30 September - INS Shalki, India's first indigenously built submarine, launched in Bombay.

 

INS Shalki, India's first indigenously built submarine, was launched on September 30, 1990, in Bombay (now Mumbai). It marked a significant milestone in India's defense capabilities and its indigenous submarine-building program.

Background:

INS Shalki was built by the Mazagon Dock Limited in Mumbai as part of the Indian Navy's project to develop submarines with indigenous technology.

The submarine is a Type 209/Type 1500 class submarine, designed for anti-submarine warfare, reconnaissance, and other naval operations.

Significance:

The launch of INS Shalki was a major achievement for India's defense sector, showcasing the country's growing capabilities in naval engineering and technology.

It represented a step towards self-reliance in defense production, which has been a key objective for India, especially in the wake of various geopolitical challenges.

INS Shalki, along with its sister submarines, played a crucial role in enhancing the operational capabilities of the Indian Navy.

Further Developments:

After its launch, INS Shalki underwent trials and commissioning processes before being officially inducted into the Indian Navy.

The successful launch of INS Shalki laid the groundwork for future indigenous submarine projects, including more advanced submarines like the Scorpène-class submarines.

INS Shalki remains an important part of India's naval history, reflecting the nation's commitment to developing its defense manufacturing capabilities

21 September - The Pamir was shipwrecked and sank off the Azores during Hurricane Carrie

 

The Pamir was a steel-hulled four-masted barque, originally launched in 1905 at the Blohm & Voss shipyard in Hamburg, Germany. As one of the famous "Flying P-Liners" of the shipping company F. Laeisz, Pamir spent much of her early career transporting nitrate and other goods between Europe and South America.

History and Significance:

• Construction: Pamir was built with advanced technology for its time, combining traditional sail power with a modern steel hull, which made it sturdier than wooden ships.
• Commercial Use: She was primarily used in the South American nitrate trade, a valuable commodity for fertilizer and explosives, and also carried grain and other goods during her career.
• World War II: During the war, Pamir was seized by New Zealand and used as a cargo ship under the British flag, carrying war supplies.
• Return to Germany: After World War II, Pamir was returned to Germany and refitted to continue in commercial service, although she had also started to be used for training merchant marine cadets.

The Final Voyage:

On her final journey, Pamir departed from Buenos Aires on 10 August 1957, with a cargo of 3,780 tons of barley, bound for Hamburg. The ship was part of a dying breed of windjammers, large sailing ships that had been overtaken by motorized vessels in commercial shipping. By the 1950s, Pamir and a few others like her were being used as training vessels for cadets and trainees in seamanship.

The Disaster:

• On 21 September 1957, Pamir encountered Hurricane Carrie in the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 600 nautical miles west of the Azores.
• The cargo of barley, which had been improperly secured, shifted during the storm, causing the ship to list heavily.
• Efforts to balance the ship failed, and the heavy tilt made it impossible to manage the sails or pumps effectively. The ship eventually capsized and sank within 30 minutes.

Distress Calls and Rescue Attempts:

• A distress signal was sent, and several rescue ships, including the American vessels USS Gearing and SS Saxon, responded.
• The storm made rescue operations difficult, and it took three days for help to arrive at the scene.
• Of the 86 crew members, including 52 cadets, only six survivors were found clinging to a lifeboat after three days at sea. The rest perished in the disaster.

Aftermath and Legacy:

The sinking of Pamir had a profound impact on maritime training and safety regulations. Investigations into the disaster revealed that the cargo had been poorly stowed and that there were not enough experienced sailors aboard to properly handle the ship during the storm. As a result, the event led to changes in the rules governing the operation of sail training ships, including better stowage practices and stricter regulations regarding crew competency.

The Pamir remains a symbol of the end of the era of large commercial sailing ships and is remembered in Germany with memorials and commemorative events. Her sinking was a national tragedy, and it still resonates within the maritime community today.

