An Indian Navy Task Group, led by the 6,700 ton destroyer INS Delhi, arrived in Portsmouth today Wednesday (17 June) at the start of this year’s Exercise Konkan with the Royal Navy. The visiting task group will be under the command of Admiral Surinder Pal Singh Cheema, the Flag Officer Commanding Indian Western Fleet, based in Mumbai. Joining the Delhi in Portsmouth will be the frigates INS Beas and Brahmaputra and the tanker INS Aditya.
Named after Indian’s western coastal region, Exercise Konkan is an annual exercise between the Indian and Royal Navies conducted with the aim of building maritime interoperability and mutual understanding. Konkan 08 was conducted off Goa as part of the UK Orion task group deployment, led by the carrier HMS Illustrious. Konkan 09 is the first to be conducted in UK waters. This year it is focused on Portsmouth with the sea phase taking place in the south coast exercise areas and the south west approaches. So far, four such exercises have been conducted since 2004.
UK participants, commanded by Commodore Simon Ancona, include the frigates HMS Westminster and HMSNorthumberland, the nuclear powered submarine HMS Trafalgar, the auxiliaries RFA Mounts Bay and RFA Fort Rosalie and an RAF Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft. A team of Indian Navy divers will also be conducting Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) training with the Plymouth-based Southern Diving Group. Commodore Ancona said: “We are delighted to welcome the Indian Navy to Portsmouth. Exercise Konkan represents a valuable opportunity to practise a wide range of maritime operations in realistic conditions. This is an essential and long standing relationship as our navies are increasingly working together in the Indian Ocean tackling problems such as piracy off the coast of Africa.”
Konkan 09 will start with training alongside, visits to naval establishments in and around Portsmouth and a sporting competition for the Konkan Cup. Teams from UK ships and Portsmouth shore establishments will compete against those from the Indian Navy for the trophy, which is currently held by the Royal Navy. There will also be an opportunity for the Indian sailors to explore the city.
The combined task group will sail on Saturday June 20 and exercise together for six days. The focus will be on anti-submarine warfare, but there will be opportunities to practise anti-air and anti-surface skills, including boarding operations. There will also be an exchange of personnel to give individuals the opportunity to experience life at sea in another navy. Admiral Cheema said: “I am very much looking forward to bringing my Task Group to the UK to exercise with the Royal Navy. This will be our first visit to Portsmouth since Delhi’s sister ship, the INS Mumbai, attended the Trafalgar 200 celebrations in 2005. I believe that Konkan 09 will further enhance our ability to work together effectively at sea.”
