Spansen: Minesweepers, Aircraft Carriers And Fleet Tankers

Surface vessels, playing critical supporting roles, projecting power in the Navy's scheme of things.

Behind the showstopper Destroyers, Frigates & Corvettes, raining "pwnage" on the adversary, plods the humble fleet tanker, dutifully keeping their tanks topped up, while these warships sail full-speed ahead only after receiving the green signal from the unglamorous, inconspicuous Minesweeper.

Speaking of glamour, nothing quite says "power" as effectively as the sight of an Aircraft Carrier, with its complement of combat aircraft, & a lethal perimeter formed by surface & subsurface warship, together forming the Carrier group.

The Indian Navy has a long & rich history of operating all these systems, advanced variants of which will continues to serve in the future fleet.

INS Shakti - A57 - Deepak-class Fleet Replenishment Tanker

The most newest vessel of its type, 2 of these Italian-built vessels began service with the India Navy in 2011.

INS Shakti [A57], along with INS Ranvir [D54], Rajput-class Destroyer

Pondicherry-class Minesweeper

Six such vessels, acquired from the Soviet Union in the 89s served with the Indian Navy. All decommissioned. The Navy, presently, operates no vessel of its type - long delayed search, with potential deals being scrapped, have lead to the renewed search for such platform.

INS Porbandar [M62]

INS Alleppey [M65]

INS Vikrant - R11 - Majestic-class Aircraft Carrier

Acquired from the UK, and commissioned in the fleet in 1961, it continued to serve for 36, before being decommissioned. Today, it traverses the Indian roads as Bajaj V15.

The photograph, taken a US Navy aircraft, during patrolling, shows the Vikrant with the Hawker Sea Hawk aircraft, that initially formed its aerial wing. Towards the aft of its deck, is likely also the Sea Harrier aircraft, that subsequently succeeded the Sea Hawk. Identification difficult in the picture.