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First Project 15B Bangalore-Class Stealth Guided Missile Destroyer Ready For Launch Next Month
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ni8mare
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I know for sure that P15B class of destroyers may have some limited number of Nirbhay's onboard.
This article was published long back...
Govt okays construction of 4 more stealth destroyers : Latest Headlines, News - India Today
Is this what you wanted to confirm?
RISING SUN
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P15A will get 127 mm main gun, 16 hypersonic Brahmos, 8 long range NIRBHAY missiles as part of first major mid life upgrade. P15B will be getting 127 mm gun, more number of BARAK 1,2 & ER anti missiles, same 16 number of Bramhos missiles with mix of supersonic and hypersonic as well as anti ship and land attack missiles, upto 8 Nirbhay cruise missiles, two ASW helicopters, one active towed sonar, and long range anti submarine weapons.
AAD and PAD will not be inducted in P15Bs at all as it will eat land attack capability. We are still fine tuning the make up of using such missiles on board INS. That's why we are testing same prthvi missiles but in different version from our patrol vessels and land platforms.
upto 8 Nirbhay missiles will be placed in P15B from initial service.
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@dr.som
Thanks for Info
Thanks for this valuable Information
The government has formally approved the construction of four more 6700 tonne Project 15 stealth destroyers to be built at the Mazagon Docks Limited over the next decade. A senior naval official said that government clearance had come in last month.
Informally called the 'City Class', the four destroyers of the Project 15B series will be follow-ons to the three Project 15A 'Kolkata class' destroyers currently building at the Mazagon Docks. The first ship, Kolkata, will join the navy in 2012 and the two others, Chennai and Bangalore will be inducted by 2014.
India is building the three ships for less than Rs.11,000 crore (Rs.3300 crore per ship) the same price the Australian navy is paying for a single new F-100 destroyer. The Project 15 series are the largest, most complex warships to be built in the country so far. Three ships of the class, INS Delhi, INS Mysore and INS Mumbai are currently in service and were inducted between 1997 and 2001.
The Project 15A and B ships are nearly identical in all aspects. They use the hull form of Project 15 ships but feature a completely changed superstructure and enhanced sound and infrared signature suppression measures to appear smaller on enemy radar. Most importantly, they feature an indigenous content of nearly 80 per cent with all the weapons and sensors being developed indigenously or in joint collaborations.
The ships are to be armed with a 16 cell vertically launched Brahmos cruise missile and two 24 cell vertically launched 70 km range LR-SAM missiles being jointly developed by Israel's IAI and DRDO. The Project 15B will feature the 100 km range Extended Range SAM (ER-SAM) and the Brahmos-2 hypersonic missiles
Read more at: Govt okays construction of 4 more stealth destroyers : Latest Headlines, News - India Today
Thanks for Info
Thanks for this valuable Information
The government has formally approved the construction of four more 6700 tonne Project 15 stealth destroyers to be built at the Mazagon Docks Limited over the next decade. A senior naval official said that government clearance had come in last month.
Informally called the 'City Class', the four destroyers of the Project 15B series will be follow-ons to the three Project 15A 'Kolkata class' destroyers currently building at the Mazagon Docks. The first ship, Kolkata, will join the navy in 2012 and the two others, Chennai and Bangalore will be inducted by 2014.
India is building the three ships for less than Rs.11,000 crore (Rs.3300 crore per ship) the same price the Australian navy is paying for a single new F-100 destroyer. The Project 15 series are the largest, most complex warships to be built in the country so far. Three ships of the class, INS Delhi, INS Mysore and INS Mumbai are currently in service and were inducted between 1997 and 2001.
The Project 15A and B ships are nearly identical in all aspects. They use the hull form of Project 15 ships but feature a completely changed superstructure and enhanced sound and infrared signature suppression measures to appear smaller on enemy radar. Most importantly, they feature an indigenous content of nearly 80 per cent with all the weapons and sensors being developed indigenously or in joint collaborations.
The ships are to be armed with a 16 cell vertically launched Brahmos cruise missile and two 24 cell vertically launched 70 km range LR-SAM missiles being jointly developed by Israel's IAI and DRDO. The Project 15B will feature the 100 km range Extended Range SAM (ER-SAM) and the Brahmos-2 hypersonic missiles
Read more at: Govt okays construction of 4 more stealth destroyers : Latest Headlines, News - India Today
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we are so scared
Chanakya's_Chant
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Name Changed - It has been Christened Visakhapatnam-class no Bangalore Class! 
Will be launched on April 20 at MDL, Mumbai!
Will be launched on April 20 at MDL, Mumbai!
Navy's Next Destroyer Line Christened Visakhapatnam-class, 1st Launch Next Week
The first Project 15 Bravo (P15B) stealth destroyer, under construction at the Mazagon Dock shipyard in Mumbai will be launched on April 20. Livefist can confirm that the new warship line has a name: Visakhapatnam-class, after the Navy's eastern hub. The navy is aiming to induct the ship in 2018. A total of four ships are to be built in the class, with the official timeline of deliveries starting 2018, and then a ship every two years till 2024. The Visakhapatnam's keel was laid in October 2013. Construction and fabrication of the second vessel of the class began in July last year.
The Visakhapatnam-class maintains the same hull and propulsion package as the Project 15A Kolkata-class. Russia's Northern Design Bureau, enlisted as a design consultant has helped reduce the size of the design's superstructure.
Meanwhile, the second P15A destroyer Kochi will be commissioned shortly into the Indian Navy.
LIVEFIST: Navy's Next Destroyer Line Christened Visakhapatnam-class, 1st Launch Next Week
Its Banglore or Bangluru
Neither of them - It's Visakhapatnam-class
kakathiya
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New clues to historic naval war in Chilika
Armed with the fascinating discovery of some 7th century ship anchors and stone memoirs dedicated to battle heroes, marine archaeologists are piecing together an untold saga of a historic naval war off the coast of Orissa.
Subhra Priyadarshini
This story is set in an obscure village in Orissa, some 25 kilometre from Chilika Lake, Asia's biggest water lagoon. The village Kanas, an ancient port city, is on the banks of river Nuna which flows into Chilika. Village folks ploughing a paddy field find some peculiar stones — large longish stones with big holes punched into them. They also dig out some more antiquities that look like etched milestones.
A government official on a trip to the village gets wind of the find from the farmers and shares the information with his friend, a marine archaeologist at the National Institute of Oceanography in Goa. The archaeologist takes up a thorough exploration of the area and dates these stones back to between 7th and 9th century AD, presumably used to anchor ships at this once busy port1.
The stone anchors.
"During one of our numerous explorations in Kanas, we found these stone anchors and some hero stones," marine archaeologist Sila Tripati later tells Nature India.Village folks say there are many more buried in the soils around Kanas.
And here's the most exciting bit — hero stones were supposedly erected in remembrance of heroes who lost their lives in naval battles. This leads Tripati and Ashutosh Prasad Patnaik, a former chief of Orissa's information, education and communication centre, to set out on yet another parallel piece of research — was there a battle fought in the waters off the coast of Orissa around 7th to 9th century? Is there any historical evidence to support this find?
"It is complex to date these anchors in the absence of datable evidences. The only way to get around this was to refer to historical records," Tripati says.
The hero stone depicting a man worshipping the phallic symbol.
They are sure of one thing — that the stone anchors were linked to the hero stones, which in turn were somehow associated with a naval war fought in the past. Frequent battles have been fought along the coast of Orissa during the 7th century AD and the hero stones seem to belong to that period. But which battle are they from? And between whom were these battles fought?
Scouring libraries and many personal records in Orissa, the researchers dig out some interesting reference in the Oriya text Paika Kheda which describes the training of soldiers. In there is a chapter dealing with naval wars. In fact, during their sojourns to the exploration site, the researchers find a hamlet called Nausena, meaning naval force, very close to Chilika Lake. In records of the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang, who visited Orissa in 638 AD, they find references to Che-li-ta-lo-Ching, located at Chhatargarh on the banks of Chilika Lake, described as a flourishing port. "The stone anchors were probably in use in the lake during that time."
