The two Indian officers onboard the Chicago too picked pointers on how to avoid detection and attack by the enemy which would come in handy when it inducts a Akula-II Russian nuclear submarine next year.

While the Indian Navy is not any match to its American counterpart in terms of technology — a “shooter” on board Kitty Hawk who is responsible for the safe catapult launch of aircraft from deck jokingly commented that the Viraat could be spotted from miles due the black smoke it emits — the exchange of skills is in no way one-sided.

With the planned acquisition of two new aircraft carriers by 2014 (Gorshkov and the Air Defence Ship), the induction of the Akula II and the launch of the indigenous ATV nuke sub next year plus the phased acquisition of an entire new line of destroyers, the Indian Navy is on its way to becoming perhaps the second most potent maritime power in the world.

And, as Vice Admiral Yoji Koda, commander of the Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) puts it — “Internationally, Navies understand each other.”