/threats- from-small-drones/units, not capable of independent thought, theswarm cannot predict, it can only react. The https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/19/how-saudi arabia-swarm usually requires a trigger, like movement f a i l e d - t o - p ro t e c t - i t s e l f - f ro m - d ro n e s - m i s s i l e -of the intended target, to swoop down and release attacks.htmlits weapons. However, if the trigger does not https://mwi.usma.edu/era-drone-swarm-coming-need-come, the swarm gets only undetected inputs. ready/Conclusion. Drone swarms offer significant http://www.indiandefencereview.com/news/drone-advantages in each dimension ie land, sea and air. swarms-the-emerging-air-threat/For instance, the US Navy is understood to be Cmde Sanjay Tewari,(Retd) is Businessdeveloping autonomous drone boat swarm Head, CISB Technologies Pvt Ltd.capability, as well as, undersea submarine Mumbaihunters. The US Marine Corps has successfully Sailing and Seamanship— You start with a bag full of luck and an empty bag of experience. The trick is to fill the bag of experience before you empty the bag of luck.— You cannot change the direction of the wind. You can, however, trim your sails.— A successful mooring is one that you can sail away from.— Mooring under power is normal. Mooring under sail is an adventure. 15 SeaGull May 20 - July 20

Letter from London Letter from London by Paul Ridgway FRGS FRINUK Chamber of Shipping trading.As I was completing my column from the In valiant efforts the Chamber continued toquarantine anchorage at the end of March it was a prioritise helping its members deal with thetime when all around were undergoing impact of the coronavirus and much informationrestrictions on life in its many forms. Here was a was placed on a dedicated page on its website attime of unprecedented change in the nation not www.ukchamberofshipping.com/coronavirus-seen since the Second World War with HMG covid-19-update .putting the people under a form of house arrest. Trinity House monitors impact of COVID-19 Our shipping industry did not stop moving goodsand continued to bring freight into the country. In Trinity House has been closely monitoringthe words of Bob Sanguinetti, CEO of the UK developments and followed advice provided byChamber of Shipping: ‘It is vital we keep our HM Government. With regard to its function assupply chains functioning … shipping is vital to the General Lighthouse Authority (GLA) forthe survival of the UK. Ships bring us the goods England, Wales, the Channel Islands andwe need and we must do all we can to support Gibraltar, priority was to keep staff safe whilethe industry to keep freight flowing and Britain delivering statutory functions. With a 16nm range Sunk Centre, one of nine in commission with Trinity House. This station was established in 2007 and is part of the Sunk Traffic Separation Scheme in the approaches to the ports of Harwich and Felixstowe on England’s East Coast. Photo: Trinity House ©. 16 SeaGull May 20 - July 20

Letter from LondonThe historic London HQ, dating from 1796, was ocean economy, which includes activities rangingclosed. Depots, outstations and vessels remained from shipping and fisheries to renewables, willfunctional for staff to come in where it was grow to reach $3 trillion in 2030. This growth willconsidered necessary. With all available have a significant effect on states that lineprecautions in place Trinity House continued to Southern Africa’s coastline. They supportmonitor the situation. navigational safety, giving mariners the information they need to reduce the likelihood of*ckHO and the MCA Civil Hydrography groundings that could lead to loss of life and theProgramme degradation of delicate marine environments. Furthermore, they support the sharing of vitalSystematic surveying of the UK’s coastal waters security information that is key to reducing theis administered by the Maritime & Coastguard threat of piracy and illegal fishing in the region.Agency (MCA) under the Civil HydrographyProgramme, with technical oversight, data Earlier in the year the UKHO and the FCOvalidation and onward charting undertaken by the worked with partners across Southern Africa toUK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) based in develop this regulation and legislation during aTaunton. Under the programme, the MCA has five-day seminar. Led by government experts inissued a number of long-term commercial maritime safety, seabed mapping and oceancontracts to ensure accurate hydrographic science, sessions covered such topics asinformation is gathered for updating the nation’s hydrographic services and the development of acharts and publications. Hydrographic Governance Implementation Plan (HGIP). Sessions identified activities to improveNot forgetting UKHO’s origins. It was founded the sharing of Maritime Safety Information andby an Order in Council authorised by George III in maintenance of safety of navigation.1795 and Alexander Dalrymple, already servingas Hydrographer to the East India Company, was ICSappointed as the first Hydrographer to theAdmiralty Board. Guy Platten Secretary General of the International Chamber of Shipping and StephenThere is a valuable UKHO corporate brochure of Cotton, General Secretary at the International2019 available here: Transport Workers Federation sent a joint open letter to UN Agencies regarding the need tohttps://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/gover facilitate crew changes in an effort to keep worldnment/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_d trade moving throughout the Covid-19 crisisata/file/866994/Corporate_Brochure.pdf Platten and Cotton between them represent theCooperation with South Africa world’s national shipowners’ associationsIt was reported from London on 22 February that operating over 80% of the world’s merchantthe Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) and shipping tonnage and the approximately twoUKHO were working with the Southern Africa million seafarers who operate these vessels. Inand Islands Hydrographic Commission to view of their vital role during the globalestablish regulations and legislation that promote pandemic, the authors suggested that professionalthe growth of the region’s ocean economy. seafarers, regardless of nationality, should be treated as any other international key workers,According to the Organisation for Economic Co- such as airline crew and medical personnel andoperation and Development (OECD), increasing should be afforded special consideration anddependence on this resource will mean the global treated with understanding when seeking to travel 17 SeaGull May 20 - July 20

