In This Issue Since 1909 ChiefBIRTH of ANNIVERSARY the Air Staff CELEBRATIONS launches Centralised Disbursement System… 8 (Initially published as FAUJI AKHBAR) Vol. 64 q No 8 26 Chaitra - 10 Vaisakha, 1939 (Saka) 16-30 April 2017 The journal of India’s Armed Forces published every fortnight in thirteen languages including Hindi & English on behalf of Ministry of Defence. It is not necessarily an organ for the expression of the Government’s defence policy. The published items represent the views of respective writers and correspondents. Editor-in-Chief 12th Reunion & 54th Hasibur Rahman 12 Maiden Win by 16 Senior Editor Editor Biennial Conference… Indian Naval… Ruby T Sharma Ehsan Khusro Coordination Kunal Kumar Our Correspondents DELHI: Col Aman Anand; Capt DK Sharma; Wg Cdr Anupam Banerjee; Manoj Tuli; Nampibou Marinmai; Wg Cdr Rochelle D’Silva; Ved Pal; Photo Editor: K Ramesh; ALLAHABAD: Gp Capt BB Pande; BENGALURU: Shivaram Pailoor; CHANDIGARH: Pradip Dasgupta; CHENNAI: T Shanmugam; GANDHINAGAR: Wg Cdr Abhishek Matiman; GUWAHATI: Lt Col Suneet Newton; IMPHAL: Lt Col Ajay Kumar Sharma; JAMMU: Lt Col Manish Mehta; JODHPUR: Lt Col Manish 4 INS Shardul – Joint EEZ… Ojha; KOCHI: Cdr Sridhar E Warrier ; KOHIMA: Col Chiranjeet Konwer; KOLKATA: 6 De-induction of Indian Navy’s… Defence Investiture Wg Cdr SS Birdi; Dipannita Dhar; LUCKNOW: Ms Gargi Malik Sinha; MUMBAI: 22 9 ‘Aviation Turbine Fuel Digital… Ceremony Cdr Rahul Sinha; Narendra Vispute; NAGPUR: Wg Cdr Samir S Gangakhedkar; PALAM: Gp Capt SK Mehta; PUNE: Mahesh Iyengar; SECUNDERABAD: B 10 “Depression: Let’s Talk”,… Satheesh Kumar; SHILLONG; SRINAGAR: Col Rajesh Kalia; TEZPUR: Lt Col 11 Indo-Bangla Army Joint Cycling… Sombit Ghosh; THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Suresh Shreedharan; UDHAMPUR: 18 Iranian Navy Ships Visit Kochi Col NN Joshi; VISAKHAPATNAM: Cdr CG Raju. 19 Inauguration of IAAMS at INS… Published by: Nitin D Wakankar 28 AIFD students showcase… Addl DG (Media & Communication) 30 Inter Squadron Novices Cross… Directorate of Public Relations, South Block, Ministry of Defence, New Delhi-110011 34 Gallantry and other Defence… Follow us on: Regulars 35 Armed Forces Panorama www.facebook.com/DefenceMinIndia https://twitter.com/spokespersonMoD Editorial Office: Commissioning of INLCU L51 29 L-1 Block, Church Road, New Delhi-110001, Telefax : 23094668 Telephone : 23092768 Email : [email protected] E-in-C: ASCON-32078 [email protected] For subscriptions contact : Business Manager, Sainik Samachar, Telephone : 23092768 Subscription Rates: Inland (Ordinary): One Year Rs 100.00, Overseas (Surface Mail): Rs 450.00 Concessional (per year): Rs 20.00 (Applicable for dependants of service personnel & ex-Servicemen.) For all correspondence subscribers must quote their subscription number For more details visit our website: http://sainiksamachar.nic.in On front cover: The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee presenting the Kirti Chakra to next of kin of Lance Havildar Prem Bahadur Resmi Magar (Posthumous), at the Defence Investiture Ceremony–II, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on April 06, 2017. INS Shardul – Joint EEZ Surveillance in South Indian Ocean n keeping with India’s national Iobjective of ensuring a secure and stable regional environment to allow unhindered economic and social development, not just in India, but also in the Indian Ocean Region, Indian Naval Ship Shardul is on a two month long deployment in the South Indian Ocean with an aim to provide surveillance support in the region. The warship during the initial phase of deployment carried out joint EEZ surveillance of Mauritius from March 8–26, 2017 in close coordination with National Coast Guard, Mauritius. Post successful completion of joint EEZ surveillance of Mauritius, the warship entered EEZ of Seychelles on March 27, 2017 for Phase I of EEZ surveillance. The warship under the command of Commander Rohit Mishra entered Port Victoria on March 28, 2017 4 Sainik Samachar April 16-30, 2017 for OTR. The coordination meeting of Seychelles was attended by the to the joint commitment towards with Officials from Seychelles High Commissioner of India to cooperative maritime security in the Coast Guard and INS Shardul was Seychelles, Senior Officials from region. conducted at Seychelles Coast Guard SPDF and Seychelles Coast Guard. INS Shardul is a Landing Ship Headquarters to discuss the modus The warship set sail from Port Tank (Large) of the Indian Navy operandi, extent of surveillance Victoria harbour on April 8, 2017 whose primary role is to transport area and communication plan was for Phase III of EEZ surveillance of troops, vehicles, armaments and framed. Seychelles. accomplish all objectives of an INS Shardul set sail from Port Since 2009, Indian Navy has amphibious operation which Victoria March 31, 2017 with three been deploying ships to the region primarily includes landing of Seychelles Coast Guard personnel bi-annually