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Indian Navy
1.0 INTRODUCTION
India has a maritime history of more than 3000 years. The world's first tidal dock was built at Lothal around 2300 BCE during the Indus Valley Civilization, near the present day Mangrol harbour on the Gujarat coast. The Indian Navy today is a catalyst for peace, tranquility and stability in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). It has been engaged other maritime nations, extending hand of friendship and co-operation.
On India attaining independence, the Royal Indian Navy consisted of 32 ageing vessels suitable only for coastal patrol, along with 11,000 officers and men. The senior officers were drawn from the Royal Navy, with R.Adm. ITS Hall, CIE, being the first post-independence Commander-in-Chief. The prefix 'Royal' was dropped on 26 January 1950 with India being constituted as a Republic. The first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Navy was Adm. Sir Edward Parry, KCB, who handed over to Adm. Sir Mark Pizey, KBE, CB, DSO in 1951. Adm. Pizey also became the first Chief of the Naval Staff in 1955, and was succeeded by V Adm SH Carlill, CB, DSO.
On 22 April 1958 V.Adm. R D Katari assumed office as the first Indian Chief of the Naval Staff.
The Indian Navy today is headed by the Chief of Naval Staff with headquarters at New Delhi. He is assisted by Vice Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Personnel, Chief of Material and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff.
2.0 HISTORY
The Rig Veda written around 1700 BCE, credits Varuna with knowledge of the ocean routes and describes naval expeditions. There is reference to the side wings of a vessel called Plava, which give stability to the ship under storm conditions. A compass, Matsya yantra, was used for navigation in the 4th and 5th century AD.
Tha Mauryan age saw a lot of developments in the field on naval trade. The earliest known reference of an organization devoted to ships and sailing in ancient India is from the Mauryan Empire of the 4th century BCE. Emperor Chandragupta Maurya's Prime Minister Kautilya's Arthashastra devotes a full chapter on the State Department of Waterways under navadhyaksha (Sanskrit for Superintendent of ships). The term, navadvipantaragamanam (नवद्वीपअंतरगमनं - Sanskrit for sailing to other lands by ships, i.e. Exploration) appears in this book. The Baudhayana Dharmasastra uses the term, Samudrasamyanam (समुद्रसम्यानम - Sanskrit for sea voyage).
Sea lanes are mainly responsible for the widespread influence of Indian culture on other societies, particularly in the Indian Ocean region. Powerful navies included those of the Maurya, Satavahana, Chola, Vijayanagara, Kalinga, Maratha and Mughal empires.The Cholas excelled in foreign trade and maritime activity, extending their influence overseas to China and Southeast Asia.
2.1 The Maratha Navy
Kanhoji Angre, the Maratha chief of Satara, was the head of the Navy established in 1674 by the Maratha Empire under the visionary leadership of Chhatrapati Shivaji, who is widely hailed as the “Father of Indian Navy”. Alongwith Angre, Kunjali Marakkar, the Naval chief of Saamoothiri, was the notable naval chief of the period. From its inception, the Maratha Naval force also consisted of cannons mounted on ships. Under Kanhoji Angre’s authority, the Maratha Navy was the master of the western coast of India from Mumbai to Vingoria (now Vengurla) in present day state of Maharashtra, except for Janjira which was affiliated with the Mughal Empire. Until his death in 1729, he repeatedly attacked the colonial powers of Britain and Portugal, capturing numerous vessels of the British East India Company and extracting ransom for their return. During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Maratha and Kerala fleets were expanded, and became the most powerful naval forces in the subcontinent, defeating European Navies at various times (ex. the Battle of Colachel). The fleet review of the Maratha navy took place at the Ratnagiri fort in which the ships Gurabs, Galbat, Pal & small ships called as "Sangmeshwari" participated. The 'Pal' was a three masted fighter with guns peeping on the broadsides. It is sad that they could not, due to many reasons, stop the further penetration of the British into India.
2.2 Colonial Indian Navy
In 1612, the English East India Company built a port and established a small navy based at the village of Suvali, near Surat, Gujarat to protect commerce. The Company named the force the Honourable East India Company's Marine, and the first fighting ships arrived on 5 September 1612.