"From these sources, it appears that the rulers of Orissa in the past might have maintained a naval force," Tripati says.
Interestingly, some historical records say that the Gauda king Sasanka (619-620 AD) attacked and defeated the king of Orissa in the early 7th century AD. "Sasanka was a staunch worshipper of lord Shiva and we think it is of great significance that one of the hero stones we found depicts a human figure worshipping the phallic symbol of lord Shiva," Tripati says. Based on these new findings, the archaeologists are now suggesting that this historical battle was fought close to Kanas.
Sila Tripati riding an underwater scooter in Dwarka.
The find is also different from other stone anchors obtained from across Indian coasts – Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. The stones in Kanas are the only ones found from stratified layers of the earth and clubbed with other datable antiquities, except in Bet Dwarka and Kannur.
"The Kanas anchors were used for small boats plying inside Chilika Lake, hence these are smaller in size and different in shape," Tripati says. The shape of the holes is also different from other anchors found from Goa, Kerala, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Lakshadweep. Anchors in these sites were used by sea going vessels. "Even the raw material differs — Kanas anchors are made of sandstone found in the nearby area, whereas other anchors are made of hard stones such as granite, basalt and hard sandstone."
On the basis of the anchor findings, Tripati is also trying to trace the economic and cultural relationships among people of different regions which had maritime relationship with Chilika, the 64-kilometre brakish-water inshore lake connected to the Bay of Bengal through a narrow mouth. It is not known since when the lake was used for maritime activities but the finding of shark teeth during excavation around the lake some years back indicated that people probably ventured into the lake ever since 2100-1100 BC. The 10th century AD text Bramhanda Purana mentions that ships to Java, Malaya and Ceylon set sail from Chilika Lake.
Tripati, who has earlier gathered geological and historical evidence that chronicle the decline of maritime activities in the Chilika region, says further investigation is needed to shed new light on the origin of these stone anchors.
FIRST QUEEN WHO FOUGHT A NAVAL WAR AGAINST THE PORTUGUESE
Reign 1525 – ?? 1570s
Predecessor Tirumala Raya Chowta
Consort Banga Lakshmappa Arasa
Royal House Chowta
Religious beliefs Jain, Kshatriya, Bunt
Rani Abbakka Chowta was the Queen of Ullal who fought the Portuguese in the latter half of the 16th century. She belonged to the Chowta dynasty who ruled over parts of coastal Karnataka (Tulu Nadu), India. Their capital was Puttige. The port town of Ullal served as their subsidiary capital. The Portuguese made several attempts to capture Ullal as it was strategically placed. But Abbakka repulsed each of their attacks for over four decades. For her bravery, she came to be known as Abhaya Rani (The fearless queen).She was also one of the earliest Indians to fight the colonial powers and is sometimes regarded as the 'first woman freedom fighter of India'.
Early life
The Chowtas who were Jain Digambara followed the system of matrilineal inheritance (Aliyasantana) by which Tirumala Raya, Abbakka's uncle, crowned her the queen of Ullal. He also forged a matrimonial alliance for Abbakka with Lakshmappa Arasa, the powerful king of neighbouring Mangalore. This alliance was to later prove a source of worry for the Portuguese. Tirumala Raya also trained Abbakka in the different aspects of warfare and military strategy. The marriage, however was short lived and Abbakka returned to Ullal. Her husband thus longed for revenge against Abbakka and was to later join the Portuguese in their fight against Abbakka
Historical background
After overrunning Goa and taking control of it, the Portuguese turned their attention southwards and along the coast. They first attacked the South Kanara coast in 1525 and destroyed the Mangalore port. Ullal was a prosperous port and a hub of the spice trade to Arabia and other countries in the west. Being the profitable trading center that it was, the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British vied with one another for control of the region as well as the trade routes. They however, had not been able to make much headway as the resistance from the local chieftains was very strong. The local rulers even forged alliances cutting across caste and religion lines.
Though Abbakka was a Jain by faith, her administration was well represented by Hindus and Muslims. Her army too consisted of people of all sects and castes. She even forged alliances with theZamorin of Calicut. Together, they kept the Portuguese at bay. The marital ties with the neighbouring Banga dynasty added further strength to the alliance of the local rulers. She also gained support from powerful king Venkatappanayaka of Bidnur and ignored the threat of Portuguese forces.
Battles against the Portuguese
Portuguese carrackThe Portuguese, clearly upset by Abbakka's tactics, demanded that she pay them tribute but Abbakka refused to yield. In 1555, the Portuguese sent Admiral Dom Álvaro da Silveira to fight her after she refused to pay them tribute. In the battle that followed, Rani Abbakka once again managed to hold her own and repulsed the attack successfully.
In 1557, the Portuguese plundered Mangalore and laid it waste. In 1568, they turned their attention to Ullal but Abbakka Rani resisted them yet again. João Peixoto, a Portuguese general and a fleet of soldiers were sent by the Portuguese Viceroy António Noronha. They managed to capture the city of Ullal and also entered the royal court. Abbakka Rani, however, escaped and took refuge in a mosque. The same night, she gathered around 200 of her soldiers and mounted an attack on the Portuguese. In the battle that ensued, General Peixoto was killed, seventy Portuguese soldiers were taken prisoners and many of the Portuguese retreated. In further attacks, Abbakka Rani and her supporters killed Admiral Mascarenhas and the Portuguese were also forced to vacate the Mangalore fort.
In 1569 however, the Portuguese not only regained the Mangalore fort but also captured Kundapur (Basrur). Despite these gains, Abbakka Rani continued to remain a source of threat. With the help of the queen's estranged husband, they mounted attacks on Ullal. Furious battles followed but Abbakka Rani held her own. In 1570, she formed an alliance with the Bijapur Sultan of Ahmed Nagar and the Zamorine of Calicut, who were also opposing the Portuguese. Kutty Pokar Marikar, the Zamorine's general fought on behalf of Abbakka and destroyed the Portuguese fort at Mangalore but while returning he was killed by the Portuguese. Following these losses and her husband's treachery, Abbakka lost the war, was arrested and jailed. However, even in prison she revolted and died fighting.
Carracks of the PORTUGUESE SHIPS-India Armada of 1507, from the Livro de Lisuarte de Abreu
First Attack
The first attack by the Portuguese in south Kanara coast was in 1525, when they destroyed the Mangalore port. Rani Abbakka was alerted by the incident and started preparing herself to protect her kingdom.
Second Attack
The Portuguese, clearly upset by Abbakka's tactics, demanded that she pay them tribute but Abbakka refused to yield. In 1555, the Portuguese sent Admiral Dom Álvaro da Silveira to fight her after she refused to pay them tribute. In the battle that followed, Rani Abbakka once again managed to hold her own and repulsed the attack successfully.
Third Attack
In 1557, the Portuguese plundered Mangalore and laid it waste.
In 1558 the Portuguese Army perpetrated another wanton cruelty on Mangalore, putting to death a number of men and women, both young and old, plundering a temple, burning ships and finally setting the city itself on fire.
Fourth Attack
Again, in 1567, the Portuguese army attacked Ullal, showering death and destruction. The great Queen Abbakka resisted it.
Fifth Attack
In 1568, João Peixoto, a Portuguese general and a fleet of soldiers where sent by the Portuguese Viceroy António Noronha. They managed to capture the city of Ullal and also entered the royal court. Abbakka Rani, however, escaped and took refuge in a mosque. The same night, she gathered around 200 of her soldiers and mounted an attack on the Portuguese. In the battle that ensued, General Peixoto was killed,seventy Portuguese soldiers were taken prisoners and many of the Portuguese retreated. In further attacks, Abbakka Rani and her supporters killed Admiral Mascarenhas and the Portuguese were also forced to vacate the Mangalore fort.
