By Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Vasco
On Board USS Springfield (Goa), Oct 26: After the hectic mock warfare off-Goa coast, American Navy's nuclear powered submarine took halt at the port town of Vasco, the halt that may extend for a week.
The Los Angeles class submarine which is brags of its enduring and speed exercised with Indian counterpart INS Shankul during Malabar 08, which culminated on October 23.
The USS Springfield had participated for the first time in the Malabar series of exercises conducted off-Goa coast.
"It was a great experience exercising with Indian Navy. We learnt some of the capabilities with them while they learnt few from us," Cor Jamie Biondi, executive officer on board, told the reporters visiting the submarine.
The submarine can survive for 30 days underwater without replenishment, which gives it an edge above the other submarines running on conventional power.
The submarine, which exercises for five days, also executed drills with the Indian helicopters and other Indian ships participating in the mock warfare.
"It was a kind of hide and seek in the water," Cor Biondi said. "It was more complicated and challenging exercises," he added.
The 362 feet long submarine is an attack class version which has undergone modernization after its commissioning in 1993.
Scaling a depth of around 200 to 400 feet, it travels at a speed of 25 miles per hour and is dependent on diesel generated power only in case nuclear power failure.
After docking at Mormugao Port Trust's bearth in the port town of Vasco 40 kms away from Panaji city, the submarine will lead its further journey mostly next week. "We can't tell you where we are proceeding as information is classified," Cor Biondi said.
Malabar 08 had US Navy represented by Ronald Reagan strike group of the US Navy's seventh fleet based at Yokosua, Japan.
The RRSG included USS Ronald Regan, USS Chancellorville, USS Gridley, USS Decatur, USS Thach and USS Bridge besides an underway replenishment tanker, submarine USS Springfield and an Orion aircraft.
The Indian Navy was represented by INS Mumbai, an indigenous Delhi class guided missile destroyer, INS Rana, a Rajput class guided missile destroyer and four guided missile frigates, namely INS Talwar, Godavari, Brahmaputra and Betwa.
In addition, INS Aditya which is an underway replenishment tanker and one Shishumar class submarine and Sea Harrier fighters has also coupled up with the warships.