The force was renamed the Bombay Marine in 1686 when the British centre of commerce moved to Bombay. The Bombay Marine was involved in combat against the Marathas and the Sidis and participated in the Anglo-Burmese Wars. The Bombay Marine recruited many Indian lascars but commissioned no Indian officers until 1928.
In 1830, the Bombay Marine became Her Majesty's Indian Navy. The British capture of Aden increased the commitments of Her Majesty's Indian Navy, leading to the creation of the Indus Flotilla. The Navy then fought in the China War of 1840.
Her Majesty's Indian Navy resumed the name Bombay Marine from 1863 to 1877, when it became Her Majesty's Indian Marine. The Marine then had two divisions; the Eastern Division at Calcutta and the Western Division at Bombay.
In recognition of the services rendered during various campaigns, Her Majesty's Indian Marine was titled the Royal Indian Marine in 1892. By this time it consisted of over 50 vessels.
The Royal Indian Marine participated in both the World Wars.
3.0 COMMAND AND ORGANISATION
The Indian Navy operates three Commands. Each Command is headed by a Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C) of the rank of Vice Admiral. The Eastern and Western Commands each have a Fleet commanded by a Rear Admiral, and each also have a Commodore commanding submarines. The Southern Naval Command is home to the Flag Officer Sea Training
Additionally, the Andaman and Nicobar Command headquartered at Port Blair is a Unified Tri-services Command under the Commander in Chief Andaman and Nicobar (CINCAN) who reports to the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) who is provided staff support by the Chief of Integrated Staff to the Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) in New Delhi. The Andaman and Nicobar Command, a Unified Indian Navy, Indian Army Indian Air Force and Coast Guard Command was set up in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in 2001.
It was created with the following objectives:
- To deter or defeat any threats or aggression against the territory, people or maritime interests of India, both in war and peace; in conjunction with the Indian Armed forces.
- To project influence in India's maritime area of interest and to further the nation's political, economic and security objectives.
The base of INS Kadamba at Karwar, 100 km from Goa was commissioned by the Indian Navy in 2005. This is the third operational naval base after Mumbai and Visakhapatnam and the first to be controlled exclusively by the Navy (The other bases share port facilities with civilian shipping, but this one is for purely naval use). Built under Phase I of the multi-billion dollar Project Seabird, it is the largest naval base in the region. Asia's largest Naval academy INS Zamorin, was inaugurated at Ezhimala, in January 2009 by the Prime Minister of India. Another naval base is being planned for the eastern shores, near Visakhapatnam at a cost of US$350 million. The base, which will be located fifty km south of Visakhapatnam in Rambilli Mandal, will have comprehensive anti-aircraft, anti-submarine and amphibious capability. This east coast base expansion program is in direct response to Chinese PLA Navy activities in the region.
The Indian Navy is setting up a listening post in Madagascar, and also intends developing another one at an atoll it has leased from Mauritius,to monitor and patrol the coast of Mozambique as well as the southern Indian Ocean. The Indian Navy also has berthing rights in Oman and Vietnam.
4.0 STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF THE INDIAN OCEAN
"The Indian Ocean area will be the true nexus of world powers and conflict in the coming years. It is here that the fight for democracy, energy independence and religious freedom will be lost or won".
Robert D. Kaplan
The Indian ocean once regarded as a 'neglected ocean' has, today, become the hub of political, strategic and economic activities because of the presence of conventional and nuclear vessels of the major powers in the area and because of its own economic and strategic significance. The Indian Ocean has 36 States around its littoral belt. In addition, there are eleven hinterland states e.g, Nepal and Afghanistan, which though landlocked, are keenly interested in the Indian Ocean politics and trade.
4.1 Rich source of minerals
The Indian ocean is a rich source of several important minerals. The IOR accounts for 80.7% of world extraction of gold, 56.6 % of tin, 28.5 % of manganese, 25.2 % nickel and 77.3% natural rubber. Highest tonnage of the world goods, 65% of world oil, and 35% of the gas, located in the littoral states, passes through the IOR. This strategic importance has made the IOR region today an arena of contemporary geopolitics. The presence of the nuclear powered states of Pakistan, China and India has further complicated the situation.