Sixth Attack
In 1569 however, the Portuguese not only regained the Mangalore fort but also captured Kundapur (Basrur). Despite these gains, Abbakka Rani continued to remain a source of threat. With the help of the queen's estranged husband, they mounted attacks on Ullal. Furious battles followed but Abbakka Rani held her own. In 1570, she formed an alliance with the Bijapur Sultan of Ahmed Nagar and the Zamorine of Calicut, who where also opposing the Portuguese. Kutty Pokar Markar, the Zamorine's general fought on behalf of Abbakka and destroyed the Portuguese fort at Mangalore but while returning he was killed by the Portuguese. Following these losses and her husband's treachery, Abbakka lost the war, was arrested and jailed. However, even in prison she revolted and died fighting.
Folklore and legend
According to traditional accounts, she was an immensely popular queen and this is also attested by the fact that she is even today a part of folklore. The queen's story has been retold from generation to generation through folk songs and Yakshagana, a popular folk theatre in [Coastal Karnataka]. In Bhuta Kola, a local ritual dance, the persona in trance recounts the great deeds of Abbakka Mahadevi. Abbakka is portrayed as dark and good looking, always dressed in simple clothes like a commoner. She is portrayed as a caring queen who worked late into the night dispensing justice. Legends also claim that Abbakka was the last known person to have the used the Agnivana (fire-arrow) in her fight against the Portuguese. Some accounts also claim that she had two equally valiant daughters who fought alongside her in her wars against the Portuguese. Tradition however treats all three - mother and two daughters as the same person.
Armed with the fascinating discovery of some 7th century ship anchors and stone memoirs dedicated to battle heroes, marine archaeologists are piecing together an untold saga of a historic naval war off the coast of Orissa.
Subhra Priyadarshini
This story is set in an obscure village in Orissa, some 25 kilometre from Chilika Lake, Asia's biggest water lagoon. The village Kanas, an ancient port city, is on the banks of river Nuna which flows into Chilika. Village folks ploughing a paddy field find some peculiar stones — large longish stones with big holes punched into them. They also dig out some more antiquities that look like etched milestones.
A government official on a trip to the village gets wind of the find from the farmers and shares the information with his friend, a marine archaeologist at the National Institute of Oceanography in Goa. The archaeologist takes up a thorough exploration of the area and dates these stones back to between 7th and 9th century AD, presumably used to anchor ships at this once busy port1.
The stone anchors.
"During one of our numerous explorations in Kanas, we found these stone anchors and some hero stones," marine archaeologist Sila Tripati later tells Nature India.Village folks say there are many more buried in the soils around Kanas.
And here's the most exciting bit — hero stones were supposedly erected in remembrance of heroes who lost their lives in naval battles. This leads Tripati and Ashutosh Prasad Patnaik, a former chief of Orissa's information, education and communication centre, to set out on yet another parallel piece of research — was there a battle fought in the waters off the coast of Orissa around 7th to 9th century? Is there any historical evidence to support this find?
"It is complex to date these anchors in the absence of datable evidences. The only way to get around this was to refer to historical records," Tripati says.
The hero stone depicting a man worshipping the phallic symbol.
They are sure of one thing — that the stone anchors were linked to the hero stones, which in turn were somehow associated with a naval war fought in the past. Frequent battles have been fought along the coast of Orissa during the 7th century AD and the hero stones seem to belong to that period. But which battle are they from? And between whom were these battles fought?
Scouring libraries and many personal records in Orissa, the researchers dig out some interesting reference in the Oriya text Paika Kheda which describes the training of soldiers. In there is a chapter dealing with naval wars. In fact, during their sojourns to the exploration site, the researchers find a hamlet called Nausena, meaning naval force, very close to Chilika Lake. In records of the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang, who visited Orissa in 638 AD, they find references to Che-li-ta-lo-Ching, located at Chhatargarh on the banks of Chilika Lake, described as a flourishing port. "The stone anchors were probably in use in the lake during that time."
"From these sources, it appears that the rulers of Orissa in the past might have maintained a naval force," Tripati says.
Interestingly, some historical records say that the Gauda king Sasanka (619-620 AD) attacked and defeated the king of Orissa in the early 7th century AD. "Sasanka was a staunch worshipper of lord Shiva and we think it is of great significance that one of the hero stones we found depicts a human figure worshipping the phallic symbol of lord Shiva," Tripati says. Based on these new findings, the archaeologists are now suggesting that this historical battle was fought close to Kanas.
Sila Tripati riding an underwater scooter in Dwarka.
The find is also different from other stone anchors obtained from across Indian coasts – Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. The stones in Kanas are the only ones found from stratified layers of the earth and clubbed with other datable antiquities, except in Bet Dwarka and Kannur.
"The Kanas anchors were used for small boats plying inside Chilika Lake, hence these are smaller in size and different in shape," Tripati says. The shape of the holes is also different from other anchors found from Goa, Kerala, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Lakshadweep. Anchors in these sites were used by sea going vessels. "Even the raw material differs — Kanas anchors are made of sandstone found in the nearby area, whereas other anchors are made of hard stones such as granite, basalt and hard sandstone."
On the basis of the anchor findings, Tripati is also trying to trace the economic and cultural relationships among people of different regions which had maritime relationship with Chilika, the 64-kilometre brakish-water inshore lake connected to the Bay of Bengal through a narrow mouth. It is not known since when the lake was used for maritime activities but the finding of shark teeth during excavation around the lake some years back indicated that people probably ventured into the lake ever since 2100-1100 BC. The 10th century AD text Bramhanda Purana mentions that ships to Java, Malaya and Ceylon set sail from Chilika Lake.
Tripati, who has earlier gathered geological and historical evidence that chronicle the decline of maritime activities in the Chilika region, says further investigation is needed to shed new light on the origin of these stone anchors.
FIRST QUEEN WHO FOUGHT A NAVAL WAR AGAINST THE PORTUGUESE
Reign 1525 – ?? 1570s
Predecessor Tirumala Raya Chowta
Consort Banga Lakshmappa Arasa
Royal House Chowta
Religious beliefs Jain, Kshatriya, Bunt
Rani Abbakka Chowta was the Queen of Ullal who fought the Portuguese in the latter half of the 16th century. She belonged to the Chowta dynasty who ruled over parts of coastal Karnataka (Tulu Nadu), India. Their capital was Puttige. The port town of Ullal served as their subsidiary capital. The Portuguese made several attempts to capture Ullal as it was strategically placed. But Abbakka repulsed each of their attacks for over four decades. For her bravery, she came to be known as Abhaya Rani (The fearless queen).She was also one of the earliest Indians to fight the colonial powers and is sometimes regarded as the 'first woman freedom fighter of India'.
Early life
The Chowtas who were Jain Digambara followed the system of matrilineal inheritance (Aliyasantana) by which Tirumala Raya, Abbakka's uncle, crowned her the queen of Ullal. He also forged a matrimonial alliance for Abbakka with Lakshmappa Arasa, the powerful king of neighbouring Mangalore. This alliance was to later prove a source of worry for the Portuguese. Tirumala Raya also trained Abbakka in the different aspects of warfare and military strategy. The marriage, however was short lived and Abbakka returned to Ullal. Her husband thus longed for revenge against Abbakka and was to later join the Portuguese in their fight against Abbakka
Historical background
After overrunning Goa and taking control of it, the Portuguese turned their attention southwards and along the coast. They first attacked the South Kanara coast in 1525 and destroyed the Mangalore port. Ullal was a prosperous port and a hub of the spice trade to Arabia and other countries in the west. Being the profitable trading center that it was, the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British vied with one another for control of the region as well as the trade routes. They however, had not been able to make much headway as the resistance from the local chieftains was very strong. The local rulers even forged alliances cutting across caste and religion lines.
Though Abbakka was a Jain by faith, her administration was well represented by Hindus and Muslims. Her army too consisted of people of all sects and castes. She even forged alliances with theZamorin of Calicut. Together, they kept the Portuguese at bay. The marital ties with the neighbouring Banga dynasty added further strength to the alliance of the local rulers. She also gained support from powerful king Venkatappanayaka of Bidnur and ignored the threat of Portuguese forces.
