Necessity is the mother of invention.
The vision of a submarine force was realized by the Party, State, and Army of Vietnam since the 1980s. A submarine squadron, designated Squadron 182, was established with its first group of sailors receiving formal training in the Soviet Union. This laid the foundation for the Vietnamese People's Army's recent acquisition and mastery of modern submarines, marking a significant milestone in the development of a modern Navy.
The operation of a submarine is likened to the process of forging steel in the depths of the ocean. How is this process carried out? How have the faith, love, and ideals nurtured and cultivated by the Party been ignited in the submarine crews after each voyage? What awaits the submarine crews on this journey, a journey to overcome the "undercurrents" and contribute to protecting the Fatherland from early on, from afar, and from within the depths of the sea?
To answer those questions, Colonel Vu Thi Hong Linh - Deputy Head of the Radio News Department, Military Radio and Television Center, and her team met with sailors of the former Submarine Squadron 182 and officers and soldiers of Submarine Brigade 189 today to produce a three-part series of reports: "Steel Forging in the Deep Sea" - a work that excellently won the B Prize - Feature, Investigative Report, and Memoir (Radio) at the 18th National Journalism Awards Ceremony - 2023.
Colonel Vu Thi Hong Linh and her team at the 18th National Journalism Awards Ceremony - 2023.
Colonel Vu Thi Hong Linh recalled the afternoon at Cam Ranh naval port, the majestic sounds of the horn of submarine number 186 of the 189th Naval Brigade echoing powerfully, as if etching into the waves the imposing image of the ship returning after completing its mission.
Colonel Vu Thi Hong Linh shared: "When writing about military and defense activities in general, and submarine forces with many stories about the profound mysteries of the underwater world in particular, reporters in military uniforms must always be highly aware of ensuring military secrecy."
This means that there are good stories and journalistic details that are not allowed to be publicized. Therefore, although the 189th Submarine Brigade of the Navy is very accommodating, we always have to consider what we are allowed to write."
Necessity is the mother of invention. The reporting team met with several former submarine sailors from the first submarine squadron of the Vietnam People's Army, designated Squadron 182, established in 1982 for operational purposes. There, stories, deciphered over four decades, were revealed, allowing us to use the past to comment on the present.
The work features two parallel storylines: former submarine sailors from over 40 years ago, yearning to command their vessels in their homeland waters, and the sailors of the 189th Submarine Brigade today, who are honored to continue the love of their forefathers from the depths of the sea…
Submarine 186 is preparing to dock. (Photo: Dac Thang)
"Because we weren't directly involved in the operation of the submarine, we had to ask very detailed and meticulous questions to get a sense of the work and life of the submarine crew. Interviews also required great effort and thoroughness, employing many professional skills to capture authentic stories that were both comprehensive and detailed, vivid, and included the necessary sounds to ensure the naturalness of the subjects' speech," author Hong Linh explained.
To capture the sounds of the ship's mission, the team of reporters collaborated with Major Le Dac Thang, Head of the Propaganda Department of Submarine Brigade 189, to produce the documentary. He was fortunate enough to participate in several voyages and recorded sounds ranging from the ship's horn when leaving the port or returning after completing a mission, to the commander's orders, the sound of missiles during live-fire exercises, and even birthday songs sung to crew members while the ship was operating underwater.
"Those sounds are indispensable in radio programs if they want to capture the essence of submarine soldiers," Hong Linh shared.
Confidence and pride have been further strengthened.
Submarines are crucial tools that help countries gain an advantage from the seabed. In reality, they are difficult to find when they go missing and leave devastating consequences whenever accidents occur. The fires, explosions, and sinkings of submarines from several countries around the world have served as a profound lesson for Vietnamese submarine crews.
To ensure the safety of the submarine, crew members must possess iron discipline, iron will, and an iron spirit. Most impressive to the reporters were the stories of submarine crew members who forged an iron spirit, mastering methods to protect the vessel's survival, maintaining the ability to survive in emergencies, and skills in escaping through torpedo tubes and submarine access hatches.
Submarine sailors must possess iron discipline, iron will, and an iron spirit. (Photo: Dac Thang)
Colonel Vu Thi Hong Linh expressed: "During our time working at Cam Ranh naval port, every morning and every afternoon, seeing the submarines with their majestic command towers peacefully anchored, we felt our faith and pride strengthened even more than when we looked out towards the sea."
Many of the submariners' stories awakened all my senses. They were exceptionally brilliant, confident, and articulate; their stories left a deep impression on me, showcasing individuals with extraordinary physical and intellectual abilities.
She was deeply moved when she heard Mr. Nguyen Thien Toan, a former submarine sailor of the 182nd Squadron, recount his story. He was the eldest son in his family; his father passed away, and although he received the news, he was busy with his unit's affairs as a Party Committee Secretary, so he couldn't return to see his father one last time. It wasn't until eight days later, after finishing his work, that he requested permission from his unit to go home and light incense for his father.
She also greatly admired the girlfriends and wives of submarine sailors when she heard them recount how they suddenly found their boyfriends' or husbands' phones unreachable. The secrecy of these voyages caused the submariners to suddenly "disappear" like that. But their girlfriends and young wives remained understanding, silently waiting, silently worrying, and providing unwavering support for these naval soldiers.
Submarine sailors are the most exemplary examples of rigorous training to acquire survival skills, adapt to the harshest situations at sea, and develop determination, courage, resilience, and endurance to cope with dangers and incidents on submarines. And although they understand the environment and the dangers of their work best, they remain committed to their duties with the utmost love and responsibility.
For Colonel Vu Thi Hong Linh, "Forging Steel in the Deep Sea" is the result of accumulated professional experience, a reflection of her maturity in selecting and developing the subject matter. The idea for the work had been conceived several years ago, but its implementation only took three weeks, encompassing fieldwork, data collection, and completion.
"After 'Forging Steel in the Heart of the Sea,' I still cherish the idea of writing more about the soldiers of Uncle Ho's army, such as the elite Special Forces soldiers, the intelligence agents who are 'secret, careful, skillful, and patient,' and the pilot trainees in the lecture halls of the clouds... I believe that 'Forging Steel in the Heart of the Sea' will be a foundation for me to continue my inspiration and passion for journalism," Colonel Vu Thi Hong Linh emotionally expressed.
Hoang Anh
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/hanh-trinh-chinh-phuc-long-bien-post300791.html
Comment (0)