The first Training Squadron,comprising Indian Naval Ships Sujata, Magar, Shardul, Sudarshini, Tarangini and Coast Guard Ship Vikram, arrived on a four-day visit to Sri Lanka from October 24 – 28 as part of their Overseas Deployment for the 100th and 101st Integrated Officers Training Course, the Navy said yesterday.
The deployment is aimed to broaden the horizons of young officers and officer-trainees by exposing them to the socio-political and maritime facets of different countries in the Indian Ocean Region.
It will also expose the trainees onboard towards the conduct of IN warships in various evolutions at sea, port familiarisation and above all, foster the bridges of friendship with foreign nations.
‘The ships are the part of Southern Naval Command (SNC), which is the Training Command of the Indian Navy and is headed by Vice Admiral AK Chawla, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command (SNC). The Indian Navy has been imparting training to international trainees for more than four decades now. As on date, a large number of officers and sailors from Sri Lanka are undergoing various advanced courses at SNC. The Command has gained the reputation of being the finest training destination by maintaining focused approach to provide high quality training and by constant adaptation to evolving tactics and technologies,” the Navy said.
The first Training Squadron based at Kochi provides the ‘first sea legs’ to the Executive Officers of the Indian Navy on completion of their training at the Indian Naval Academy. The Squadron comprises seven indigenously built ships, namely, Indian Naval Ships Tir, Sujata, Magar, Shardul, Coast Guard Ship Vikram and two Sail Training Ships INS Sudarshini and INS Tarangini.
The Squadron is currently led by Captain Aftab Ahmed Khan, Senior Officer First Training Squadron who also is Commanding Officer, INS Tic.During the four-day deployment IN ships Magar and Shardul along with trainees of 101 IOTC will visit the Colombo harbour, while IN ships Sujata, Sudarshini, Tarangini and CGS Vikram will visit Trincomalee with the trainees of 100th IOTC.
Various training activities are planned to be conducted between the Navies of the two countries with the aim to enhance the interoperability of the two forces.
The period of Overseas Deployment would help in developing the skills of seamanship and ship handling and nurture a spirit of adventure among the young officers. The entire crew of all the visiting ships are in fully vaccinated and have also been tested against Covid-19.
