CORPS OF ENGINEERS
SWARAJ DVEEP SAILING EXPEDITION
MADRAS TO PORT BLAIR
15 Feb To 08 Mar 1970
THIS IS THE FIRST EXPEDITION EVER IN
THE HISTORY OF THE INDIAN SUBCONTINENT THAT TWO SMALL SAILING
BOATS, WHICH ARE BASICALLY MEANT FOR
COASTAL SAILING, HAVE SAILED ACROSS THE
BAY OF BENGAL FROM MADRAS TO THE
ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS ENTIRELY
ON WIND POWER WITHOUT ANY OTHER
ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT.
THE EXPEDITION WAS PLANNED AND
ORGANISED BY THE COLLEGE OF MILITARY
ENGINEERING, PUNE, IN CONSULTATION
WITH THE ENGINEER-IN-CHIEF, LT GEN R A
LOOMBA AT ARMY HQ, NEW DELHI
MAJ GEN M M NATH WAS THE
COMMANDANT OF THE CME AND LT COL R
MANORANJAN WAS THE VICE COMMODORE
OF THE CME SAILING CLUB. THE ENTIRE
PLANNING AND COORDINATION FOR THE
EXPEDITION WAS DONE BY LT COL R
MANORANJAN
JALDOOTS
RAJHANS
ALBATROSS
MAJ MOHAN SINGH (SKIPPER)
CAPT R B KHANNA
CAPT Y. K. SAXENA
CAPT K N SETHI
CAPT D. S. ALAGH
CAPT K K LAMBA
LT B.D. JAYAL
CAPT V K DUA
PHASES
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BACKGROUND
PLANNING
PREPARATION AT MADRAS
CONDUCT
RECEPTION
PLANNING
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MET DATA
DURATION OF EXPEDITION
NAVIGATION TRAINING
COMMUNICATIONS
FOOD
WATER
MEDICAL
SAFETY EQUIPMENT
MET BROADCAST
NAVIGATION TRAINING AT
INS VEDURUTHY - COCHIN
• EQUIPMENT:– COMPASS, SEXTANT, CHARTS, ALMANAC, AZIMUTH TABLES
• CHECKED ACCURACY OF EQUIPMENT AND LEARNT ITS USE
• BOAT COMPASSES – CHECKED BY GYRO COMPASS
• SEXTANTS HAD ERRORS – THEY WERE ALSO CHECKED & RECTIFIED
• METHOD OF FINDING OWN POSITION
– SUN – RUN – SUN
– SUN – RUN – MERAULT
• INFO OF LIGHTHOUSES ON THE ISLANDS
• INFO OF HOSTILE TRIBES INHABITING THE ISLANDS
• MEDICAL
• WATCHES SET ON GMT
COMMUNICATIONS
• BETWEEN BOATS – PRC-25
• BOAT TO GROUND STATION – GR 345 (AMPLIFIER UNIT
GA-480 LEFT BEHIND)
• NETTING DONE WITH SUPER CONSTELLATION
AIRCRAFT
• FLAGS AND COLOURED WINDSOCKS
• TRAINING IN MORSE CODE (C.W.)
• INTERNATIONAL DISTRESS FREQUENCY
• HAM STATIONS
ARRANGEMENTS FOR FOOD AND WATER
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FOOD
COOKED FOOD FROM DEFENCE FOOD RESEARCH LABORATORY MYSORE
a) PRECOOKED CANNED FOOD
b) FOIL WRAPPED PRECOOKED STUFFED CHAPATIES AND PARATHAS
c)
HEXAMINE COOKERS
d) HEXAMINE COOKER SOLID FUEL TABLETS (600)
e) CAN OPENERS
f)
TINNEDDAL, PULAO, KEEMA, UPMA, PARATHAS, KHEER, JUICES, FRUIT, MILK
g)
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SNACKS IN PACKETS
WATER – (PER BOAT)
a)
b)
c)
TWO GALVANISED IRON TANKS – SAUSAGE SHAPED -20 GALS EACH
THREE PLASTIC JERRYCANS – CAPACITY 4 GALS PER JERRYCAN
TWO TIN TANKS – 6 GALS EACH
TOTAL WATER PER BOAT – 64 GALS – FOR 20 DAYS
MEDICAL TRAINING
• COMMON AILMENTS AND THEIR TREATMENT
• FOOD/TIN POISONING
• EMERGENCY FIRST AID
• ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION
SAFETY EQUIPMENT
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SELF INFLATING DINGHI WITH DINGHY RADIO
SARAH EQPT – (SEARCH RESCUE & HOMING)
SEA SURVIVAL EMERGENCY PACK
MAY WEST LIFE JACKETS
SHARK REPELLANT POWDER
SAFETY ROPES
PISTOL
SAILING TECHNIQUE
wind
wind
wind
SPARES CARRIED
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KEROSENE OIL FOR LANTERNS
BATTERIES
CORDAGE
SWR – STEEL WIRE ROPE
SHACKLES
NAILS
WIRES
WOOD
CARPENTER TOOLS
SAIL CLOTH
NEEDLE & THREAD
FIRST AID KIT
SAILING TECHNIQUE
wind
wind
wind
DUA, RABS, LAMBA, SETHI
ALBATROSS TEAM
SAXENA, MOHAN SINGH, ALAGH, JAYAL
RAJHANS TEAM
BRAVE CREW OF
‘ALBATROSS’ AND ‘RAJHANS’
Standing( L to R ) :CAPT VK DUA, CAPT RB KHANNA,
CAPT KK LAMBA, CAPT KN SETHI
Sitting( L to R ) :MAJ MOHAN SINGH, CAPT YK SAXENA,
LT BD JAYAL, CAPT DS ALAGH
LEARNING NAVIGATION
LEARNING TO NAVIGATE
LEARNING TO NAVIGATE
LEARNING TO NAVIGATE
GOVERNOR SARDAR UJJAL SINGH and COL MANORANJAN WITH THE TEAM BEFORE
DEPARTURE.
POOJA CEREMONY - MADRAS
POOJA CEREMONY – BRIG S S CHHACHHI-CE SOUTHERN ZONE
Team Members watch while the ‘Pandit’ performs the customary religious
ceremony before embarking on the voyage.
Governor of Tamil Nadu, Sardar Ujjal Singh, Seeing off the team at
Chennai on 15 Feb 1970
OFF WE GO – CHENNAI HARBOUR
LEAVING CHENNAI HARBOUR
OFF AT CHENNAI HARBOUR
ON THE HIGH SEAS
NAVAL OFFRS SEEING US OFF
CHENNAI