This is why key regional powers are placing great reliance on the deployment of fleet missile submarines and SLBMs for second strike capability as well as for balance of power in order to deter hegemony of any power, whether territorial or extra-territorial. USA has established its naval base in the Indian Ocean at Diego Garcia which poses a threat to the regional states as well as stands to protect the US's vital interests in the region. Political relations in and around the Indian Ocean can have significant implications for the US as far as its new "Asia Pivot" strategy is concerned. The US Strategic Guidance 2012 had linked the US economy and security to developments in the Indian Ocean, elevating India to the position of a long-term strategic partner serving "as a regional anchor" in the region. India must leverage this to its own benefit.
The official documents also declare Iran and China as two potential states most susceptible to using asymmetrical means to counter US's areas of interest. The Indo-US collusion in the Indian Ocean has made Pakistan and China wary of their semi-hostile overtures, hence ensuing strategic competition in the region and employment of resource-dependent strategies to counteract and counterbalance the enemy state's manoeuvers. India, so far, has treaded cautiously on this.
4.2 Hub of energy
The Indian Ocean is a hub of energy. India is seeking to enhance its involvement in the region, and to increase its influence from the Plateau of Iran to the Gulf of Thailand. India is soon to become the world's fourth-largest energy consumer, after the United States, China, and Japan, and it is dependent on oil for roughly 33 percent of its energy needs, and 90 percent of its oil imports could soon come from the Persian Gulf. Another reason behind developing naval power is India's "Hormuz dilemma," its dependence on imports passing through the strait, close to the shores of Pakistan's Makran coast, where the Chinese are helping the Pakistanis develop deep-water ports. To protect its vital interest as well as to establish itself as a super-power, India is enlarging its navy in the same spirit. With its 155 warships, the Indian navy is already one of the world's largest, and it expects to add three nuclear-powered submarines and three aircraft carriers to its arsenal by 2015, making India's a Blue Water Navy. The critical objectives of India in establishing its navy are not economic and security but also "strategic autonomy" this policy is in harmony with Indian goal of achieving the super power status and it is in this context that we see India every now and then opposing the presence of extra regional powers in the Indian Ocean.
Energy security will play decisive role in creating conflict and co-operation situations.
The country which holds a paramount position in the Indian Ocean is likely to control the flow of energy not only to the East Asia, the possible future centre of the world economic power, but also to other regions. Currently, USA, the world's mightiest naval power, is dominating the region and the regional states, especially China, are trying to balance US power in the region in order to protect thier interests with regard to the growing economy and energy needs. Oil is shipped from the Persian Gulf to almost entire world via the Indian Ocean, and through the Straits of Malacca to China, Korea, and Japan. Hence oil importing companies can suffer major blows if another power controls this transport lifeline. Because the U.S. strategy is to hold sway over the oil route, the US has in recent years showered attentions on India, Vietnam, and Singapore, all of which lie on that route.
4.3 Security concerns
Pakistan's only coastline is on the Indian Ocean. It therefore is a vital access point for trade and energy supply. Pakistan's major interests in the Indian Ocean are preventing India from dominating the areas closest to Pakistan itself, and protecting its vital import and export routes. Pakistan by itself can do relatively little about India's naval presence in the Indian Ocean; therefore, it has turned to two things: developing its naval power and having large external balancers. For this Pakistan is not placing much reliance on America because the growing security dialogue between US and India is focussing more and more on the Indian ocean region. Therefore it is turning towards China. Pakistan stands to benefit from the "Chinese String of Pearls," and has therefore handed over the operational rights to China.
From the Indian perspective, presence of extra regional powers creates tension in the region which is detrimental to its sensitive interests. India wants to replace those powers and make it dominant in the region.
On 30th April, 2012 India commisioned INS Dweeprakshak haval base of the Southern Naval command on the Kavaratti Island,in the Lakshadweep archipelago. It is meant to counter the Chinese 'string of pearls' strategy to cut-off India from the other nations of the Indian Ocean. India is planning to spend almost $45 billion over the next 20 years on 103 new warships, including destroyers and nuclear submarines. By comparison, China's investment over the same period is projected to be around $25 billion for 135 vessels. Indeed, as India extends its influence east and west on land and at sea, it is bumping into China.