Battles against the Portuguese
Portuguese carrackThe Portuguese, clearly upset by Abbakka's tactics, demanded that she pay them tribute but Abbakka refused to yield. In 1555, the Portuguese sent Admiral Dom Álvaro da Silveira to fight her after she refused to pay them tribute. In the battle that followed, Rani Abbakka once again managed to hold her own and repulsed the attack successfully.
In 1557, the Portuguese plundered Mangalore and laid it waste. In 1568, they turned their attention to Ullal but Abbakka Rani resisted them yet again. João Peixoto, a Portuguese general and a fleet of soldiers were sent by the Portuguese Viceroy António Noronha. They managed to capture the city of Ullal and also entered the royal court. Abbakka Rani, however, escaped and took refuge in a mosque. The same night, she gathered around 200 of her soldiers and mounted an attack on the Portuguese. In the battle that ensued, General Peixoto was killed, seventy Portuguese soldiers were taken prisoners and many of the Portuguese retreated. In further attacks, Abbakka Rani and her supporters killed Admiral Mascarenhas and the Portuguese were also forced to vacate the Mangalore fort.
In 1569 however, the Portuguese not only regained the Mangalore fort but also captured Kundapur (Basrur). Despite these gains, Abbakka Rani continued to remain a source of threat. With the help of the queen's estranged husband, they mounted attacks on Ullal. Furious battles followed but Abbakka Rani held her own. In 1570, she formed an alliance with the Bijapur Sultan of Ahmed Nagar and the Zamorine of Calicut, who were also opposing the Portuguese. Kutty Pokar Marikar, the Zamorine's general fought on behalf of Abbakka and destroyed the Portuguese fort at Mangalore but while returning he was killed by the Portuguese. Following these losses and her husband's treachery, Abbakka lost the war, was arrested and jailed. However, even in prison she revolted and died fighting.
Carracks of the PORTUGUESE SHIPS-India Armada of 1507, from the Livro de Lisuarte de Abreu
First Attack
The first attack by the Portuguese in south Kanara coast was in 1525, when they destroyed the Mangalore port. Rani Abbakka was alerted by the incident and started preparing herself to protect her kingdom.
Second Attack
The Portuguese, clearly upset by Abbakka's tactics, demanded that she pay them tribute but Abbakka refused to yield. In 1555, the Portuguese sent Admiral Dom Álvaro da Silveira to fight her after she refused to pay them tribute. In the battle that followed, Rani Abbakka once again managed to hold her own and repulsed the attack successfully.
Third Attack
In 1557, the Portuguese plundered Mangalore and laid it waste.
In 1558 the Portuguese Army perpetrated another wanton cruelty on Mangalore, putting to death a number of men and women, both young and old, plundering a temple, burning ships and finally setting the city itself on fire.
Fourth Attack
Again, in 1567, the Portuguese army attacked Ullal, showering death and destruction. The great Queen Abbakka resisted it.
Fifth Attack
In 1568, João Peixoto, a Portuguese general and a fleet of soldiers where sent by the Portuguese Viceroy António Noronha. They managed to capture the city of Ullal and also entered the royal court. Abbakka Rani, however, escaped and took refuge in a mosque. The same night, she gathered around 200 of her soldiers and mounted an attack on the Portuguese. In the battle that ensued, General Peixoto was killed,seventy Portuguese soldiers were taken prisoners and many of the Portuguese retreated. In further attacks, Abbakka Rani and her supporters killed Admiral Mascarenhas and the Portuguese were also forced to vacate the Mangalore fort.
Sixth Attack
In 1569 however, the Portuguese not only regained the Mangalore fort but also captured Kundapur (Basrur). Despite these gains, Abbakka Rani continued to remain a source of threat. With the help of the queen's estranged husband, they mounted attacks on Ullal. Furious battles followed but Abbakka Rani held her own. In 1570, she formed an alliance with the Bijapur Sultan of Ahmed Nagar and the Zamorine of Calicut, who where also opposing the Portuguese. Kutty Pokar Markar, the Zamorine's general fought on behalf of Abbakka and destroyed the Portuguese fort at Mangalore but while returning he was killed by the Portuguese. Following these losses and her husband's treachery, Abbakka lost the war, was arrested and jailed. However, even in prison she revolted and died fighting.
Folklore and legend
According to traditional accounts, she was an immensely popular queen and this is also attested by the fact that she is even today a part of folklore. The queen's story has been retold from generation to generation through folk songs and Yakshagana, a popular folk theatre in [Coastal Karnataka]. In Bhuta Kola, a local ritual dance, the persona in trance recounts the great deeds of Abbakka Mahadevi. Abbakka is portrayed as dark and good looking, always dressed in simple clothes like a commoner. She is portrayed as a caring queen who worked late into the night dispensing justice. Legends also claim that Abbakka was the last known person to have the used the Agnivana (fire-arrow) in her fight against the Portuguese. Some accounts also claim that she had two equally valiant daughters who fought alongside her in her wars against the Portuguese. Tradition however treats all three - mother and two daughters as the same person.
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INDIAN NAVY IN 1572, CALICUT
reception of vasco da gama by the nayar rulers
An old sea going indian ship
THE GREAT CHOLA NAVY
The king/emperor was the supreme commander of all the military forces including the navy.
The navy is organized mostly on role based squadrons & divisions, containing various types of ships assigned for a specific role and home-ported in an associated base/port. This procedure became necessary, especially after the conquest of Ceylon. Normally, a Ganam (Fleet-Squadron) would (the largest individual unit)be commanded by a Ganathipathy (not to be confused with the elephant headed god Ganapathy).
There were numerous sub-units of operational reasons and organizational reasons or otherwise. Some are presented below,
Unit Name Commander Modern-day equivalent Composition Functions/Duties Notes
Kanni - Wartime/special purpose formation Senior Kalapathy, Normally Kalapathyis the rank of a commanding officer of a Ship (akin to Captain) Not more than five ships of any role. 'Kanni In Tamil means trap.‡1 A tactical formation, it was used to lure enemy combatants to a particular area. Where larger bodies (usually, a Thalam or 2) ships will ambush the enemy. During a strategic deployment, the formation would be used many times before engaging in the main combat to decimate the enemy fleet. Also had a very bad reputation for losses, since high numbers of ships were lost in this role if the friendlies arrival was delayed in unfavorable currents.[31]
Jalathalam or simplyThalam‡2 - A permanent formation. Jalathalathipathy - The lord of Thalam The smallest self-sustained unit in naval formation, consisted 5 main battle vessels, 3 Auxiliaries and 2 Logistics and 1 or 2 Privateers. A Thalam could be used for reconnaissance, patrol or interdiction. Normally, 2-3 Thalam operated in a vicinity on scouting or search & destroy missions. while can search a wide area, can reach to each other's aid in short duration. A fully equipped Chola Thalamis said to have been able to withstand an attack by more than twice its size. This is attributed to the superior range of missile weapons in Chola Inventory.
Mandalam - A semi-permanent formation. Mostly used in battle/Overseas deployment. Mandalathipathy - The lord ofMandalam Roughly equivalent to Task force orBattle groups Composed of 40-50 Ships of various roles. (Mandalam in Tamil and various Indian languages is the word of 48) They can used as an individual combat unit, especially duringpincer or break-neck maneuvering in high-seas.
Ganam - A permanent formation Ganathipathy - Literally, Athipathy (lord) of the Ganam, equivalent to modern-day rear-admiral Fleet-Squadron Composed of 100-150 Ships of various roles. (Ganam in Tamil means volume and three). A ganam comprises three Mandalams. A self-reliant unit of the force, only lesser than the Fleet. Had combat, reconnaissance, logistics and resupply/repair units. Normally, this would be the minimum strength/size of the overseas deployment.