to assist in patrolling of combat equipment and personnel embarked onboard for Phase II of the vast EEZ of the country based on to an Amphibious Objective Area. EEZ surveillance and commenced request by host nations. The last such INS Shardul has the capability EEZ surveillance on April 1, 2017. deployment was by the same ship in The deployment was aimed to to launch and recover Marine December 2016. These committed Commandos through sea as well as show presence, deter IUU fishing and custom made deployments by helicopters. In addition, the ship and drug trafficking. The ship for joint patrol by Indian Navy can act as a ‘Hospital Ship’ with carried out extensive patrol in area Ships with the Coast Guard of the facilities provided in containerised (sanitising about 21,000 sq Nm) host nation underscore the strong form as well as a ‘Fleet Tanker’ and interrogated merchant and relationship and cherished bonds fishing vessels ensuring safe waters of friendship between the nations of for limited mission/ exercise. The for transit of mercantile traffic and to the region. These patrols aim to curb ship is routinely deployed with the safeguarding of EEZ of Seychelles. illegal fishing activity and thwart the First Training Squadron and is The warship entered Port spread of smuggling and piracy in responsible for the ab-initio sea Victoria on April 6, 2017 for second the region. Such visits reinforce the training of Young Officers of Indian OTR and mission debrief. The cultural and ethnic ties between Navy. debrief of the joint EEZ surveillance the two nations and are testimony - Capt DK Sharma April 16-30, 2017 Sainik Samachar 5 De-induction of Indian Navy’s TU142M Aircraft and Induction of Boeing P-8I into INAS 312 fter having served the Indian ANavy with pride and élan for 29 years, during which it accomplished 30,000 hrs of accident free flying, the TU142M aircraft were given a befitting farewell in a special ceremony organised on March 29, 2017 at INS Rajali, India’s premiere Naval Air Station in Arakkonam, Tamil Nadu. The ceremony was attended by Admiral Sunil Lanba, PVSM, AVSM, ADC Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral HCS Bisht, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command, serving and retired officers and men, who have served in the INAS 312 and other senior officials from the Navy as well as from civil administration. Speaking on the occasion, Admiral Sunil Lanba lauded the stellar role played by TU142M aircraft in the defence of the country as a Maritime Reconnaissance and Airborne ASW aircraft. He recollected the crucial role played by the Squadron in Operation Cactus in Maldives, Republic Day flypast at New Delhi peak efficiency during their service. where fleeing mercenaries were on January 26, 1999. He also The rich legacy of the Squadron detected and tracked till they were would continue as the baton is apprehended by Indian warships. acknowledged the professionalism being passed on to the proud crew The Admiral also mentioned the of the pilots, the maintainers and of the worthy successors viz. the P-8I maiden participation by TU’s as all those personnel associated with Squadron, said the Admiral. the first Indian Naval Aircraft in the flying and maintaining the aircraft in With the imposing looks and a lethal punch to match, the TU14M aircraft which have been nothing short of a ‘Flying Destroyer’, were given an impressive farewell as they flew for one last time, along with three Chetak helicopters, two Dorniers, one each IL-38 and the Boeing P-8I. In appreciation of the stellar service of the TU142M aircraft, a TU Static Display was also inaugurated by the Chief of Naval Staff at lNS Rajali. INAS 312 was commissioned on November 18, 1976 at INS Hansa, Goa with five Lockheed 6 Sainik Samachar April 16-30, 2017 L1049G Super Constellation aircraft as amongst the best and the most the Service and adjudged the Best acquired from No. 6 Squadron of feared LRMR platforms in the world. Frontline Squadron on numerous the IAF. After de-induction of Super INAS 312 has the unique occasions over the years. Constellation from the squadron in distinction of operating the heaviest, After 29 years of dedicated 1983, TU-142M LRMR ASW aircraft fastest and highest flying turbo prop service, the TU-142M LRMR was inducted into INAS 312 on in the world namely the TU-142M ASW aircraft was drawn down. April 16, 1988 by the then Defence which has been the mainstay of LRMR Commander Yogender Mair, Minister, Mr KC Pant at INS Hansa. and ASW operations of the Indian the last Commanding officer The squadron later shifted its base Navy for close to three decades. of the squadron with TU142M to the East Coast of India in April Over the years, the TU-142M has aircraft handed over the reins to 92 and has since then been based rendered yeomen service to the Commander V Ranganathan, who at INS Rajali, Arakkonam (Tamil nation and has taken part in all major will be the first Commanding Officer Nadu).