Letter from Londonto and from their ships. He delves deep into the construction and use of boats and ships between the Stone Age, say 2.5It was important for the world’s governments to million years ago when an Early Man sat on a logfully understand that around 90% of global trade to find it floated and carried him across water, tois transported by commercial shipping without 1500AD with hulls that have been recovered,which modern society simply could not function. restored or replicated and are well-known to us today. This volume also covers the MediterraneanDepartment for Transport (DfT) and Atlantic Europe and is supported by twoIn London the DfT has provided advice to staff on chapters regarding concepts and techniques and aaddressing COVID-19 relative to ships and ports conclusion supported with a list for furtherand a valuable document is available here: reading and a valuable ten page glossary of boatwww.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19- building terms.shipping-and-sea-ports-guidance/guidance-for- The book introduces the reader to the theory andshipping-and-sea-ports-on-coronavirus-covid- techniques used in the study of early boats as well19. as the evidence available such as theThis document provides action for ships and archaeological, documentary, iconographic,shipping companies with particular regard to pre- experimental and ethnographic, and the naturaltravel information to crew and passenger and physical laws.should cover; symptoms of COVID-19; health Early Ships and Seafaring: Waterrisks and considerations on health services in Transport Beyond Europe. By Sean McGrail,other countries for vulnerable groups, such as 220 pages ISBN 978 1 47382 559 8. In thiselderly people or those with underlying medical volume Professor McGrail continues with hisconditions; importance of preventive measures; introduction to maritime archaeology andpre-boarding assessment. Emphasis was placed provides eight chapters introducing theon the need for ships to ensure adequate medical indigenous craft of Egypt, Arabia, India,supplies, equipment and personal protection Australia, South East Asia, China, Oceania andequipment are available onboard. the Americas. Each is provided with a map of theNew books. Two hardback titles have been region and details its water transport and methodsreceived from Pen & Sword Archaeology of of propulsion, steering, seafaring, pilotage andBarnsley, South Yorkshire. Published in 2014 and navigation and migration routes where2015 respectively each is priced at £19.99 and appropriate.remains available and can be ordered online via: Thirty pages are devoted to the craft peculiar towww.pen-and-sword.co.uk the waters of today’s Pakistan, Bangladesh andEarly Ships and Seafaring: European Sri Lanka as well as India and, as one wouldWater Transport. By Sean McGrail, 192 pages expect, boatbuilding of the Arabian Sea and theISBN 978 1 78159 392 9. Professor Seán Bay of Bengal. The Tuticorin thoni, the CuddaloreMcGrail, former RN officer and FAA pilot, chief kotia and Tamil vessels vattai, vallam and vattal,archaeologist at the National Maritime Museum, Madras’s masula, West Bengal’s patia and theGreenwich and professor in that subject at Oxford nauka of Bangladesh are all introduced and more.and Southampton is an acknowledged expert in Paul Ridgway FRGS FRIN is IMF’sthe study of the history of water transport. Correspondent in London 18 SeaGull May 20 - July 20

