Towering over the Kochi skyline, dwarfing the tallest apartment tower right now, is the brooding grey hulk of INS Viraat, India’s flagship aircraft carrier.
On deck, in smart whites, stands Captain R Harikumar, as he overlooks the repair work being carried out on the pride of the Indian Navy at the wet docks of Cochin Shipyard Ltd. Soon, the behemoth will be sent to the dry docks for its periodic refit. Maybe for the last time, before it’s decommissioned.
But before that, there will be a last hurrah, as all its former captains will reunite on its deck in May 2012, on the silver jubilee of its commissioning into the navy.
And Capt. Harikumar will play the Master of Ceremonies. For the first Keralite to command Indian Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier the INS Viraat, it’s a dream come true.
Harikumar has a glorious service record. In 2010, he was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal for completing mid-life upgrade of INS Ranvir. He hails from Thirvananthapuram, and attended school at Sacred Heart’s Convent, Thanjavur.
Following his graduation from the National Defence Academy, he was commissioned into the Indian Navy in January 1983. Later, he specialised as a Gunnery Officer.
Subsequently, he commanded the coast guard vessel C-01, and Indian Naval Ships Nishank, Kora and Ranvir, prior to assuming the command of the INS Viraat. Other appointments include Fleet Operations Officer and Fleet Gunnery Officer of the Western Fleet, executive officer of INS Vipul, GO (Gunnery Officer) of INS Ranjit, Commissioning GO of INS Kuthar and commissioning GO of INS Ranvir. On shore, he has served as Command Gunnery Officer at Western Naval Command Headquarters, besides being a Naval Adviser to the government of Seychelles, Training Commander of INS Dronacharya and Squadron Commander at Naval Academy INS Mandovi.He served with the Civil-Military Operations Centre of the United Nations Mission in Somalia at Mogadishu in 1992-93.
He also attended the US Naval Staff Course at Naval War College, Rhode Island, USA, in 1996, the Army Higher Command Course at AWC Mhow in 2004, and the Royal College of Defence Studies, London, in 2009.
He had earlier commanded the destroyer INS Ranvir when it was retrofitted with BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, and corvettes INS Kora and INS Nishank. However, commanding Viraat has put him in an elite league.
Admiral Nirmal Verma, Admiral Arun Prakash and Admiral Madhavendra Singh have all been Commanding Officers of INS Viraat, before becoming Navy Chiefs. In fact, Admiral Nirmal Verma is the current Navy Chief.
For Harikumar, a normal day at sea begins at 4 am. He is on the bridge, whenever aircraft operations take place on deck. In his own words, “Working throughout the day and late into the night is an innate part of my routine.” Though the oldest carrier in service, Viraat is expected to be around for another couple of years. “There’s a fair bit of life left in Viraat,” says Harikumar.
“We expect it to last at least till 2018. It might go on even beyond that.” As part of the refit regime, the carrier would again undergo a restoration of its underwater package. “The underwater surface of Viraat will be cleaned as part of the refit,” says Harikumar. “Corrosion checks will be done, after which fresh layers of underwater paint will be applied. The hull will receive extra metal plating. The propeller will also be checked. There will be some minor modifications to the systems and equipment.” Usually, short refits are carried out once in 16 to 18 months. Viraat had one major refit two years ago at Kochi, and may get another in two years time.
After the check-up, to be carried out at a cost of Rs 30 crore, the vessel may take part in ‘Exercise Malabar’, alongside the US Navy.
Plans are in full swing for the May 2012 celebrations. “We have not finalised anything,” he says. “But we’re hoping to bring out a coffeetable book to commemorate the occasion.”
Mean machine
1. Commissioned into UK’s Royal Navy as HMS Hermes on November 18, 1959, the Centaurclass vessel began its stint with Indian Navy as INS Viraat on May 12, 1987.
2. Before induction into the Indian Navy, it took part in the Falklands war of 1982.
3. Its fighter aircraft complement is Britishmade Sea Harriers of the INAS 300 Squadron, popularly called ‘White Tigers’, capable of vertical take-off and landing.
4. The vessel has a complement of 150 officers and 1,500 sailors