In October 1983, I had been serving as Fleet Operations Officer (FOO), Western Fleet, for about ten months while Vice Admiral IJS Khurana had been the Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet (FOCWF) for five months. I was eagerly looking forward to command a ship and taking into account the tenures of the present Captains, reckoned that a possible vacancy would occur in 3-6 months by which time I would also have completed a year in my present appointment.
I hadn't considered a dark horse, rather, ship!
One evening as I was winding up work, I got a call from the Chief of Staff (COS), Western Naval Command, who I knew well and considered to be my well-wisher. He said he would pick me up on the way home. I gratefully accepted though I wondered why.
In the car, COS told me he had received a call from the Chief of Personnel, NHQ, that I was being appointed as Commanding Officer, Trishul, which was undergoing what seemed to be an unending modernisation at Mazagon Dock, Bombay. COS said there was an urgent need to get the ship ready and out of docks before the President's Fleet Review early 1984 and I was 'specially' selected for the task. He said that if I was successful, it would be a feather in my cap and under no circumstances, should I decline this golden opportunity.
I was not at all prepared for this lecture and was thoroughly dazed by it. Tucked away in docks, Trishul was nowhere on my horizon for a command and I did not quite understand why I needed all that spiel about being 'specially selected' and 'golden opportunity' etc? And did I have the option to decline an appointment!
My head was in a spin when we reached my residence and the driver opened the door for me to get out. Soon after, I received my letter of appointment. It was only later that I learnt that indeed a few of my colleagues who went on to earn many stars had wriggled out of this offer of command.
Originally in collaboration with Yarrow Shipyard of UK, Mazagon Dock had gained experience in constructing ships and had rolled out six Leander class frigates between 1972-81. NHQ then thought of modernisation of ships starting with Trishul which was more than 20 years old. The major changes were replacement of the front 4.5" gun mounting with surface-to-surface missiles and construction of a flight deck and hangar to enable the ship to carry a helicopter.
This was Mazagon Dock's first experience of a major overhaul of a ship and a big challenge for both the Dock and NHQ as it involved not only extensive work but providing compatibility between original British equipment and Russian missiles. Further, many original drawings and documents were missing and it was a hard task to provide replacements and matching them with new requirements added with the temptation of many add-ons as time passed by.
On Saturday 29 October 1983, I assumed command of Trishul in dry docks at Mazagon. The ship was in a haphazard state with everything ripped apart and cables and wires hanging loose all over. I was in a daze but glad that I had chosen to take over on a Saturday as the weekend gave me a chance to recover from the shock at seeing the state the ship was in!
The President's Review was to take place on 12 February and because of tidal constraints, it was necessary to get the ship out of docks about three weeks before. So with just over two months to go, we got down to the task of getting the ship ready which was more in the hands of Mazagon Dock rather than the ship's staff. But if I mentioned any problem to the Command Headquarters, I was told to 'just get on with it' implying that I was hindering progress.
The scheduled day arrived with two vital navigational instruments, the gyro compass and the radar, still not operational. Safety of the ship was squarely the Captain's but saying no and missing the Review was not even an option! So the bullet was bitten, the ship taken out of docks in total darkness at high tide at midnight and anchored at the nearest possible spot.
Next morning, with a prayer on our lips and fingers crossed, the engines were started and propellers turned on after more than four years. We weighed in the anchor and were thrilled to be on our own steam. As we moved towards the naval anchorage, I decided that since everyone was in high spirits, why not sail out for a couple of hours before taking up our allotted berth.
We were just out of harbour when suddenly the propellers stopped turning, the ship went dark and eerily silent. Smoke started filling up the lower decks and sailors came rushing out in the open. With intercoms not working and no answer from the Engine Room voice pipe, we on the Bridge were literally in the dark.
Just then, a sailor came scampering up the hatch and told us there was a fire in the Engine Room which was being fought. Meanwhile, the stopped ship, being at the mercy of the groundswell, started rolling increasingly from side to side. I told the Commander (second-in-command) to get everyone to wear life jackets. I was stunned when he answered that we had only a small number of jackets on board which had already been issued to essential personnel on upper deck and there were no more for the rest.