Ani Anipathy - lord of an Ani Taskforceor battle group Composed of 3 Ganams (Fleet-division) minimum. Normally consisting of 300-500 ships. Mainly an Expedition order than normal formation. But, during long deployments, they were deployed (only 2 instances of an Ani being deployed in a combat have been documented.)[32]
Pirivu Normally headed by a prince/confidante of the King, title depends on the sea where the fleet is based. For example, The eastern fleet would be named asKeelpirivu-athipathy or Nayagan orThevan/r, depending on the person. Fleet they functioned much like modern Fleets. There were two to four fleets in the Chola navy during various times. The principle fleet was based in the east. Later on a second fleet was based on Ceylon/Sri Lanka. During and after the Rajendra I, three or four fleets existed. The rise of Chera naval power gave more than a little loss in revenue, prompting the Cholas to station a Fleet permanently in the Malabar and to engage Mercenary navies to support the Chola strategic design.
Notes[edit]
‡1. Kanni May mean any of the following in Tamil, the application on the meaning is in context of the usage. Virgin/Unmarried Girl, First timer, the Eastern corner/direction. A trap is also called as 'kanni'
2. Thalam being both the name of a tactical formation of the army and navy. Thalapathy meaning the lord of a Thalam, roughly a division, and the rank is comparable to a modern-day colonel.
Rank structure
The Chola navy used a hybrid rank structure. There were dedicated naval ranks as well as army-derived ranks.[33] The Chola Navy used both naval ranks and army-style ranks. While some of the modern-day convention of ranks did apply, for example, the army captain is equal to a lieutenant in the navy and a navy captain is equal to a colonel in the army; others were totally different. So a small comparison is provided for comparison.
The auxiliary forces of the Chola Navy In addition to the standing navy of the state, there were other services which had a naval arm of its own. Notable among them are the customs department, militia and the state monopoly of pearl fisheries. In addition to the state services, a small but formidable forces were maintained by various trade-guilds, these guilds are highly regulated and acted as mercenaries and reinforcements in times of need.[34]
Customs and excise[edit]
The Customs force, called Sungu (SUNGA ILLAKA) was highly organized and unlike anything in the ancient world. It was under the command of a Director-general like position called Thalai-Thirvai. Thalai - Head, Thirvai - duty (customs). It was highly evolved and had various departments[35] Some are
Department Duties Assets
Thirvai(Customs duty & Exercise) This unit employed some of the brilliant merchants of the time and most were professional economists. They deduced and fixed the percentage of the Customs duty of a commodity for a particular season. (trade-voyages were influenced by ocean currents and hence the price changed accordingly) They normally had boarding officers, boarding crafts and some sea vessels; as most of their duty was inland.
Aaivu(Inspection &enforcement) This unit was the Action arm of the trade law, they inspected ships for contraband, illegal goods, wrong declaring of tonnage, small crimes control and the protection of the Harbors under Chola dominion. These units employed some of the fast assault and boarding vessels of the time and in more than one reported occasion, the navy had sought its help in intercepting rogue vessels.†
Ottru(intelligence corps) They were the intelligence corps of the territorial waters of the Chola dominion. They normally tailed foreign vessels, performed path-finding for larger forces or conveys and gave periodic updates for the kings and the trade-guilds of the happenings in the sea. They operated highly capable vessels which are noted for stealth and speed, rather than brute force and weapons platforms. Most of the ships they operated were privateers and contained no national markings. We have some understandings of their crafts, which seemed to have been equipped with concealable catapults and napalm throwers (nottrebuchets like the ones employed by the naval ships.)
Kallarani(piratesquad) Technically, they weren't employed by either the sovereign or the state. But rather, they are pirates themselves who have received the Royal Pardon on the pledge of their support of the Chola Empire. They had been used in more than a few instances to deal with the Arab piracy in the western water. They have also been used as Coast Guard. These mercenaries operated anything that they could capture and composed of multi-national-ethnic corps. Notable among them are the Arabian Amirs, who were highly respected upon their oath of allegiance and their fervor in combat.
Karaipirivu(Coastal defense) They performed duties akin to the modern coast-guard, search & rescue and costal patrols. But mainly they were land-based and scattered along the long coast-line to provide a seaward defense. they operated substantially smaller crafts and occasionally even catamarans . Nevertheless, they were feared by petty crooks and coastal thieves.
Coast guard[edit]
In the later years of the 1100[clarification needed], the navy was constantly battling in many fronts to protect Chola commercial, religious and political interests. So the home ports were literally, undefended. This led to a change in the of outlook Chola naval strategy, the sturdier and larger vessels were repeatedly called to reinforce the high-sea flotilla, leading to the development of a specialized auxiliary force of fast and heavily armed light ships in large numbers. The erstwhile Karaipirivu was the natural choice for this expansion and in time they became an autonomous force vested with the duties of protecting the Chola territorial waters, home ports, patrol of newly captured ports and coastal cities.
Privateers[edit]
The state's dependence on overseas trade for much valued foreign exchange created the powerful Trade-guilds, some of which grew more powerful than the regional governors.[36] And in the increasingly competitive field of international trade, the state faced with difficulties to reinforce and or rescue stranded Merchant ships in high seas, in a timely manner. This led to the establishment of privateer navies. Like its European counterparts, they had no National markings and employed multi-national crews.
But, they were employed by the Trade-guilds rather than the Empire, giving the Traders an edge in the seas. Normally, they performed path-finding, escort and protection duties. but, in more than a few occasions, these forces had been summoned to serve the Empire's interests.
Notable Trade guilds which employed a privateer navy were,
A Song Dynasty junk ship, 13th century; Chinese ships of the Song period featuredhulls with watertight compartments. Some of these vessels are believed to have been employed by the Chola Navy too.[37]
Even before the accounts of the 1st century BCE, there were written accounts of shipbuilding and war-craft at sea. Professor R.C. Majumdar says that there existed a comprehensive book of naval-architecture in India dating back to the 2nd century BCE, if not earlier.
During the reign of Raja Raja and his son, there were a complex classification of class of vessels and its utility. Some of the survived classes' name and utility are below.[38]
Dharani The primary weapons platform with extensive endurance (up to 3 months), they normally engaged in groups and avoided one on one encounters. Probably equivalent to modern-dayDestroyers.
Lola They were lightly armored, fast attack vessels. Normally performed escort duties. They could not perform frontal assaults. Equivalent to modern-day Corvettes.
Vajara They were highly capable fast attack crafts, typically used to reinforce/rescue a stranded fleet. Probably equivalent to modern-day Frigates.
Thirisadai The heaviest class known, they had extensive war-fighting capabilities and endurance, with a dedicated marine force of around 400 Marines to board enemy vessels. They are reported to be able to engage three vessels of Dharani class, hence the name Thirisadai, which means, three braids. (Braid was also the time's name for oil-fire.) This class can be attributed/compared to modern Battle cruisersor Battleships.
This is the Anchor of an Unknown LOLA class Chola ship, excavated by the Indian Navy divers off the coast of Poombuhar.
Apart from class definitions, there are names of Royal Yachts and their architecture. Some of which are,
In the tenure spanning the 700 years of its documented existence, the Chola Navy was involved in confrontations for probably 500 years.[41] There were frequent skirmishes and many pitched battles. Not to mention long campaigns and expeditions. The 5th centuries of conflict between the Pandyas and Cholas for the control of the peninsula gave rise to many legends andfolktales. Not to mention the heroes in both sides. The notable campaigns are below[42][43][44]
The chola emperors gave a free hand to the admirals in recruiting and training of sailors, engineers, oarsmen and marines. There were no complicated tests and evaluation process. Any citizen or even non citizen could sign up for the naval service. But, one did not end up in the work of his choice. Preference were given to ex-servicemen, their sons and noblemen. But, this attitude changed in later days. And many class of soldiers / sailors distinguished themselves, irrespective of rank and class.
