UTS Voice
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With a full load 17000 displacement tons, 7700 miles range at a maximum speed of 21 knots, complement of 420men (both sailors and officers), four guns (of different caliber), countermeasures, electronic support measure, combat data systems and radars, Trenton’s strength lies in its extended capability to make its presence felt in an out of area operations by its on-board helicopters; which according to Jane’s Fighting Ships is – “Upto 6 Ch.46D/E Sea Knights” and that a “typical operational load might include one Seahawk, two Sea Knight, two Twin Huey, four Sea Cobra helicopters”.
Critics and cynics may question the wisdom of going for a ship manufactured in 1971. The counter-point, however, would be: is it something new? Did not India purchase the 1940s manufactured Royal Navy ship INS Vikrant in 1960s? Did not India go for 1959 manufactured INS Viraat in 1987? Has not the Indian Navy sought and bought the “Modified Kiev class” aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov commissioned on January 11,1987? A ship which will take at least two more years to be operated by the Indian fleet after its refit and upgradation in Severodvinsk ? In all these cases, referred to above, the Indian acquisition revolved round the offensive capability of “sea control” platform. In the present scenario, however, the role of Trenton appears to be in a “sea denial” mode while acting solo, and a part of “sea control” armada’s logistics and support ship in a fleet operation. Why? Just see the class under which it falls “amphibious transport docks”.
Seen from another angle, it is transparently clear that the USA today would no longer like to go all alone and all out in areas far away from its shore. Understandably, US Navy prefers co-operation in the vulnerable sea lanes of Asia and the Middle East as anti-terror war serves as a great leveler to all those whose oil come from, and through, the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea.
It is thus obvious that the purchase of Trenton matches the long term maritime vision of both India and the USA to accomplish an oceanic vision. As the regional power, India’s interest lies around the Indian Ocean and as the global power US Navy needs to coordinate with the navies of the volatile regions of oil route.
Thus the answer to the critics and cynics lies in realpolitik and “real” hardware availability. What India required was not readily available in the market. Russia or UK, France or Germany, Japan or Italy, none could have met the Indian requirement and none had any surplus to spare. Only USA had the ship and could provide one from its Atlantic fleet.
In fact seen in a bigger canvas, the present Indo-US naval honeymoon could be interpreted as an extension of the growth from the views of the US Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Michael Mullen, which signifies the most dramatic transformation in which virtually every ship’s location, position, movement and action, along with their inventory and intention will be at the finger tips of the Pentagon. Although it may be counter-argued as to “what is new about it” by arm-chair experts, the present print has only been a broad assessment of the three main points widening the US Navy’s official concept of “Seapower beyond solely warfighting.”
“Navy will influence the world by spreading the benefits of free markets and free societies.” Ironically, there perhaps is remote possibility on the part of the “world” to be “influenced” by a super power Navy taking the role of the economists and non-naval institutions to “spread the benefits of free markets and free societies.” Whether, by their gun power or lung power, only time will tell.
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