UNDER OWN POWER

Submarine Battery.

Conventional submarines draw their power when submerged from huge banks of electical batteries, which act as resevoirs of energy to keep the mighty underwater prowler with sll their complex machinery and equipment, operating for hundereds for hours below the sea's surface.

The technology of the modern submarine battery is highly sophisticated, and is a far cry from the simple lead – acid affair that we are familiar with inour cars and lorries. From the very beginning, a concerted effort was made to acquire this technology and to learn how to maintain, commission, and finally to manufacture submarine batteries in the country.

A mere five year after the arrival of the first submarine in India Messrs Standard Batteries, Limited, of Bombay went into collabration with the Swedish battery manufactures, Tudor, to produce the first set of Indian Batteries for our submarines. For the sceptics who wondered whether the Indian batteries would be as good as the original, there was a surprise – Messrs SBL(India) had produced a Battery that was far superior in performance.

Submarine Batteries being commissioned at SBL premises.

Since than there has been no looking back, and Messrs SBL have now taken on the daunting challenge of producing state-of-the-art batteries for our most modern submarines. It is fitting indeed that this gift to the Submarine Arm come in the year of its Silver Jubilee. With the SBL tacking a pioneering lead, the manufacture of submarine batteries in this country is a mature industry, which will soon venture into the international market.

Submarine Batteries being commissioned at SBL premises.