24 August - The first ship of the East India Company ‘Hector’ reached the coast of Surat in 1608

 

The arrival of the East India Company’s first ship, Hector, at the coast of Surat on 24 August 1608, was a significant milestone in the history of British involvement in India. Commanded by Captain William Hawkins, Hector was the first vessel sent by the Company to establish direct trade relations with India. Surat, a bustling port city on the western coast of India, was a major hub for commerce, attracting traders from various parts of the world.

Captain Hawkins carried a letter from King James I of England to the Mughal Emperor Jahangir, seeking permission to trade and establish a factory in Surat. Upon arrival, Hawkins and his crew faced initial resistance from Portuguese traders who were already established in the region and saw the English as rivals. Despite these challenges, Hawkins was eventually granted an audience with Emperor Jahangir at his court in Agra. However, the negotiations were complex and drawn out, with the Mughal emperor not immediately granting the desired trading privileges.

While the first mission did not yield immediate success in establishing a strong English presence, it laid the groundwork for future ventures. Over the following decades, the East India Company gradually expanded its influence in India, securing trading rights, establishing factories, and eventually playing a central role in the colonization of the Indian subcontinent. The arrival of Hector at Surat marked the beginning of a new chapter in Indian history, one that would lead to profound changes in the region’s political and economic landscape.

20 August - INS Satpura commissioned

 

INS Satpura is a Shivalik-class stealth multi-role frigate of the Indian Navy. The Shivalik-class frigates are part of the Indian Navy's modernization efforts and are designed to perform a variety of roles, including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, and anti-air warfare.

Here are some key features and details about INS Satpura:

1. Commissioning Date: INS Satpura was commissioned on August 20, 2011.

2. Class: Shivalik-class stealth frigate. The Shivalik-class is named after the Shivalik range of mountains in India.

3. Displacement: Approximately 6,200 tons.

4. Length: About 142.5 meters.

5. Propulsion: Combined gas and gas (COGAG) propulsion system, which includes gas turbines and diesel engines.

6. Weaponry: INS Satpura is equipped with a variety of weapons systems, including surface-to-surface missiles, anti-ship missiles, anti-submarine torpedoes, and a range of anti-aircraft guns and missile systems.

7. Sensors and Electronics: The frigate is fitted with advanced sensor suites, radar systems, and electronic warfare equipment to enhance its surveillance and combat capabilities.

8. Stealth Features: The Shivalik-class frigates are designed with stealth features to minimize their radar cross-section and enhance their survivability in a modern naval environment.

INS Satpura, along with other vessels in its class, plays a crucial role in ensuring maritime security and defense for the Indian Navy.

 

INS Nirupak decommissioned from Indian Navy on 29 January 2024

 

 

INS Nirupak, an indigenously designed and built survey ship of the Indian Navy, was decommissioned on 29 January 2024, after 38 years of distinguished service. The decommissioning ceremony was held at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam and presided over by Vice Admiral Adhir Arora, Chief Hydrographer to the Government of India​ (Indian Navy)​​ (Indian Defence News)​​ (Deccan Chronicle)​.

Commissioned on August 14, 1985, INS Nirupak played a pivotal role in hydrographic surveys, significantly contributing to navigational safety and scientific understanding of oceanography in the Indian Ocean Region. The ship was also actively involved in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, notably during the 2004 Tsunami Relief (Operation Gambhir), where it provided critical support as a hospital ship to Indonesia​

Throughout its service, INS Nirupak was recognized for its excellence, receiving the Admiral Jal Cursetji Rolling Trophy for the best survey ship multiple times. The ship's legacy includes advancements in hydrographic data collection that have greatly benefited naval operations and scientific research​

The decommissioning of INS Nirupak marks the end of an era for the Indian Navy, but it also opens a new chapter as four state-of-the-art survey ships are expected to join the fleet between 2024 and 2026, enhancing India's hydrographic capabilities with the latest technology​.