Visions of the ship capsizing and sailors fighting for their lives in the sea started filling my mind and the next few minutes were deeply anxious and disturbing. Relief when lights came back and the engines started turning was overwhelming. The Engine Room staff had doused the fire and we were fit to go again.
We immediately turned back and proceeded directly to our berth without further ado with my instructions to the Commander to ensure we had life jackets for everybody that very day.
It was customary for the Naval Signal Station (NSS) to ask ships entering harbour to identify themselves. This did not apply to Indian naval ships as the NSS could recognise them and had prior information of their movements. I was, therefore, amused when we were asked to identify ourselves. My first reaction was to say we were from Mars but then I realised that the NSS was not to blame as the new-look Trishul was on public display for the first time. So we just signalled back, "Indian Naval Ship Trishul."
The next few days were busy getting the ship to look at her prettiest for the President's Review. We participated in the event and the ship's company was happy and proud with a sense of achievement of having made it despite all odds. If, however, we expected at least a "well done" from Naval Headquarters or Western Naval Command, we were asking for the moon!
With the Review over, we got down to the task of getting all equipment and systems fully operational. There were many sailings and the highlights were the two firsts, embarking and operating a helicopter and the firing of a missile. All went well and we joined the Western Fleet.
In May '84, I learnt that a ship was required to make a goodwill visit to Mauritius. I thought deputing Trishul for the trip would be a good opportunity to provide exposure of our ability to thoroughly modernise a ship as well as a just reward for the ship's company for its efforts to get the ship ready in time for the Review. I met the Chief of Staff and requested the authorities to consider my request. He gave me a patient listening and, a few days later, Udaygiri, if I recall correctly, was nominated!
I soon realised that regardless of her facelift and new weaponry, Trishul would never be considered to be in the same class as a Leander what to talk of the newly acquired Rajputs and the indigenous Godavaris now joining the fleet. Even in the wives' circles, Akhila often heard others calling her "Mrs. Trishul" in a disparaging way! Indeed, I was the last CO of the ship with the rank of Captain as I was succeeded by a Commander.
I should also personally take the blame for non-consideration of Trishul for the Mauritius trip. As per naval tradition, we worked only till lunch on Wednesdays and Saturdays observing what was termed as 'make and mend' (time for replacing missing buttons on uniform and darning of socks!) in naval parlance. One afternoon, I was about to start a golf game when the C-in-C, an avowed non-golfer, passed by on his constitutional walk. On seeing me he remarked, "Oh, you play golf, do you? I wonder how you find the time."
The C-in-C went on to become the next Naval Chief and took to playing golf multiple times a week!
A disturbing incident took place towards the end of the year. When I was Director Naval Signals (DNS), my staff and I decided that we would apprise Commands and Fleets of action we were taking to improve ship-to-ship communications and Electronic Warfare. A 'Top Secret' letter was prepared with instructions that it should be circulated to Command Headquarters but carried only by hand of an officer and finally returned to DNS. Now, more than a year after my transfer, the letter was reported lost and the Vice Chief of Naval Staff (VCNS) had constituted a Board of Inquiry (BOI). I was summoned to Delhi to appear before it.
The BOI was headed by Captain Kailash Kohli and I submitted evidence to show that the letter was very much in existence at the time of my handing over. The BOI was satisfied and cleared me of any neglect. Imagine my astonishment when a month later, I received a 'severe letter of displeasure' from the VCNS!
Time passed by with a lot of sailing which we all enjoyed. The ship's staff gelled well and we functioned smoothly as a team. Taking a break from work, I took a week's leave at Christmas time and drove with the family for a refreshing holiday in Goa.
Back to Bombay and we got busy with preparations to celebrate the silver jubilee of the commissioning of Trishul on 13 January. The ship was berthed alongside the inner breakwater, given a fresh coat of paint and decorated with colourful flags from fore to aft. A sailor dressed like Lord Shiva in lion skin and adorned with moon, snake, rudraksha and, of course, a trishul in his hand, was stationed at the jetty guarding the ship's gangway. In the forenoon, we had a concert and 'Burra Khana' for the ship's company and, in the evening, a dinner which was attended by many officers of the Command and the Fleet and ex-Captains of Trishul. The evening's highlight was the cutting of the cake by the oldest ex-CO, Captain Sunil Rajendra, who had commanded the ship in 1968 when I served on board as Signals and Communications Officer after my specialisation course.
