VIKRANT Pride of the Nation now govt. want vikrant to die

1. VIKRANTPride of the Nationnow govt. want vikrant to die Dr. Kirit Somaiya, BJP Leader 4th December, 2013

4. VIKRANT IS SAVED NOW – George Fernades Defense Minister 23 rd January 2004 Vikrant will be converted into national maritime museum and will not be allowed to languish at any cost, besides that no unethical activities in the name of entertainment will be allowed, declared by Hon.GeorgeFernandese. He addressed the gathering at Bhandup, Mumbai on the occasion of Birth Anniversary of NetajiSubhashchandra Bose organised under the edges of Vikrant BachaoAbhiyan. Vikrant will showcased the value and history of Indian Navy and at the same time will serve as inspiration for the youth and students of the country. He assured that the project is implemented even if the government of Maharashtra is financially constrained in participation. He also proposed to Shri.Ram Naik to lend all support including financial for the project with Ministry of Petroleum to co-operate. Shri.Ram Naik addressed the gathering and assured that all support and help will be offered by his ministry for completion for the Vikrant war museum project. Shri.KiritSomaiya, MP and Convenor of Vikrant BachaoAbhiyan thanks the minister for the whole hearted support. The Vikrant Museum Project will be implemented with the help of Rs.42 cores from Ministry of Defence. Rs.10 to 12 crores from Ministry of Petroleum and 5 to 7 crores from BMC. 43,000 students participated in the essay and drawing competition on Vikrant War Museum. Hon. Defence Minister distributed the prizes to the winners. SardarTarasingh, PrakashMaheta, PramodShirvalkar MLAs were the other dignitaries present at the function.

5. The Glory of Vikrant“VIKRANT” NOT JUST A WAR SHIPVIKRANT WAR MUSEUM – SHAHIDO KO SALAAM

6. About Vikrant • Feb 1961 : Vikrant commissioned • Dec 1961 : First mission “Operation Goa” • April 1965 : Back-up “Operation Kutch”. • Dec 1971 : Her corwning glory is the glorious Bangladesh Operation. Her aircraft-seahawks and Alizes-pound East Pakikstan (now Bangladesh). About 90,000 Pakistani troops surrender • Jan 1997 : Vikrant decommissioned

7. Symbol Of 1971 Victory On Pakistan • One fine morning in 1957, the Government of India decided to purchase HMS Hercules ship. It is now 46 years since India acquired this grand ship from the British. It was renamed ‘Vikrant’ and commissioned on January 16, 1961. It served gloriously for more than 36 years as a flagship of India. On January 31, 1997, it was decided to decommission it and convert it into a floating naval museum. • On arrival at Mumbai for the first time, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru received it on November 3, 1961. From that day onwards up to her decommissioning, it visited Trincomalee, Singapore, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iran, Japan and several other countries, showing our flag as a gesture of goodwill. During this period, thousands of VIPs and foreign dignitaries visited the ship. • On these visits, the overseas Indians were elated to see and touch the great ship, which symbolised the strength and maritime glory of their motherland INDIA. The most important role of the Vikrant commenced on December 3, 1971, The 1971 war was the first, and only, occasion when the Indian political leadership exhibited a proper understanding of the use of military power for achieving a clear national aim. • The Indian Prime Minister, Mrs. Indira Gandhi, decided that the Navy would be given the strategic task of denying both East and West Pakistan access to war supplies. The aim in short was a complete naval blockade of both parts of Pakistan. The bigger aim was of course to ensure that the conflict was not perpetuated beyond the time required to capture a chunk of East Pakistani territory. • The Indian Navy’s best and biggest warship at that time was its sole aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, a carefully preserved World War II vintage carrier built in Britain. Ideally, a task force centered around the Vikrant should have been used to block Karachi, which at that time was West Pakistan’s sole deep water port. However, one of Vikrant’s main boilers was out of operation and the ship could not maintain the kind of speed required for maneuvering in a situation where the air threat would be considerable. It was decided that the Vikrant would be used to blockade the ports in East Pakistan, and destroy the riverine craft used by the Pakistanis there.

8. Symbol Of 1971 Victory On Pakistan • The day war was declared, the Vikrant, which had been anchored off the northern-most tip of the Andaman & Nicobar chain of islands, moved towards the principal East Pakistani port, Chittagong. The Pakistanis, having learnt that Vikrant was positioned in the Bay of Bengal, dispatched one of their submarines, PNS Ghazi, to the east. The Pakistani submarine thought it could sneak into Vizagharbour, the principal naval port in the Indian East Coast. It was, however, detected and sunk before it could cause any damage. The Vikrant continued unhindered. Rear Admiral (retired) P.D.Sharma, who was then an aviator aboard the Vikrant, recalls what it was like: • “Fighter pilots practice for years and when they finally get an opportunity to see real action, it is thrilling – it is the moment one has been waiting for all one’s life. And it was so for us aboard the Vikrant on 4th December 1971… • “The first sortie was mounted against Cox’s Bazaar. Eight Sea Hawks went in led by the squadron commander. I was in the second sortie, which attacked Chittagong. This was in the afternoon of the 4th because it took some time for the Vikrant to close in the range to Chittagong. • “We went in low level, pulled up and carried out repeated attacks on the airfield. In the first attack itself we inflicted considerable damage. We withdrew for the night and sailed towards the Mangla-Khulna area. Our next attacks were on those harbours. Then we came back to Chittagong. And by the time we were through with that area, especially Chittagong harbour, Chittagong airfield and the approaches to Chittagong, the scene was something to be seen. The place had been devastated. There were ships that had turned turtle, there were half-sunk ships by the quay side, the airfield was pockmarked with craters and no ship could even think of approaching the place.” • Commissioned 4 March 1961 as INS Vikrant. Refitted for Sea Harrier operation 1979-1982. In her 36 years of commission, INS Vikrant steamed 4,99,066 nautical miles, the equivalent of 15 times around the world. Decommissioned late 1997. Extant India and subject to a campign to preserve her for posterity – the only Wartime constructed British aircraft carrier to be under possible preservation

9. General Characteristics • Displacement: 15,700 tons standard, 19,500 tons full • Length: 192 meters waterline, 213.3 meters • Beam: 24.4 meters waterline, 39 meters • Draft: 7.3 meters (24 feet) • Propulsion: Parsons geared steam turbines, 4 Admiralty 3-drum boiler 2 shaft 40,000 hp, 23 knots • Range 12,000 miles at 14 knots • Crew: 1075 usual, 1340 wartime - Armor: none • Armament: 16x40mm Bofors antiaircraft guns8 • Aircrafts; 6 Westland Sea King Mk42B & 3 Westland Sea King Mk42C & Fixed Wing 6 BAe Sea Harriers FRS.51

10. Future Course of Action • Rs. 60 Crore project • To develop world Class “Naval Museum” • Govt. of India to Contribute Rs. 40 crore • Maharashtra Govt. to develop ApproachesVikrant Bachao • Presentation of GOI & Maharashtra (The Govt.’s Decision in 2004)