Trenton Deal Close To Being Sealed (India-US Navy)

Indian express ^ | 28 Jun | Shiv Aroor

[ketelone]

A very small deal for both navies really... but a giant leap in terms of that this is, I believe, the first Indian acquisition of a naval nature from the US, ever.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Are we selling or giving ?

[Gefreiter]

"the Trenton will augment an existing amphibious capability of the navy."

I hadn't realized that India had an amphibious capability. Huh.

[RexBeach]

Sounds like selling.

[AppyPappy]

India has a very successful military. They have no equal among the nations in the region.

[Sax]

Looks like the ship's free, but they are paying for the training on it.

[taxed2death]

"Are we selling or giving ?"

It would appear that I am so generous, that I'm giving it away.

[rahbert]

10,000,000 rupees = ~218K US

[CarrotAndStick]

200 crore = 2,000,000,000 rupees = 2,000,000,000 / 44 dollars = 45,454,545.5 dollars.

[Wombat101]

"I hadn't realized that India had an amphibious capability. Huh."

A pretty nice one, too, considering the size of it's navy. We're seeing something wonderful in international relations these days: the formation of the long-discussed-but-never mentioned-out-loud Anglosphere (i.e. the alliance of English-speaking or English-institutionalized nations of Great Britain, the United States, India, and Australia, with a second tier of Canada, New Zealand and South Africa. Later inductees could be Taiwan, Japan and South Korea).

One of the necessary pre-conditions for the Anglosphere will be increased military co-operation. The US armed forces have been engaged in a variety of joint operations with Indian forces for many years now. The Indians are quite good militarily (very professional), and will be a valueable ally in the future.

The purpose of the Anglosphere will be to safeguard the progress and institutions of Western Civilization and democracy, and defend it against all comers, be they Islamonazis, Communist Chinese or other "rogue states" and terrorist organizations.

[Gefreiter]

Is Mexico in the Anglosphere?

[rahbert]

Well ok, I forgot to x200.

But the closing price yesterday was Rs 45.9450.

[CarrotAndStick]

I didn't notice that either. I figured you posted an arbitrary value and converted it to its equivalent dollar figure. :^)

[Wombat101]

Strictly, no. But since so many Mexicans are in this country already, the question is almost moot. Mexico could be a valuable adjunct to Anglosphere power, provided it doesn't fall under the influence of Chavez-like figure and that it's endemic corruption and ragged economy could be fixed.

[dljordan]

"Are we selling or giving ?"

Maybe we're going to outsource. The Indians are apparently so much better at everything than we are.

[ketelone]

The Indian Navy is acquiring the ship, commissioned by the United States Navy in 1971, for Rs 200 crore, a sum that covers training costs for Indian personnel.

Yeah it comes to about 45 Million USD. Thats a pretty neat price for a 35 year old ship!

[ketelone]

I hadn't realized that India had an amphibious capability. Huh.

Indian Navy Orbat:
VTOL Carrier: 1 (Harriers)
CTOL Carriers: 2 Under construction
Destroyers: 9 +2 Under construction
Frigates: 12 +3 Under construction
Missile Corvettes: 24 +6 Planned
LST's: 18 + 1 under acquisition (USS Trenton!)
Submarines:
SSK: 16 + 6 Planned
SSN: 5 under construction (Reactors already operational for shore trials), + 2 Under possible acquisition from Russia (Akula II/Bars class)
And several dozens of auxiliaries, oilers, minor craft, minesweepers, etc.

[ketelone]

Already done. The Indian navy provides escort protection to cargo and other US ships bound for Iraq, through the straits of malacca, and other piracy prone areas near the IO.

[ketelone]

That tagline is hilarious!

[Wombat101]

Thank you. I like it better than my last one ("Sanitized for YOUR protection...")