After a number of appointments from 1961 to 1969 on ships based in Bombay, I had left the city for Cochin in December ’69. I was then away for a good 13 years before returning to Bombay in December ’82 as the Fleet Operations Officer (FOO), Western fleet. An important professional and responsible job, the only thing I didn’t like about it was that people called you ‘FOO’, winking that ‘L’ was silent!
Shumita had just started schooling in nursery but Ruchir had to complete his term, so initially I moved on my own. Admiral Nayyar had already taken over as the Fleet Commander and we were soon sailing for exercises. For flagship, we alternated between the new Rajput commanded by Capt SW (Shreeni) Lakhkar and Vindhyagiri, commanded by Capt NN (Baby) Anand. Adm Nayyar and I got on well together and I fondly remember our walks up and down on the wings of the Bridge of our flagship whenever there was a lull between exercise serials.
Akhila and I wanted the kids to settle in their Bombay Schools as early as possible but there was a mismatch with Delhi finishing the academic year in March and Bombay in February. Akhila managed to persuade the Principal of Delhi Public School to give Ruchir an early promotion and the family shifted to Bombay mid-January. After a short stay in the MES Inspection Bungalow, we moved to our allotted accommodation in Gemini in the Navy Nagar, Colaba.
End-February, the Fleet sailed on a cruise to Muscat, Bahrain and Dubai. It was an enjoyable visit and we were looked after well in all three ports. I had been to Bahrain and Dubai before but Muscat was new to me. Cdr YN Sharma, who had joined us as the NHQ representative, and I explored the outskirts of the city in a car organized for us with an Indian chauffeur who played Bollywood songs throughout our ride. Now whenever I hear the song “Jehan Teri Yeh Nazar Hai” from ‘Kaalia’, the vision of our drive in Muscat countryside flashes in my mind.
While in Dubai, we got the news that our government had allowed the import of colour TVs. I immediately went and bought a Hitachi TV. On return to India, some people advised me not to declare it to the Customs but I insisted on doing so. The Customs did not accept my cash memo and levied a heavy duty which I paid. I then went to my friend, Cdr Halim Talibuddin, who was working with the Customs on deputation. He directed me to the Commissioner (Appeals), Mr. Joglekar, who ordered that I should be charged as per my cash memo and the excess amount refunded. A good amount of money was recovered and my stand on declaring the TV vindicated.
End-March, Adm Nayyar was transferred to Cochin as Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Naval Command (FOCinC South) but no relief appointed. That meant I was virtually heading the Fleet planning all sailings and exercises! For actual sailings, there was the SOPA (Senior Officer Present Afloat) taking charge but it was made clear that he would exercise no control over the Fleet Staff and would conduct exercises using his ship’s staff. Mostly, Capt Baby Anand, CO Vindhyagiri, was the SOPA and we appreciated each other’s position well. One good thing about sailing with him was the high quality of food made possible by the fact that the fruits and vegetables were fresh from his farm on the outskirts of Bombay.
Upto that time, Replenishment At Sea (RAS), i.e. transfer of fuel, stores and personnel, was confined to a maximum of three ships with the supply ship engaging the two receiving ships on either side. Adm Tahiliani, FOCinC West, discussed with me the possibility of involving 5 ships simultaneously. For the next sailing, the Admiral embarked on board Vindhyagiri and brought along Mr Julio Ribeiro, Commissioner Police, Bombay. We successfully carried out RAS with 5 ships for the first time and a helo from Vindhyagiri took photos one of which adorns a wall in my living room in Jaipur. Subsequently, Fleet Commanders have gone ahead with increasing the number of ships to 9.
Some political unrest was stirring in Mauritius and the Fleet was sailed to Goa to be in readiness if required. As there was no Fleet Commander, VAdm Mookerjee, Vice Chief of Naval Staff, flew down to Goa to take charge of the Fleet. Fortunately, the situation stabilised soon and the Fleet returned to Bombay.
End-April, after a gap of over a month, we had a proper FOCWF with the appointment of Vice Admiral IJS Khurana.
In July, Admiral Dawson, CNS, scheduled a major exercise with all available ships and a submarine participating. CNS’s intention was to test the efficiency of ships in detecting and holding contact of a submarine in heavy monsoon conditions. The weather really turned rough with the result that ships were finding it difficult to maintain course and speed and a large number of personnel were seasick. In the chaotic situation, I remembered a joke told to me by Babuji, my father-in-law: a musical show was underway with some really atrocious fare by the performers. A tough, fearsome guy mounted the stage brandishing a sword. The performers started to scamper away but the swordsman ordered them to sit down and carry on with the show. He shouted, “Go on, you keep singing and playing, I have no quarrel with you. I am looking for the guy who scheduled this performance.”
I repeated the joke to the Naval Adviser to CNS and added, “Don’t blame the ships, let them carry on whatever they are doing. Let’s look for the guy who scheduled this exercise.” This was probably conveyed to the CNS as he appeared to look askance at me whenever he saw me after that.
Adm Khurana and I were getting used to working with each other when I was suddenly appointed CO Trishul bringing an end to my 10-month term as FOO.
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