Necessity is the mother of invention.
The vision of a Submarine Corps has been realized by our Party, State and Army since the 80s of the 20th century. There was a Submarine Squadron named Squadron 182 with the first class of sailors trained in the Soviet Union. That was the premise for the Vietnam People's Army to equip and confidently master modern ships in recent years, marking an important milestone in the roadmap to build a modern Navy.
The process of operating a submarine is likened to the process of forging steel in the ocean. How is that process carried out? How are the beliefs, love and ideals that the Party has nurtured and nurtured ignited in submarine sailors after each voyage? What awaits submarine sailors on that journey, the journey of overcoming the “undercurrents” to contribute to protecting the Fatherland early, from afar, from 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 colleagues met with the sailors of the former Submarine Squadron 182 and officers and soldiers of the Submarine Brigade 189 today to make a series of 3 reports: "Steel forging in the sea" - the work has excellently won the B Prize - Reportage, investigative reportage, memoir (Radio) at the 18th National Press Awards Ceremony - 2023.
Colonel Vu Thi Hong Linh and her colleagues at the 18th National Press Awards Ceremony - 2023.
Colonel Vu Thi Hong Linh recalls the afternoon at Cam Ranh military port, the siren of submarine number 186 of the 189th Naval Brigade resounded solemnly, as if carving into the waves the majestic shape of the ship returning after completing its mission.
Colonel Vu Thi Hong Linh shared: "Writing about military and defense activities in general, and submarine forces with many stories about the deep mysteries of the world under the ocean in particular, reporters in military uniforms must always be highly aware of ensuring military secrets.
That means there are good stories, journalistic details that are not promoted. So, although the 189th Submarine Brigade of the Navy creates favorable conditions, we always have to consider what we can write."
Necessity is the mother of invention, the group of reporters met some former submarine sailors of the first submarine squadron of the Vietnam People's Army, codenamed Squadron 182, established in 1982 for exploitation. There were stories there, after more than four decades have been decoded, so that old stories can be used to talk about the present.
The work has two parallel lines of characters: Former submarine sailors from more than 40 years ago with the desire to control the ship in the homeland sea and sailors of the 189th Submarine Brigade today, those who are honored to continue writing the love of their fathers' generation from the heart of the sea...
Submarine 186 prepares to dock. (Photo: Dac Thang)
"Not directly involved in the submarine operation process, when exploiting information, we had to ask very detailed and meticulous questions to be able to visualize the work and life of submarine sailors. When interviewing, we also had to be very elaborate and thorough, and had to mobilize many operational skills to be able to record authentic stories that were both comprehensive and had specific, vivid details; and necessary sounds, ensuring the naturalness of the characters' speech," said author Hong Linh.
During the process of making the work, to have the sounds of the scene while the ship was performing its mission, the group of reporters coordinated with a collaborator, Major Le Dac Thang, Head of the Propaganda Department of the 189th Submarine Brigade. He was fortunate to participate in a number of sea voyages, so he recorded the sounds, from the ship's whistle when leaving the military port or when returning after completing the mission, the commander's commands, the sound of missiles during live-fire drills, songs wishing comrades a happy birthday while the ship was operating in the ocean...
"The radio work cannot lack those sounds if it wants to portray the soul of the submarine soldiers," Ms. Hong Linh shared.
Confidence and pride are further nurtured
Submarines are a vital means for countries to gain advantage from the seabed. In fact, they are difficult to find when missing and leave serious consequences when in distress. The explosions and sinkings of submarines of some countries in the world have become profound lessons for Vietnamese submarine sailors.
To ensure the survival of the ship, submarine sailors must have iron discipline, iron will, and iron spirit. The most impressive story for the group of reporters was the story of submarine sailors who forged iron spirit, mastered measures to fight to protect the ship's vitality, maintained the ability to survive in case of an accident, and escaped through torpedo tubes and submarine hatches.
Submarine sailors must have iron discipline, iron will, and iron spirit. (Photo: Dac Thang)
Colonel Vu Thi Hong Linh expressed: "During the days working at Cam Ranh military port, every morning and every afternoon, looking at the submarines with majestic command towers peacefully anchored, we felt our faith and pride filled more than when we looked towards the sea.
Many stories of submariners awakened all my senses. They were extremely excellent, confident, and articulate. Their stories left a deep impression on me about people with special physical and mental qualities."
She was moved to tears when listening to Mr. Nguyen Thien Toan, a former submarine sailor of Squadron 182, tell the story of how he was the eldest son in the family. His father passed away. He received the news but was still busy with the unit's work as Party Secretary, so he could not return to see his father for the last time. And it was not until 8 days later, when he finished his work, that he asked his unit to return to burn incense for his father.
She also admired the girlfriends and wives of submariners when they told stories of suddenly finding their lover or husband unreachable. The secrecy of the trips had caused the submariners to suddenly “disappear”. But their girlfriends, the young wives, still sympathized, quietly waited, quietly worried, and became a solid rear for the marines.
Submarine sailors are the most typical examples of hard training to have survival skills, adapt to the harshest situations under the ship at sea, to have determination, bravery, courage, endurance, to deal with dangers, submarine incidents. And although they are the ones who understand the environment and the dangers of their work best, they still stick to their duties with all their love and the highest responsibility.
For Colonel Vu Thi Hong Linh, “Steel forging in the sea” is the result of accumulation in the profession, experience and partly shows maturity in choosing and developing topics. The idea for the work has been formed for several years, but when implementing it, it only took three weeks, working, exploiting documents and completing it.
"After "Steel forging in the heart of the sea", I still cherish the desire to continue writing about Uncle Ho's soldiers, such as the elite Special Forces soldiers, the "secret, careful, clever, patient" intelligence soldiers, the pilot students in the cloud lecture halls... I believe that "Steel forging in the heart of the sea" will be the support 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
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