ANSWERS: Submarine QOTW from 27 DEC 2015

Background

Related information, photo(s) and links for questions are found in the original posting here.
The source of all answers provided below was "Undersea warfare: Surfacing now, navy's biggest batch of submariners", Jugal R Purohit, IndiaToday, Visakhapatnam, December 27, 2015.

Questions of the Week with ANSWERS

1 -  What is the current average age of India's sub fleet?  ANS: The average age of the Indian submarine 25 years.

2 -  Recent accidents - the explosion and sinking of INS Sindhurakshak in 2013, killed 18, and fire on INS Sindhuratna last year killed two officers. Unusually thorough accident reviews resulted in implementation of corrective procedures.  Is India's submarine force made up of volunteers?  ANS: YES.
 
3 -  India's navy has a submarine school comprised of three schools, the first is a year-long basics school for officers and enlisted.  What are the other two schools?  ANS: Escape training and the school of Advanced Undersea Warfare (for those assigned to nuclear-propelled submarines).
 
4 - According to one officer, what was the minimum passing grade (percentage correct answers) he needed to pass his first test (structure) in the basics school?  ANS: 85%, according to one officer.
 
5 -  Do India's submarine enlisted and officers attend submarine school together? ANS: YES.
 
6 - India's current fleet of operational submarines includes how many and of what classes? ANS: India's Navy (INF) fleet of operational subs consists of 14 boats: 9 Russian-EKMs or Sindhughosh class, 4 German HDW Shishumar class and the nuclear-powered boat, INS Chakra, an Akula class sub loaned from Russia.

7 - In addition to its operational fleet, how many subs does India have in sea trials and awaiting procurement?  ANS:  Winding up sea trials is the Arihant, an indigenous nuclear-powered boat.  And as currently planned, INS Kalvari should join the fleet in in September 2016 with 5 more of her French designed class coming at nine month intervals.  The INF also envisions construction of an additional 2 Arihants, 6 conventional diesel electrics, 6 nuclear powered subs, and lease of an 1 more Russian sub.   
 
8 - Besides earning an eventual dolphin badge, what unusual distinction separates India's submariners from every other branch of its military service?  ANS: "[O]urs is the only military service where on duty no one wears a uniform, not even a rank and for a reason," quipped an officer.
 
9 - What is the stated purpose of the policy referred to in question 8?  ANS: "Camaraderie is our hallmark and here sailors and officers train and earn their dolphins together. Anyone who volunteers is allowed a look-in period of a month in which he can walk away if he desires with no penalties imposed," said an officer.
 

Submarines are always silent and strange.