By Kapil Chandni, BR Correspondent

All images © Indian Navy via Kapil Chandni

The second of India's new Talwar Class Guided Missile frigates arrived home at Mumbai to a rousing reception on 23 September 2003. Commanded by Captain SPS Cheema, NM, a missiles and gunnery specialist, INS Trishul commenced her passage homeward on 09 July 2003 from Russia. She dropped anchor at Stockholm, Gdynia, Copenhagen, Dublin, Vigo, Dakar, Lagos, Luanda, Walvis Bay and Durban thus rounding the Cape and sailing on to Mumbai. The ship's complement of 32 officers and 228 sailors was warmly received by then incumbent FOC-in-C, Western Naval Command, Vice Admiral Arun Prakash, PVSM AVSM VrC VSM ADC who had in fact commissioned INS Trishul at St Petersburg, Russia on 25 June 2003.

The Trishul makes a heart warming sight and goes a long way in bolstering the Indian Navy's stagnating force levels. She is exactly similar to the Talwar in all respects. With the arrival of INS Tabar expected towards the year end or at the start of next year, this acquisition programme of the Navy will be complete. It is speculated that based on the performance of these three frigates into the Navy, the Navy might purchase an additional three frigates of this type. These ships' value proposition lies in the fact that India is getting a Destroyer for the price of a Frigate.

	A cursory walk around the insides of this ship testified to the robust build and spaciousness of this class of ships. And a comparatively small complement of personnel required to man these ships make her an ideal symbol of the Navy's leanness and meanness. Indian officials look pleased with these ships, and with a spate of new inductions expected shortly the Navy is poised to to extend its Blue Water battle space capability. The CO's extended fist in the Talwar Class is the Ka-31, successor to the famous contra-rotating ASW helicopter series. Vice Admiral Arun Prakash expressed satisfaction with the various upgradation programmes underway. He also handed over the keys to the Ship's vehicles. In a new policy, every ship in the fleet is getting its own vehicle/s depending upon its displacement. This makes the administrative tasks of a ship's crew easier when the ship is in its home port, considering the vast distances involved in the Dockyard and Command. The Trishul has been presented with a Toyota Qualis, a Tata 407 truck and a couple of bikes. Presumably, the bikes can be carried on board and used when the ship docks anywhere. For overseas sojourns, the Trishul has some really fast rigid boats.

The Old Trishul

Following Naval traditions, the new Trishul takes her name and pennant number, F43, from the old Trishul, a Whitby Class frigate which was built in the United Kingdom and commissioned in 1962. The old Trishul served as one of the frontline ships of the Indian Navy for 32 years and won battle honours in the Liberation of Goa in 1961 and the conflicts of 1965 and 1971. The ship was also part of the task group that carried out the raid on Karachi in December 1971.

The Trishul Crest

The crest of a ship epitomizes the spirit and ethos of the ship. The word 'Trishul' is derived from the Sanskrit words, 'Tri' meaning three and 'Shul' meaning a spiked weapon. Indian mythology has it that this three edged spiked weapon was a powerful and all pervasive weapon of Lord Shiva, and was effectively used by him to ward off evil. The 'Trishul' as a weapon has been used ever since then to symbolize the victory of truth and righteousness over evil. According to mythology, surviving the onslaught of the Trishul is impossible. The crest of the ship depicts a strong arm rising out from under the sea, holding the powerful 'Trident'. The mythological truth of the weapon when extended to INS Trishul makes the ship powerful in all three dimensions - air, surface and sub-surface. A warship that will be feared for her lethality and brutal power.