NAO Sena Medal (Gallantry) For Search and Rescue in Adverse Weather Conditions

LT CDR Sujith Parakkat Menon and Ramesh Kumar Kumhar, POA (ACMD)
On 29 Dec 11, Cyclone ‘Thane” was off the Andhra coast, weather was marginal with heavy rains, low clouds, heavy winds and choppy seas due to the cyclone. All civil helicopters operations for oil rigs were suspended for that day owing to bad weather. A distress call was received to locate and rescue a boat capsized with six survivors 117 nm from Visakhapatnam. A UH 3H helicopter of Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 350 was tasked to undertake the rescue mission.
Lt Cdr Sujith Parakkat Menon was tasked as First pilot and Captain of the Aircraft and Ramesh Kumar Kumhar Petty Officer (Aircrewman Diver) was assigned as the rescue diver for the search and rescue mission.
The helicopter was launched in difficult weather conditions with low cloud base and strong winds. Heavy sea states made with swelling waves and made the task of locating the boat extremely difficult. After intense search efforts the capsized boat was sighted with survivors hanging precariously for their life onto a boat, of which, only the keel was visible. The pilot carefully maneuvered the aircraft and positioned it accurately over the capsized boat and the rescue swimmer Ramesh Kumar was deployed to winch up survivors in succession.
On the way back the pilot intercepted a radio call, reporting the position of a second stranded fishing boat requiring assistance. As the helicopter was the only one airborne in area, the pilot realized that lives depended on his proficiency and capability. Menon quickly plotted the reported position on the GPS and reached the position locating the second boat within no time. He sighted a boat upright with 05 fishermen in it. He quickly maneuvered the aircraft as close as possible to the boat, deployed the rescue swimmer Ramesh Kumar. Menon took a calculated risk and hovered the aircraft closer to the boat at a slightly higher hover height to effect the rescue at a quicker pace. After the rescue was completed the aircraft headed back to Visakhapatnam and landed with minimum fuel in the fuel tanks. His accurate planning and courage shown by Ramesh kumar to pick up the fishermen from open/rough sea and overall assessment of the situation had lead to successful rescue of all the 11 survivors.
Lt Cdr SP Menon and Ramesh Kumar Kumhar POA(ACMD) showed remarkable abilities as a pilot conducting SAR (search and rescue) and ability to undertake life saving in the most trying weather conditions and displayed highest level of professionalism by rescuing 11 fishermen. The courage and professionalism displayed by both is in keeping with the highest traditions of the Indian Navy. The officer and Sailor are awarded Nausena Medal (Gallantry).
NAO SENA MEDAL (GALLANTRY) LIEUTENANT SAILESH KUMAR TYAGI (06273-F)
FOR GALLANT ACTION AS BOARDING OFFICER IN MULTIPLE ANTI PIRACY MISSIONS IN GULF OF ADEN
Lt Sailesh Kumar Tyagi, was posted on INS Sukanya as the Commander of the Marine Command’s Prahar, during the antipiracy patrolling mission of INS Sukanya. The ship took over anti-piracy escort duties on 26 Aug 11 in the Gulf of Aden.
On the 24 Sep 11 at 0300hrs, a distress call was received from MV Fairchem. The area around was illuminated and two men were sighted with guns. Warning shots were fired from the ship and the boat was stopped using the Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD). A Prahar team was launched in the dark of the night under the able leadership of Lt Sailesh Kumar Tyagi. Without the fear of life in the moonless night with just the lights of the ship as an aid the officer carried out a successful boarding operation at night on the hostile pirate boat.
The officer interrogated the pirates and carried out a thorough search in the night which lasted over two hours. The search revealed a number of piracy equipment including arms and ammunition. He then successfully neutralised all piracy triggers held in the boat and rendered the pirate boat incapable of carrying out piracy operations. Lt Tyagi and his team carried boarding operations on pirate vessels in seven different encounters seizing 15 weapons and a large amount of ammo in all. On 10 Nov 11 an attack came from five pirate boats. Once the attack was neutralised by the ship and the helo, Lt Sailesh Tyagi leading his men boarded the first pirate boat which he used to catch two more boats. It was this tactic of his that ensured that three of the five boats could be caught. The officer in the face of danger stood tall and was always the first person to board a pirate vessel, thus taking the entire risk on his shoulders and ensuring safety of his team. Lt Sailesh Kumar Tyagi meticulously planned and executed all search operations from the front without recourse to personal safety or discomfort at any stage of the entire deployment.
The exemplary high level of unwavering leadership with no regard to personal safety ensured the success of seven missions, including one at night. The personal gallantry displayed by Lt Sailesh Kumar Tyagi, is considered in keeping with the highest traditions of the Navy, and accordingly, he has been awarded NM (Gallantry).