Gorshkov: The Man And The Ship

	GORSHKOV: THE MAN AND THE SHIP
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The Tribune, 10 March 2004

BR Note: Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Sergei Georgievich Gorshkov (b. 26 Feb 1910 and d. 13 May 1988) was the Commander-in-Chief of the Soviet Navy. Widely regarded as the father and architect of the modern Soviet Navy, he retired from service in 1985.

The news of the acquisition of the 45,400-ton Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov takes me back to the early sixties when the legendry Chief of the Soviet Navy, after whom it is named, first visited India soon after the arrival of the Soviet-built submarines at Vishakhapatnam. I was the liaison officer for the Soviet specialists lodged in a prestigious seaside hotel. A special bullet proof car was flown in from Hyderabad during the week-long visit. The leader of the specialists' team used to meet the Soviet Naval Chief every morning. On the second morning of the arrival of the Soviet team I was also asked to join the delegation at breakfast.

Admiral Gorshkov with his 70 medal ribbons stitched on his duck-white jacket looked resplendent. The VIPs seated on the table included the Commander-in-Chief of the Soviet Mediterranean fleet, the Far East fleet based at Vladivostok and the Black Sea fleet. They were to visit new sites for a modern repair yard. The Soviet Naval Chief, known for his hard work, efficiency and vision, was the first to start his breakfast. He finished it in 10 minutes while the rest were still having their first course. Suddenly he got up and said, "Gentlemen, let's go." Most of the rest, with their napkins falling beneath the table, got up with a jerk and joined the exit!

In the afternoon, Gorshkov used to prefer juice of whole unpeeled kinnows or maltas and fresh coconut water sipped through a straw stick. He was a good-humoured gentleman and talked about superiority of Soviet-built missile boats even in the presence of an American lady with two Siamese cats staying in the adjoining suite during those days of the Cold War. One evening, the two Siamese cats entered his bedroom and started chasing each other on his double bed. Gorshkov took the intrusion sportingly and even invited the American lady, one Mrs Simpson, for a cup of coffee and requested her to rein in her wild tigers.

I also saw Admiral Gorshkov when he visited India again in 1972 when he was briefed about the exceptionally successful role played by the Soviet missile boats during the bombardment of the Karachi harbour in 1971. A local state minister embarrassed us all by addressing Admiral Gorshkov as Marshal Grechko, confusing him for the Soviet Defence Minister. On his retirement, the Soviet government renamed their latest aircraft carrier 'Baku' as 'Admiral Gorshkov'. The imposing aircraft carrier is a symbol of our naval strength and traditional Indo-Soviet goodwill. It is thrilling indeed for me to describe its high strike capabilities to my grandchildren residing abroad and also to tell them about the man after whom it is named!