The next important activity was the annual Fleet Pulling Regatta in end-January. The event consists of a number of boat (whaler) rowing races between ships of the fleet and the winning ship awarded the prize of a trophy in the shape of a big rooster called "Cock". Performance of a ship is considered to be reflective of the morale of the ship's crew and, therefore, how the crew regards its Captain.
We did very well but lost by a narrow margin to Taragiri. The chief guest, Vice Admiral Russi Ghandhi, who was then Chairman, Shipping Corporation of India, presented the Cock to CO Taragiri and, as a personal gift, announced two free tickets to Singapore on MV Chidambaram. Captain NK Sawhney, Chairman and Managing Director, Mazagon Docks, who was watching the races, sought me out to congratulate me on Trishul's performance and surprised me by saying that he was awarding two free tickets on Chidambaram to Singapore to me.
That was happy news indeed and the family was excited. Akhila insisted that we would pay for two more tickets and take Ruchir and Shumita with us. As none of us had passports, I started the process immediately as the first step to get ready for the cruise.
Then came the news that Chidambaram had a major fire which put her out of commission. So no cruise, only long faces!
But soon after that, I received the NHQ letter appointing me as Defence Advisor (DA), High Commission of India, Singapore, effective April 1985. A short cruise replaced by a three-year posting! Truth is stranger than fiction.
Spadework for going abroad began while sailings continued. Meanwhile, the incumbent DA, already on a year's extension, applied for a further six months which was approved and my appointment deferred to October.
Unknown to me, that gave opportunity to interested parties to get my appointment cancelled in favour of someone else. One day, my friend Kailash Kohli told me that while waiting in the Secretary's office for a call on the C-in-C (ex-VCNS who had ordered the BOI), he overheard a telephone conversation between the CNS and the C-in-C discussing that I was perhaps too senior for Singapore DA's job. Thanking Kailash for the tip, I conveyed the information to some well-wishers in NHQ and the replacement effort was nipped in the bud but Trishul despatched to the east coast for six weeks starting early-July.
I was quite happy with that except that a number of my key officers, in particular the Navigating Officer (NO), Lt Rajiv Kapur, in whom I had developed a lot of trust, were transferred just before the deployment despite my request that transfers be deferred till the ship's return to Bombay.
Our sojourn to the east worked out well. On leaving, there was a nice signal from C-in-C East to his Western counterpart, copy to us, saying that Trishul's deployment was very useful to the Eastern Naval Command and that the ship had performed well.
Nearing Bombay, we were asked to join ships of the Western Fleet for exercises which we did. On completion, the Fleet headed to Bombay and the ship's company excitedly looked forward to get back home to their families.
Not so soon! We were ordered by C-in-C West to detach from the fleet for SAR (Search and rescue) duties for some air exercises off Bombay. The delay would be 6-8 hours only but we were a bit perplexed why we were designated for this task which could have been assigned to any other ship of the fleet which had been away from Bombay for just a day!
Finally, the ship entered Bombay. My relief had also been appointed and after a few days, I handed over the ship after a 21 month personally satisfying command and looked forward to Singapore.
Tailpiece: In January 1986, two months after I had taken over as DA in Singapore, I was asked to accompany the Thai Naval Chief on a visit to India as there was no naval attache in Thailand. During a reception in Vishakhapatnam, C-in-C East drew me aside and told me that following his signal about Trishul's deployment with the Eastern Naval Command, he was surprised to get a telephone call from C-in-C West berating him for his laudatory signal and saying there was no need for it!
That firmed up my decision to leave the Navy after my Singapore appointment.
P.S. I am still in touch with a number of my Trishul shipmates and it is a pleasure to meet them and talk of the old days. Further, it is most gratifying when during parties, officers who were attached to Trishul as Sub Lts for their watchkeeping certificates or Midshipmen time, come up to me and say they have happy memories of their stay on board.
P.P.S. With all the time, effort and money spent on modernisation, the ship lasted only seven more years after I left and was decommissioned on 31 August 1992.