Ports and fleets[edit]
The most ancient of ports used by Cholas was Poompuhar. Later on, they used many more ports and even built some new ones. Some of the famous ports are:
In addition to the main fleets of war ships, there were two fleets of logistics and transport ships to serve the needs of the army; involved in a bloody war in Ceylon and later in southeast Asia.
In the later years these numbers increased drastically and a several fleets were created anew. During the late 11th century, there were a total of nine battle fleets, based in various dominians across the vast expanses of the Chola empire ranging from the present day Aceh, Ankorwat to the southern reaches of Ceylon/Sri Lanka.
Political, cultural and economic impact[edit]
The Grand vision and imperial energy of the Father and son duo Raja Raja Chola I and Rajendra Chola I is undoubtedly the underlying reason for expansion and prosperity. But, this was accomplished by the tireless efforts and pains of the navy. In essence, Raja Raja was the first person in the sub-continent to realize the power projection capabilities of a powerful navy. He and his successors initiated a massive naval buildup and continued supporting it,and they used it more than just wars.
The Chola navy was a potent Diplomatic symbol,It was the carrier of Chola might and prestige. It spread the Dravidian culture, the literary and architectural grandeur. For the sake of comparison, it was just the equivalent of the " Gunboat diplomacy " of the modern-day Great powers and super powers.
There is evidence to show that the king of Kambujadesa (modern Cambodia) sent an ornamental chariot to the Chola Emperor, probably to appease him so that his strategic attention does not extend further than the Malay peninsula.
Popular culture
From the Sangam age poems to commemorate the victory of the sovereign of the day to the immortalized Kalinga Campaign of the Kulothunga Chola I in the Kalingattuparani. Parani is a special type of literary work, which; according to the traditions and rules of linguistics of Tamizh can only be composed on a king/general whose forces have killed a thousand elephants in combat.
In modern times, more than a few Romance has been inspired by the Chola Navy, and mostly in Tamil Language and literature.
The major events which had direct impact in the development of the Chola Naval capability are listed here, which is in no case comprehensive. But, some of the events had deep impact nevertheless.
Archeological evidence: The dated excavations,
reception of vasco da gama by the nayar rulers
An old sea going indian ship
THE GREAT CHOLA NAVY
The king/emperor was the supreme commander of all the military forces including the navy.
The navy is organized mostly on role based squadrons & divisions, containing various types of ships assigned for a specific role and home-ported in an associated base/port. This procedure became necessary, especially after the conquest of Ceylon. Normally, a Ganam (Fleet-Squadron) would (the largest individual unit)be commanded by a Ganathipathy (not to be confused with the elephant headed god Ganapathy).
There were numerous sub-units of operational reasons and organizational reasons or otherwise. Some are presented below,
Unit Name Commander Modern-day equivalent Composition Functions/Duties Notes
Kanni - Wartime/special purpose formation Senior Kalapathy, Normally Kalapathyis the rank of a commanding officer of a Ship (akin to Captain) Not more than five ships of any role. 'Kanni In Tamil means trap.‡1 A tactical formation, it was used to lure enemy combatants to a particular area. Where larger bodies (usually, a Thalam or 2) ships will ambush the enemy. During a strategic deployment, the formation would be used many times before engaging in the main combat to decimate the enemy fleet. Also had a very bad reputation for losses, since high numbers of ships were lost in this role if the friendlies arrival was delayed in unfavorable currents.[31]
Jalathalam or simplyThalam‡2 - A permanent formation. Jalathalathipathy - The lord of Thalam The smallest self-sustained unit in naval formation, consisted 5 main battle vessels, 3 Auxiliaries and 2 Logistics and 1 or 2 Privateers. A Thalam could be used for reconnaissance, patrol or interdiction. Normally, 2-3 Thalam operated in a vicinity on scouting or search & destroy missions. while can search a wide area, can reach to each other's aid in short duration. A fully equipped Chola Thalamis said to have been able to withstand an attack by more than twice its size. This is attributed to the superior range of missile weapons in Chola Inventory.
Mandalam - A semi-permanent formation. Mostly used in battle/Overseas deployment. Mandalathipathy - The lord ofMandalam Roughly equivalent to Task force orBattle groups Composed of 40-50 Ships of various roles. (Mandalam in Tamil and various Indian languages is the word of 48) They can used as an individual combat unit, especially duringpincer or break-neck maneuvering in high-seas.
Ganam - A permanent formation Ganathipathy - Literally, Athipathy (lord) of the Ganam, equivalent to modern-day rear-admiral Fleet-Squadron Composed of 100-150 Ships of various roles. (Ganam in Tamil means volume and three). A ganam comprises three Mandalams. A self-reliant unit of the force, only lesser than the Fleet. Had combat, reconnaissance, logistics and resupply/repair units. Normally, this would be the minimum strength/size of the overseas deployment.
Ani Anipathy - lord of an Ani Taskforceor battle group Composed of 3 Ganams (Fleet-division) minimum. Normally consisting of 300-500 ships. Mainly an Expedition order than normal formation. But, during long deployments, they were deployed (only 2 instances of an Ani being deployed in a combat have been documented.)[32]
Pirivu Normally headed by a prince/confidante of the King, title depends on the sea where the fleet is based. For example, The eastern fleet would be named asKeelpirivu-athipathy or Nayagan orThevan/r, depending on the person. Fleet they functioned much like modern Fleets. There were two to four fleets in the Chola navy during various times. The principle fleet was based in the east. Later on a second fleet was based on Ceylon/Sri Lanka. During and after the Rajendra I, three or four fleets existed. The rise of Chera naval power gave more than a little loss in revenue, prompting the Cholas to station a Fleet permanently in the Malabar and to engage Mercenary navies to support the Chola strategic design.
Notes[edit]
‡1. Kanni May mean any of the following in Tamil, the application on the meaning is in context of the usage. Virgin/Unmarried Girl, First timer, the Eastern corner/direction. A trap is also called as 'kanni'
2. Thalam being both the name of a tactical formation of the army and navy. Thalapathy meaning the lord of a Thalam, roughly a division, and the rank is comparable to a modern-day colonel.
Rank structure
The Chola navy used a hybrid rank structure. There were dedicated naval ranks as well as army-derived ranks.[33] The Chola Navy used both naval ranks and army-style ranks. While some of the modern-day convention of ranks did apply, for example, the army captain is equal to a lieutenant in the navy and a navy captain is equal to a colonel in the army; others were totally different. So a small comparison is provided for comparison.
- The supreme commander :Chakravarthy - The emperor
- The commander-in chief of navy :Jalathipathhi - roughly, the admiral of the navy.
- The commander of the fleet : Pirivu+ Athipathy or Devar/n or Nayagan - The equivalent of an admiral
- The commander of the fleet-squadron : Ganathipathy - roughly the equivalent of a rear-admiral
- The commander of a group : Mandalathipathy#(refer below) - the equivalent of a vice-admiral
- The commander of the ship : Kalapathy -The equivalent of a captain in modern navies.
- The officer in-charge of arms in a ship : Kaapu - Roughly the executive officer and weapons officer rolled into one.
- The officer in-charge of the oarsmen/masts : Seevai - roughly the equivalent of the master chief and engineering officer.
- The officer in-charge of boarding party (marines) : Eeitimaar - major or captain in marines.
The auxiliary forces of the Chola Navy In addition to the standing navy of the state, there were other services which had a naval arm of its own. Notable among them are the customs department, militia and the state monopoly of pearl fisheries. In addition to the state services, a small but formidable forces were maintained by various trade-guilds, these guilds are highly regulated and acted as mercenaries and reinforcements in times of need.[34]
Customs and excise[edit]
The Customs force, called Sungu (SUNGA ILLAKA) was highly organized and unlike anything in the ancient world. It was under the command of a Director-general like position called Thalai-Thirvai. Thalai - Head, Thirvai - duty (customs). It was highly evolved and had various departments[35] Some are
Department Duties Assets
Thirvai(Customs duty & Exercise) This unit employed some of the brilliant merchants of the time and most were professional economists. They deduced and fixed the percentage of the Customs duty of a commodity for a particular season. (trade-voyages were influenced by ocean currents and hence the price changed accordingly) They normally had boarding officers, boarding crafts and some sea vessels; as most of their duty was inland.
