(Formal Version, NO Slang) The Day when I visited the Indian Navy...

...was the 22nd of August and was one of the most exiting days of the semester for the few students, including me, who were chosen to pay a visit to the Indian Navy Warships, who extended their invitation to the IIS-Jubail and the Indian Diplomatic Community and were docked at the Jubail Commercial Port which’s just across our locality.

After getting the school for grouping, we headed off to our allotted buses, and departed to the point were the INS Kaput and INS Betwa were anchored. Before entering the port we underwent a security check which demanded us to get off the ride. After making sure that we had no “Boom-Boom” devices, the security forces let us in. The port which is one the biggest and busiest port of the kingdom was incredibly big and expansive.

Several Cargo Ships and good vessels were anchored at the port and the loading\offloading process was in full swing. After an approx. 2-mile ride inside, we arrived at the berth where Capt. A.K. Jain and Capt. Ajay Bhutanis’s destroyers were relaxing. The very first glimpses of the ships had a “jaw-dropping” effect on everybody. It was the first time, that I saw these fiery warships from a close-up. We got off our buses and shaped ourselves into teams, which were guided by class-advisors. As we came closer we were able to hear the roaring voices of the engines which kept the ships and its crew alive.

Our group was first taken to INS Betwa, a Class II frigate equipped with the latest thingamajigs and weapons. It was designed by the Indian Navy: Directorate of Naval Design was programmed to be an anti-submarine frigate and was commissioned into the Indian Navy in 2004. As ships do not die its ancestor, the previous INS Betwa had participated in the 1971 war against Pakistan. The feel on the dock of the ship was awesome and as we climbed, we were welcomed by some of the crew members who wore white navy outfits with some weird-colored badges and stuff. Pilot Engineer D. Prem began briefing us about the magnificent frigate and its tools.

The most striking weapon was the tank-like movable turret gun which would fire shots as well as warning ones and behind it was the radar controlling the gun. Huge networks of steel chained were used to anchor this 20000 tons vessel. Everything on board was extraordinary and peculiar. As we moved to the second deck, the guy, Mr. Prem, tutored us about how the missile batteries function and unleash their latent fury. When I forwarded him a question regarding the range of the projectile, he smiled and informed me that it was supposed to be kept as a secret in a foreign land. (We somehow got to know the range, which was 150kms) The powerful missiles were guided by the radar located at the top of the main cockpit and could be even be altered into heat-seeking ones. “A right hit would blow 80% damage to the enemy target” said Pilot Prem, gesturing as he spoke.

After explaining more about the same we moved ahead. At this point, the neighboring vessel, the INS Rajput’s naval bands began to hit the notes and started playing the Indian National Anthem, which pumped patriotism into our hearts for a while. This was when our tutor informed us about the band and that it was the Navy’s best band. After moments of standing still and hearing them, we went on with our “investigation”. We inspected how the missile batteries were positioned and drew out picture in our mind about the reloading-process.

The next important “must-see” component was the main ship cockpit deck or the control panel which features the most important component: the chair of the powerful frigate Captain. As we entered the towering cockpit, we were set aback by the interior looks of it: Numerous Networks of cables and cords for controlling the whole of the vessel, Enormous Compass and other measuring and calculating devices, 4-5 semi-super computers for helping and assisting them in their computation. Quite Amazingly, the vessel’s ‘insides’ were kept very cool powered by the ship’s A/C Units. When, I asked them why they jus can’t pull down their normal windows was when they replied that it would turn the ship into an Iron Box. I now used my physics-inspired mind to understand the logic. << Conduction

He, the guide, began explaining the ship goodies and how they are made to function. After spending some minutes in the cockpit, we decided to leave and head for the main shed (...don’t know what they call it, so used the word “shed”, because it looked like storage shed). They Navy men had arranged some kind of party there exclusively for us, It seemed. We hurried downstairs to the main mast enjoying the attractive view of the Jubail waters.

We reached the ‘shed’ and this time we were dumbfounded by...

...a combat Helicopter!

The Reason of my excitement was probably because I never saw a helicopter on a Water-Vessel. The last time I saw a helicopter when the SWAT teams were called in to exterminate the terrorists who had killed 5 people in Yanbu in 2005. Then, snipers, as my building was a tall one in the area, climbed up and shot them from there. This had happened after I returned from School. I was really exited seeing the firing going outside and then the bomb disposal teams defusing the bomb package. Well...enough of that, let’s get back.

They, the navy dudes had arranged some kind of party there. With some cookies in one hand a cup of orange juice in the other, I had my day. I quickly quaffed the drink down as the temperature that day exceeded 40 C. It was an excellent feeling, but it went heartbreaking as soon we were announced that we had to part off.

The ‘men in white’, stood in a line resembling the ‘guard of honor’ as the school teams began ‘ejecting’ off the vessel. They bid us farewell while we were busy pulling their snapshots into the cameras. So, finally we were off board.

After minutes of walking to our buses, I found myself sitting back in bus. As the bus began its ‘exit’ tour I turned my head as much as I could to take the last glimpse of the frigates.

We were encountered with another security check and after that we just ‘bussed’ to the place, where else...

...The same old school!!