Navy Day ’18 in Pics: Mission-Deployed, Combat-Ready Indian Forces

The theme for this year is ‘Indian Navy, Mission-deployed and Combat-ready.’

(Photo: PTI)

India is celebrating the Navy Day today, on 4 November, 2018.

Navy Day is observed every year to commemorate the Indian Navy’s victory in the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971. The theme for this year is ‘Indian Navy, Mission-deployed and Combat-ready.’ As part of the celebrations, medical and blood donation camps, a wreath-laying ceremony, visits to ships, coastal clean-up activities, among other things, are conducted throughout the month.

Here are the glimpses of Life Inside Navy, in 12 pictures.

Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Sunil Lanba, while addressing a press conference in New Delhi, ahead of the Navy Day celebrations on 4 November 2018, said a “great deal of progress” has been made on ensuring synergy and “jointness” among the three services. 

INS Kochi docked at Mumbai harbour ahead of the Navy day celebrations, in Mumbai, on 3 December 2018. 

Indian Navy personnel rehearse for the Beating Retreat and Tattoo Ceremony for the Navy Day celebration at the historical Gateway of India in Mumbai on 2 December 2018.

(LtoR) Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa on the occasion of Navy Day at Amar Jawan Jyoti, India Gate, in New Delhi.

Indian Navy personnel rehearse for the Beating Retreat and Tattoo Ceremony for the Navy Day celebration at the historical Gateway of India in Mumbai on 2 December 2018.

Indian Navy personnel rehearse ahead of the Navy Day Celebration, at Gateway of India, in Mumbai, on 28 November 2018. 

In his nearly 70-minute media briefing on Monday, 3 November, Navy Chief Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba listed various steps being taken to modernise his force including induction of a large fleet of military jets and choppers, adding the construction of a second indigenous aircraft carrier is expected to start within a period of three years.

The Indian Air Force is against theatre commands, the Navy chief, said while addressing the press conference on Monday, 3 November. He also noted that a higher defence organisation must be set up before starting actual work in that direction.

On China fast expanding its naval prowess, the Navy Chief said, “By 2050, we will also have 200 ships, 500 aircraft and be a world-class navy.” He said 32 ships and submarines are presently under construction in Indian shipyards and in addition to them, government has accorded approval for 56 ships and six submarines.

About the possibility of the Navy having to deal with a two-front war, the Admiral said his force is overwhelmingly ahead of Pakistan Navy, while the balance of power in the Indian Ocean rests with India compared to China. “As far as Indian Navy is concerned, we don’t have two fronts. We have one and that is the Indian Ocean,” he said in the nearly 70-minute press conference on Monday, 3 November.

The Indian Navy continues to remain “on watch 24 X 7” safeguarding the country’s national interests in the maritime domain, Navy Chief Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba asserted on Monday, 3 November, a day ahead of the Navy Day celebrations on 4 November.

The government has approved induction of 56 new ships and six submarines to augment Indian Navy’s overall prowess while the country’s first indigenous aircraft carrier Vikrant has entered its final phase of construction, Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Sunil Lanba, said, while addressing a press conference in New Delhi, ahead of the Navy Day celebrations on 4 November, 2018.

Navy personnel display their skills while rehearsing for the Beating Retreat and Tattoo Ceremony for the Navy Day celebration at the historic Gateway of India in Mumbai.

Chiefs of the Indian Army, The Indian AirForce and the Indian Navy pay homage at the Amar Jawan Jyoti, India Gate on the occasion of Navy Day. 

School students visit Navy warship of eastern fleet INS Kirch as a part of Navy Day celebrations, at Kolkata Port (Khidirpur Dock). 

The Indian Navy assembles into a formation resembling a ship. 

Lt Gen PS Rajeshwar, CISC and all ranks of HQ Integrated Defence Staff. 

(With inputs from PTI)