Aaivu(Inspection &enforcement) This unit was the Action arm of the trade law, they inspected ships for contraband, illegal goods, wrong declaring of tonnage, small crimes control and the protection of the Harbors under Chola dominion. These units employed some of the fast assault and boarding vessels of the time and in more than one reported occasion, the navy had sought its help in intercepting rogue vessels.†
Ottru(intelligence corps) They were the intelligence corps of the territorial waters of the Chola dominion. They normally tailed foreign vessels, performed path-finding for larger forces or conveys and gave periodic updates for the kings and the trade-guilds of the happenings in the sea. They operated highly capable vessels which are noted for stealth and speed, rather than brute force and weapons platforms. Most of the ships they operated were privateers and contained no national markings. We have some understandings of their crafts, which seemed to have been equipped with concealable catapults and napalm throwers (nottrebuchets like the ones employed by the naval ships.)
Kallarani(piratesquad) Technically, they weren't employed by either the sovereign or the state. But rather, they are pirates themselves who have received the Royal Pardon on the pledge of their support of the Chola Empire. They had been used in more than a few instances to deal with the Arab piracy in the western water. They have also been used as Coast Guard. These mercenaries operated anything that they could capture and composed of multi-national-ethnic corps. Notable among them are the Arabian Amirs, who were highly respected upon their oath of allegiance and their fervor in combat.
Karaipirivu(Coastal defense) They performed duties akin to the modern coast-guard, search & rescue and costal patrols. But mainly they were land-based and scattered along the long coast-line to provide a seaward defense. they operated substantially smaller crafts and occasionally even catamarans . Nevertheless, they were feared by petty crooks and coastal thieves.
Coast guard[edit]
In the later years of the 1100[clarification needed], the navy was constantly battling in many fronts to protect Chola commercial, religious and political interests. So the home ports were literally, undefended. This led to a change in the of outlook Chola naval strategy, the sturdier and larger vessels were repeatedly called to reinforce the high-sea flotilla, leading to the development of a specialized auxiliary force of fast and heavily armed light ships in large numbers. The erstwhile Karaipirivu was the natural choice for this expansion and in time they became an autonomous force vested with the duties of protecting the Chola territorial waters, home ports, patrol of newly captured ports and coastal cities.
Privateers[edit]
The state's dependence on overseas trade for much valued foreign exchange created the powerful Trade-guilds, some of which grew more powerful than the regional governors.[36] And in the increasingly competitive field of international trade, the state faced with difficulties to reinforce and or rescue stranded Merchant ships in high seas, in a timely manner. This led to the establishment of privateer navies. Like its European counterparts, they had no National markings and employed multi-national crews.
But, they were employed by the Trade-guilds rather than the Empire, giving the Traders an edge in the seas. Normally, they performed path-finding, escort and protection duties. but, in more than a few occasions, these forces had been summoned to serve the Empire's interests.
Notable Trade guilds which employed a privateer navy were,
- Nanadesa Tisaiyayirattu Ainnutruvar - literally, "the five hundred from the four countries and the thousand directions"
- Maalainattu Thiribuvana Vaanibar kzhulumam - The merchants from the high-country in three worlds (meaning the 3 domiciles of Chinese, Indian and Arabian empires)
- Maadathu valaingair (or valainzhr)vaanibar Kzhu - The pearl exporters form the Kanchipuram
A Song Dynasty junk ship, 13th century; Chinese ships of the Song period featuredhulls with watertight compartments. Some of these vessels are believed to have been employed by the Chola Navy too.[37]
Even before the accounts of the 1st century BCE, there were written accounts of shipbuilding and war-craft at sea. Professor R.C. Majumdar says that there existed a comprehensive book of naval-architecture in India dating back to the 2nd century BCE, if not earlier.
During the reign of Raja Raja and his son, there were a complex classification of class of vessels and its utility. Some of the survived classes' name and utility are below.[38]
- Dharani - The equivalent of modern-day destroyers designed to take combat to high-seas.
- Loola - The equivalent of modern-day corvettes; designed to perform light combat and escort duties.
- Vajra - The equivalent of a frigate maybe, a fast attack craft lightly armored.
- Thirisadai - Probably the battle cruisers or battleships of the day, they are reported to be armored heavily and could engage more than 2 targets in combat, and relied on its built rather than speed to survive and attack.[39]
Dharani The primary weapons platform with extensive endurance (up to 3 months), they normally engaged in groups and avoided one on one encounters. Probably equivalent to modern-dayDestroyers.
Lola They were lightly armored, fast attack vessels. Normally performed escort duties. They could not perform frontal assaults. Equivalent to modern-day Corvettes.
Vajara They were highly capable fast attack crafts, typically used to reinforce/rescue a stranded fleet. Probably equivalent to modern-day Frigates.
Thirisadai The heaviest class known, they had extensive war-fighting capabilities and endurance, with a dedicated marine force of around 400 Marines to board enemy vessels. They are reported to be able to engage three vessels of Dharani class, hence the name Thirisadai, which means, three braids. (Braid was also the time's name for oil-fire.) This class can be attributed/compared to modern Battle cruisersor Battleships.
.jpg)
This is the Anchor of an Unknown LOLA class Chola ship, excavated by the Indian Navy divers off the coast of Poombuhar.
Apart from class definitions, there are names of Royal Yachts and their architecture. Some of which are,
- Akramandham - A royal Yacht with the Royal quarters in the stern.
- Neelamandham - A royal Yacht with extensive facilities for conducting courts and accommodation for hi-officials/ministers.
- Sarpammugam - these were smaller yachts used in the Rivers (with ornamental snake heads)
- Yanthiram - Hybrid ship employing bot sails and oars or probably Paddle wheels of some type (as Yanthiram is literally translated to mechanical wheel)
- Kalam - Large vessels with 3 masts which can travel in any direction irrespective of winds.
- Punai - medium-sized vessels that can be used to coastal shipping as well as inland.
- Patri - Large barge type vessel used to ferrying trade goods.
- Oodam - Small boat with large oars.
- Ambi - Medium-sized boat with a single mast and oars.
- Toni - small boat used in rocky terrain.
In the tenure spanning the 700 years of its documented existence, the Chola Navy was involved in confrontations for probably 500 years.[41] There were frequent skirmishes and many pitched battles. Not to mention long campaigns and expeditions. The 5th centuries of conflict between the Pandyas and Cholas for the control of the peninsula gave rise to many legends andfolktales. Not to mention the heroes in both sides. The notable campaigns are below[42][43][44]
- War of Pandya Succession (1172)
- War of Pandya succession (1167)
- The destruction of the Bali fleet (1148)
- Sea battle of the Kalinga Campaighn (1081-1083)
- The second expedition of Sri Vijaya (1031-1034)
- The first expedition of Sri Vijaya (1027-1029)
- The Annexation of Kedah (1024-1025)
- Annexation of the Kamboja (?-996)
- The invasion of Ceylon/Sri Lanka.(977-?)
- Skirmishes with Pallava Navy (903-8)
The chola emperors gave a free hand to the admirals in recruiting and training of sailors, engineers, oarsmen and marines. There were no complicated tests and evaluation process. Any citizen or even non citizen could sign up for the naval service. But, one did not end up in the work of his choice. Preference were given to ex-servicemen, their sons and noblemen. But, this attitude changed in later days. And many class of soldiers / sailors distinguished themselves, irrespective of rank and class.
Ports and fleets[edit]
The most ancient of ports used by Cholas was Poompuhar. Later on, they used many more ports and even built some new ones. Some of the famous ports are:
- Arikamedu
- Poombuhar.
- Kancheepuram
- Nagapattinam
- Kulachal
- Korkai
- Kadalur.