General I Learnt A Lot About Flying That Day! by Cmde Ajay Chitnis (Retd)It was August 1976, and the NAM Summit was called him on the telephone and told him that thetaking place in Colombo. IN Ships Nilgiri, Flying helicopter was configured in the MATCH Rolethe Flag of FOCWEF (Flag Officer Commanding and it would take about 4 hours to get it ready forWestern Fleet), Talwar and one more (fading SAR and Ambulance role. He quietly told me, thatmemory), were on patrol about 20 to 30 miles off since I had committed to being ready at first light,Colombo, standing by to evacuate the PM, Mrs it should be done. I woke up all the flightIndira Gandhi if the situation so warranted. Being personnel and told them what had to be done. Allthe Flight Commander on board, I was one of the thoughts of hitting my bunk for a few hoursvery few, briefed about the actual mission. To vanished, and I stayed on in the hangar, as did theothers it was a normal Fleet Exercise Program other two pilots - Ray Rufus and Dopey Dalal(FXP). Nothing untoward happened and the PM (RIP), keeping the maintenance guys company.went back safely at the end of the summit and we They worked non-stop to complete the job in 3started working our way back towards Bombay, hours, and we were ready by 5.30 am.exercising with a Submarine enroute. After beingin the passenger role for the earlier mission, we At 6 am, I went up to the Bridge and was greetedhad changed the Allouette to the by a loud Good Morning by the FleetMATCH(Medium Range Torpedo Carrying Commander, who also said, "you look fresh andHelicopter) Role, meaning that we had fitted the ready to go, had a good night's sleep?" " Yes sir", Iweapon carrier under the cabin. We had planned a said glibly, and asked what time we would befew Depth Charge drop sorties the next day as we launched. He told me that the Submarine Captainwanted to catch up with our Operational wanted to do the transfer at anchorage off Karwar,Readiness Task. which was about 50 miles away. So we were asked to stand down for the time being. An earlyAt about 2 am, I was woken up by the breakfast and a quiet snooze was just what theMidshipman of the watch and informed that the doctor ordered, and the whole flight, barring theFleet Commander wanted to see me on the lone watch-keeper in the hangar went down forBridge. I was up in a few minutes and saw that my some well earned zzz's. At about 4 pm, weCaptain, Capt GK (Nicky) Nadkar was on the anchored off Karwar as did the Submarine, andbridge as was RAdm MR (Dick) Schunker, immediately started rolling about 12 degrees toFOCWEF, and his FOO( Fleet Operations either side due to the prevalent swell caused by theOfficer). I was informed that the Submarine SW Monsoon. The submarine Captain felt thatwhich we were exercising with had an emergency evacuation by helicopter was unsafe, and wouldon board; a sailor had fallen down the hatch from prefer to do a boat transfer. It was withthe conning tower to the Control Room and tremendous seamanship skills that the motorfractured his femur and broken a few ribs, and whaler was lowered and made its way towards theneeded immediate hospitalization. Could I anchored submarine. There was no way that itevacuate him from the Submarine and take him to could have gone anywhere near the hull of theGoa? "Well, not right now, but can do at first light, rolling submarine, let alone transfer a stretcher-sir", I said. "Good, standby at first light", was the borne patient. The boat was ordered back andresponse from the Fleet Commander. As the fortuitously recovered on board without injury toBridge on Nilgiri was shared between the ship's man or machine. The time was about 6 pm and Istaff and the Fleet Staff, I could not talk freely to was called to the bridge and asked if I could do it.,my Captain, so I went down to my cabin and to which I said, "we've been waiting whole day". 20 SeaGull May 20 - July 20

GeneralThe launch was ordered and I strapped up in the the closest loo. I got in and asked for start uppilot's seat, with the doctor, Surg Lt Ganesan in clearance, when I realized that Doc Ganesan wasthe centre seat, (turned to face aft). This was the missing. Nobody from the Line party at INAS 321first time that I was flying the Alouette M, with the knew where he was, till someone suggested thatco-pilot's controls removed. Authorized, but he may have gone in the ambulance. I was livid;never practised. The deck was rolling beyond the the prospect of a dark night transit over the seapermissible limits, so I requested the bridge to followed by landing on an unsteady deck with aweigh anchor and move so as to get within the non-functional Stability System, was as it is,flight envelope. Time was ticking, and by the time daunting. Now with an unpredictable delayI got airborne it was almost 6.40 pm. No direct caused by an exuberant doctor, did nothing tocommunication with the submarine, meant that all assuage my anger.instructions were relayed via the ship. I learnt tomy horror that evening that the Stability When he did come back, it was close to 9 pm, and IAugmentation System (SAS) of the Alouette M is did not say a word to him. We flew silently back towired through the co-pilot's control column, and Mother, and landed well after 9.30 pm. It wouldbecame non-functional when it was removed. So I have been a well deserved drink after all this, butwas flying an unsteady helicopter and trying to my personally enforced policy of no alcohol athover on top of a rolling submarine. I passed sea, meant I couldn't do so.instructions to the submarine to get their patient tothe Conning Tower, and asked the Aircrew Diver FOCWEF gave the ship a Bravo Zulu, and a very(ACD) to lower the hook. The plan was to to have warm handshake to me. The story does have athe injured sailor tied up in a Neil Robertson happier ending though; the sailor, his name eludesstretcher and winch him up. To my horror, the me, made a full recovery, thanks to his timelyACD informed me that they had taken the winch arrival in hospital, which was music to my ears. Icable down the hatch. Now, I was really learnt a lot about flying that day! Jai Hind !concerned, the wire could get snagged anywhere, Cmde Ajay Chitnis SC, NM is Viceleading to a disastrous situation. President IMFI only started breathing normally when the ACDinformed me that the Stretcher had cleared theConning Tower. He heaved the cable in and thestretcher was in line with the cabin, but he wasunable to turn it inboard. Doc Ganesan waswatching, and since he had no head set, the onlyway I could talk to him was with a sharp jab frommy elbow to his rib cage. His surprise at being sorudely treated was evident on his face, andrealized it was necessary, when I indicated to himto unstrap and heave the stretcher in. We finallygot the patient and the stretcher in and set coursefor Goa, about 45 miles away.The sun had set and in the growing dusk we landedat Dabolim. An ambulance from Jeevanti with aMedical Officer was waiting at the tarmac. Thepatient was swiftly whisked away and I took theopportunity for a quick glass of water and a visit to 21 SeaGull May 20 - July 20