Iran is the other emerging power of the Indian Ocean with control of the most crucial Strait of Hormuz, a transit passage which can potentially be the cause of triggering conflict in the region. While this transit route is responsible for the supply of oil to most of the world and control of this route is strategically significant for US, it is arguably more crucial for Iran to hold its control over it and use it as a tool in extending its power as well as use it as leverage to bargain with USA and its allies over Iran's nuclear issue. Whether or not Iran would choose to block the Strait is a moot question; however, it is obvious in many of Iran's official statements that Iran does consider this option as practically viable as far as maintenance of deterrence is concerned. Responding to the onset of the European Union's oil embargo with a defiant show of military strength and renewed threats to close the Strait of Hormuz, Iran signaled to the West that it would not be a passive victim of economic warfare. On the other hand, preserving the security in the Strait of Hormuz is a priority of Iran's defensive deterrence strategy in the Persian Gulf. Iran's policy there would certainly be a measured and rational one, based on taking full responsibility and taking into account the region's geo-political realities, but in no way letting others jeopardizing its legitimate interests.
The Indian Ocean region has developed into an area of both ferociously guarded sovereignty (with fast-growing economies and militaries) and astonishing interdependence (with its pipelines and land and sea routes). For the first time since the Portuguese onslaught in the region in the early sixteenth century, the West's power there is in decline, however subtly and relatively. Although USA is trying to give it a new boost and reconfiguring it, it might not be able to assert its dominant position in the region. The Indians and the Chinese are likely to enter into a dynamic great-power rivalry in these waters. Therefore, a sort of multilateral set up will have to be established whereby each country can "equitably" pursue its goals.
5.0 INDIAN NAVY OPERATIONS
Goa: The first involvement of the Navy in any conflict came during the 1961 Indian annexation of Goa with the success of Operation Vijay against the Portuguese Navy. Four Portuguese frigates - the NRP Afonso de Albuquerque, the NRP Bartolomeu Dias, the NRP João de Lisboa and the NRP Gonçalves Zarco - were deployed to patrol the waters off Goa, Daman and Diu, along with several patrol boats (Lancha de Fiscalização).
Eventually only the NRP Afonso de Albuquerque saw action against Indian Navy ships, the other ships having fled before commencement of hostilities. The NRP Afonso was destroyed by Indian frigates INS Betwa and INS Beas. Parts of the Afonso are on display at the Naval Museum in Mumbai, while the remainder was sold as scrap.
1971 War: The Indian Navy played a significant role in the bombing of Karachi harbour in the 1971 war. On December 4, it launched Operation Trident during which missile boats INS Nirghat and INS Nipat sunk the minesweeper PNS Muhafiz and destroyer PNS Khyber. The destroyer PNS Shahjahan was irreparably damaged. Owing to its success, December 4 has been celebrated as Navy Day ever since.
The operation was so successful that the Pakistani Navy raised a false alarm about sighting an Indian missile boat on December 6. Pakistan Air Force (PAF) planes attacked the supposed Indian ship and damaged the vessel before it was identified as being another Pakistani Navy ship, PNS Zulfiqar which suffered numerous casualties and damage as a result of this friendly fire.
During Operation Python on December 8, the frigate PNS Dacca was severely damaged by INS Veer and the oil storage depot of Karachi was set ablaze. On the western front in the Arabian Sea, operations ceased after the Karachi port became unusable due to the sinking of Panamian vessel Gulf Star. An Indian frigate, INS Khukri was sunk by submarine PNS Hangor.
On the eastern front, the submarine PNS Ghazi was sunk outside Vishakhapatnam harbour. Indian naval aircraft, Sea Hawks and Alizés, from the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant were instrumental in sinking many gunboats and merchant navy vessels in the Bay of Bengal. The successful blockade of East Pakistan by the Indian Navy proved to be a vital factor in the Pakistani surrender.
After 1971: The Indian Armed Forces initiated Operation Cactus to prevent a coup attempt by a group of Maldivians led by Abdullah Luthufi and assisted by about 200 Sri Lankan Tamil mercenaries from the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) in Maldives in 1988. After Indian paratroopers landed at Hulhule and secured the airfield and restored the democratically-elected government at Malé, the Sri Lankan mercenaries hijacked the freighter MV Progress Light and took a number of hostages, including the Maldivian Transport minister and his wife. The Indian Navy frigates INS Godavari and INS Betwa captured the freighter, rescued the hostages and arrested the mercenaries near the Sri Lankan coast.