- Thoothukudi
- Musuri
- Worayur or Urayur
In addition to the main fleets of war ships, there were two fleets of logistics and transport ships to serve the needs of the army; involved in a bloody war in Ceylon and later in southeast Asia.
In the later years these numbers increased drastically and a several fleets were created anew. During the late 11th century, there were a total of nine battle fleets, based in various dominians across the vast expanses of the Chola empire ranging from the present day Aceh, Ankorwat to the southern reaches of Ceylon/Sri Lanka.
Political, cultural and economic impact[edit]
The Grand vision and imperial energy of the Father and son duo Raja Raja Chola I and Rajendra Chola I is undoubtedly the underlying reason for expansion and prosperity. But, this was accomplished by the tireless efforts and pains of the navy. In essence, Raja Raja was the first person in the sub-continent to realize the power projection capabilities of a powerful navy. He and his successors initiated a massive naval buildup and continued supporting it,and they used it more than just wars.
The Chola navy was a potent Diplomatic symbol,It was the carrier of Chola might and prestige. It spread the Dravidian culture, the literary and architectural grandeur. For the sake of comparison, it was just the equivalent of the " Gunboat diplomacy " of the modern-day Great powers and super powers.
There is evidence to show that the king of Kambujadesa (modern Cambodia) sent an ornamental chariot to the Chola Emperor, probably to appease him so that his strategic attention does not extend further than the Malay peninsula.
Popular culture
From the Sangam age poems to commemorate the victory of the sovereign of the day to the immortalized Kalinga Campaign of the Kulothunga Chola I in the Kalingattuparani. Parani is a special type of literary work, which; according to the traditions and rules of linguistics of Tamizh can only be composed on a king/general whose forces have killed a thousand elephants in combat.
In modern times, more than a few Romance has been inspired by the Chola Navy, and mostly in Tamil Language and literature.
- Yavana rani : A historical novel by Sandilyian surrounding the events of the Karikala's Ascendence to throne.
- Ponniyin selvan : The crowning glory of the Rajaraja is idolized in this Novel surrounding the assassination of his brother and crown prince Aditha Karikalan. More than a passing note is given of the navy and its organization in this Magnum opus by Kalki. Krishnamoorthy.
- Kadal pura : Another historical novel by sandilyan surrounding the foundation of the Chalukya Chola dynasty in India and the Song Dynasty in china. Sandilyan gives more than a passing evidence to prove that the song-emperor and Kulothunga chola were friends. By far, this work gives the most intricate details of the navies of the day and naval warfare. In this work he describes the various weapons and tactics employed by the Cholas and Chinese navies and their combined efforts to overthrow the Sri Vijaya dynasty.
- Kanni Maadam : A historical novel by Sandilyan in the time of Rajathiraja Chola. The work describes the Pandyas' civil war .It elaborates the war by proxy, between the sinhalese and cholas. The pallavas are all but gone, they are in the service of both Cholas and pandyas. It features some of the most detailed tactical maneuvering in battlefield. It also highlights the importance of the Naval power and logistics in an overseas campaign.
- Aayirathil Oruvan (2010 film) : A movie about the searching of exiled Chola prince directed by Selvaraghavan.
The major events which had direct impact in the development of the Chola Naval capability are listed here, which is in no case comprehensive. But, some of the events had deep impact nevertheless.
Archeological evidence: The dated excavations,
- 3000 BCE - Dugboats were found in Arikamedu, what is now in Puducherry.[citation needed]
- 2400 BCE - Highly functional port is in operation in Lothal of what is now Gujarat.[citation needed]
- 700 BCE - The first mention of the word Yavana in pottery around korkai.(meaning Greeks or Romans)
- 300 BCE - A load-stone compass with Chinese inscriptions is found off the coast of Kaaveripoompatnam.[citation needed]
- 100 BCE - A settlement of Tamil/Pakrit speaking merchants founded in Rome.[citation needed]
- Late 1st century BCE - Roman glass was found in southern coastal regions of Tamil Nadu.[citation needed]
- 356-321 BCE: The Periplus of Niarchus, an officer of Alexander the Great, describes the Persian coast. Niarchus commissioned thirty oared galleys to transport the troops of Alexander the Great from northwest India back to Mesopotamia, via the Persian Gulf and the Tigris, an established commercial route.[45]
- 334-323 BCE: Eratosthenes, the librarian at Alexandria, drew a map which includes Sri Lanka and the mouth of the Ganges. Which states the exchange of traffic and commodity in the regions.[46]
- 1st century BCE : When Vennikkuyithiar mentions about Karikala, he mentions several class of inland vessels by Name some are Kalam, Punai & Patri.
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Navy's Next Destroyer Line Christened Visakhapatnam-class, 1st Launch Next Week
The first Project 15 Bravo (P15B) stealth destroyer, under construction at the Mazagon Dock shipyard in Mumbai will be launched on April 20. Livefist can confirm that the new warship line has a name: Visakhapatnam-class, after the Navy's eastern hub. The navy is aiming to induct the ship in 2018. A total of four ships are to be built in the class, with the official timeline of deliveries starting 2018, and then a ship every two years till 2024. The Visakhapatnam's keel was laid in October 2013. Construction and fabrication of the second vessel of the class began in July last year.
The Visakhapatnam-class maintains the same hull and propulsion package as the Project 15A Kolkata-class. Russia's Northern Design Bureau, enlisted as a design consultant has helped reduce the size of the design's superstructure.
Meanwhile, the second P15A destroyer Kochi will be commissioned shortly into the Indian Navy.
LIVEFIST: Navy's Next Destroyer Line Christened Visakhapatnam-class, 1st Launch Next Week
Very good news
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Navy's Next Destroyer Line Christened Visakhapatnam-class, 1st Launch Next Week
The first Project 15 Bravo (P15B) stealth destroyer, under construction at the Mazagon Dock shipyard in Mumbai will be launched on April 20. Livefist can confirm that the new warship line has a name: Visakhapatnam-class, after the Navy's eastern hub. The navy is aiming to induct the ship in 2018. A total of four ships are to be built in the class, with the official timeline of deliveries starting 2018, and then a ship every two years till 2024. The Visakhapatnam's keel was laid in October 2013. Construction and fabrication of the second vessel of the class began in July last year.
The Visakhapatnam-class maintains the same hull and propulsion package as the Project 15A Kolkata-class. Russia's Northern Design Bureau, enlisted as a design consultant has helped reduce the size of the design's superstructure.
Meanwhile, the second P15A destroyer Kochi will be commissioned shortly into the Indian Navy.
LIVEFIST: Navy's Next Destroyer Line Christened Visakhapatnam-class, 1st Launch Next Week
Very good news
Are they going to another decade to induct this ship??? That is the big question. INS Kolkata started contruction in 2003 and inducted in 2014! 11 years!! Bloody losers still needs consultancy!!! What the hell wrong with this guys?? If it were a private shipyard, it would have make it in 6 years thanks to fear of losing job!!!
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Navy's Next Destroyer Line Christened Visakhapatnam-class, 1st Launch Next Week
The first Project 15 Bravo (P15B) stealth destroyer, under construction at the Mazagon Dock shipyard in Mumbai will be launched on April 20. Livefist can confirm that the new warship line has a name: Visakhapatnam-class, after the Navy's eastern hub. The navy is aiming to induct the ship in 2018. A total of four ships are to be built in the class, with the official timeline of deliveries starting 2018, and then a ship every two years till 2024. The Visakhapatnam's keel was laid in October 2013. Construction and fabrication of the second vessel of the class began in July last year.
The Visakhapatnam-class maintains the same hull and propulsion package as the Project 15A Kolkata-class. Russia's Northern Design Bureau, enlisted as a design consultant has helped reduce the size of the design's superstructure.
Meanwhile, the second P15A destroyer Kochi will be commissioned shortly into the Indian Navy.
LIVEFIST: Navy's Next Destroyer Line Christened Visakhapatnam-class, 1st Launch Next Week
Very good news
Visakhapatnam is too big a name...I'm gonna call it sweet Vizag-class.
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