reply to post by Daedalus3
Daedalus3,
Thank you sir for your reply.
Very true, the only difference being India needs to hit the ground running on operating nuclear
subs. )
Agree here with the concept of hitting the ground running...with certain reservations.
I am detecting from certain articles that there may be on the horizon some challanges to Indian Sovereignty and Access to the Indian Ocean and blue
water capabilities in the future. This concept is very subdued and downplayed here in the news media but it can be detected if one is capable of
reading between the lines.
I am often given to watching a little Atoll called Diego Garcia from Google Earth ..particularly when the photos or view is updated. I have worked on
several of those types of roll on roll off ships you see in the deeper areas of the atoll and hence immediately recognized the set up.
Nonetheless..I believe in the future India will be challanged as to her ability to sail the seas in the Indian Ocean from little tell tale notes I
pick up in the news and on the shortwave bands. Her role will become more critical and important in Blue Water operations in the near future.
Submarine operations are full of dangers...and even so too with diesel boats. Nuclear is just as dangerous and the added complication of a nuclear
plant to boot. Caution is to be used here in spite of urgency.
Nuclear powered ships do not come inexpensively ..nor trained qualified crews. Nuclear qualified crews need be fluent in math, chemistry, physics et
al. Thus separating them from most of the sailors out there. Standards need be much higher for these crews by the very nature of the work involved.
The proceedures involved reflect this higher standard.
I was quite startled when working overtime on a nuclear cruiser, after working nuclear submarines for a few years, to see the difference in the
caliber of crews..surface verses submarine. On a nucler submarine even the cook is of higher caliber than most surface ship cooks. And many of the
submarine sailors are cross trained in other equipments to operate and fill in should casualties occur.
I believe I am saying that in spite of the urgency..India needs be careful with her assets and trained qualified peoples on these new boats are a
definite asset.. not only for what they know and can do but also for what they can teach the next generations of sailors to come.
To the Indian Navy and her sailors I say.."Fair Winds."
Thanks for your post,
Orangetom
edit on 18-10-2010 by orangetom1999 because: (no reason given)