What is the life of a warship? Does a warship's life actually end? Is there a rebirth of a warship?
What are the milestones in it's life? What is meant by decommissioning of a warship?
This post is triggered by the forthcoming decommissioning of INS Gomati which was Ghumakkad's last ship. Pictured below is Gomati in action with the world map superimposed. The map shows the ports visited by Gomati in its glorious journey of 34 years. Picture courtesy Indian Navy.
We will try and explain the opening questions specially for non-Naval readers, based on 30-years of Ghumakkad's experience as a Naval officer. A warship (or a submarine) is where the action is. Ask any naval officer about the life on a ship and he/she will tell you 'there is never a dull moment'! But here we have raised a question 'what' is the life and not 'how' is the life on a ship?
Life of a warship varies with the type, size and generation of the ship. In general, it would be anywhere upwards of 30 years. Life span of some of the Indian Naval Ships is given below:
- Vikrant: 36 years
- Viraat: 30 years
- Godavari: 32 years
- Rana: 36 years
- Gomati: 34 years
- US Navy Ship Vandegrift: 30 years. See the picture below of the sea caps of Gomati and both the US ships with which Gomati had exercised at sea in 1992.
In comparison, the life span of Bulk Carriers and Container ships in merchant navy is between 10 to 12 years.
What Determines a Warship's Life
Like a human body, which parts of a warship deteriorate faster with age? Apart from wear and tear of the machinery on-board, the hull and superstructure which are exposed to the elements are prone to corrosive damage. Although special paints and cathodic protection prevent such corrosive ageing, yet there is a useful and safe life of a warship as mentioned above.
Milestones in a Warship's Life
It all starts with laying of the Keel, followed by Launching of the ship (when it floats in the water for the first time), Commissioning, mid-life-upgrade (primarily to replace or upgrade the weapons and electronics systems) and lastly the Decommissioning. Am sharing below few pictures of Gomati during her operational life.
INS Gomati
Designed and built in India by Mazagon Docks Ltd Mumbai, Gomati was commissioned on 16 Apr 1988 having the Pennant No. F21. After 34 glorious years, she will be decommissioned at sunset on 28th May 2022. Here is a 30-second video teaser courtesy INS Gomati.
Motto of Gomati
The motto of Gomati is सिद्धिर्भवति कर्मजः from the 4th Chapter of Bhagwat Gita which means 'Success is born of Action'. The motto is like the tag line in marketing parlance. Some of the other mottos of armed forces/ships are given below:
- INS Godavari: जयोस्मि व्यावसायोस्मि meaning Victory is my Profession
- College of Defence Management India: नैपुण्यात विजयः ध्रुवम meaning Victory Through Excellence
- HMS Monmouth, Royal Navy ship with which Gomati had done exercises at sea: Fear Nothing But God
- Indian Air Force: नभः स्पृशं दीप्तम् meaning Touch the Sky with Glory
- An Infantry Division, India: Bash on Regardless
Rebirth of Warships
Like the saying 'old sailors never die, they just sail away', warships don't die they are reborn. Yes, in the Indian Navy we have the tradition of using the same name of a decommissioned ship for the next generation of warships. For example, present Gomati (F21) is the reincarnation of old Gomati (D93) which was a Hunt class destroyer commissioned in 1953 and decommissioned around 1975. Therefore, Gomati though decommissioned will be born again. The soul of Gomati will live forever- firstly in our hearts and subsequently when the next generation of Gomati gets commissioned.
How the Families Remember Gomati
We reached out to few family members of Gomati's crew with a request to share their memories. Excerpts from their narratives follow:
Sangeeta Iyer now settled in Pune with her husband Commodore Vasu Iyer writes "The commissioning of a ship is a very special occasion – even for the families. And as with many such close groups in the Navy Fraternity, we became one very quickly, in a very special bond." On transfer from New Delhi, their four-year old son joined a school in Bombay. She adds "My son was so proud of his Dad’s ship! In lower KG at RK Academy, instead of doing any school work, he would simply draw a squiggle that was supposed to be INS Gomati, on every page. When I saw his 1st term folder, I was horrified that he hadn’t written anything – on top of the page would be: ‘Write A to G’ or ‘Write 1 to 10’ – and below that would be the outline of a ship. But when I went to his teacher to apologize to her, she, being a Navy wife herself, very lovingly said: “Writing toh yeh seekh hi lega; right now he’s expressing how proud he is of his Dad, and how much he’s missing him!” That is the spirit of the Navy. Thanks Sangeeta for sharing your memories.
The next contribution is from our daughter Akanksha who was 12-year old when I joined Gomati in 1990. Even after 32 years, she remembers Gomati very fondly and has sent the following poem from USA:
INS Gomti is not just a frigate
It used to be my playground for endless days.
From partying in the wardroom
To pretending to be behind the helm,
F21 was etched in my heart
As I saw it exercise over the azure realm.
Carefully treading the gangway
Creating a havoc in ladder-wells and passageways,
Regardless of ranks I commanded my ways
I was my own CO of this frigate.
It used to be the place I ran to
When I craved exploration,
Reading charts, understanding acronyms
And a run from deck to deck
Were my sole missions.
So many memories of so long ago
Seem like just yesterday
Whenever I hear a bugle blow.
But each one of us, have a life of our own
Which comes to an end, when it’s time to go.
It’s time for Gomti to take a bow
Only to be reborn, with the latest know-how.
With the latest in technology to serve and to engage
And to be a playground, once again…❤️
Thank you Akanksha for remembering your 'floating playground'!
Decommissioning Ceremony
The decommissioning ceremony is held at sunset. It is for the last time that the National flag and Naval Ensign are lowered along with the commissioning pennant of the ship. It is a solemn ceremony attended by not only the ship's crew, senior officers of the Command and Fleet Staff but also former crew of the ship. Many of us who had served on Gomati, will have lump in our throats as the flags will be hauled down with the Naval band playing the last post. Sharing the invite and the detailed programme below. Will append more pictures later.
Gomati After Decommissioning
The UP State Government has come forward to set up Gomati Museum on the banks of river Gomati in Lucknow. See the programme above which includes the signing of an MoU with UP Govt. The Museum will house various fixtures and artefacts from INS Gomati. Such museums exist in countries like USA and Russia and are big tourist attractions. In Vizag, the submarine museum on the beach draws huge crowds round the year.
The Armed Forces thrive on rich traditions and values which go back to few centuries. We are proud of our armed forces. It is a matter of pride and privilege to have served in the Indian Navy for 30 years.
May the Navy sail the seas with elan.
Shun no Varuna शं नो वरुणः Indian Navy's motto in Sanskrit, which means 'May the Lord of the Seas be auspicious unto us'.
Jai Hind.
- Harsh-the-Ghumakkad and Neeta Bhargava with inputs from fellow shipmates of INS Gomati/ 24th May 2022
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