Useless to usefull aircraft carrier

, January 18, 2007 at 9:09 PM PST
During the 1965 war, it was in dry dock, and could not be used. During 1971, there was a crack in a boiler, because of which they could not fire the steam catapult needed to send out the aircraft.

Three months before the war, Naval Headquarters decided it was not operable at all. The aircraft were moved ashore. If the aircraft could not be catapulted out, it would fall into the sea, and kill everybody.

I said 'What's the bloody point of having an aircraft carrier if it cannot be used during a war?'

So I decided to take a risk. I ordered a steel band to be put around the boiler which had a crack. Then I said we need to get to a place where we have strong winds, and check out whether the aircraft falls into the sea or not.

We waited till the wind was strong enough. The aircraft was finally ordered to take off. And it was a success. We did that three or four times.

But there was still aversion. Somebody said 'Sir, there are people in the boiler room, and if it blows up it will kill all of them.'

So I said how does the boiler work? It works on oil. How does it come into the boiler? There is a pipe which brings it in. Who controls the valve of that pipe? The tanks are down below, but the valve is on the upper deck.

I said vacate the boiler room. Have someone man the valves. So if the boiler blows up or catches fire, it will damage the boiler room, but not the men. So that was done.

We have to take the risk. We discussed all possible scenarios. We were operational.

Ref: http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/jan/18inter.htm

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Useless to usefull aircraft carrierThursday, January 18, 2007 at 9:09 PM PST
During the 1965 war, it was in dry dock, and could not be used. During 1971, there was a crack in a boiler, because of which they could not fire the steam catapult needed to send out the aircraft.

Three months before the war, Naval Headquarters decided it was not operable at all. The aircraft were moved ashore. If the aircraft could not be catapulted out, it would fall into the sea, and kill everybody.

I said 'What's the bloody point of having an aircraft carrier if it cannot be used during a war?'

So I decided to take a risk. I ordered a steel band to be put around the boiler which had a crack. Then I said we need to get to a place where we have strong winds, and check out whether the aircraft falls into the sea or not.

We waited till the wind was strong enough. The aircraft was finally ordered to take off. And it was a success. We did that three or four times.

But there was still aversion. Somebody said 'Sir, there are people in the boiler room, and if it blows up it will kill all of them.'

So I said how does the boiler work? It works on oil. How does it come into the boiler? There is a pipe which brings it in. Who controls the valve of that pipe? The tanks are down below, but the valve is on the upper deck.

I said vacate the boiler room. Have someone man the valves. So if the boiler blows up or catches fire, it will damage the boiler room, but not the men. So that was done.

We have to take the risk. We discussed all possible scenarios. We were operational.

Ref: http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/jan/18inter.htm