NEWSLINKS
US EDITION
COLUMNISTS
DIARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTION 99
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES

Search Rediff

Foch sails into Bombay

Syed Firdaus Ashraf

After a long wait, the French navy task force, comprising of aircraft carrier Foch, reached the shores of Bombay.

Built in 1963, Foch will take part with the Indian navy in a joint exercise that ends on February 29.

"This will give the opportunity for both the Indian and French naval forces to understand each other and develop good relations," said Rear Admiral Francois Cluzel, Flag Officer Commanding.

The crew consists of 80 officers, 550 chief officers and petty officers, 700 seamen and recruits and to add on there are another 450 additional sailors which consist of the pilots, technicians, and administrators from the embarked squadrons.

Many sailors and senior officers took this opportunity to visit Bombay city.

Some of them spoke in broken English to the cops at the dock about the Bombay city. Many went about in casual wear.

The vessel has three kinds of aircraft -- Alize, was made in the 1950s, the Etendard IVP, for reconnaissance, and the Super Etendard, bombers used in Kosovo. A junior officer said the Indian navy's pilots may also get to fly these aircraft.

The Foch, commissioned in 1968, will be decommissioned in September 2000 after the French government commissions a new aircraft carrier, the Charles De Gaulle.

Asked whether the government of France ought to have sent such an old ship for the exercise, Cluzel said, "The ship is not old and is in very good condition. One can see that after visiting it."

Cluzel would not comment on whether the French planned to sell the ship to India and also denied that it was to be sold to China or Argentina.

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report