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In Foxtrots of the Indian Navy, Cmde P. R. Franklin recounts the formative years of the Indian Navy’s submarine arm through engaging anecdotes of life, training and operations aboard its early Foxtrot-class submarines. Arjun Prakash Iyer reviews the book’s literary strengths, its human stories and its limitations as a historical reference.

From the tiny bronze Dancing Girl of Mohenjo-daro to the Chola Nataraja at CERN, Shivprasad Khened explores India's remarkable continuity of craftsmanship, metallurgy, artistic imagination and scientific curiosity.

Malé is more than a gateway to the Maldives' famous resort islands. Anuttama Banerji explores the capital's maritime heritage through a visit to Hukuru Miskiy, its remarkable coral mosque.

INS Kursura is more than a submarine museum. Her story begins with India's long and difficult journey towards establishing a submarine arm—from post-war plans and British training to the eventual selection of the Soviet Foxtrot-class.

Vice Admiral Sandeep Naithani remembers his father, Shri Sanat Kumar Naithani, an engineer whose work helped build the infrastructure that enabled the Indian Navy to repair, refit and return its ships to sea.

The inauguration of the Admiral Manohar Awati Centre for Ocean Sailing at the Royal Mysore Sailing Club marks a new chapter in India's ocean-sailing story. Inspired by a long tradition of naval sailing and the legacy of Admiral Awati, AMACOS hopes to bring the skills and experience of offshore sailing to a wider civilian audience.

For a generation of naval cadets, Admiral Awati was more than a senior officer. He was a mentor who believed that the best lessons could be found beyond the classroom. From early mornings aboard INS Mysore and sailing on Varuna to the Battle of Umberkhind re-enactment at INS Shivaji, this is a personal recollection of an unconventional naval leader.

Long before the Indian Navy's P-8Is began ranging across the Indian Ocean, its maritime reconnaissance capability was built around a succession of very different aircraft. From the humble Fleet Requirement Unit and the Bréguet Alizé to the Super Constellation, Il-38 and legendary Tu-142, each generation reflected a changing understanding of India's maritime needs. A Tale of Ospreys and Trouts traces that remarkable evolution.

In 1947, the Royal Indian Navy faced an unprecedented task: dividing its ships and personnel between two new Dominions. At the centre of that process were four officers who would go on to shape the naval histories of India and Pakistan.

Long before he became one of independent India's most distinguished naval engineers, Daya Shankar was a young cadet in Newcastle, learning his profession in an era when few Indians entered the Royal Indian Marine. This article traces his formative years, offering a fascinating glimpse into naval training, discipline, and life in Britain during the closing years of the interwar period.

What appears to be a routine infrastructure partnership between India and Indonesia may have far-reaching strategic implications. This week's Maritime Musings examines Sabang Port, the Great Nicobar development project, and China's long-standing "Malacca Dilemma" to understand how geography, maritime infrastructure and diplomacy are quietly reshaping the Indo-Pacific.

Every warship has a story long before it joins the fleet. INS Mahendragiri is no exception. From design and modular construction to trials, systems integration, and final commissioning, this article follows the remarkable journey of one of India's newest stealth frigates, offering readers a rare glimpse into the making of a modern warship.

General Dhiraj Seth inherits an Indian Army at a defining moment. From force modernisation and emerging technologies to jointness, border preparedness, and organisational reform, the challenges before the new Chief extend far beyond command. This article examines the ten critical battles likely to shape the future of the Indian Army under his leadership.

Naval aviation is often reduced to dramatic images of aircraft launching from and landing on carriers. In reality, it is a complex discipline that brings together aircraft design, ship integration, logistics, maintenance, doctrine, and operational planning. This article explores why flying at sea is unlike any other form of military aviation, and why understanding its unique challenges is essential as India strengthens its maritime capabilities.

History has written Surat's obituary many times. Ports silted up. Industries declined. Epidemics struck. Global markets shifted. Yet every time the city seemed destined to fade, it reinvented itself. In this deeply personal reflection, Vice Admiral Sandeep Naithani explores Surat's extraordinary journey - from maritime gateway and shipbuilding centre to diamond capital, industrial powerhouse and enduring symbol of resilience.

For eight decades, generations of officers and sailors have passed through the gates of INS Valsura. What began as a wartime training facility has grown into one of the Indian Navy's foremost centres of technical excellence - shaping not only professionals, but lifelong memories and friendships.

Every Chief brings his own experiences, convictions, and leadership style to the office. Having known Admiral Krishna Swaminathan personally over the years, the author offers a reflection on the man who now leads the Indian Navy.

The story of Indian Naval Aviation cannot be told without the Sea Hawk. In Downwind, Four Green, Vice Admiral Vinod Pasricha brings together decades of research, personal experience and first-hand accounts to tell the story of an aircraft, a squadron and an era.

Seen from the sea, Oman feels different. The coast, the harbours, the light - all of it carries a certain stillness. It is not a place that demands attention, but one that draws you in quietly and stays long after you’ve left.

Two 21-foot Seabirds with open cockpits departed Mumbai for Muscat, 850 nautical miles across the Arabian Sea. No GPS. No cabin. Navigation by sextant. What followed was 15 days of flat calms, 30-foot waves, and the deadly Shamal winds that claimed 15-20 fishermen during the same period. This is Cyrus Heerjee's first-person account of the voyage, written in April 1986, that proved small boats, meticulous planning, and traditional seamanship could conquer the Arabian Sea.