- Author
- Grazebrook, A.W., Lietutenant Commander
- Subjects
- None noted
- Tags
- None noted.
- RAN Ships
- HMAS Kanimbla I, HMAS Melbourne II, HMAS Swan III, HMAS Torrens II
- Publication
- December 1975 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)
In a private letter to Lord Long, First Lord of the British Admiralty, Jellicoe commented that ‘. . . there can be no shadow of a doubt that (the RIM) is a Service which has no place in a naval organisation.’ This, coupled with the findings of the report, was condemnation indeed from an Officer kindly by nature and not given to prolific or unjustified criticism.
Jellicoe recommended the establishment of a Royal Indian Navy, comprising a seagoing squadron to include:-
One aircraft carrier
Five to seven light cruisers
3 sloops
6 submarines
20 escort vessels
The squadron would be supported by local defence flotillas, a minesweeping service, and appropriate dockyards, intelligence and communications organisations.
Although some steps were taken to improve the RIM, including the appointment of an active service Royal Navy Rear- Admiral as Director, it was not until 1934 that Rear-Admiral A.E.F. Bedford, RN, became the first Flag Officer Commanding Royal Indian Navy on the formation of that Service.
Jellicoe commented on the fact that locally born personnel were not entered for more than a year or so of service and expressed the opinion that it would be wise to enlist Indian born personnel. However, it was not until the formation of the Royal Indian Navy that the first Indian born officers were commissioned. None of these had risen above the rank of Lieutenant by 1939. Amongst the earliest Officers were H.M.S. Choudri (who later commanded the Pakistan Navy), B.S. Soman (later CNS, Indian Navy and a Vice-Admiral) and A. Chakraverti (later Rear-Admiral).
By 1939, the Royal Indian Navy had only five sloops and a number of smaller craft. World War II saw the commencement of new construction programmes including more sloops, frigates, corvettes, and minesweepers (some of which were built in Australia). Although it had no ‘fleet’ ships, the RIN performed its escort and mine clearance operations well. Perhaps the most distinguished was that of HMIS Bengal (a Bathurst Class AMS) which, in November 1942, drove off two Japanese raiders. Both the Dutch tanker Ondina, which was being escorted by Bengal, and Bengal herself, reached their destinations safely.
Apart from routine escort and minesweeping operations, the sloop HMIS Lawrence took part in the attack upon Bandar Shapur, alongside the Australian manned Kanimbla. Indian coastal forces participated in the Arakan operations. A large network of shore establishments was developed to support both the RIN and parts of the British Eastern and East Indies Fleet.
By the cessation of hostilities, the RIN included eight sloops, five frigates, two corvettes, thirteen minesweepers and a number of smaller and supporting craft.
The troubles that preceded independence had their repercussions in the Royal Indian Navy. There were serious disturbances amongst sailors at Bombay – the main naval base. With independence itself it became necessary to partition the Royal Indian Navy between India and Pakistan. So far as ships were concerned it was relatively simple to apportion them between the two new nations. Personnel had to be given the choice, it being largely a matter of religion.
The majority of the more senior officers – there were no locally born regular officers above the rank of Lieutenant Commander – elected to join the Indian Navy. To be specific, nine Lieutenant Commanders joined the Indian Navy, and only two that of Pakistan. Few though the officers were, they formed the cadre from which today’s Officer Corps has been developed.
Initially, the majority of more senior officers were loaned from the Royal Navy. As time went by, and Indian officers climbed the ladder of promotion through ability and experience, the Royal Navy Officers were replaced by Indians. Finally, in October 1956, Rear-Admiral R.D. Katari became the first Indian Officer to hoist his flag in command of the Fleet. In April 1958, that same Officer became the first Indian Chief of Naval Staff when he succeeded Vice- Admiral Sir Stephen Carlill, RN. All senior posts have been held by Indian Officers since that time.
The Indian Government’s method of slow replacement of British naval officers, as Indian Officers climbed the ladder by education and experience, was very similar to that taken by successive Australian Governments during the period 1913 to 1947. The approach of both Governments resulted in the growth of a strong and able officer corps, sound in experience and professional education.
The Indian Navy has seen active service in three wars since Independence. The first occasion was the Indian conquest of Goa, in December 1961. Although the Indian Navy participated actively, including providing air support from the carrier Vikrant, Portuguese opposition was very limited Their only warship present, the elderly sloop Alfonso De Albuquerque, was disabled and captured by the Indian Navy.
In the first war against Pakistan, in 1965, the Indian action was essentially defensive. Care was taken not to allow the war to become more widespread and there were no naval actions of note.
However, in 1971, during the second war against Pakistan, the Indian Navy participated actively. India’s strategy was to support her land forces in what was to become Bangla Desh, prevent Pakistan reinforcing or rescuing her forces in the East, and ensure the continued and timely arrival of vital Indian imports.
To this end, India assigned her carrier task force to the Eastern Naval Command. INS Vikrant, accompanied by escorts, flew repeated ground support missions, damaged severely the East Pakistani port of Chittagong, and neutralised means of escape for Pakistani forces in East Bengal.