Personnel is decisive factor
When the alarm went off in line with the order of the captain, all sailors aboard the 015-Tran Hung Dao were present at assigned positions as quickly as possible. Commander Ma Nguyen Thanh, captain of the ship, flexibly addressed all information sent from on-duty troops at sea.
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Commander Ma Nguyen Thanh, captain of the ship, in the commanding center |
One of the contents in this training session was to attack missiles according to the ship’s radar. Radar operators closely watched the screen and adjusted parameters to identify targets. After that, they reported to the captain.
As the target was identified, the captain directed troops to seize the position and use firepower to destroy the target. When the order of the captain: “Missile attack! Assume hiding positions!” was voiced, the atmosphere in the commanding center became more urgent with reports from all positions.
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Political Commissar of Ship 015 Lieutenant Commander Phan Thanh Hoa (left) regularly tours each position to inspect troops’ task performance. |
According to captain Ma Nguyen Thanh, despite the support of computers, humans still play a decisive role. The captain will be the last person who decides to open fire in line with task requirements and the practical situation, as well as the ability of weapons and technical equipment. The combat situations require troops to quickly and accurately keep up with the time; and closely work with each other during training.
Despite harsh weather conditions, all gunners were at their positions to identify and destroy targets until the end of the training session.
Practice-centered training
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Troops during the training session |
According to Naval Captain Hoang Anh, Second-in-Command of Brigade 162, training during long-day journey at sea is highly challenging. Troops have to ensure both safety at sea and also accomplish training missions in harsh weather conditions.
Via the training program, troops were familiarized with tactical situations which are the same as in reality. This was also an occasion for them to train in an intensive working environment at sea, while performing external defense relations missions.
In 2023, Brigade 162 focused on practice-centered training. Therefore, many effective measures were taken so as to promote training quality, such as the application of digital technology, and promoting technical initiatives for training tasks.
Ship 015-Tran Hung Dao has actively joined the movement of improving the quality of training, promoting technical initiatives and applying technology to training, he affirmed.
“Iron discipline”
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Troops raise determination during their training. |
Witnessing the training sessions of the naval troops, the reporter of the People’s Army Newspaper (PAN) understood the “iron discipline” on one of the most modern ships of the Vietnam People’s Navy. During the training, Political Commissar of the ship Lieutenant Commander Phan Thanh Hoa regularly toured each position to inspect troops’ task performance and encourage them to raise determination.
Non-commissioned Lieutenant Bui Van Luc, Head of the Missile Radar Squadron on the ship, underlined, “We should all be well aware of not only the assigned positions, but also others. For example, a rocket station staff should be able to operate on the screen when needed. All troops must be ready to replace each other to perform tasks.” Commander Ma Nguyen Thanh noted that the regulation is compulsory among troops of Brigade 162 during training.
He added that the unit always focuses on training missions, contributing to ensuring troops’ ability to fulfill all assigned tasks.
During training at night, all troops have to ensure their task performance because they are acquainted with all machines and able to operate in darkness.
“Troops should also ensure the time during training. In order to raise training quality in line with reality, the ship’s chain-of-command set high requirements for troops, and safety should be ensured,” said Second-in-Command of the ship Lieutenant Commander Nguyen Phi Hung.
Talking with the PAN’s reporter, Naval Captain Hoang Anh underscored that special feature in the training task of the brigade is boosting night training, training in bad weather conditions, and in close connection with reality, contributing to increasing troops’ competence in addressing arising issues. It helps the brigade in general to ensure combat readiness and be ready in any circumstances.
Translated by Minh Anh