245: It turns out that warships can also play hurdles

The northern voyage of the Indian warships this time was in response to the implementation of India's Act East Policy by the Old Immortal.

Before arriving in Vietnam, this fleet first visited Singapore's Changi Naval Base.

After this visit to Saigon Port, they would then go to Da Nang to rendezvous with the Vietnamese Navy there for a small-scale military exercise.

Ostensibly, it was to conduct exercises in maritime rescue and other projects.

In essence, it was conveying a message to the international community that was almost an alliance.

Moreover, after visiting Vietnam, they would continue eastward to visit Malaysia and the Philippines.

Therefore, during this visit to Saigon, Vietnam's most developed city, this small Indian fleet had to put on a show of its exceptionally powerful military strength.

Colonel Anil Kumar gripped the helm, presenting himself as well-trained before Rear Admiral Sushil Menon.

The other Indian naval officers appropriately expressed their admiration for Colonel Anil Kumar's piloting skills.

However, sailing at sea seemed smooth, and one could gallop freely across the vast ocean.

In fact, there were many precautions to take, especially regarding underwater reefs.

Therefore, fleets usually sailed in a battle line formation to follow safe routes and avoid hitting reefs.

Colonel Anil Kumar was currently piloting the INS Delhi, which served as the flagship of this small fleet.

Behind him, a frigate and a supply ship followed closely.

Although the supply ship, with a displacement of up to 27,000 tons, had no weapons, such a vessel was not something every country could build.

This was because the related science and technology embodied in it influenced the modernization process of a country's navy.

Although the steel and related components of India's supply ship were cobbled together, they at least assembled it entirely by themselves.

Even weapons made from various sources were much better than having none at all.

So, these were the naval assets that the Indians were proud of.

Rear Admiral Sushil Menon's gaze remained fixed on Colonel Anil Kumar.

The eyes of the other Indian naval officers also stayed on Colonel Anil Kumar.

At this moment, guided by Vietnamese maritime vessels, the fleet was about to enter Saigon Port.

Under the leadership of Colonel Anil Kumar, the three ships simultaneously sounded their horns, saluting the Vietnamese Navy in the port.

However, as they passed the harbor breakwater, Colonel Anil Kumar's expression suddenly became dazed.

Under his control, the INS Delhi, a large ship with a displacement of 6,700 tons, charged straight towards the breakwater.

The frigate and supply ship behind it also followed his trajectory and rushed towards the breakwater.

By the time Rear Admiral Sushil Menon realized something was wrong, the INS Delhi had already ridden more than half of its bow onto the breakwater.

The harbor view, which was clearly visible from the bridge, suddenly turned into a clear blue sky.

The frigate and supply ship, closely following the INS Delhi, had no time to react when the INS Delhi rode onto the breakwater.

The frigate crashed directly into the stern of the INS Delhi, smashing its own bow to pieces while pushing the INS Delhi further onto the breakwater.

Thus, this 6,700-ton Indian stealth destroyer performed an unprecedented maneuver, completing a hurdle jump using Saigon Port's breakwater.

The impact from the supply ship behind was swift and effective.

Just like a large truck squeezing a small car on the highway, the 3,000-ton frigate was like dregs in front of the nearly 30,000-ton supply ship.

Under the pincer attack, the 3,000-ton frigate had completely turned into a twisted mass of iron.

Everyone knows that the heavier a car is, the longer its braking distance.

The same principle applied to the supply ship; although its speed was not fast, it was unrealistic to stop it suddenly.

So, the Indian supply ship continued to charge forward, collapsing a section of Saigon Port's breakwater while also smashing its own bow to smithereens.

Even more critically, the entire ship became directly wedged on the breakwater.

In just a few short minutes, the Saigon city representatives and the Vietnamese Navy's 2nd District honor guard, who were standing at Saigon Port ready to welcome the Indian Navy, were dumbfounded.

Especially at the very end, with the frigate's assistance, the INS Delhi destroyer did not pass through the port's channel but directly jumped over the wall to enter.

And amidst a chorus of exclamations, the Indian Navy's supply ship charged straight towards the breakwater, elegantly getting stuck there.

In the port, besides the welcoming Saigon city representatives and Vietnamese naval soldiers, there was also a considerable number of people from another team.

Those were journalists from various countries specifically invited by the Indian Consulate in Saigon.

Originally, they intended to record the scenes of India and the Vietnamese Navy joining hands in celebration, and incidentally, to boost the Indian Navy's presence in front of the whole world.

But now, the scene before them had ruined everything.

What was originally a formidable small fleet had now become this.

One ship performed a ship hurdle.

One ship was completely wrecked.

And the largest one was stuck on top.

The city representatives, who were originally joyfully waving the national flags of both countries in the air, now seemed somewhat listless.

The Vietnamese Navy honor guard, who had been standing under the scorching sun to welcome the Indian fleet, also had their expressions completely fall.

Journalists from various countries in the port frantically took photos of the two Indian warships both inside and outside the breakwater.

What was supposed to be a routine overseas report might bring them massive traffic.

They might gain honor and money for their detailed reports on this incident.

"Oh my God, the Indian warships are completely wiped out like this."

"They seemed to be sailing perfectly fine earlier, but as soon as they entered the port, problems arose."

"Their big ship also seems to be severely damaged."

"..."

These Saigon city representatives also discussed animatedly; today they had witnessed a sight they might never see again in their lives.

After recovering from the shock, the entire Saigon Port descended into chaos, and the Vietnamese Navy's emergency ambulances had already sounded their alarms, rushing to the harbor side with wailing sirens.

"How could this happen?"

Vu Linh Huong looked at the sea surface of the port in astonishment.

There, two warships, emitting black smoke, stood in a dilapidated state.

And the frigate, which had turned into a twisted mass of iron, had already sunk to the bottom of the sea.

The maritime search and rescue exercise, originally planned to be conducted jointly with the Vietnamese Navy in Da Nang, was now performed prematurely in Saigon Port.

All maritime vessels and rescue boats, large and small, in Saigon Port were urgently activated, heading to the port to rescue the Indian sailors who had fallen into the water.

Especially at the sunken frigate, those who managed to jump into the sea were the lucky ones.

The others had already been crushed into lumps of curry paste by the frigate's twisted hull.

In the bridge of the INS Delhi, the Indian officers, big and small, who had experienced a ship hurdle, tumbled around like gourds.

Next to Rear Admiral Sushil Menon, who had fainted after the collision, Colonel Anil Kumar, also bleeding from the head, struggled to stand up.

Because of the successful hurdle, the bridge of the INS Delhi was directly facing the supply ship on the breakwater.

The front deck of the INS Delhi, with more than half of its bow missing, and the dilapidated supply ship stuck on the breakwater, made him black out again, and he collapsed heavily onto the bridge's carpet.

For him, who had single-handedly caused this situation, it was no longer as simple as facing a military court.