During the 2006 Lebanon War, the Indian Navy launched Operation Sukoon to successfully evacuate 2280 persons from Lebanon, including Indian, 436 Sri Lankan and 69 Nepali and 7 Lebanese citizens.
Anti Piracy operations: The Indian Navy commenced anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden in October 23, 2008. In addition to escorting Indian flagged ships, ships of other countries are also being escorted. Merchant ships are currently being escorted along the entire length of the 490 m long and 20 m wide internationally recommended transit corridor (IRTC). Indian naval ships have prevented 40 piracy attempts so far on merchant ships. The Indian Navy is constantly engaged with other countries on capacity building and coordination in efforts aimed at keeping open one of the busiest shipping channels around the world and avoid choking of international trade, particularly Oil.
6.0 EQUIPMENT
6.1 Carriers
The names of all in service ships (and Naval Bases) of the Indian Navy are prefixed with the letters INS, designating Indian Naval Ship or Indian Navy Station. The fleet of the Indian Navy is a mixture of domestic built and foreign vessels. The Indian Navy presently has two aircraft carriers in active service, the INS Viraat and INS Vikramaditya. INS Viraat is planned for decommissioning after the induction of the first domestically built Vikrant class aircraft carrier. In 2004, India bought the Russian aircraft carrier, Admiral Gorshkov for the equivalent of US$1.5 billion. It cost an additional US$1.5 billion to overhaul the vessel and refit it entirely with new electronic, weapon systems and sensors. INS Vikramaditya set sail to India after her commissioning on 15 November 2013. The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally inducted INS Vikramaditya into the Indian Navy on 14th June 2014 and dedicated it to the nation.
6.2 Submarines
India paid US$2 billion for the completion of two Akula-II class nuclear-powered attack submarines which were 40-60% completed. Three hundred Indian Navy personnel were trained in Russia for the operation of these submarines. India has finalised a deal with Russia, in which at the end of the lease of these submarines, it has an option to buy them. The first submarine is named INS Chakra and was handed over to India on 23 January 2012.
The Arihant class vessels are India first indigenously built nuclear submarines. They are being developed under the US $2.9 billion Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project. The lead vessel INS Arihant is currently undergoing sea trials. Under this projects 4 vessels are being built and they are expected to be commissioned by 2023. These nuclear-powered submarines will be a vital part of the nation's much desired nuclear triad. Negotiations have started to lease another Akula-II submarine from Russians as the defence establishment is serious about bolstering the underwater arm of the Navy.
6.3 Weapons
India has a number of foreign made cruise missile systems, including the Klub SS-N-27. It also has its own Nirbhay cruise missile systems under development. The Sagarika (Oceanic) submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), which has a range of at least 700 km (some sources claim 1000 km) forms part of India's nuclear triad. Another successful programme has been the adaptation of the Yakhont anti-ship missile system into the BrahMos by the NPO and the DRDO. The BrahMos has been tailored to Indian needs and uses a large proportion of Indian-designed components and technology, including its fire control systems, transporter erector launchers, and its onboard navigational attack systems. The successful test of Brahmos from INS Rajput provides Indian Navy with precision land attack capability.
6.4 Navy military satellite
India's first exclusive defense satellite GSAT-7 was successfully launched by European space consortium Arianespace's Ariane 5 rocket from Kourou spaceport in French Guiana in August, 2013, giving a major push to the country's maritime security. Indian Navy would be the user of the multi-band home-built communication spacecraft. GSAT-7 was designed and developed by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and is expected to operate for seven years in its orbital slot at 74 degrees east, providing UHF, S-band, C-band and Ku-band relay capacity. Its Ku-band capacity is expected to provide high-density data transmission facility, both for voice and video.
This satellite has been provided with additional power to communicate with smaller and mobile (not necessarily land-based) terminals. This dedicated satellite is expected to provide the Indian navy with an approximately 3,500- to 4,000-kilometer footprint over the Indian Ocean region, and over both the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal region and enable real-time networking of all its operational assets in the water (and land). It also will help the navy to operate in a network-centric atmosphere.
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