Navy ship to celebrate jubilee

             Kochi, Mar.9, 2009
India’s only aircraft carrier INS Virat which is presently berthed at the dry dock in the port city for repairs, is all set to celebrate its golden jubilee in Mumbai by mid year.Recruited in the Indian Navy in 1985, it carries with it memories of the British navy.The repairs are mainly taking place at the technical level, with the radars, network connection in the newsroom besides routine inspection, according to commanding officer Captain Anilkumar Chowla.
With a capacity to carry 30 aircrafts including Sea Harrier, Sea King, HAL Chetak and HAL Dhruv, it also houses Bofors guns and Barrack missiles during wartime.The majestic looking Virat is 226.5 meters long and can sail at a speed of 28 nautical miles an hour.Originally named HMS Hermis, it was commissioned into the British Royal Navy in 1959 and had been actively involved in the Falkland war fought in 1982 between Argentina and the UK.