- 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)
To support these submarines, India has constructed a base at Vishakapatnam. To provide forward support on the West Coast, a large depot ship, the six thousand ton INS Amba, has been acquired from the Russians. The Indian Minister for Defence has announced that India intends to construct submarines locally. No details have been announced, although this would presumably be carried out at Vishakapatnam, where there is already a shipbuilding capacity.
Amongst a number of smaller craft are four Russian built LSTs and eight Russian built OSA type guided missile armed fast attack craft. These last performed very effectively in the 1971 war but craft of the same type, operated by the Syrian Navy, were soundly defeated in the October 1973 war with Israel. Four more are to be acquired.
Turning to the industrial base, the Indians have a number of shipbuilding facilities, including that at Mazagon Dock (Bombay) where the Leanders are built, and the Hindustan facility at Vishakapatnam built the 2,790 ton survey ship INS Darshak. Other facilities have constructed patrol craft and mine counter measures vessels.
The main naval dockyard is at Bombay, with major facilities to maintain the Russian built surface craft at Vishakapatnam. Turning to equipment manufacture, very little is published. However, the Indian Government has devoted significant resources to the development of defence manufacturing capability – tanks, guns and jet fighters are all built in India. India has shown that, where she cares to devote resources to an activity, she can develop a high degree of technology. A good instance is that of nuclear power.
Turning to organisational structure, the Indian Navy is headed by a Chief of Naval Staff (a full Admiral), supported by Chiefs of Personnel, Materiel and Logistics (corresponding to our former Second, Third and Fourth Naval Members). There are three area commands, two of Commander-in- Chief status (East and West) and one of relatively minor status. The two major commands each have a seagoing flag officer in tactical command. The third command is primarily responsible for the extensive training facilities at Cochim – including a naval air station and new entry training. There are small facilities at a number of other ports, including Goa, Calcutta, Madras and Port Blair.
The Indian Navy did not adopt the Genera! List structure. Engineer Officers continue as such, on a separate list, and have their own career ‘pyramid’. The number of Flag Officers is markedly higher than in the RAN. There is one Indian full Admiral, five Vice-Admirals, and ten Rear-Admirals in the Seaman Specialisation alone. Commodores are not substantive in rank.
During the past twenty five years, the Indian Navy has developed into an effective ocean going force, with the necessary RAS capability. Its submarines are large modern oceangoing craft, and there will be more of them shortly. The Indian Navy is a force to be reckoned with.